Contrary to what many may be thinking, this is not a post about Batman or the Joker. At all. Seriously.
This is about how serious some gamers can be.
I've just started working at a game store, which I was sure would be a blast because, come on, getting the perks of working in a game store, being able to talk to other gaming enthusiasts, telling people about games and how fun they are? These are things that I was excited about with my new job.
However, instead of being a fun experience, it's left me feeling...somewhat sheltered from the other side of gaming. The serious side of gaming. That side of gaming where the person takes gaming so seriously that dying in a game leaves them feeling betrayed by the game itself, where when they buy a game, if it doesn't work when they get home for whatever reason they will literally demand that the till be opened so they can take their money back because their entire life will be meaningless without either the game or the money that paid for said game (true story, except it was a guy who bought wii controller cases that didn't fit properly, which he then proceeded to throw in the bin and then take the empty cases back into the store and demand that he get his money back for the empty boxes.)
[EDIT: Because a couple of people have mentioned it, I'm just going to clear up that this guy brought in the empty cases by themselves without the product. And also that it is fine to return something to a store with the receipt and speak about it rationally; what I meant was bringing it back because of a stupid reason (eg: you didn't like it) and then chucking a fuss about it and yelling at the staff because you think that they did it on purpose, or something... Hopefully that clears it up a little.]
Not to mention that my co-workers claim I'm not a real gamer because I don't play Halo or COD. (I seriously think it's very close minded to decide which games make a gamer...)
Sorry. That was a bit longer than I thought it would be.
My point is, why are some people like this? Aren't games and gaming in general suppose to be fun? A way of escaping? A way of becoming someone else so playing in a fantasy world? Why are some people so angry in the gaming community? When did it become so competitive and...well, serious?
[EDIT: Also, on this, what I meant by "serious" was not necessarily in the game itself, but outside the game taking it so seriously that if the game didn't save, or something, then you'd, I don't know, go and demand a refund.
Actually, a good way to explain: Go watch "The biggest freakout ever 2" -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWBfLOZ2CjQ and you'll understand what I mean.]
Please enlighten me, Escapist!
This is about how serious some gamers can be.
I've just started working at a game store, which I was sure would be a blast because, come on, getting the perks of working in a game store, being able to talk to other gaming enthusiasts, telling people about games and how fun they are? These are things that I was excited about with my new job.
However, instead of being a fun experience, it's left me feeling...somewhat sheltered from the other side of gaming. The serious side of gaming. That side of gaming where the person takes gaming so seriously that dying in a game leaves them feeling betrayed by the game itself, where when they buy a game, if it doesn't work when they get home for whatever reason they will literally demand that the till be opened so they can take their money back because their entire life will be meaningless without either the game or the money that paid for said game (true story, except it was a guy who bought wii controller cases that didn't fit properly, which he then proceeded to throw in the bin and then take the empty cases back into the store and demand that he get his money back for the empty boxes.)
[EDIT: Because a couple of people have mentioned it, I'm just going to clear up that this guy brought in the empty cases by themselves without the product. And also that it is fine to return something to a store with the receipt and speak about it rationally; what I meant was bringing it back because of a stupid reason (eg: you didn't like it) and then chucking a fuss about it and yelling at the staff because you think that they did it on purpose, or something... Hopefully that clears it up a little.]
Not to mention that my co-workers claim I'm not a real gamer because I don't play Halo or COD. (I seriously think it's very close minded to decide which games make a gamer...)
Sorry. That was a bit longer than I thought it would be.
My point is, why are some people like this? Aren't games and gaming in general suppose to be fun? A way of escaping? A way of becoming someone else so playing in a fantasy world? Why are some people so angry in the gaming community? When did it become so competitive and...well, serious?
[EDIT: Also, on this, what I meant by "serious" was not necessarily in the game itself, but outside the game taking it so seriously that if the game didn't save, or something, then you'd, I don't know, go and demand a refund.
Actually, a good way to explain: Go watch "The biggest freakout ever 2" -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWBfLOZ2CjQ and you'll understand what I mean.]
Please enlighten me, Escapist!
