Poll: Spunkgargleweewee

[Kirov Reporting]

This term comes up really quite a lot around here, and quite honestly, I think it's puerile and foolish in the least entertaining way.

Yahtzee says a lot of funny and a lot of less-funny things, so how has this throwaway term been appropriated above all else, and seemingly parroted every time someone seeks to validate their dislike of a game style by invoking the apparently sacrosanct word of Croshaw?

Does the use of this term annoy you also, Escapists, or should I get back in my box?

 

[tippy2k2]

Oh I had a giant soap box I jumped onto when people started to use this term and they WEREN'T using it ironically (like PC Master Race).

Where oh where did I leave that...

Ah ah! Here is it (in a thread about "broadening" the term because the OP evidently thought that a stupid joke needed to be broadened):

No, this is the stupidest term that has ever attempted to break out of a ZP episode into "regular" talking; it needs to be eliminated completely, not broadened. The "term that does not even deserve to get mentioned" is a term used by people who want to look down on modern FPS's but don't want to sound like they're an anti-fanboy. This term is the most ridiculous crap I've ever heard.

I love quoting myself. It's like forum masturbation

 

[MrGalactus]

This term comes up really quite a lot around here, and quite honestly, I think it's puerile and foolish in the least entertaining way.

Yahtzee says a lot of funny and a lot of less-funny things, so how has this throwaway term been appropriated above all else, and seemingly parroted every time someone seeks to validate their dislike of a game style by invoking the apparently sacrosanct word of Croshaw?

Does the use of this term annoy you also, Escapists, or should I get back in my box?

Problem is, despite it not being particularly funny anymore, he sort of coined it as the unofficial name of a genre with no existing referenceable name already. What name do we give Spunkgargleweewee games that doesn't sound clunky and unspecific?

 

[Vegosiux]

Well, I think it's on par with adding "*****" at the end of the sentence in futile attempts to make yourself look witty and/or badass, really. Something that I really don't think should be widespread. It's a...term to use to poke fun at something. Not to be used unironically in all seriousness.

I love quoting myself. It's like forum masturbation

Ewwwww, and you type cooking recipes on that keyboard?

 

[Thaluikhain]

Yeah, it's not terribly impressive.

If you were going to make a name for the genre, it should be a bit more descriptive.

 

[shrekfan246]

RAAAAAAAAAAAAARiKgJFA:LSKFjlAsj:KLSJlkurKWJ;TLFKJASLJFKL;mkwnfl;kmSL!

EDIT: Yes, it annoys me. It's a puerile term and does absolutely nothing to give an insight on what people mean unless you've seen the requisite Zero Punctuation episode.

What name do we give Spunkgargleweewee games that doesn't sound clunky and unspecific?

"Modern Military Shooter", since those are the only games people use it to describe. You know the ones; Call of Duty, Battlefield, Medal of Honor, Army of Two, even the likes of Killzone which doesn't get to weasel its way out by virtue of being in spaaaaaaaaace! Sounds a lot more specific and a lot less clunky, to me, but then maybe I'm just being driven crazy by all of the people seriously trying to make this term a thing.

 

[Lionsfan]

Does the use of this term annoy you also

Yes it does annoy me, because this is the third thread about it in as many months.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.394907-What-exactly-are-spunk-gargle-weewee-games
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.395714-Poll-So-Spunkgargleweewee-Does-it-need-broader-terming

It's a forced meme, and not even a good one at that.

Hey let's cut the individual OP's some slack. They've got a ways to go to catch up to the big boys of repeated topics. Circumcision is laughing Spunkgargleweewee right now

 

[Hagi]

I think it's funny in the context of ZP videos or associated forum threads.

Outside of that it shouldn't really be used, it's like randomly telling the punchline of your favorite comedian's joke whilst skipping the entire build-up and all associated context.

 

[StriderShinryu]

Yes. It should be put to rest and, yes, it does make me look down on those who use it.

It's a joke term not a valid classification for a genre that already has both well worn residence in both specific and non specific genre titles. Beyond that, it's a name that is extremely childish and immature, chosen and used with the attempt to not truthfully describe the games it supposedly includes but to insult those who enjoy them.

 

[AD-Stu]

"Modern Military Shooter", since those are the only games people use it to describe. You know the ones; Call of Duty, Battlefield, Medal of Honor, Army of Two, even the likes of Killzone which doesn't get to weasel its way out by virtue of being in spaaaaaaaaace! Sounds a lot more specific and a lot less clunky, to me, but then maybe I'm just being driven crazy by all of the people seriously trying to make this term a thing.

"Modern Military Shooter" doesn't convey the same level of contempt and derision that Yahtzee's term does though.

When people use his term, they're not using it because they don't know what else to call a modern military shooter. They're using the term because 1) they think it makes them funny or 2) they want to make a statement (mature and well considered or otherwise) about their dislike for the genre, the same as Yahtzee was when he came up with it.

 

[shrekfan246]

"Modern Military Shooter", since those are the only games people use it to describe. You know the ones; Call of Duty, Battlefield, Medal of Honor, Army of Two, even the likes of Killzone which doesn't get to weasel its way out by virtue of being in spaaaaaaaaace! Sounds a lot more specific and a lot less clunky, to me, but then maybe I'm just being driven crazy by all of the people seriously trying to make this term a thing.

"Modern Military Shooter" doesn't convey the same level of contempt and derision that Yahtzee's term does though.

