Recently while I was making the rounds on various gaming forums and comments, I noticed a disturbing trend. It seems like almost everyone these days is being incredibly negative towards games. Whether it be hating on franchises, specific games, or just certain parts of games, this type of attitude seems to be very abundant right now. Don't get me wrong, I know negativity is something that comes along with the internet in general, but why is it so common and why can't people simply enjoy things without complaining about them?
I believe that a large part of this unsatisfied nature is due to the media and even the game studios themselves. Video game review sites are nothing new, and you're likely to find controversy about any game review in general. Much of the problem is because of the review scoring system, but that is a topic I'll be saving for another time. These video games sites have a tendency to hype up games before release, giving players unfairly high expectations. Developers are feed off of this hype and excitement as well, but it creates an unhealthy atmosphere. As with any kind of entertainment, not everyone is going to like the same things. While many people will enjoy the newest Halo, Uncharted, or Zelda, there are just as many people who may not enjoy it. The problem begins when these people feel the need to cut down the game or people who actually enjoy the game simply because they don't share the same sentiments. This leads to people who like the game defending it and bashing the person who doesn't like it, leading into utter ridiculousness and childishness. You see, we all don't love the same things equally and that's okay, but it doesn't make someone who has a different opinion inherently wrong because they don't agree with you.
The problem with gaming culture today is the simple fact that we feel like everyone needs to like the same things we do, and if they don't, they're either wrong or just plain stupid. You could say that our society in general places too much emphasis on what other people think of us and what we like. There's nothing wrong with having a civil discussion with someone explaining why you like or dislike a certain game, movie, book, or whatever. People don't HAVE to agree with your opinions and you don't have to take it personally if they don't enjoy the same game as much as you do. Rather than getting caught up in console wars, PC elitism, or simply bashing a game, take a step back and think about what you enjoy. Games should be simple and fun. If you happen to love a certain game, then great! If your friend doesn't like the game, then that's okay too, that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy it.
My message to you would be this: Don't play games just so you can find things to complain about or to try to convince people of your opinion. Play games to have fun doing something you enjoy. Rather than trying to pick a game apart and analyze what could have been better, think about what you liked and the experiences the game left you with. This spirit of negativity around gaming is getting old, and I think it's high time we all started thinking about why we play game in the first place: To Have Fun.
I believe that a large part of this unsatisfied nature is due to the media and even the game studios themselves. Video game review sites are nothing new, and you're likely to find controversy about any game review in general. Much of the problem is because of the review scoring system, but that is a topic I'll be saving for another time. These video games sites have a tendency to hype up games before release, giving players unfairly high expectations. Developers are feed off of this hype and excitement as well, but it creates an unhealthy atmosphere. As with any kind of entertainment, not everyone is going to like the same things. While many people will enjoy the newest Halo, Uncharted, or Zelda, there are just as many people who may not enjoy it. The problem begins when these people feel the need to cut down the game or people who actually enjoy the game simply because they don't share the same sentiments. This leads to people who like the game defending it and bashing the person who doesn't like it, leading into utter ridiculousness and childishness. You see, we all don't love the same things equally and that's okay, but it doesn't make someone who has a different opinion inherently wrong because they don't agree with you.
The problem with gaming culture today is the simple fact that we feel like everyone needs to like the same things we do, and if they don't, they're either wrong or just plain stupid. You could say that our society in general places too much emphasis on what other people think of us and what we like. There's nothing wrong with having a civil discussion with someone explaining why you like or dislike a certain game, movie, book, or whatever. People don't HAVE to agree with your opinions and you don't have to take it personally if they don't enjoy the same game as much as you do. Rather than getting caught up in console wars, PC elitism, or simply bashing a game, take a step back and think about what you enjoy. Games should be simple and fun. If you happen to love a certain game, then great! If your friend doesn't like the game, then that's okay too, that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy it.
My message to you would be this: Don't play games just so you can find things to complain about or to try to convince people of your opinion. Play games to have fun doing something you enjoy. Rather than trying to pick a game apart and analyze what could have been better, think about what you liked and the experiences the game left you with. This spirit of negativity around gaming is getting old, and I think it's high time we all started thinking about why we play game in the first place: To Have Fun.