What exactly is a "dudebro" game?

[G-Force]

A common insult thrown at certain games is that they were targeting the "frat boy" crowd but what exactly are those elements. While titles like Madden and Call of Duty you can kinda see the underlying elements, you also see games earning this title such as Halo and Gears of War are knee deep in heavy science fiction elements which are more "nerdy" elements akin to stuff like Aliens and Star Wars.

Anybody care to try to define the term?

 

[ThePuzzldPirate]

Hard to say, in my mind, "Hardcore" is the same label as dudebro, so can't help you there.

 

[distortedreality]

Every FPS other than Counter Strike.

 

[Allthingsspectacular]

Games made to appeal to the adolescent to college age demographic.

Note the word choice. MADE to appeal. Not just games that appeal to them on accident.

 

[CannibalCorpses]

Never heard the term 'dudebro' before until you mentioned it.

I'm guessing it's another poor use of English to stereotype people into a demographic or an insult without substance that people can bleat in unison without understanding.

 

[Dusty Donuts]

Never heard the term 'dudebro' before until you mentioned it.

I'm guessing it's another poor use of English to stereotype people into a demographic or an insult without substance that people can bleat in unison without understanding.

You mean similar to way people churn out "noob" and "trolled" in a dry attempt to be popular? I had to restrain myself from slapping the kids at school for saying they were "trolling" for swearing their asses off at each other.

 

[TehCookie]

Hardcore games that casuals like. Then again I don't even know if people agree on a definition for casuals.

 

[CannibalCorpses]

Never heard the term 'dudebro' before until you mentioned it.

I'm guessing it's another poor use of English to stereotype people into a demographic or an insult without substance that people can bleat in unison without understanding.

You mean similar to way people churn out "noob" and "trolled" in a dry attempt to be popular? I had to restrain myself from slapping the kids at school for saying they were "trolling" for swearing their asses off at each other.

Lol, children i can forgive but it's the adults that really wind me up. They can't string together a nice insult so they resort to buzz words with no personal feeling *sigh*

 

[Vanitas likes Bubbles]

It's a game where you can sit down with your bros and have fun. At least that's what I'm guessing.

 

[Ganath]

That's an insult? That's an awesome term. I don't think it applies to most games I play though, considering they tend to be RPGs, not counting any MMO's. I need to play more dudebro games.

Never heard the term 'dudebro' before until you mentioned it.

I'm guessing it's another poor use of English to stereotype people into a demographic or an insult without substance that people can bleat in unison without understanding.

You mean similar to way people churn out "noob" and "trolled" in a dry attempt to be popular? I had to restrain myself from slapping the kids at school for saying they were "trolling" for swearing their asses off at each other.

Oh dear.. This. I didn't expect to hear that happen in the real world, I can only begin to imagine your pain. Having to deal with pathethic "trolling" over the internet is bad enough.

 

[Jhooud]

Something like this, I suppose...

 

[MetalMagpie]

Hardcore games that casuals like. Then again I don't even know if people agree on a definition for casuals.

Yeah, it's the term "casual gamer" that I find really tricky. I personally use it to mean someone who plays video games of some sort (even just on a smartphone) but doesn't in any way identify as a "gamer" (and may not even be aware this is a thing people identify themselves as, any more than "TV-watcher").

So my boyfriend's mum (who plays Wii and some tablet games) and my brother (who plays Xbox360 and PC games) are both "casual gamers" because neither has any concept that there's such thing as a "gamer". They just play video games because they like them.

My brother can stay in his room playing Football Manager for days. But he doesn't take note of different publishers (all software is made by Microsoft as far as he's concerned); he doesn't understand (and isn't interested in understanding) the various technologies; and he doesn't waste any thoughts on gender-politics, payment models, DLC, or any other "hot issue" concerned with how games are made.

 

[Fappy]

Something like this, I suppose...

That's pretty accurate I imagine. Though, I don't think bros know what the Triforce is

 

[getoffmycloud]

Its a term used to put down a game for becoming popular with non traditional gamers usually because of its multiplayer component.

 

[aguspal]

Its just another term that COD/Madden haters/another mainstream game thats not inde or puzzley use towars its fan who just wanna play the fucking game alone and are probably tired that they have become acceptable targets for everyone to blame and taunt to (SOME fans at least. I cant say quite the same for fanboys. But really, I have personally seems more normal people than fanboys, and more retarded haters than fanboys, so yeah).

 

[Mikeyfell]

Madden.
All the Madden games.
That's just about as Dudebro as you can get.

I don't see Call of Duty fitting that description really, most dude bro games are "Dude! This game is awesome bro, you gotta play it dude, bro!"
Whereas Call of Duty fans are convinced their games of choice are "Good"

If you try to tell a Dudebro their favorite game is of poor quality they'll probably say "So what man? It's awesome bro, dude!"

Where if you say CoD is a low quality game you'll be met with "CoD is a masterpiece! It's unique and original..." and other nonsense like that.

 

[loudestmute]

Theoretically, a "dudebro" game is pandering to the lowest common denominator, and if you'll leave your headset on, you'll hear those denominators talking about the various unpleasantries they did to your parents.

In practice, it's a label that gets slapped onto any game that achieves pretty good sales figures without the blessing of the self-described hardcore gamers.

 

[II2]

Halo, Madden / FIFA, CoD/BLops/MW, Gears or War, etc.

Others could come close, but they have to be ubiquitous enough that you can play them your jock buddy who doesn't, otherwise, play videogames, basically.

Tough guy shooters, action or sports games that move enough units to make their way onto the shelves of people who don't really follow gaming as a medium.

 

[Brendan Stepladder]

I wouldn't call any specific games "dudebro" even Madden and Cod. However, dudebro communities do tend to grow around popular franchises, no matter what they are.