Videogame 'fans' need to shut up about everything

Jim Sterling writes: "There are certain games that have earned themselves a hardcore following. It was the recent revelation of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and the stream of criticism it received that really got me thinking about this. These people call themselves fan, and we are all happy to go along with it, but when they reveal themselves to be perpetually unsatisfied, prone to complaints over the tiniest details, and outright spiteful, I think they need a new name.

Instead of fans, I declare that they should be known as people who need to shut up about everything."

[Parapraxis]

Jim needs to shut up about everything.
Seriously.
He's like a troll that was rejected from 4chan, only worse.

[solidjun5]

[I] need to write an article that is titled "Jim Sterling should STFU!! Seriously"

4chan? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I needed that. I agree. Further proof that even media have their special "Bungie."

[deadreckoning666]

2 Questions:

1. What is it that people don't like about Sterling exactly?

2. Why do people who don't like Sterling keep on commenting on his articles?

Serious questions BTW.

Edit: I read his article and you should too. It talks about the crazy things fans complain about that normal people wouldn't care about.

"Then there are other arguments. Petitions for Sonic to be redesigned so that he looks exactly like his 16-bit counterpart. People going so far as to criticize the fact that Sonic has some color in his eyes, or that his legs are too long. Once again, this is a game people have wanted for a long time, and as soon as they get it, they start finding other things to moan about."

It makes good sense, to me anywayz.

@Chris- I care because I'm curious to see why people are complaining about a guy I see nothing wrong with. If you don't like him, why waste ur time here? Btw, the fact that you state hes FAT as one of his flaws just shows what kind of person you are. Are you predjudice against fat people?

@pixelword- Well, I think it makes sense to comment on the article rather than the journalist. Only ONE other person has commented on the article itself. If you know beforehand, that u have a bias against Sterling, then please don't talk about it here. I like Sterling's articles and id like to hear other criticisms about the article that are free of bias.

Edit: yeah lol, I can def understand that. I do it all the time in Heavy Rain articles. I don't know why, but I do it :) U r right though, if u don't like something speaking out about it can help.

[Chris399]

but is he trying to be ironic?

Seeing as he's the mascot, the champion of the cause even, for obnoxious, loudmouthed, red-faced fanboys.

@ dead. He's a $hit disturber. He writes flame-bait, polarizing articles. He's like a substantially less intelligent, political, interesting version of Howard Stern or Rush Limbaugh. He wears a monocle. He's fat. He probably stinks. Pick a reason, any reason. He's quite simply annoying.

Questions for you, dear chap. Are you Jim Sterling? His friend or portly lover perhaps? And why do you care if people dislike his vocal spew?

Not so serious questions, btw :P

[Saaking]

Why? If we don't complain, Devs will just sit back and abuse their power. Look at 360 owners. They don't cry out about anything and MS takes advantage in every way possible.

It's good to know that PS3 and PC fans actually stand up and speak out. It may not work sometimes, but at least we're trying.

[pixelsword]

Are you asking why people comment on him when they don't like him?

I can't answer for everyone, but let's just say it's the same reason why certain people go to articles on subjects they don't like and make comments.

[Unicron]

"Edit: I read his article and you should too. It talks about the crazy things fans complain about that normal people wouldn't care about."

I read it. It's hardly news, it's flamebait, per usual. It focuses on a vocal minority which is amplified by the web, then basically flames them. While I may not agree with the vocal minority all the time, just as often they DO have a point. It's also ironic because this guy has basically made a career out of "I'm right, you're wrong" articles. So why is it okay for Jim to b1tch about things, but not okay for fans?

This is some BS attempt at a self-empowering "I'm better than you" excuse for an article. The vocal minority has been around since the advent of the web when it comes to gaming, this is nothing new. So why speak out on it now? Oh right, because he can force HIS opinion, which is "correct" unlike ours, down our throats.

Clearly the media is unable to lead by example and take the mature route. Nope, they just perpetuate the cycle for hits. I don't care WHO he is, since I don't know the man. But I know what he writes, and it's crap.

[pixelsword]

You're pretty insightful when you're not eating planets.

[young juice]

whats 4chan?

