I find it interesting to see the contempt that a lot of gamers have for sports fans. I see a lot of similarities in both of these hobbies.
1.Being loyal
Being a sports fan is about being loyal. You have your favourite team, usually from the place you are from, and support it through good times and bad times.
Altough I hate fanboyism in gaming, it is a matter of fact. People are devoted to their console. Sega fans are probably still Sega fans today, even after they exited the console race. Console communities stick together, and sometimes even developer communites like people that support Valve for example.
2. The Importance of stats
Gamers love stats. How many of you check Metacritic to see the compiled ratings? VGchartz to see how well games stack up against each other? I know I do from time to time.
In Basketball for example, fans could be described as stat whores. Pretty much everything is recorded in games. Points, blocks, turnovers. Stats are a tangible way to compare results and argue for who is best, that's why they are so commonly referred to in sports. In the video game industry arguments are held over which games sell best and more often than I'd like, commercial success is used to argue about the quality of games.
3. The Hate
Sports fans hate each other. So much so that brawls and Hooliganism are a regular occurence in big events.
There's a reaon they call it the console 'war'. I wouldn't be surprised if Hooliganism manifests itself in some shape or form in the games industry in the next years. I could honestly imagine a group of console fans waiting at a big launch event of a popular title of the opposing console and then ambushing people that attend it. Until know verbal abuse is about as far as it gets. Luckily.
4. Sectively liking
In Football the players of the local teams are almost holy. They are loved, while opposing players of similar skill are hated. That all changes when players switch teams. When Figo, a brilliant playmaker, switched from rivals Barcelona to Real, roles were reversed. Barcelona fans felt betrayed despite his brilliant playing career and legend status in the previous years at their club. They started throwing objects and booing him whenever he played against their club.
FF XIII. How many people throw away their biases just after the purchase a new console? It's all about liking the games you support.
So anyway, what do you think? In many ways games are becoming a sort of sport in my opinion, with competing teams (consoles), rabid fans and focus on stats and successful history. Where's the love, yo? I wish we could just all get along and enjoy playing.
1.Being loyal
Being a sports fan is about being loyal. You have your favourite team, usually from the place you are from, and support it through good times and bad times.
Altough I hate fanboyism in gaming, it is a matter of fact. People are devoted to their console. Sega fans are probably still Sega fans today, even after they exited the console race. Console communities stick together, and sometimes even developer communites like people that support Valve for example.
2. The Importance of stats
Gamers love stats. How many of you check Metacritic to see the compiled ratings? VGchartz to see how well games stack up against each other? I know I do from time to time.
In Basketball for example, fans could be described as stat whores. Pretty much everything is recorded in games. Points, blocks, turnovers. Stats are a tangible way to compare results and argue for who is best, that's why they are so commonly referred to in sports. In the video game industry arguments are held over which games sell best and more often than I'd like, commercial success is used to argue about the quality of games.
3. The Hate
Sports fans hate each other. So much so that brawls and Hooliganism are a regular occurence in big events.
There's a reaon they call it the console 'war'. I wouldn't be surprised if Hooliganism manifests itself in some shape or form in the games industry in the next years. I could honestly imagine a group of console fans waiting at a big launch event of a popular title of the opposing console and then ambushing people that attend it. Until know verbal abuse is about as far as it gets. Luckily.
4. Sectively liking
In Football the players of the local teams are almost holy. They are loved, while opposing players of similar skill are hated. That all changes when players switch teams. When Figo, a brilliant playmaker, switched from rivals Barcelona to Real, roles were reversed. Barcelona fans felt betrayed despite his brilliant playing career and legend status in the previous years at their club. They started throwing objects and booing him whenever he played against their club.
FF XIII. How many people throw away their biases just after the purchase a new console? It's all about liking the games you support.
So anyway, what do you think? In many ways games are becoming a sort of sport in my opinion, with competing teams (consoles), rabid fans and focus on stats and successful history. Where's the love, yo? I wish we could just all get along and enjoy playing.
and thats what the internet is for!
