Elitism in video games.

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

This is a subject I deal with constantly in multiplayer games, MMO's and even in conversation material (and of course on various internet forums). Elitism, or the egotistical idea that because you may be better than some at various tasks in a video game (PvP in WoW, CoD raping, TF2) people who aren't as good as you are lower life forms.
I find this rather odd since, until relatively recently, gaming has been almost immediate grounds for becoming a social pariah. I personally have dealt with being shunned and ridiculed for my hobbies, and honestly wouldn't want to visit the same vitriol I've been pelted with my whole life.
I would think that if gamers would want acceptance in society they would also realize that downing on those who are less skilled than the "elitist" does nothing but reinforce a stereotype of immaturity. Even if you are well spoken on why you are "better" than everyone, and why you think the "noobs" should just quit "your" game, doesn't that just make you no better than the jock who beats up the nerd because he doesn't play football?

Anyway... thoughts anyone?

 

[yuval152]

I Never understood Elitism in video games.

i mean ITS JUST A GAME who give a fuck on which console your playing it on its suppoused to be for fun not for being like "I IZ BETTEZ TEN YOU SO I IZ BETTER GAMER AND BECUZ I IZ BETTEZ GAMER THEN YOU CANT PLAY WITH ME" It's getting more and more annyoing

 

[Beat14]

I agree, I never understood why people dis others for being bad at a video game. I myself can't be proud or gloat about my skill when playing with random people, I understand mocking people you know and just having a laugh, but blurting it out to random people about how you "owned" them because of them being a "noob" just seems stupid, to me it's someone saying "I've wasted enough time on this video game and honed my skills at something pointless". I enjoy videogames loads and have wasted plenty of time on them, but I can't go around saying look I'm better than you, because really what does being better at a videogame boil down to.

 

[Radoh]

Well I could explain it to you, but I doubt you'd understand. After all, you're probably one of those Xboxers.
And as a qualifier, that is a joke.

 

[MrKupos]

I think TF2 is a great example of elitism, at least, from my point of view. As you all know it recently went Free to Play (wich is a great thing). The problem here is that the Team Fortress community completely divided in 2 groups : The Free to Play "Noob" and the paying "Elites". You all know that when you start playing a game, in pretty much in every gendre, you are just "Bad" at it, you are not used to the engine, the tactics, gameplay, ect... That is what made all Free to Play players "complete noobs".

After a while (Let's say two weeks), the problem is still the same, but some people even created a modification that is kicking F2P players from servers since they "Infect their fun"... From my point of view, it is completely pathetic.

 

[LiberalSquirrel]

I hate elitism no matter what form it comes in, and that includes gaming elitism. I'm good at video games. That doesn't mean I should have an inherent sense of entitlement. Personally, I love this little gaming hobby, and think that gamers should just be one big happy gaming community, no matter how good they are at whatever game they're playing.

 

[worldruler8]

I actually play on a minecraft anarchy server, which is a true dog-eat-dog world. In the server, we have the "spawn", which not only includes the spawn, but also a 3km radius around it, and is nothing but old ruins of past players, most of them "noobs". I always hate using the term "spawn noobs", but I'm afraid that they are very much existent. In the server, you have to build far out in order to be relatively safe from greifers (which is allowed), and I always found that 5km in both directions tends to be efficient. However, most "noobs" don't know this. It gets really bad when you have towns get founded and then have a revolution in a matter of two hours. It gets even worse when they spawnkill people at spawn (hint, you get nothing for spawnkilling people) which not only is frowned upon, it prevents people from joining the server. They tend to be VERY egotistical, and are almost always pre-teen or in some cases, even *younger*. I made a gov't on the server, actually, an inter-town gov't. Somehow (still trying to figure this out) they managed to get to my main building, and they trashed it. I don't want to say grief, as grief implies they completely annihilated it, but instead took a few "decorations" which wee actually of value. This included gold ore and and an iron block fountain. I don't think noobs are bad people, necessarily, but they seem to not know things that are utterly common sense for us "vets". For example, move far out; most don't go past the 3km limit. Be wary of people; most join or get joined by known ne-er-do-wells. those are the only two real rules you need to follow on that server. and apparently it is harder then I think it is... :/

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Seriously has nearly every single person forgot the difference between the word noob and newb. They are completely different words also who said that gaming wanted to be accepted in the mainstream? From where I am sitting it has not really helped the medium all that much. Now while not all mainstreamers or casual people are bad a larger user base does mean more dicks that is a fact. Xbox Live is a great example of this. While there are loads of normal people there are also loads of vocal twats.

