I want to love gaming, but I can't.

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Werewolfkid

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Nov 1, 2012
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I have been playing video games all my life and for the longest time I wanted to be a game designer. Too craft experiences for others to enjoy was my ultimate dream. But now that I am on the threshold of making my dream come true all I want to do is walk away because all I see on the other side is an ocean of cynicism. All I hear is that triple A games are soulless pieces of garbage, indie games are pretentious piles of crap, anything in the middle are hollow and cheap, and generally everything about games is horrible and only an idiot would think otherwise. I want to be happy about games and be excited about talking about them with other people, but all I ever see these days are people talking about how gaming is dead and how every game made these days are hollow shells compared to the games of yesterday.

I have been playing games ever since I was a little kid and I have always wanted to make my own. I was excited to go into the industry and start making my mark. I didn't care whither I would be working on an FPS or an artsy platformer for some indie developer. All I wanted to do was make a game that makes someone happy. But, all I see when I go on the internet and look for video game related stuff are people talking about how gaming is dead and how the filthy casuals and the disgusting brogamers are ruining everything. I'll admit the industry is in a bad place right now and I want to have hope that things are going to get better. But sadly, I don't feel that way and ironically it isn't the publisher's bad business practices(we have proven that we can change how they act if we really try) that are making feel that way, but the people that have played games all their lives just like me.

These days it feels like people go out of their way to hate games, even ones that are not even released. Dishonored was my favorite game last year and people have gone out of their way to talk about how horrible it is and how anyone who dares to like it is an idiot. BioShock Infinite has been the best games I played in quite a while and yet again people said it was a piece of dumbed down, overhyped, pretentious crap that doesn't deserve to exist. And now the Thief reboot, a game that has not even come out yet is being called an abomination that will destroy all of gaming for daring to implement features that will make the game easier for people that didn't grow up playing Thief. It seems like the very idea of opening video games to people that haven't played them before is a sin that can't be forgiven.

Games used to be something that outsiders like myself could go to feel like we were worth something, where game designers were encouraged to try and raise the bar to deliver better experiences. But as time has gone on it has mutated into something viscous and uninviting where the outsider is shunned and where game designer that try an create more inclusive experiences are branded as traitors for letting the filthy causal into the fold. I want everyone to love games, but some people just want games to belong the them and to them alone.

I know that their are a lot people out there that love games as much as I do, I know that there are people with high hopes for the future of games, I know that there are people out there that want to let more people into the fold, and I know there are people that can judge games on their own terms and not chain them completely to the past. I want to love gaming, but I can't right now because I see is cynicism and hate. I need to see optimism and open minds. I need to know that I am not alone.
 

thesilentman

What this
Jun 14, 2012
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Here's what I suggest: a break from video game forums.

I'm feeling the same, a feeling of despair coming from the fact that I can't really break into the field without feeling... rejected? Is that what I'm thinking?

But yes. Avoid the negativity, as it can make you dismayed about a field that you may like. Just remember; it's not the games, it's the people. Make and form your own opinions on games, and just continue. If you do that, trust me; you are going to feel a lot better.

Just don't give up hope, we all need something positive in this cynicism. :)
 

MammothBlade

It's not that I LIKE you b-baka!
Oct 12, 2011
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What you are finding issue with is the gaming community. Ignore it, and focus on the games and you'll swim just fine, make sure not to go into the nasty sharkpool and play in the fun area. And maybe get yourself a hotdog while you're at it, that creepy vendor from the streets of Liberty City will serve up some good grub! Though I hear there are sharks in the waters with GTA V, so you might want to stay in a shark cage anyway.
 

IllumInaTIma

Flesh is but a garment!
Feb 6, 2012
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Don't allow a bunch of vocal idiots to ruin the dream of your freaking life dude! I've been around Russian gamers for all my life and they will throw shit at anything that's not from the 90s PC era and I still want to work with videogames. Videogames are my passion, and only a couple of month back I've decided that I actually want to work with them, I want to be a part of that industry with all its goods and bads. So come on dude, don't let anyone sway your opinion. Do what you love.
You know what, maybe you need some new fuel? About a year ago I also was at very low spirits, wishing to play nothing but freaking Dota all day long. You know what happened? I've ACCIDENTALLY downloaded Persona 3: Portable on my PSP. That changed everything. I've discovered completely new and fresh gaming horizon that I just barely started to explore. There is always more, and you can make more.
 

Glongpre

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Jun 11, 2013
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I wish I could post that anonyminity plus internet equals total retard but I'm on an ipad right now. Don't worry, be happy.
 