When people use his term, they're not using it because they don't know what else to call a modern military shooter. They're using the term because 1) they think it makes them funny or 2) they want to make a statement (mature and well considered or otherwise) about their dislike for the genre, the same as Yahtzee was when he came up with it.

"Tedious pile of shite" conveys a level of contempt and derision toward whatever you're describing.

It still doesn't accurately describe what the thing is, unless you're literally describing a tedious pile of shite.

A genre label isn't supposed to convey contempt or derision. It's supposed to classify pieces of media that occupy its section of entertainment. There's a reason Rap, Heavy Metal, and Dubstep are actually called those, because if the people who didn't like them had their way, all three would be classified as "Just Noise", and where would that leave us?

And all of that is completely disregarding the fact that these games people are putting under this label aren't bad games, with the recent exception of Medal of Honor: Warfighter. I don't like Call of Duty. I couldn't give less of a toss about Battlefield. I've barely even heard of Medal of Honor, and couldn't even tell you how many games have been released in the franchise. But you know what? For the most part, they're well-made games. They have solid mechanics and they do well what they have set out to do, which is create a high-octane shooting gallery for people to go nuts in and look at big explosions. And because of that, I'm not going to call them bad games. They don't appeal to me, so I ignore them and look forward to other games that do appeal to me.

I actually feel bad for the people on this forum that like Call of Duty or Battlefield, because to see the reaction this community has to those games, those people must feel like they'd be crucified if they ever admitted to enjoying them.

 

[Tortilla the Hun]

"Modern Military Shooter", since those are the only games people use it to describe. You know the ones; Call of Duty, Battlefield, Medal of Honor, Army of Two, even the likes of Killzone which doesn't get to weasel its way out by virtue of being in spaaaaaaaaace! Sounds a lot more specific and a lot less clunky, to me, but then maybe I'm just being driven crazy by all of the people seriously trying to make this term a thing.

"Modern Military Shooter" doesn't convey the same level of contempt and derision that Yahtzee's term does though.

When people use his term, they're not using it because they don't know what else to call a modern military shooter. They're using the term because 1) they think it makes them funny or 2) they want to make a statement (mature and well considered or otherwise) about their dislike for the genre, the same as Yahtzee was when he came up with it.

"Tedious pile of shite" conveys a level of contempt and derision toward whatever you're describing.

It still doesn't accurately describe what the thing is, unless you're literally describing a tedious pile of shite.

A genre label isn't supposed to convey contempt or derision. It's supposed to classify pieces of media that occupy its section of entertainment. Ther'sa reason Rap, Heavy Metal, and Dubstep are actually called those, because if the people who didn't like them had their waall three would be classified as "Just Noise", and where would that leave us?

And all of that is completely disregarding the fact that these games people are putting under this label aren't bad games, with the recent exception of Medal of Honor: Warfighter. I don't like Call of Duty. I couldn't give less of a toss about Battlefield. I've barely even heard of Medal of Honor, and couldn't even tell you how many games have been released in the franchise. But you know what? For the most part, they're well-made games. They have solid mechanics and they do well what they have set out to do, which is create a high-octane shooting gallery for people to go nuts in and look at big explosions. And because of that, I'm not going to call them bad games. They don't appeal to me, so I ignore them and look forward to other games that do appeal to me.

I actually feel bad for the people on this forum that like Call of Duty or Battlefield, because to see the reaction this community has to those games, those people must feel like they'd be crucified if they ever admitted to enjoying them.

You...I like you.

Seriously though, it's tiring to hear that term. Partially because I'm a fan of Modern Military Shooters and it hardly feels good to know such a childish, contemptuous phrase exists solely to belittle the genre and its fans, along with the fact it is being spewed so frequently, as if saying it made one the most clever person to have flapped their gums (or rather flitted their fingers over a keyboard) in that particular thread. But mostly because it's depressingly old, aged by months of abuse. It's like watching an old, out-of-shape basketball coach trying to relive his glory days in high school by trying to actually be like the players. Using their teenage slang and wearing his outdated gym shorts as if it weren't weird enough...

*shudders*

But I digress...the point is, yes. Please, before it gets abused further, put it out of all of our misery.

 

[Twilight_guy]

The use of the term annoys me. It causes the same sensation that using the term 'ass creed' does for me. I instantly loss any respect for the person, see them as the kind of Yahtzee zealots that get banned on his video's every week and ignore them completely.

 

[Yopaz]

Well, I might have considered it funny the first time, but I am really annoyed at people trying to get a clear definition on what it means and use it as if it means anything. It was a joke used in 3 videos and one article (I think) get over it. It's good to see most agree with that though.

 

[Shadu]

Personally, I like it as a way to describe the kinds of games he uses them on, but only when he does it and only in a joking manner. I would never actually use it anywhere (the internet, a paper, actual speaking), but when it's used in a sarcastic way, I don't care.

Is it mature? Sure. However, a little immaturity keeps us from complete boredom.

Granted, I don't lurk around the forums much, so I'm not sick of it.

 

[Callate]

I think the better question might be: "Is your irritation with the phrase directly proportional to the amount of enjoyment you get out of the games it describes?"

It doesn't bother me, but I'm also in the camp that thinks its ilk becoming the workhorses of the biggest video game companies is a net negative for both the medium and the industry, so I might be biased.

 

[DanielBrown]

Doesn't bother me as much as saying game names differently every time. Was fun the first time. Now he seems to do it in every other video and it just feels forced and awkward.
Can't say I've seen the spunkgaetcetcetc used anywhere else though.