Cult of Gaming: Gamers and Industry Need to Shun Extremists
By Shawn on Sunday, April 6th, 2008 at 12:07 PM PST In Computer, Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Gamer Life, Games, Games Industry, Microsoft, Nintendo, Nintendo, Portable, Sony, Sony
Douglas Wilson has authored an article calling for an end to gaming extremists. The flamers, trolls and fanboys need to cease and desist in order for the rest of the world to take gaming seriously.
The problem is, the “gaming community” has become a kind of cult. Organized around worship sites like Kotaku, 1UP, and Penny Arcade, the Church of Gamers congregates in Internet forums and online games, rallying against the Great Satan of Jack Thompson. Smitten with near-religious fervor over their hobby, these so-called gamers increasingly treat digital games as a devotional object, a thing morally good in itself.
It’s great to be a passionate about one’s hobbies. But when fans lose touch with reality, they also lose perspective on the more important parts of life. And in doing so, gamers ironically stifle innovation in the medium they so love.
The author decries gamers who put gaming interests above such issues as education, unemployment, terrorism, and genocide. It’s very hard to gain sympathy from the general populous when you are so out of touch with things that concern them. read Wilson’s article in Gamasutra for a sobering and hopefully moderating look at gaming culture.
and anouther anti-gamer i find it impossible not to bust a gut laughing my head off at.
and i would like to know what HE is doing with regards to terrorism. something rambo-esque in the mountains of tora bora, no doubt. or teaching little kids long division.
hee hee!
Fanboys are the scum of the universe.
@angkasaputra – you are a douche. That redirect goes to a page that installs adware/virus. Please dont click on his stupid link!
Editor’s Note: The link referenced has been removed.
So I should care what the “general populace” that “cares” about terrorism, unemployment and genocide think of me? When the things they care about they do nothing about to begin with? Right.
I’m not out of touch, I’m realistic, I’m not going to stop terrorism, genocide, and unemployment. Why should I even concern myself with it.
@Haeso, One black woman choose to sit at the front of a bus … the rest is history. You probably don’t care about history though since you can’t do anything about the present why should you bother yourself with history. It is people like you who this article is referencing. People like you give all gamers a bad name!
If you got off the couch you could help change things! Go start a business and give someone a job! Since you obviously are not a big thinker start small … a hotdog stand and put someone in charge of it for the summer. There you just helped solve unemployment.
Point is 1 single person (you for instance) can change the present, the future, and even create history while doing it. You probably shouldn’t concern yourself with such unrealistic things though and go back to playing your totally real games since you are so ‘realistic’.
By the way, yes I am a gamer PC & Console both and I still find time to run a natural products business to help fight against global warming and household toxins and chemicals that are poisoning people everyday. I also work for a cellular service company to help people stay in touch and run their businesses more effectively. On the side I repair computers and give lessons so I can help people learn skills to make them employable, thus helping with unemployment. I teach sunday school at my church, run the sound board equipment, and play bass for the church band.
All that while I help my stay-at-home wife raise our 2 boys. We are not rich by any means and don’t even own a car but realistically I can say I’m doing my part to the best of my ability … are you?
I love video games. I play constantly. However, I don’t descriminate. I own Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft consoles as well as a gaming rig. I personally have no favorites, besides PCs for freeware. Don’t pick on one. I like the DS for the interface, PSP for it’s games, and X-box 360 for it’s power. Go figure.