Full

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Sep 3, 2012
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The internet is literally where dreams go to die, proof is here.

EDIT: Look, guy, some people just won't like things. They'll see it in a different light, no matter what. That's kind of why you have to ignore that stuff most of the time, especially if you're going for a dream job so to speak. Criticism is important but taken in doses from people who aren't hipster edgy guys who think what they think are facts.

Everyone's just desperate for something truly different in the mainstream that's not some point and click adventure or Gears of War but with tears and emotions, that's all, they still care about games.

Still you realize you are letting some random people on the internet ruin your dreams. That shit's fucked.
 

Zhukov

The Laughing Arsehole
Dec 29, 2009
13,769
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Wait... what?

Where have you been hanging out? Because even around here I don't see the kind of negativity you're describing.

Lastly, bear in mind that people are more likely to talk about something that left them annoyed than something that left them content. Bad things demand a response while good things don't. I know I'm more likely to post about the bad aspects of games than the good. (Although I make a point of doing a "this game was awesome" thread every now and again.)
 

Bellvedere

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Jul 31, 2008
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Werewolfkid said:
I know that their are a lot people out there that love games as much as I do, I know that there are people with high hopes for the future of games, I know that there are people out there that want to let more people into the fold, and I know there are people that can judge games on their own terms and not chain them completely to the past. I want to love gaming, but I can't right now because I see is cynicism and hate. I need to see optimism and open minds. I need to know that I am not alone.
Human minds are naturally geared towards problem solving. We're more likely to notice and pay attention to criticism than praise simply because we want to solve the problem. It's the reason we see a lot of those negative political campaign ads -> people are more likely to listen to those. So what you said about people loving games and having high hopes for the industry is very true, you're just more likely to see and then notice more of the negative views rather than the positive views.

The internet has been and continues to be a pit of despair and hatred towards everything and also cat pictures. I often find myself coming away from discussion boards feeling kinda down just from the sheer amount of negativity (and sometimes ignorance) present. I think it's quite natural to feel bad about something when confronted by that. I'm kind of reminded of anonymous's slogan "None of us are as cruel as all of us". That's true of pretty much everything, none of us are as cruel, as angry, as stupid, as clever, as fearful, as spiteful, as forgiving, as brave, as anything as all of us are. The internet is very accessible to a very large population of people.

I love gaming. There's constantly games that I want to play, and I enjoy a great number of them. If you're feeling down I heartily recommend reading dev interviews about their games. They are passionate and proud of the games that they make and it will help you to feel inspired (also if you join the games industry these are the people you will be surrounded by not haters from the internets). Much better than reading the posts of strangers whose affiliations and deeper opinions you have no way of knowing or understanding.
 

QuantumNebula

New member
Jun 4, 2013
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I think a huge part of the problem is that many people, me included view the gaming community as a whole entity. This makes it seem like the entire gaming community hates everything about games. In truth, it is just a few individuals each hating on some part of the industry they don't like but then people take all this hate and pile it together and make it look like the gaming community hates everything. For example, someone may hate game X and another game Y and so on, but to others, it seems like the entire community hates everything.

Also, remember that the negative people tend to yell the loudest, making it seem like everything is bad.
 

Guffe

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Jul 12, 2009
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Guess what...
Go chase your dream and make a game under a dev!

The people who are bashing games are the ones who scream the loudest and are heard. Don't worry about them, among the "real" people I know, we just enjoy gaming, sure every game has its flaws but very seldom do I hear anyone actually hating games, otherwise they'd given up on it a long time ago.

So don't listen to the internetters, people here can state any opinion they want because they won't need to take shit for it. So go make a game and make people happy at the same time!
 

lacktheknack

Je suis joined jewels.
Jan 19, 2009
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Werewolfkid said:
These days it feels like people go out of their way to hate games, even ones that are not even released. Dishonored was my favorite game last year and people have gone out of their way to talk about how horrible it is and how anyone who dares to like it is an idiot. BioShock Infinite has been the best games I played in quite a while and yet again people said it was a piece of dumbed down, overhyped, pretentious crap that doesn't deserve to exist. And now the Thief reboot, a game that has not even come out yet is being called an abomination that will destroy all of gaming for daring to implement features that will make the game easier for people that didn't grow up playing Thief. It seems like the very idea of opening video games to people that haven't played them before is a sin that can't be forgiven.
Uh...

Clearly we occupy different planes of reality. Wherever I'M looking, people can't get enough of the above games and are optimistic-ish about Thief.

