Why's Gaming So SERIOUS?

[SnowdensOfYesteryear]

Every day when you game or discuss gaming on the infinite expanses of the interwebs, it inevitably ends in either everyone boasting or waving around their e-peen or insulting someone - usually the strong winner of cheating, or, say, someone who does an average job on their team is berated and shut out, being called "newb" and other similar nicknames, with "RAGEQUITTING" considered one of the most heinous crimes - even if the person was being thrown various slurs at by irate ten-year-olds infuriated by the fact that he "LOL OMG USED A TOTALLY NEWB SETUP GAIZ"

Modern Warfare 2. The Halo Series. Even SSBB, they've all been corrupted by this. I'd like to think that the latter two were at least attempts at games made for fun - can't say the first because Bobby Kotick was involved - and yet they've quickly been corrupted by people clamoring for "THIS SETUP, THIS PLACE, THIS THING, THIS WEAPON" like "Fox Only, No Items, Final Destination."

So, with that, I ask of you, Escapists: where has all the fun gone? When did we become an elitist community where only the best of the best count for anything ever? What happened to the days when it wasn't all about winning, but having fun, maybe even making a friend or two? Whatever happened to people, rather than sticking with one or two weapons that are "LIKE LOL THE BEST NON-NOOB," would experiment in games like Worms, fooling around in their best ways to kill people?

Why's gaming so damn serious nowadays?

 

[Cherry Cola]

There are always people who take competitive stuff serious. It's not exclusive to gaming, and it's not something that simply popped up.

It's been around ever since 2 player games on the Atari. All you have to do is ignore it and have try to have fun without the haters.

 

[Jark212]

I think that it mostly depends on the person playing. I'm fairly relaxed, while some people go completely insane when there losing or someone doesn't like their favorite game...

 

[strum4h]

Escapist forums, no mods, no banhammer, no probation. Final Destination.

 

[Dannyboy1186]

Those days arnt all gone yet.
We should all band together and somehow make a difference!

 

[wordsmith]

Really? I don't get that at all... but then again, the group I game with is pretty laid back, so hey

 

[Sakurazaki1023]

Personally I try to be relaxed with my gaming. I play video games as a way to relax and have fun with friends, so getting worked up is kind of counter productive. While many people prefer to be "hardcore" with their gaming experience, relaxation makes games far more enjoyable...

 

[Lt. Dragunov]

I noticed this too, main reason why i stoped playin mw2. But people are WAY too serious when playin online games, even when it's co-op.

 

[GodsAndFishes]

No idea, but thats the reason that I'll only ever player single player games or with friends.

 

[Claptrap]

I know someone who plays games for a job, (In tornys etc.) And when im with him it just seems he cant play games without haveing a little fun, And if i play a game "wrong" he gets pissed off.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

People's minds are wired up to expect a sort of permanent tribal warfare. Things like video games and sports can take the place of ritual combat in our lives, a sort of serious mental and physical preparation for conflict with neigbouring tribes.

 

[The Random One]

Some people like to play intesively, and most people are sure that the way they do stuff is the only proper way to do stuff. Since the people who play intensively are also the people who play better, it reinforces that illusion for them.

Escapist forums, no mods, no banhammer, no probation. Final Destination.

omg no mods what are you a total n00b?

 

[Rarhnor]

As games have progressed along the realism style, people have become more serious towards games, i guess...

Games like MW2 ruins the whole "game" aspect

 

[Socius]

"Noob: shaman, use totems.
me: I am using them...?
Noob: SHAMAN, TAKE OUT THE ****ING TOTEMS!
me: THEY ARE OUT, JEEZ!
Noob: Why so angry?
Me: why so serious?
Noob: Lol, Reatard."

yes, he wrote "Reatard".
Ironic, isn't it?

 

[clankwise]

I dont know i just mute the annoying people no sense in wasting my breath

 

[xscoot]

Escapist forums, no mods, no banhammer, no probation. Final Destination.

Also known as /v/. More trolling there, but a lot more freedom.

Anyways, OP, people complain because they enjoy it. Heck, on /v/, we have rage threads. We just point the most annoying videos, forum posts, and news articles we can find and get angry. Anger is natural for any gamer, of course.

 

[TheTaco007]

Cause my kill death ratio is bigger than yours!

 

[Lullabye]

As games have progressed along the realism style, people have become more serious towards games, i guess...

Games like MW2 ruins the whole "game" aspect

No, stop blaming the games. It's the people. That I have to point out such an obvious fact makes me sad.
I'm putting this up, let it never be forgot.

 

[poiuppx]

Because people get insanely attached to their chunk of... whatever. It could be a sports team, or an actor, or a book, or a game. In their eyes, that thing can do no true wrong, and those who don't appreciate it EXACTLY as they do are, well, doing it wrong, so to speak. Ever had someone argue you 'didn't get' the 'real' meaning behind a piece of art, or a novel, or a movie? Same concept, except with interactivity. Folks just decide that their way is the TRUE way to enjoy/understand/get aroused by their favorite form of medium. It's self-selection bias coupled with an innate desire to win, as that person defines winning. See also; trophy/achievement-whoring, and the fact some folks take that to be serious business.

 

[Rarhnor]

Part of my point is that gamers make the games serious. However...MW2 helps the whole serious factor a lot. Like a pedophile holding hands with a 4 year-old kid.