 

[The Abhorrent]

Elitism is a rather chronic issue with online gaming, and from what I've gathered there are two main causes:

1. A Hyper-Competitive Environment
For some reason, online gaming tends to be extremely competitive. It could be a byproduct American culture in general placing a very high value on success and being number one, often to the point where people will take any means necessary to obtain it. Another effect of a whole culture placing an obscene amount of value on success is the tendency to gloat and show off, a way for one to raise their own status... and simultaneously belittle others. It is a bit sickening, but that's how important success and popularity are to some people (especially when their culture encourages such behaviours). As noted, it was only recently that gaming has gained some sort of acceptance by popular culture; and the former pariahs could be partaking in some disproportionate retribution by belittling those who belittled them in the past for being geeks and/or nerds (a bit of a "give them inch, and they'll take a mile" situation). Sad, but that's the truth.

2. The Internet's General Lack of Ettiquette
The existence of the G.I.F.T. [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GIFT] is a known issue of the internet, anonymity turns many people into complete jerks because of the lack of reprecussions. Combined with the hyper-competitive environment of online gaming, the net result is elitism (or alternatively, a situation similar to competitive sport... but completely lacking in any sense of sportsmanship).

---

As I've said, this is a (real-life) cultural issue; it is only exaggerated by the lack of common courtesy over the internet. As such, any solution is far from easy. Americans have in a sense earned their status as one of the most powerful nations in the world, but they seem very much unaware of how poorly they conduct themselves (the collective ego-stroking is unbelievably annoying, really). Much of the negative reception they receive, particularly that regarding their conduct, was also very much earned.

This is also a very sensitive issue, but it's still something which I feel needs to be addressed. Regrettably, the first step to correcting any issue to admit that there is one; and even better, pride and arrogance are two of the hardest to admit.

 

[TheDooD]

Being Elite means you earned it pure and simple. It's a necessary evil to get more players playing. Have you ever tried to beat a leaderboard high score in the game. Or have you ever entered a tournament and won. It felt good didn't it? You put in time to master it and then you became an elite player above the rest. look at the marvel pinball and pac man championship edition people play it just so they can be remembered in the records as a good player. EVO and SBO are coming up which are major fighting game tournaments where you can earn a lot of money and some fame by winning. Yet nobody walking on the streets can't get far if they never played a day in their life. It takes a dedicated player, an elite one to get out of the pools let alone survive the normal tournament itself. The elite set themselves apart because they aren't like those noobs or the casuals they really don't want to waste their time playing if they can't get better they seek a challenging rival if they want a punching bag they'll play the single player modes.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

Being picked on for gaming may contribute to being a douche when gaming. Can't fight back in real life against bullies? Do the same thing to people in a game.

Although the people who tend to be douches in reality do play games that are widely accepted, so playing those games may help you come across them.

 

[CODE-D]

I would think that if gamers would want acceptance in society they would also realize that downing on those who are less skilled than the "elitist" does nothing but reinforce a stereotype of immaturity.

And thats where your wrong, to think some gamers want acceptance that is. Unlike you Ive never sought this from people as i dont really care what they think about gaming and I think you taking offense and giving them the name elitist isnt going to stop this anytime soon, they probably like that name.

 

[Zhukov]

Uhh... by-product of our society? Inherent human behavioral trait?

Oh, I don't know.

But what I do know is that right now someone, somewhere, is looking down on someone else because of the colour of their socks.

