gaming The maturity of gamers

[long gone 8,929]

While I like to think of the gaming community as mature adults, I've been noticing an increasing amount of gamers like this:
 

http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/19/4635630/developer-harassment-conversations

 

Self-entitled "gamers" that constantly take their distaste with something in the industry to extreme levels, often sending developers death threats or threatening to ruin them financially. Things like this are starting to make it increasingly hard to justify my hobby.

 

Yes, Microsoft's decision to make the Xbox One require the Internet was bad, especially for people who do not have reliable Internet access, and I'm glad that they retracted on that policy, but sending Don Mattrick and the rest of the Xbox Team death threats over it? The hell, guys. If we want to drop the stereotype that gamers are terrible people this has to stop. Further, as the article points out, the raging from these "gamers" is interrupting a very vital part of the industry: communication. Developers need to know what gamers want in a civil manner and with a minor, yet very vocal, part of the community constantly screaming "I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU FOR THIS GAME! FUCK YOU AND YOUR SHITTY "GAME" DESIGN, GO DIE!" this not only reinforces the stereotype that the gaming community is terrible, but also overshadows the civil discussion between the developer and their fanbase. It's even discouraging newbie developers from entering the industry; the fear that someone out there is going to try to slander them online because they really didn't like their game to the point where they begin threatening to kill them and their family over it.

 

What is your take on the issue? I'd like to see the threats stop as much as anyone else in the gaming community, but I don't really see a way to stop it immediately. You would think that after thousands of years of human development, this wouldn't happen but... I guess not. It's not a problem you can solve immediately, but that isn't to say there isn't a solution. It'll just take time.

[~Sole~ 852]

I think those so caled "gamers" just need to calm their tits. I've been playing videogames for as long as I can remember, and if I don't like a game I just don't play it. I don't go and threaten and yell at the developers, thats just stupid. I actually want to become a game designer myself, so if I ever get anything like that... well, I don't know if it'd involve loving and tolerating. Its hard for me to tolerate jerks like that... but i'd try I guess.

[Scootalove 10,689]

The maturity of gamers over the last few years and these days have been depleting, while there are some gamers that can still keep their cool and still act mature. In my opinion, having the Xbox One require internet was actually a good decision because gamers need good internet to play games plus it could help to fix the lag compensation in a way.

[Discordian 6,017]

Vocal minorities will always cause problems and create an off-base perception of what makes the gamer. These same people also aren't likely to stick around for long either though. We as true gamers can endure the blight they have created and when they are gone, we will remain to assure that gaming never dies.

[Horses and Horses 91]

I feel like these "Gamers" are honestly just idiots who have no clue what they are talking about. These people are game designers for a reason. They know what a majority and long time fans want. They shouldn't have to add something or change something for a small amount of people who most likely will still find something to complain about. While yes, I agree that the Xbox One thing was a terrible move on Microsofts part, this doesn't give people the right to send death threats. Just get a PS4 or something and the sales figures will show Microsoft that they made a mistake.

[Discordian 6,017]

The maturity of gamers over the last few years and these days have been depleting, while there are some gamers that can still keep their cool and still act mature. In my opinion, having the Xbox One require internet was actually a good decision because gamers need good internet to play games plus it could help to fix the lag compensation in a way.

What about the people who don't play online at all? People who play games that have no business whatsoever requiring an internet connection? This is what was wrong with the decision: It only catered to people who played online and everyone else is left in the dust. It's unreasonable to think that a game that has never had an online connection and doesn't need one should have to have one. This is my personal biggest issue with it because I play single player all the time. 24-hour checks might not have been that bad in actuality but it's still a kick in the face and totally illogical regardless even if the logic behind it was to satisfy those who play online more than anything because I'm almost certain that number is bigger because of the games that pull in non-gamers to play online all the time.

[Megas 27,972]

I remember seeing the same thing happening with DmC's announcement, Bayonetta 2's Wii U exclusivity, Hideo Kojima's role in the development for MGS4, and the likes. Heck it caused Phil Fish to leave the gaming industry entirely(though tbf, he was kinda asking for it)

 

Probably a vocal minority, but I really hope they get their shit together, because I don't want to be lumped with crazy people my entire life

Edited August 19, 2013 by Megas75

[Scootalove 10,689]

What about the people who don't play online at all? People who play games that have no business whatsoever requiring an internet connection? This is what was wrong with the decision: It only catered to people who played online and everyone else is left in the dust. It's unreasonable to think that a game that has never had an online connection and doesn't need one should have to have one. This is my personal biggest issue with it because I play single player all the time. 24-hour checks might not have been that bad in actuality but it's still a kick in the face and totally illogical regardless even if the logic behind it was to satisfy those who play online more than anything because I'm almost certain that number is bigger because of the games that pull in non-gamers to play online all the time.