[Chris399]

And I work in the health and fitness industry and deal with people's struggles (and drive them towards successes) in this area on a daily basis. The comment was clearly meant to be coy, baseless, offhanded and crude - much like Jim Sterling's work. It is not honestly how I feel. I obviously hit a nerve with you. Being sensitive on the Internet is a bit of a lost cause fyi.

[Walrus]

@1.8
lol

[boodybandit]

"Jim Sterling writes:"

This guy has no shame. He is one of the biggest contributors to fueling the fanboy wars.

Jim you are an
ignorant
obnoxious
hypocrite.
Please STOP writing articles.
I'd rather read bruceongames articles. That is how much, or should I say litte, I think of Jim Sterling

@1.2
I wont give Destructoid hits if I was paid to do so. Unless someone copy and paste the full article here I will only read what is displayed above.

[solidjun5]

Cause we can. And Unicron provided good clarity why WE think there's something wrong with a fanboy posed as a journalist.

"I can't answer for everyone, but let's just say it's the same reason why certain people go to articles on subjects they don't like and make comments."

LOL! good one.

[AKNAA]

Some people don't care, some do a little and some people are just extreamely "passionate" and nit-picky about everything. sure, you wanna tell them to STFU at times, but its no reason to Label as that because without them, we probably wouldn't have as much rights as we do now.

[mastiffchild]

More yawnsome dog mess from La Sterling the most self obsessed man in the whole gaming media. D'toid itself is a bad enough site yet Sterling always manages to look even worse-it's a talent Jim, well done, it's the only one outside of overeating you might have!

Yes, some games have an element among the fans who complain about the tiniest, silliest thing and their moaning and petition writing CAN hurt our cause when a real issue comes up as people won't take the real, deserved complaint seriously and the moaners also make some gamers unresponsive to complaining when they ARE being conned or abused by the industry.

BUT the bigger problem is fanboyism and industry toadying that is divisive and rife within our community and makes us way easier to control than the TINY minority of gamers arsed enough to petition over absolutely sod all. Honestly,. he goes on about the Sonic4 moans and ignores 1, just how small the numbers of complainers are compared to the sales of ANY recent Sonic title on home consoles-you'll see just how small the moaning minnies who do these silly letters, mails and petitions.

So, miss the point and come over like a sanctimonious, arrogant, condescending tool. Why change now Jim?His opinion of himself is so big it gives itself chronic vertigo and it shows little chance of slowing it's growth either. Maybe it will get to some sort of critical(get it?) Mass(get it?) one day, implode and leave us with a new, talented and useful member of the media? We can only hope.

[SilentNegotiator]

LOL, ya beat me to it, parapraxis.

[DatNJDom81]

must be that time of the month. Just like a woman's period, destructoid always delivers garbage every month.

[Syronicus]

Starting with Destructoids very own idiot fanboy, Jim Sterling.

[Tricksy]

Papraxis, you need to comment more on these boards. I wanna see a Para comment for every Bungie comment.

At least then ill have something to balance out the devastatingly moronic comments I have to read from that bot.

[-Mezzo-]

This *Butt Sniffer* is hands down the most annoying person who calls himself a Video-Game Journalist i would chose *HHG* over him any day -anywhere.

[Ninji]

I stopped reading at "Jim Sterling writes".

[Unicron]

Jim Sterling and Chris Buffa are the most blatant hypocrites I have EVER had the displeasure of reading. Their articles are trash and incite the very BS they are now condemning.

Pot. Kettle. Fools.

"Criticism is fine, of course, but the sheer hatred and bile that spews from self-professed fans takes it too far."

Hypocrite.

[pixelsword]

That site has imploded a long time ago.

I used to like that site, but now... =/

Maybe I'll see if I can write for that site.

Not that I'm a better writer, I don't insult fans;

fanboys, yeah, skip them; but not regular fans.

[Rucury]

Jim Sterling sucks. I do despise his reviews. "My opinion" he says... It's just garbage.

[MajesticBeast]

More Jim zergling next please.

[Dance]

We complainers like complaining

[NMC2007]

I agree 10,000,000 PERCENT with this article, my GOD the Sonic fans have been making my brain shut the F down with their BS!! OMG!!!
But that goes for all complainers but currently the Sonic fans are killing me, not softly either, they're killing me hard and brutally.

