I've been thinking a lot recently about the importance of people identifying and portraying themselves as gamers. I'd love to get some of your thoughts on this, but first a short story.
I called by my local games shop after work a few days ago. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, just browsing. At some point a very young, very eager looking assistant wanders over to me. He exuded the sort of earnest zeal of a superhero's plucky teenage sidekick. Let's call him Overly Enthusiastic Lad. The exchange went something like this:
OEL: "Hello there sir, can I help you with anything today?"
I think to myself 'Here we go, time for the sales pitch. Ah well, he's only doing his job... and he does look about 12. Best be polite'.
Me: "No, I'm fine thanks."
OEL: "Is there something in particular that you are looking for?!
I think to myself 'Your proactive desire to assist me/part me with my cash is somewhat admirable, but please young urchin, leave me to browse the back of the games cases in peace'.
Me: "No, I'm fine thanks."
OEL: "Have you played many games or are you new to it? Have you tried Call of Duty: Black Ops? I'd recommend it."
I think to myself 'Impudent wretch! I've been gaming since before your mother did the naked sweaty dance with your father! I've played games that you probably think qualify as archeological evidence! Where were you when I rescued the princess? I'll tell you where: swimming around in sticky fluid with a billion of your potential siblings!'
Me: "No, I'm fine thanks."
It wasn't until later that I got to thinking exactly why such a relatively innocuous question from our boy wonder triggered such a vitriolic reaction from me (even if my demeanour did remain typically British). The assistant did not know anything about me other than I was male, in my mid-twenties, and that I was wearing an office suit in a shade of grey so dull that it could induce a coma. For all he knew I might not play games at all and was looking for a gift for someone who does. I certainly gave him no clues otherwise, and yet his inference that I was alien to the gaming scene prevoked an incredibly strong reaction from me.
The thing is, on reflection, I have absolutely no idea why this should have been so. It's not as if I usually walk around with a herald in tow, periodically proclaiming my gaming credentials. Indeed, I have never found it necessary to advertise my games playing at all, though it undoubtedly forms one of the biggest parts of my life. At the same time I do not actively try to hide or downplay my hobby. It is what it is, or so I have always believed.
So my question is how important do you feel your identity as a gamer is to you? By what measures do you define yourself as a gamer and do you actively promote yourself as such? If not, why not? Are there any particular situations in which you supress your identity as gamer, such as when meeting women? Or do you come right out and say with pride: "Hey there. I'm Jack. I play games. And I have a penis you could club a seal to death with." Your mileage with that pick up line may vary.
I called by my local games shop after work a few days ago. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, just browsing. At some point a very young, very eager looking assistant wanders over to me. He exuded the sort of earnest zeal of a superhero's plucky teenage sidekick. Let's call him Overly Enthusiastic Lad. The exchange went something like this:
OEL: "Hello there sir, can I help you with anything today?"
I think to myself 'Here we go, time for the sales pitch. Ah well, he's only doing his job... and he does look about 12. Best be polite'.
Me: "No, I'm fine thanks."
OEL: "Is there something in particular that you are looking for?!
I think to myself 'Your proactive desire to assist me/part me with my cash is somewhat admirable, but please young urchin, leave me to browse the back of the games cases in peace'.
Me: "No, I'm fine thanks."
OEL: "Have you played many games or are you new to it? Have you tried Call of Duty: Black Ops? I'd recommend it."
I think to myself 'Impudent wretch! I've been gaming since before your mother did the naked sweaty dance with your father! I've played games that you probably think qualify as archeological evidence! Where were you when I rescued the princess? I'll tell you where: swimming around in sticky fluid with a billion of your potential siblings!'
Me: "No, I'm fine thanks."
It wasn't until later that I got to thinking exactly why such a relatively innocuous question from our boy wonder triggered such a vitriolic reaction from me (even if my demeanour did remain typically British). The assistant did not know anything about me other than I was male, in my mid-twenties, and that I was wearing an office suit in a shade of grey so dull that it could induce a coma. For all he knew I might not play games at all and was looking for a gift for someone who does. I certainly gave him no clues otherwise, and yet his inference that I was alien to the gaming scene prevoked an incredibly strong reaction from me.
The thing is, on reflection, I have absolutely no idea why this should have been so. It's not as if I usually walk around with a herald in tow, periodically proclaiming my gaming credentials. Indeed, I have never found it necessary to advertise my games playing at all, though it undoubtedly forms one of the biggest parts of my life. At the same time I do not actively try to hide or downplay my hobby. It is what it is, or so I have always believed.
So my question is how important do you feel your identity as a gamer is to you? By what measures do you define yourself as a gamer and do you actively promote yourself as such? If not, why not? Are there any particular situations in which you supress your identity as gamer, such as when meeting women? Or do you come right out and say with pride: "Hey there. I'm Jack. I play games. And I have a penis you could club a seal to death with." Your mileage with that pick up line may vary.
