It’s sadly ironic, isn’t it?
Video games began as a fascinating new toy, something that might make a wide-eyed child (or tech-loving adult) stare in awe. They were designed specifically for our entertainment. They were supposed to ease stress, make us smile and allow our brain to wander. A form of escapism, yes; even a form of therapy, yes. The combination of what was once a simple, lighthearted challenge and our precious spare time.
Sure, the system wars stretch all the way back to the Colecovision/Intellivision days. I still remember heated arguments on the playground concerning the epic Super Nintendo vs. Sega Genesis clash. But even then, there was something decidedly innocent about every conflict. I think it’s because, even as kids, we knew we were arguing about toys, about things that were supposed to bring us enjoyment. It’s silly to argue about who gets the most enjoyment, isn’t it?
I think deep down, we all knew that.
The “serious” side of gaming
Now, though, the lines are blurrier. I don’t think there should even be a “serious” side to video games, but one has arisen. Unfortunately, it’s not just serious; this seriousness has beget hostility, which in turn has beget a permeating feeling of tension. Video game communities used to be about a bunch of like-minded dudes and dudettes talking about what they loved. Now, 90% of the topics are based on the negative, not the positive. It’s not, “This game rules because…” It’s “This game sucks because…”
Perhaps one could blame the Internet for this rise in hostility and tension. When people hide behind veils of anonymity, it’s not the good side of humanity that comes out. It’s the bad side. It’s all the aspects of human weakness we can’t display in reality, so we splash it all over the digital page. It’s really not helping the situation.
There is no lightheartedness any longer. There’s only the “serious” business of being a gamer. There’s no laughing with others; there’s only laughing at others. There’s no general feeling of family and unity because essentially, we all enjoy the same hobby. Rather, there’s an intense division; a wedge driven between us, or rather, a number of hurtful wedges. This is the result of making games “serious.”
We didn’t know where to stop
As we grew up, we wanted our games to be taken seriously. We didn’t want our friends and family to look at us askance when we say we like video games, and we’re thirty years old. So, we demanded that seriousness. We demanded that games grow up. Well, they did. I would’ve hoped we’d grow up along with them, but no such luck. While the industry itself has become mainstream and is certainly a “serious business,” we didn’t realize that we were burying the innocence. We were burying the fun.
We just kept pushing and pushing in a desperate attempt to legitimize our hobby for the sake of outside viewing. “Video games aren’t just toys anymore! See? See?!” I was one of the first to gravitate toward that rallying cry. However, I didn’t realize that we’d rake in all the problems the world faces, and we’d have to deal with them all on a daily basis.
Hence, our hobby is now infected. It’s infected with politics, social norms and mores, social responsibility and representation, big business vs. “the little people,” and the overflowing egos of those who claim to be “serious gamers.” As far as I can tell, a “serious gamer” never has any fun at all.
Play the game, have a grin, go to bed
There’s no reason to get all worked up. This is about fun. This isn’t about the latest developer to screw over their fans, nor is it about the latest irresponsible designer that offended this or that person. “Fun” is a word to which we can all relate. It’s highly subjective, of course, but if the manifest intent of video games is to create a “fun” experience, we need to embrace that.
Play what you want to play, don’t bother with others who care what you play, and just have fun. I’ve reached the point where I just turn off all “social features” so people won’t see what I’m playing. It’s really quite freeing. I’ve also noticed that I don’t really talk about games online anymore, either. What for? I had fun; do I need to talk to a bunch of other people to vindicate or legitimize that fun? At one time, it was a great outlet. Now, it’s just…polluted.
I played ‘insert game name here’ and I had fun. That’s where it should end.
Operative word: FUN.
Published: Feb 1, 2014 05:51 pm