EDITORIAL: A Gaming Identity

[PsychicTaco115]

[Img_Inline width="280" height="240" Caption="Average reaction after reading my thinkings"]http://i.imgur.com/NNn0EXD.jpg[/Img_Inline]

Recently there's been a huge kerfuffle about the word "gamer" and how it's supposedly dying... Seriously guys? Not only can that be seen as an attack on people who had nothing to do with this (others can vouch this) but it's just not true. The industry is growing as the accessibility of games has gotten easier for a wide variety of gaming genres to get released. We're getting HEALTHIER, not sicker.

Of course, that only works if the definition of "gamer" is just "someone who plays games." Which is fine but that doesn't really say much; do you play on PC, console, handhelds, mobile games, etc? Do you have a specific genre you like? Just like movies, music and books, everyone has specific niches they enjoy that can't be conveyed in the general word itself.

Just to be clear, I'm not advocating for the casual/hardcore terminology. I firmly believe that it doesn't matter the GAMES that you play, it's how closely you follow the media. If you just know the release date of that new game you want from the Gamestop ad, I'd say there's some difference in interest when compared to the person who keeps up with gaming news, discusses issues pertaining to games and other such stuff.

But you know what? That's not a bad thing. Not everyone has to get in-depth with games because at the end of the day, they exist for entertainment. Pretty much every media is designed to entertain. It can also explore the human condition and societal faults; variety is everything so why not have the serious mixed with the silly.

So is there any solution to this terminology problem? I can't say for sure but what I do know is that the term "gamer" is here to stay, so don't kill it please. We still need it

at the end of the day, am I wrong? Am I right? I don't f**king know, I'm just one guy giving his opinion on a forum in the form of an editorial. The one thing I hope is that I've explained my position on the matter clearly and rationally.

-TACO NEWS: Totally Knows What He's Doing
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[Colour Scientist]

Well, that was disappointingly serious.

Maybe we should come up with a new name.

I mean, people are always saying that we need a new word for feminism because extremists have sullied it, surely the same thing applies here. We need a replacement for 'gamers.'

What about arsebiscuits?

"Why yes, I am an avid arsebiscuit."

 

[Caiphus]

Well, that was disappointingly serious.

Maybe we should come up with a new name.

I mean, people are always saying that we need a new word for feminism because extremists have sullied it, surely the same thing applies here. We need a replacement for 'gamers.'

What about arsebiscuits?

"Why yes, I am an avid arsebiscuit."

I find that I'm more of a casual arsebiscuit these days if I'm honest.

 

[Colour Scientist]

I find that I'm more of a casual arsebiscuit these days if I'm honest.

Fake arsebiscuits like you are ruining the industry.

 

[Caiphus]

Fake arsebiscuits like you are ruining the industry.

Get out of here. Just because casual arsebiscuits don't like convoluted lore and metagaming doesn't mean that we too can't not die in a freak gasoline fight accident.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

Well, that was disappointingly serious.

I've decided that editorials will be more "srs" than the other stuff but they'll only be every other day

But the gist I wanted to get across is that I have an opinion!

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Get out of here. Just because casual arsebiscuits don't like convoluted lore and metagaming doesn't mean that we too can't not die in a freak gasoline fight accident.

Are you even really an arsebiscuit if you're THAT casual about it? It kind of pisses me off that just anyone can call themselves an arsebiscuit when they clearly don't even know the first thing about being one.

We need a different term. Arsebiscuit has become too dilute thanks to posers.

 

[Dragonbums]

Honestly I'm super casual when it comes to games. The most games I've played are on Nintendo systems. It's only after I got steam like 3 years ago did I even touch other genres of games.

Hell I just played LFD2 with my roommates yesterday. Yet between all that I still consider myself a gamer.

I mean, I really don't attach my identity to that. It's about as much as calling yourself a sports fan. As in...who cares? It's not good to make your entire identity surrounded by a hobby. It's one thing to identify yourself as a game dev, programmer, artist etc. Those are not hobbies. Those are your jobs. Not just ANYONE can claim they are the described fields. But anyone who loves games regardless of hours put in can call themselves a gamer.

 

[Dragonbums]

But the gist I wanted to get across is that I have an opinion!

Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.

Does this mean tacos have assholes?

I mean there was that one taco in South Park that crapped ice cream, but thats hardly conclusive.

We need more sentient tacos, for science!

Tacos may not have assholes, but they sure do have...you know what? I think I'll drop the convo here and leave with my perverted self.

Let's keep this thread sfw.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

Sniparoo

It's not really the games you play, I'd say it's your interest in the medium itself

Like you're posting here, so obviously have some interest in the gaming industry

Again, nothing wrong with people who just pick up, play and forget

 

[Something Amyss]

I find that I'm more of a casual arsebiscuit these days if I'm honest.

Fake arsebiscuits like you are ruining the industry.

Fake arsebiscuits made the industry as strong as it is. You only get major game releases because of the fake arsebiscuits. Do you really want to go back to the days when arsebiscuits couldn't enjoy their hobbies openly?

 

[Ephidel]

What about arsebiscuits?

I find that I'm quite the arsehobnob to be perfectly honest.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

I find that I'm more of a casual arsebiscuit these days if I'm honest.

Fake arsebiscuits like you are ruining the industry.

Fake arsebiscuits made the industry as strong as it is. You only get major game releases because of the fake arsebiscuits. Do you really want to go back to the days when arsebiscuits couldn't enjoy their hobbies openly?

That's exactly the problem! These fake arsebiscuits are buying too many brainless blockbusters and killing the REAL games. If the manual is anything less than novel length it's not worth playing!

 

[ThatDarnCoyote]

That's exactly the problem! These fake arsebiscuits are buying too many brainless blockbusters and killing the REAL games. If the manual is anything less than novel length it's not worth playing!

Not to mention that consoles are ruining everything for the Glorious PC Arsebiscuit Master Race.

 

[firebobm173]

In all seriousness, the talk of gamers going away refers more to the death, or at least serious change to what is traditionally considered gaming culture, not calling for the end of anyone playing video games.

 

[Something Amyss]

That's exactly the problem! These fake arsebiscuits are buying too many brainless blockbusters and killing the REAL games. If the manual is anything less than novel length it's not worth playing!

I'm sorry? Manual? You mean you want the developers to hold your hand by telling you how to play and what to actually do? Now who's the casual?

 

[Something Amyss]

In all seriousness, the talk of gamers going away refers more to the death, or at least serious change to what is traditionally considered gaming culture, not calling for the end of anyone playing video games.

Yes, but why pay attention to details when you can take umbrage at something clearly not aimed at you?

 

[Barbas]

(...)I mean, people are always saying that we need a new word for feminism because extremists have sullied it(...)

What about "Funimism"?

In all seriousness, the talk of gamers going away refers more to the death, or at least serious change to what is traditionally considered gaming culture, not calling for the end of anyone playing video games.

I say goodbyeeeeeeeee!! That culture was like pureed terrorism for the bowels. I've never seen people make fun look like so much bloody work!

 

[V4Viewtiful]

Well, that was disappointingly serious.

Maybe we should come up with a new name.

I'm privy to Cyber Junkies.

Maybe Digi-men?