Do Gamers Need To ‘Grow Up?’
She walks in the room with her arms crossed glaring at you. You squint through your eyelids, barely able to see since the light was turned on. After 10 hours straight of your favorite game you’re just about ready for bed. That’s when she starts. “How can you play for so long?” and “its a just a game you’re wasting so much time you could spend doing productive things.” You try to reason, give what you consider to be a reasonable explanation. “This is what I love to do with my time.” She responds just as you knew she would. “Ugh! Why don’t you just GROW UP?!” She storms out. Now you’re not tired anymore because the argument, second wind! Let’s see the next area in this game!
Gamers have been dealing with this scenario for years. Our parentals before, and significant others now. I’m here to call bullshit because if gamers need to grow up then everybody else on the planet needs to grow up too. I’m sick and tired of being told I’m being childish for playing a real time strategy game with my friends over the Internet. Something that requires thought processes that are probably beyond whatever nagger is up my ass. That same nagger will go on to post on their Facebook later that week that they ‘Totally had an amazing marathon of Jersey Shore! Watched all of season 1 last night OMG Snookie LOL!?’ This is where I turn around, walk away, and scream obscenities at the very top of my lungs. Especially because the people who comment are supportive, and the same type of naggy, anti-gamer scum. ‘You go girl!’ ‘I totally did that last week too lol!’ ‘OMG Call me next time I’m IN!’The puddle of vomit at my feet doesn’t begin to describe the amount of anger that swells up inside as I scroll past these hypocritical conversations. Okay enough ranting, lets get to the issue.
Gamers are at a huge disadvantage. Watching adults act like children on a television is considered less childish than playing a game that requires abstract thought, or challenges you emotionally. Don’t get me wrong though, in my opinion gaming is not superior to other entertainment mediums. I’m simply pointing out that gaming is not recognized equally as an entertainment medium. With games today being so close to a movie experience (has anyone seen Heavy Rain or Metal Gear Solid 4? No not played, SEEN.) I don’t understand how it can be viewed so stereotypically. Words like nerd, geek, loser, idiot, waste of time, child, get thrown around so easily when gaming becomes the center of the discussion. I rarely hear anyone say that watching an Evil Dead, or zombie movie marathon is childish, but I contend that it absolutely is. The difference is that the movie marathon thing has been accepted in society as normal. Gaming is still outside this sphere of things that are stupid, but are also okay. I’d like to make a list of things for you that are inside this sphere of stupid, but acceptable by normal standards..
1. Talking to animals with a high pitched voice.
2. Watching Netflix until your eyes bleed.
3. Driving an SUV to work within walking distance.
4. Getting completely plastered drunk at a party, to the point of blackout.
5. Having children while under the age of 16.
The list goes on.
At the end of the day though us gamers know that gaming is okay. As efforts to make profits continue games will become more accessible, and therefore more accepted. Not much can be done on the side of gamers until those naggers want to see our side of the story. I’ve opened the world of gaming to a few close friends with open minds. They still don’t understand why I attempt to finish games in one sitting. I try to explain the NES but it just doesn’t seem to make sense to them. So as we go into the future gaming will be accepted more and more. Something new will come along as the new scapegoat for childish behavior, and all will be well. As for the answer to the question ‘Do gamers need to grow up?’ I’d say no. But those who frown upon gaming however might still have a little maturing to do.
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Awesome piece. I had to set some family members straight on this topic as well.
Definitely. The acceptance of gaming is long way out but I think that gaming companies like Nintendo and HAL marketing to young females will go a long way.
Bear. I’m a huge fan of Nintendo and HAL. HAL’s Super Smash Bros. does seem to market to female gamers, doesn’t it?
Haha! Very true. I was actually thinking Natsume (Harvest Moon/ Rune Factory). But Hal labs I would think of Kirby as their flagship for female gamers above Smash Bros. Also ‘Show me ya moves!?’