[PeptoBismol]

oh really?

[mastiffchild]

Two times?

Anyway, why? Just ignore them. there's so few of them nothing will ever happen and, really, they're only like this after years of serial let downs from Sega turning their favourite game into crap and character into a go anywhere whore. They see Sonic4(Project Needlemouse)as their final hope for another proper Sonic and I undertand how little changes to the formula might make them nervous when a company has previously stuck Sonic in a werehog suit and given him a friggin sword. If any group of video game fans have a right to worry about their favourite game it's Sonic fans! Yes, the manner of t's annoying but it isn't like a huge groundswell and is totally easyy to ignore as you rarely heard anything about it until Sterling so brilliantly publicised their cause here-which I doubt was his hope at all-silly sausage that he is, though, his ego wouldn't allow him to bother with a thought process before writing down the first bile that came into his head.

Talk abut using sledgehammers to crack nuts(or even berries)?!Why did he choose the easy target rather than, y'know, addressing one of the important issues gamers face today like unilateral price hikes, getting buggy games through non existant QA, timed exclusives that tell you they're real until you buy the system they're "exclusive" to when they promptly go multi as always planned-why none of that? Is he not allowed to upset the ad mean? Or is he just another games journalist who likes sucking up to the industry at the direct cost of giving a crap about his fellow gamer who doesn't get a review copy to try/review every release. If I wasn't so sure he didn't just enjoy looking down on everyone I might bother wondering about the other stuff.

[Immortal321]

the media needs to shut the fck up

[BYE]

I agree with part of the article. Fanboys really need to STFU when it comes to design decisions they don't know sh*t about.

They ruined a lot of things with their complaining that might have been interesting, like the banana shaped controller for PS3.

Fan feedback is alright, hatred is counterproductive.

[Unicron]

FYI, 90% of the time, the developer/designer is going to do what THEY want anyways. The vocal minority is just that, a minority. N4G is but a hair on the pimple on the ass of the fanbase of the game industry for instance.

[Godmars290]

At the very least, people who don't own and have no intention of buying a PS3 should shutup about cross game chat.

And those who do need to asking for it like its a free right when the other complainers are paying for it.

[Hakimy]

"It was the recent revelation of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and the stream of criticism it received that really got me thinking about this."
it did? I thought most people had positive thoughts about this one.hmmmm :S

[OtherWhiteMeat]

.

[Tony-A]

Yes Sterling.... people need to stop voicing their opinions. What did you just do?

[swice]

People complaining about this must be the fanboys that Jim is complaining about.
Fukc you guys. Seriously. You aren't gamers; you're a cancerous parasite. You don't deserve a voice until you grow up and learn what it is to be an adult about things

[Unicron]

Because it's totally adult to make a "news article" whining about the whiners.

GG.

[swice]

This is seriously a problem with "gamers" nowadays. Not all gamers, but a huge chunk. I read comments everyday and see a lot of whining and bickering about minute details that shouldn't really matter. I don't like how people have forgotten that all games are art and that the developers probably went through hell to get their product out there. It is impossible to please the masses, because it's full of whiny children that get pissed over development issues they know nothing about. I have taken classes on Game Development (a bit of Game Software Development and currently working on Game Audio with a slue of friends in Game Art and Design). It's a delicate process and to have people make petitions to bring down the house because it doesn't satisfy their personal needs is selfish. It's not their product.
Not everyone knows of this issue of fanboyism, but I think it needs to be known and stopped. It makes for a bitter atmosphere and blasting arguments that show the immaturity of the fans. It's annoying, so I say we need more articles that point this out. He is not whining about the whiners; he is saying that the whiners whine and that it sucks. I agree with him and not with you.
Opinions will ALWAYS clash, but whatever happened to chivalry and maturity? It's like we forgot how to handle this, and it's only becoming more rampant

Edit: I feel like I have just dove into a shark-tank and won't be coming out. I can't properly express how I feel with typing but I agree with Jim. I am simply a believer in Fanboys must die and the console wars must end.

[Tony-A]

Are you a gamer? If so, you are under his category of people "who need to shut up."

