Good to be Bad, Again

In Response to “Mommy, Where do Fanboys Come from?” from The Escapist Forum: A fan-boy doesn’t have to be passionate about games but simply a console, or one game in particular. I’ve friends that, once hooked on San Andreas, haven’t stopped playing it – to them it’s the world. Fan-boy yes, gamer no – at least – I’d rather they not be associated with the term “gamer” who I would pray has an acceptance of a wide variety of games.

Not sure if I’ve made a valid point, though I’m going to continue. “Deeply passionate” I associate with someone that, as you’ve previously stated, hordes knowledge. From chat board conversations and flame-wars that “I” associate with “fan-boy” it doesn’t appear many have knowledge – it’s more a, stealing Yahtzee’s words, “demented honking” with little to no thought at all. The statement “PS3 sux0rz, 360 iz l337” is the kind of intelligence I associate with fan-boy.

On a more personal note, and to completely contradict my own statement. I call myself a Sony fan-boy and will vigorously defend the PS3 and PSP systems – but when it comes down to it, I’d prefer to play the 360.

– StolenName

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In Response to “Growing Up Gamer” from The Escapist Forum: Over the last couple of years I’ve read dozens (feels like hundreds) of articles talking about the relationship between casual and “hardcore” games and where the future of gaming lies. And yet it’s this article, mostly about a completely different topic, which I feel achieves the most insight into the issue. I’m referring, of course, to the section concerning why your sister doesn’t play anymore.

I shall be linking people to this one for years to come, I suspect.

– Dom Camus

This article definitely captured the reasons why I rarely play games any more. Today’s games require a level of commitment that most people with spouses and children can’t give. For that matter, my kids don’t have time for games like that. With the amount of studying and reading that my kids have to do, they can’t devote hours at a time to a game. My 10-year-old daughter’s favorite type of games are the hidden-object category of casual games. She can jump on after her homework is done, play for her allotted 30 minutes, and save quickly.

– daniinnc

In Response to “Creating the Normal Gamer” from The Escapist Forum: I am a member of a couple of the adult gamer sites and I went there for two reasons: (1) to play with mature people and (2) to play with groups who would communicate useful information in online matches.

I am over 30 and have a wife, kid, and a full-time job. I think it would benefit developers, publishers, and manufacturers greatly to take my demographic seriously. We are often the hardcore gamer, living in a household with casual gamers, and when it comes to getting out the checkbook to buy products, we are the ones signing our name. I honestly think that we are the pumping in the cash to get these consoles and titles rolling in this generation. We grew up with games, continue to play games, and now that we do not have to beg our parents for arcade quarters, the consumer power to make or break a console or title.

– heavyfeul

I almost gave up on internet gaming and then I found SeasonedGamers. I had no idea that there were so many people like myself that enjoyed games but didn’t constantly speak garbage into a mic or on message boards. I feel that SeasonedGamers and sites like it are a haven for those that put an emphasis on integrity, respect and charity.

– Downshift

It would have been nice had The Escapist not edited out the fact that I’m a female gamer. I think that fact supports arguments of growing ‘normality’ surrounding gaming today. Either way, I think Roger’s article makes an excellent point about the irony behind behaviors at places like SG and those dark, online dungeons of “angry nuts.”

Here’s to a world that embraces gaming as a normality, like going to the movies or out to eat. It’s normal enough that SG has an entire group of girl gamers, as I’m sure many of the other ‘adult gamer communities’ do as well. Such a concept is possibly absurd to some.

– Potluck

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In Response to “And Baby Makes Wii” from The Escapist Forum: This may not be the place to post this…but I really really want to know: Why do Americans (and it is largely Americans) find it acceptable, nay, necessary to stand in line for hours (sometimes days) on end, just to be the first to get a shiny toy, see the newest StarWars and so on?

How would getting an iPhone early so important? What’s so crucial about seeing Return of the King on opening night (I went to see it on openeing night, too. It just did not require me waiting for hours…)

It just seems unbelievably silly to me. Can anyone explain this (Is there a psychologist in the house?)

– sharp_as_a_cork