In response to “A Day in the Life of a Social Loner” from The Escapist Forum: Yeah I can relate, especially when I was growing up and my parents couldn’t understand how a smart kid could waste away so many hours on video games. Years later, when I brought my Wii home for Christmas a couple weeks ago, I had about 8 family members (uncles, cousins, and my dad), all wanting a turn at it! Though none of them were about to play RE4 or anything, I’d say that the Wii has seriously turned around the definition of “gamer”. In the past, you’d hear statistics about how a huge number of average Joe’s and Jane’s “game”, but it was always referring to little Minesweeper and Solitaire type games. The Wii has really brought it out into the open. Instead of stolen, bored minutes in the office, its a form of family entertainment.
So, while some games are inherently “loner” games, I think that social, relatively casual games like Wii Sports, Warioware, etc, may give people a brand new perspective on gaming. It’ll be really interesting to see if current early teens have anything like this problem as adults.
The article is extremely sad.
It describes a person who feels excluded from social interactions if he acknowledges his hobby, yet it seems as if he himself is the one who does the excluding. A roommate who asks about the videogame he plays clearly does not feel that videogames is the sole dominion of future Virginia Tech mimic psychos and extreme otaku-level fat, unwashed fans. Yet the person feels the need to excuse himself.
Unwilling to even admit to OWNING A WII AND PLAYING GAMES ASIDE PARTY GAMES, he forces himself (is NOT forced by anyone else, mind you) to hide it behind the TV, like a casual drinker who hides beer in the bathroom because if someone sees it in the fridge, he thinks they’ll think he is an alcoholic.
Self-delusion. It runs deep, and it saddens me to an extreme. Do none of his friends have a hobby that he doesn’t actually like, but it’s okay because frankly he could care less what they do during the days? Most people are like this. “Oh, you like games. How nice.” and that’s it. There’s no need to hide your gaming habit. You decided that your hobby is a heavy cross chained to your back. Nobody put it there but you. So just take it off, you idiot. Nobody walks around with actual, physical, heavy crosses on their backs when they don’t have to. So why have you DECIDED that your hobby is one, thus forcing yourself to wear it?
If you ever drink a beer with your friends, you can play games aside Guitar Hero and Wii sports, and let others know about it if they ask. In short, the point I try to hammer home real heavy here: No, gaming is not a deeply shameful act, unless you make it into one yourself. Like the previously mentioned beer-drinker, you’re hiding your gaming. Which means that it seems like a problem, while it isn’t.
Think about it, if you find that someone hid beers in their bathroom, they look like they have a problem. A six-pack in the fridge? Not so. If you only play when others aren’t looking, pretend that you’re not interested in games, hide the games and consoles physically from others…you LOOK like a god-damned freak. You might not be, but that’s sure what it sounds like.
Think about it.
Solidarity, brother. You are not alone.
For someone who is articulate and insightful, you seem overly concerned about social acceptance. Who cares? Social acceptance is reliant upon society. We all know that society is dumb and slow, raised on fast food and tranquilized by major league sports. Revel in your games, and let your detractors be damned!
If your girlfriend loves you, she will be grateful for the things that make you happy. If she doesn’t, you are better off alone. Personally, I would be more concerned with E! network playing on my television than Halo 3.
Gamers are no longer a hidden class. We are a vast population who will no longer take a back seat to the sleepwalking fanbases that fantasize about football players. Gamers are at the controls of our own entertainment. We don’t sit and expect to be spoon-fed recycles plot points by a Bruckheimer flick. Gamers unlock the adventure for themselves.
Which part of that embarrasses you?
– XerxdeeJ
In response to “Team Butts” from The Escapist Forum: I laughed out loud, true story.
This is what happens when a bunch of antisocial men who aren’t used to competing with other people get together and try to compete with other people on the internet. It has a very clear ring of truth for me with relation to the Unreal Tournament 1v1 community. Even the nicest guys have to verbally abuse themselves or the other players once in awhile; it’s just part of the whole experience. In fact the main predominant emotion in UT 1v1s most of the time is anger/frustration (I know that’s certainly the case with me, and if other player text is any indication, them too). What keeps us playing it, anyways?
– p1ne
In response to “Games are for Kids” from The Escapist Forum: I get this from my wife a lot but she’s coming around a bit more. Mostly I play my DS because “I can play it anywhere in short bursts”. Also I can use my son as an excuse to game now. The semi problem is though with my son I get to play more Lego Star Wars and less Grand Theft Auto or Team Fortress.
I guess we take what we can get.
Anyway, the only game she plays is PC solitaire on the laptop. I almost got her into SSX but it seems to have vanished completely.
Also what bugs me is she gets irritated if I’m not “spending time with her” and want to go use the computer or play a game but half the time we’re together she’s a TV zombie. At least I’m interacting with my entertainment.