[swice]

We are all gamers because we are on the site "News for Gamers", so we should all just shut the fukc up. How's that?

I am not HIS definition of a "gamer", so I will not shut up. However, I will shut up about this article because it's obvious I will get slammed and outnumbered, which will just taint my opinion on the users (not all of them) of N4G further than it already is, which I don't want to happen. Looks like I really started some sh!t with my comments. Oh well I guess

[Tony-A]

No, it just doesn't fly when you try to make it seem like you're the Jesus of gaming and have experienced true gaming unlike the people you're praising to.

He's not saying "this type of gamer should shut up." He's saying "gamers should shut up."

You want to make it seem like you're different. He's generalizing a "videogame fan" the way he sees it. You don't get to back up and say "not me, I'm different" just because you think you're a different kind of gamer. He generalizes you as YOU generalize the people of N4G.

Besides, it's all opinion. In his (and your) eyes, there's this type of gamer, then there's that type of gamer. The good and the bad. Some need to realize that they aren't the diamond in the pile of coal. We're all gamers. Of course there are gonna be people who conflict with your opinions. It's the way this world works. It's unstoppable.

[swice]

From what I read he is talking about the Fanboys and the outspoken Hardcore fans of older series, which is a different kind of gamer, because I feel as though it is wrong to call all gamers Fanboys, so I consider them a different type of gamer. And I never once thought myslef as the Jesus of gaming or any kind of diamond. I have been gaming since the '80's and am noticing a trend in the attitude of the fans.
But damnit this goes both ways: I say "YOU FANBOYS SUCK" and they say "YOUR GAME/CONSOLE SUCKS MINE IS BETTER". I just don't like the demeanor or the attitude they bring because it raises tensions and causes arguments. However, people like me should learn when to chime in and when not to.
I'm sorry. I just don't see where he is telling ALL gamers to shut up in his article (He's talking to the Fanboys who think they know how to make a game). I also don't see a possibility in only having one type of gamer. A Fanboy to me is what people here call "Xbots" or "PS3 Fanboys"; people who completely think that their console/IP is dominant without question. I can't and won't agree with it. I would love to see the console wars END and my version of "fanboys" DIE and have a peaceful gaming community full of different consoles and ways of playing. I agree with Jim because he points out the kids who bicker bicker bicker. It's pointless in my eyes and I WILL express it.
Lastly, I do not generalize the people of N4G. I read what I read and see too much of this going on from most of the people here. NOT ALL OF THEM.
This will go on and on and on because opinions are opinions. DO NOT label me as one of those who thinks he is the God of gaming, because you just don't know where I am coming from. It simply isn't true and I didn't label you sh!t. I'm trying to defend myself here. Correct me please! I don't want to argue anymore! This is what I am fighting against! Help me express myself better on this site, because one wrong word will open up the assumption/generalization door and that's so wrong! I've dug a hole

[bjornbear]

stifle free speech! who wants to have people express their opinions? pff its PATHETIC!

/sarc....=/ this guy needs to shut up

i agree, people are probably too whiny about some things and call themselves "fans" but only talk trash, but that doesn't mean they need to shut up

not even the worst fanboys should be shut up, so as long as they don't insult people, or say anything clearly unethical.

[The Iron Sheik]

You first Jim.

[Dirk Benedict]

His fail and his eating go hand in hand.

[Anon7349]

Fallout 3 was not a fallout game, I played the original fallout games AFTER I played fallout 3.

The originals were not only totally different games, but much superior.

Fallout 3 was an FPS with some turned based combat and RPG elements.

The original fallout games weren't about the combat, you could entirely avoid the combat by using logic.... you can't do that in fallout 3.

I love the diablo games, but I don't mind the new art style. Most of it is fixed by mods anyways.

Sometimes hardcore fans of old games can get annoying, but a lot of the times they have a point... if not a really good reason. I bet people that don't care about the changes or the people that are "complaining about the complainers" never even played the original games........ which pisses me off the MOST.

[skyblue14213]

CHRIS399: "Seeing as he's the mascot, the champion of the cause even, for obnoxious, loudmouthed, red-faced fanboys."

[glennc]

what do you expect when you are dealing with children???