That is to say, it's not just a gaming thing.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

This is a subject I deal with constantly in multiplayer games, MMO's and even in conversation material (and of course on various internet forums). Elitism, or the egotistical idea that because you may be better than some at various tasks in a video game (PvP in WoW, CoD raping, TF2) people who aren't as good as you are lower life forms.
I find this rather odd since, until relatively recently, gaming has been almost immediate grounds for becoming a social pariah. I personally have dealt with being shunned and ridiculed for my hobbies, and honestly wouldn't want to visit the same vitriol I've been pelted with my whole life.
I would think that if gamers would want acceptance in society they would also realize that downing on those who are less skilled than the "elitist" does nothing but reinforce a stereotype of immaturity. Even if you are well spoken on why you are "better" than everyone, and why you think the "noobs" should just quit "your" game, doesn't that just make you no better than the jock who beats up the nerd because he doesn't play football?

Anyway... thoughts anyone?

While some like you do indeed seek acceptance a whole lot of others have just shunned society right back by creating their own set of values and in those values gaming skill is a highly regarded feature of a person.


Don't have to agree with it, just understand it.

/just_saiyan.jpg

 

[evilneko]

Once, when I used to play League of Legends, I got called noob because I had so few kills in the game.

The other players calling him out on it was priceless.

I was playing the healer.

 

[Romidude]

Whatever makes people feel superior, I suppose.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

Being Elite means you earned it pure and simple. It's a necessary evil to get more players playing. Have you ever tried to beat a leaderboard high score in the game. Or have you ever entered a tournament and won. It felt good didn't it? You put in time to master it and then you became an elite player above the rest. look at the marvel pinball and pac man championship edition people play it just so they can be remembered in the records as a good player. EVO and SBO are coming up which are major fighting game tournaments where you can earn a lot of money and some fame by winning. Yet nobody walking on the streets can't get far if they never played a day in their life. It takes a dedicated player, an elite one to get out of the pools let alone survive the normal tournament itself. The elite set themselves apart because they aren't like those noobs or the casuals they really don't want to waste their time playing if they can't get better they seek a challenging rival if they want a punching bag they'll play the single player modes.

Ah but there is a difference between being elite and the attitude some "elites" choose to hold over others.

A great example is Anderson Silva, the MMA fighter of UFC fame. The man is a brilliant and decorated Mixed-martial artist, and has been a champion multiple times. He competes for the sake of competing, but isn't a douchebag about it. He's respectful towards other fighters, and honorable.
I myself have won plenty of tournaments (most of them back in younger days of Quake 2) or placed very highly in them. Yet whenever I won I always took the time to congratulate others on their skills, even go to "noob" players and give them props for some things that they did despite being new to the game. I've never once looked down on anyone for being bad at a game, though I have felt frustration at certain levels of team-based play when players decide to do randomly stupid things "for teh lulz". Usually I just add contentious players to my blacklist rather than down on them.
Its all about attitude, not skill. Being the top player in a game might be an accomplishment to respect, but being a douchebag about it also tends to whittle said respect down to little or nothing.

 

[TheSolemnHypnotic]

COMPENSATION FOR THEIR FAILURE IN LIFE. Not to just stereotype gamers, but seriously, for some of these dude (and especially girls) you'd think that gaming is all they've ever known. It's sad.

 

[jonyboy13]

The OP really generalizing gamer elitists and gamers as general here.
Why people don't see the difference between newb and noob?

...though I have felt frustration at certain levels of team-based play...

Well, I believe the problem lies here. Not only "for teh lulz" but just players being bad.
In some events where all players get equal gear and skills you can find your self with some real noobs that just ruin it for everyone.
Like mentioned before, there's still a difference between newb and noob. No (sane) person goes to starting area in MMOs and shout "ZOMG NOOB" every time one of the lvl 1 who just started playing fails at something but when you're at end game and your team gets owned just because, let's say a really bad healer, the "zomg noob" just comes out naturally.

If I had the choice, I'd rather fight top players in which ever game that may be than noobs, regardless of form (team play, solo, etc'). I just find it very frustrating to play with/vs noobs.
This is the attitude most people take in real life so why not take it in a game? (Don't you even dare say "because games are not real life", this argument is just absurd.)