I'm sure that if you're into comics enough to be reading or writing blogs about them,then you've dealt with comic fans before.I'm sure nothing groundbreaking is being revealed when I say comic book fans are harsh and judgemental.We take our stories,and the characters within them, very personally.(I'm using "we" as a generalization.I'm not talking about "you" or "me" in particular.)We think nothing of tearing down our favorite books in very public forums because we don't like the way the artist drew some characters mask.We bicker amongst ourselves over every line of dialogue in every panel.But for all of the fighting and drama we get swept up in,the assholiest dickwad of all comic fans doesn't hold a candle to a video game fan.
As proof,I need only to direct you to any gaming website,such as Gamespot .Just go the news section and look at the comments for any article there.You always find the best ranting in any article about "casual gamers".
1)In comics,when a new fan comes to a message board or blog and asks for advice,they can count on coming away with at least 6 or 7 titles to try.Even the most jaded reader can muster up a suggestion or two.In video games,new fans are abused online."Noob" is a slur,not a term of endearment.Instead of showing new players the ropes on any game,the "veterans" will instead run circles around the new person and mock their lack of gaming skills as they do it.It's trial by fire and I never wonder why new gamers feel the need to start with puzzles games and other non-threatening fare.
2)In comics,new readers are sought after,even if they only plan on reading Archie comics.Many an article has been written on the faults of the direct market system and how the industry needs to make the product more welcoming to new readers.The fans generally support these measures.In video games,new fans are looked upon with suspicion,especially if they don't play the "right games".You would think that just because a few 40-year old women bought a Wii,that the game industry was going to abandon all of their long time fans.Games that were legit games 5 years ago, such as puzzle games,suddenly are laughed at because they're not "hardcore" enough for the dedicated gaming audience.It's the equivalent of saying that if the Marvel Adventures line of comics sells well, that Marvel will stop putting out their core 616 books.
3)Fanboyism is out of control in video games.In comics,everyone has a favorite publisher.Most people do dabble outside of their favorite.The Marvel fan may read some Vertigo.The DC fan might read an Image comic or two.Fans of any company or the indies might read Manga.Someone who reads books by only one publisher is rare,and usually looked at like they are missing out by keeping such a closed mind.In video games,People tend to find one system and stick by it.The console wars have become a technical arms race,and all of the fans have been swept up in system specs and polygon counts.The Wii...pfft.It's a toy for non-gamers.The Xbox360?It's plagued with defects and only has first person shooters.The PS3?Overpriced and no good games.Older systems?Please....get with the times.The DS?Gimmicky and shit graphics.The PSP?An underperforming,still overpriced portable PS2 that has nothing worth buying as far as games go.And I'm being very polite about this.If I were playing the typical video game fan I'd be taunting you for your choices and dishing out personal attacks because "your" system just lost its exclusive game to "their" system.
You might disagree with me or think I need more examples,but I feel that the hostile attitudes towards those who aren't seasoned players,the ridiculous sense of entitlement(You might not like how Spider-Man is written,but you don't worry about his books being totally cancelled because Thor sells more.And Thor selling more is not a slap in the face to Spider-Man fans), and the blind,exclusionary fanboyism is enough for me to award video game fans with the title "Biggest Assholes In Fandom".If you take any offense because you're a gamer,then maybe something is just hitting to close to home.I'm a gamer too.Only I don't care what you play.
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2 comments:
YOU ARE TOTALLY RIGHT
esp about the noobs thing :( I'm tired of how MEAN and ELITIST gamers are, and how they're all SO PROTECTIVE of their systems. :\ Like OMG NEBODY WHO DOESN'T LIKE WHAT I LIKE SUCKS! :(
It's very offputting.It's almost as if their self-esteem is directly related to their gamerscore.
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