You got a point, damn it Microsoft! Microsoft really did go too far with these rules for the Xbox One, well the people that are getting it will have to deal with it then.

[long gone 8,929]

I feel like these "Gamers" are honestly just idiots who have no clue what they are talking about. These people are game designers for a reason. They know what a majority and long time fans want. They shouldn't have to add something or change something for a small amount of people who most likely will still find something to complain about. While yes, I agree that the Xbox One thing was a terrible move on Microsofts part, this doesn't give people the right to send death threats. Just get a PS4 or something and the sales figures will show Microsoft that they made a mistake.

Pretty much this. There is no reason to threaten Microsoft, Mattrick or the rest of the Xbox team over it. Get a PS4 or PC instead, then let the sales figures tell the story.

[Discordian 6,017]

You got a point, damn it Microsoft! Microsoft really did go too far with these rules for the Xbox One, well the people that are getting it will have to deal with it then.

They were going with the numbers which was not a bad decision by itself and they were trying to improve certain technologies but they were sacrificing too much for too little. Stuff like cloud computing could have been awesome, yes, but the fact that they were basically forcing it upon people even if they weren't playing online is the part that ruffled feathers.

 

See, I've seen gamers go on about this sort of thing before. The conclusion in all of these hypothetical scenarios is the same: The company will continue to force stuff upon us in increments because they know people will buy their product regardless and eventually we will have no control over our gaming experiences whatsoever.

 

A bit of an extremist view but Microsoft started heading down that lane regardless with the Xbone. That is probably the number one reason that, in spite of all it's goodness, the Xbone drove away so many people their stocks literally began to fall.

 

People were waiting for the reveal, that much is certain. When the Xbone was shown Wii-U sales skyrocketed. Proof that people had their fingers on the checkout button for months waiting to see if the new Xbox was worth it.

[Scootalove 10,689]

They were going with the numbers which was not a bad decision by itself and they were trying to improve certain technologies but they were sacrificing too much for too little. Stuff like cloud computing could have been awesome, yes, but the fact that they were basically forcing it upon people even if they weren't playing online is the part that ruffled feathers.

 

See, I've seen gamers go on about this sort of thing before. The conclusion in all of these hypothetical scenarios is the same: The company will continue to force stuff upon us in increments because they know people will buy their product regardless and eventually we will have no control over our gaming experiences whatsoever.

 

A bit of an extremist view but Microsoft started heading down that lane regardless with the Xbone. That is probably the number one reason that, in spite of all it's goodness, the Xbone drove away so many people their stocks literally began to fall.

 

People were waiting for the reveal, that much is certain. When the Xbone was shown Wii-U sales skyrocketed. Proof that people had their fingers on the checkout button for months waiting to see if the new Xbox was worth it.

Gaming companies in a nutshell. Like how a lot of people hate EA, but we buy and play their games and when people hate Call of Duty but they buy their games every year.

[long gone 8,929]

I'll add onto the discussion here, since we're talking about game developers. As much as I don't like EA, I don't threaten them with death threats or financial threats because I understand that, underneath the corporate culture of EA and how they seem to want to grab money wherever possible and overwork their developers with tight deadlines, the people working for them are still human; they have jobs, they probably have a family and what if they joined EA because they wanted a job in the industry? It's probably not the best job in the world due to the strict deadlines for projects, but a job is a job. I'm not about to threaten to kill someone for trying to do their job despite the strictness and bad corporate image of their employer.

 

It's ultimately the goal of a developer to make money, but in order to make money they need to make games that people actually want to play, and I am more than happy to communicate to developers what I want in an upcoming game that I'm looking forward to, it's just that my comments get overshadowed by "gamers" telling the devs that they should die because they didn't like one thing they made.

 

People, whether or not they play video games, need to learn how to let go of things. People make mistakes, but is that any reason to call someone a "worthless piece of shit" that "needs to die" over? No.

[Snowy Storm 57]

Yeah I complain about bad games, but in reviews or topics that are posted. How is sending death threats and that sort of things helping to improve game quality and mechanics. Better to write in a review and try to have to spread on site that developers go on to. 

I would like to also say they are only making these threats because they are over the internet and think that they can do what ever they want since on one know who they are. 

[GhostPony750 959]

 

 

often sending developers death threats or threatening to ruin them financially.

Yep.