I can't respond to any of your OP, because it doesn't match my experiences... at all.
 

Godhead

Dib dib dib, dob dob dob.
May 25, 2009
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People love to complain. Don't throw away your dream because a bunch of fuck wits said a ton of negative things about the industry. Being a self entitled brat is easy on the internet. It's hard to be a game designer anywhere, most of us who complain about stuff only talk from our experiences and don't realize the amount of hours and emotionally and mentally draining work it can take just to imagine and create a single segment of a game.

If you want to do something in the gaming industry, go out and do it. Try and get your foot in the door at some developer, go take a computer programming course or go to college (if you haven't already), hell it's easier now more than ever to create a game through the massive influx of indie games that have popped up on the consoles, smartphones, and pc. You could develop a simple game out of your own pocket, or try and find some other guys and start up a crowdfunding project. Just go out and do something, you will almost inevitably find a way to make money while doing something you love.
 

MrHide-Patten

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Jun 10, 2009
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Werewolfkid said:
I know EXACTLY how you feel mate. I'm part of an Indie start up team now as an artist and there are many games that I do love or at least find things to love about them, but there's gaming hipster A complaining how the latest console isn't giving him a blowjob when his PC cradles his balls, and gaming nerd B comparing Saints Row 3 to Ebola.

It's a bit disheartening to go onto forums and hard to pull yourself out of the muck. Gaming forums are like that swamp the horse drowns in The Never-ending Story. I do try to keep in mind the adage that the content are the ones that don't say anything and the ones that are vocal are usually a minority. Unless your Microsoft.
 

RJ 17

The Sound of Silence
Nov 27, 2011
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Werewolfkid said:
Pretty much what the first guy that responded said: take a break from the interwebz. If you haven't noticed yet, you'll never find a more hate-filled place anywhere else. I wouldn't give up hope, though. The only way the industry is going to change (and thus garner less internet rage towards it) is if people like you have a passion for making quality games. There's still great games out there, whether or not people will admit it. Take "The Last Of Us" for example. I don't have a PS3, but evidently it's the sexiest thing since sex. Every person I've talked to about it said it's the best game they've ever played. If nothing else, that stands as proof that it CAN still be done, making a fantastic game that is. As such not all hope has been lost yet, we just need better, more creative people creating games.

The big issue is that more and more games are moving away from good stories, which is why games like Walking Dead and The Last Of Us are getting rave reviews. In an industry that seems to have forgotten how to tell a good story, has forgotten the importance of having a good story, those games are a breath of fresh air due to their fantastic stories and story telling. But you don't have to write a novel to make a good game, case in point: Journey. The story is literally "get from point A to point B" and people loved it.

So yeah, it's easy to get bogged down in all the hate that the internet brings to pretty much every subject that exists - obviously videogames are included - but that doesn't mean there's truly no hope at all. Creating a good game is still very easily possible, in fact, we just need people with the right passion for quality rather than developers just pushing out assembly-line games based off of focus groups with a new sequel every year.
 

Werewolfkid

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Nov 1, 2012
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Thanks everybody. It's nice to see that I'm not alone. I'm still going into game design because it's the one job I want more then anything in the world. It's just disheartening to see people expel such hate on games with such monstrous concentration. I just want to create game experiences that people will remember fondly about even if it takes my whole life to make just one. It's a lofty goal, but dreams are never easy to achieve. I'm going to come on these forums more often, need to open up more anyway.
 

Tanakh

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Jul 8, 2011
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Werewolfkid said:
Thanks everybody. It's nice to see that I'm not alone. I'm still going into game design because it's the one job I want more then anything in the world. It's just disheartening to see people expel such hate on games with such monstrous concentration. I just want to create game experiences that people will remember fondly about even if it takes my whole life to make just one. It's a lofty goal, but dreams are never easy to achieve. I'm going to come on these forums more often, need to open up more anyway.
Good luck mate. Remember to work like a possessed and take care of your health. I'll join you in game dev 50 years from now when i retire :D
 

TeaCeremony

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May 21, 2013
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I suggest getting off the official game forums and going to places like community forums. Official game forums are often cesspools of hate and anger that coalesce into entities of pure seething hatred with minds of their own. Example: Diablo 3 forums after launch, it got to the point the mods just ignored most of everything and only ever posted updates.

Reddit is nice... but learn to avoid some and sub to the happier ones. All of humanity isnt horrible, there are still bright shining bastions of reason and peace amongst the gaming world.

CAPTCHA: MAKE IT SO - If there isnt enough positivity, the internet is telling us to make it happen.