This happened when the developpers of Call of Duty Black Ops 2 nerfed the two most powerful snipers in the game.

They sent death threats.

 

But sincerely, this is plain stupid. And this is illegal.

They can go to jail for saying this. So yea, it's stupid xD

 

Do you think the devs should make a complaint about this?

[Shanks 10,816]

There are always going to be crazies that will shoot their mouths off, I just think the best course of action is to ignore them and report and death threats. Alot of them are just trolls/attention whores and I am just going to enjoy my games and pretend they don't even exist.

[Fhaolan 4,488]

Interesting co-inki-dink. I just saw this video, and honestly I thought of some Bronies and their sending death threats to DHX writers.

 

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/7955-Im-Going-To-Murder-Your-Children

 

As far as I'm concerned, it's the same mentality.

[Sunbro 4 Lyfe 939]

It will happen everywhere. Whenever something occurs or someone does something hat generates even mild negativity, people will get irritated. If it is negative for a majority, people will get irritated to extreme degrees.

And while death threats won't help; you cannot exactly stop them.

Such is the way of life.

[Celtore 2,770]

People are freaking crazy.

 

Yeah... I really don't need to go much further. Sadly, you'll find these sort of people in pretty much every identifiable group. In my view, the problem mostly lies because of a vocal minority almost always speaking louder than the much larger but quieter fanbase... unless said fanbase is also nuts and comprised of nothing but fanboys.

 

One thing I've done to help this problem is to provide feedback when a game makes me really enjoy myself. I know my one response alone isn't going to fix the problem of extremely negative feedback, but I hope it cheers someone up that reads it. Good feedback isn't exactly that common of a thing nor is it really that helpful in brushing off your pride in short individual responses, but in great numbers I think it can counteract the bad.

 

Quick test for you to demonstrate the offset: when you hear these pieces of feedback, which do you feel leaves a stronger impression on the content creators?

 

"I really enjoyed your game, the graphics were fantastic and the gameplay was a lot of fun. The story could use a bit of tweaking at certain points, but it was worth every penny. Great job!"

 

"Your game was the worst thing I have ever had the displeasure of playing. The controls are atrocious and the story is so ridiculous that I think the writers went on strike half way through development! GO ____ YOURSELVES!" *keep it PG, people*

Edited August 19, 2013 by Celtore

[MichaelxXxTrixie 433]

Considering just saying something on the internet is very easy people will of-course say some of the most ridiculous things. Just look at us, we say some ridiculous things.

[akalink 163]

There also seems to be a type of caste system that gamer give each other. Many gamers feel like they are above those who could be considered "casual" gamers. They also hate women, children, and anyone who plays games on their phone. I don't know who those people are, but it isn't right. 

[Zacharias 191]

I honestly think the maturity of gamers is under a rat's behind these days. Spoiled 10 year olds poking out from every last corner, graphics-centered developers and consumers, games being sold for more than what my mom used to make in a week. I barely even play games anymore, and the ones I do play I've been playing for years now.

[Gears of Halo Duty V 394]

Here are the times when it's ok to send death threats to people who do things you do not like.

• Never

 

I can guarantee you that 98% of the people who send death threats to game developers could have their ass handed to them in less than 5 seconds by a couple of 3rd graders.

 

It's one of those things where people don't realize how stupid they sound. If you found them and asked them to read the threat they sent with people watching, it would dawn on them how much of an ass they really are and how much of a fool they sound.

 

If you are angry enough that you actually believe sending a death threat, out of the countless other options out there in the world you could take, is a good idea,

[ReverseFaller 2,484]

I know lots of gamers who take it way too seriously. In my school there's lots of hypocrite gamers, and there is this one guy I know who just FREAKS OUT. Like he just starts screaming. Anyways online gamers are immature as all hell...well, a lot of them are anyways. If I'm not hearing "DIE NIGGA BITCH" I'm hearing "YO F*CK YOU HACKER!! F*CK YO MAMMA!!!". It's annoying to be honesty, and quite frankly it gets old very fast. Why can't people just grow up, and enjoy the game?

[Chacobos 160]

I'll be honest that we game to have a good time. And with having a good time maturity easily flies out the window as you get lost in the fun of things. If it gets to the point of sending death threats or spamming middle school humor like it's in style...yeah that is being a bit too immature. Especially with death threats I think you should take a hard reevaluation of your current position and take a nice break from it. 

[hellocat 308]

The maturity of the community really depends on what type of gaming it is. For instance, my favorite genre, simulation racing, is primarily 25~70 year-olds who all have a severe superiority complex and will bash any other sim for 'not being realistic'. XD