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Over the past month or so, I’ve been dealing with the issue of “kiddie” games with my friends. Let me tell you folks, if it doesn’t involve bloodshed, guns, sports, or a dance pad, most guys over 18 won’t even hink about playing it. If it features bright colors and more fun than realism, those same guys likely won’t get near it!
Ok, I’m exaggerating a bit, but there is a whole new age of video gamers that seems to think playing the latest Mario, Zelda, Monkey Ball, or even the new Animal Crossing is considered “un cool”. I read a comic on Penny Arcade once that made the point that you've already crossed the line if you're a gamer. “Ask your girlfriend if gaming is cool, and if you don’t have a girlfriend that’s part of the test.” Which brings me to the point of this article, the geekiness.
Sure, gaming has become more socially acceptable, but as a whole, it’s still a geeky pastime. I have a great wardrobe of gaming t-shirts accumulated over the last 2 ½ years. I could go for around a month wearing a different gaming shirt each day. I’m a college student and a journalist. I’m going to wear my free clothes, even if they are a little on the dorky-side of the force.
I can’t say that the line “I’m a gaming journalist and I work for Cinescape, a nationally published entertainment magazine centering on sci-fi, horror and fantasy”, has ever worked on a girl. Of course I’ve never really tried it either. Usually when asked what I do I comment about writing for an entertainment magazine, but usually refrain from the gaming comment. Of course, with a lot of girls, as soon as that comes up, it’s all over.
So where did we get this bad reputation, and what can we do about it? It all hearkens back to the old days when gaming was a fairly unsocial activity. There were lots of one-player games, and gaming alone in a dark room. Hell, look at the arcades back then. They were dark, smoky, and not really a place to take the family.
Fast-forward to 2002. Arcades are bright and cheery, and really more like a gym then a gaming center. The most popular games are multiplayer, either in the form of party games (SMASH BROS. MELEE, SUPER MONKEY BALL) and first-person shooters like HALO. Also, gaming has broadened into being more socially accepted thanks to the Sony brand on the PlayStation (part of the reason the original PSX sold so well).
But where do we go from here? How do we continue to diminish the stereotypes? How do we get people to drop the stereotypes? And most importantly, how do we get more people playing games? (Note: How do I make it seem like I really wasn’t re-enforcing that same stereotype with the girl comment?)
I’m not entirely sure. Look at the top-selling games of all time: MYST, THE SIMS, and TETRIS. All simple games, all wildly addictive, and all very popular. Sure, COUNTER-STRIKE may be popular in the hardcore gaming circles, but how many of you have girlfriends who can own all in that game?
Ultimately, I don’t know what we do to further reduce the stereotype. I’m not saying we all drop our first-person shooters for THE SIMS, but sooner or later, something has got to give.
Ok, I’m exaggerating a bit, but there is a whole new age of video gamers that seems to think playing the latest Mario, Zelda, Monkey Ball, or even the new Animal Crossing is considered “un cool”. I read a comic on Penny Arcade once that made the point that you've already crossed the line if you're a gamer. “Ask your girlfriend if gaming is cool, and if you don’t have a girlfriend that’s part of the test.” Which brings me to the point of this article, the geekiness.
Sure, gaming has become more socially acceptable, but as a whole, it’s still a geeky pastime. I have a great wardrobe of gaming t-shirts accumulated over the last 2 ½ years. I could go for around a month wearing a different gaming shirt each day. I’m a college student and a journalist. I’m going to wear my free clothes, even if they are a little on the dorky-side of the force.
I can’t say that the line “I’m a gaming journalist and I work for Cinescape, a nationally published entertainment magazine centering on sci-fi, horror and fantasy”, has ever worked on a girl. Of course I’ve never really tried it either. Usually when asked what I do I comment about writing for an entertainment magazine, but usually refrain from the gaming comment. Of course, with a lot of girls, as soon as that comes up, it’s all over.
So where did we get this bad reputation, and what can we do about it? It all hearkens back to the old days when gaming was a fairly unsocial activity. There were lots of one-player games, and gaming alone in a dark room. Hell, look at the arcades back then. They were dark, smoky, and not really a place to take the family.
Fast-forward to 2002. Arcades are bright and cheery, and really more like a gym then a gaming center. The most popular games are multiplayer, either in the form of party games (SMASH BROS. MELEE, SUPER MONKEY BALL) and first-person shooters like HALO. Also, gaming has broadened into being more socially accepted thanks to the Sony brand on the PlayStation (part of the reason the original PSX sold so well).
But where do we go from here? How do we continue to diminish the stereotypes? How do we get people to drop the stereotypes? And most importantly, how do we get more people playing games? (Note: How do I make it seem like I really wasn’t re-enforcing that same stereotype with the girl comment?)
I’m not entirely sure. Look at the top-selling games of all time: MYST, THE SIMS, and TETRIS. All simple games, all wildly addictive, and all very popular. Sure, COUNTER-STRIKE may be popular in the hardcore gaming circles, but how many of you have girlfriends who can own all in that game?
Ultimately, I don’t know what we do to further reduce the stereotype. I’m not saying we all drop our first-person shooters for THE SIMS, but sooner or later, something has got to give.
Myst is terrible.
Really, one of the dullest games I ever had the misfortune of impulse-buying.
Tedious, monotonous, inept puzzles and ultimately boring.
No,really, it is.
Really, one of the dullest games I ever had the misfortune of impulse-buying.
Tedious, monotonous, inept puzzles and ultimately boring.
No,really, it is.
There is no Geekiness associated with games. I do not see people shouting "Ha Geek" when someone comes out of Game with a bag. Almost everyone plays games. Also the amount of adults that play these games IE Mario is unbelievable. There have already been 25 Pre-Orders at my local small games shop. There shop isn't bigger than my brothers bedroom but still 13 out of those 25 pre orders were over 18. thats 52%. So if that is a reflection on the real market then I think you are wrong about Kiddy gamers.
So well over a million gamers already who have bought Super Mario Sunshine are just insignificant, are they?
hey snipe do you have to post like that.
counter strike why do ppl have to use that crap everytime :p
I play games.
I (heres the immodest bit) am also considered slightly...well....cool. In my social circles.
*blushes with ill concealed self-admiration*
Its their choice.
;)
I (heres the immodest bit) am also considered slightly...well....cool. In my social circles.
*blushes with ill concealed self-admiration*
Its their choice.
;)
I say good luck to them, it's them who are missing out.
Over the past month or so, I’ve been dealing with the issue of “kiddie” games with my friends. Let me tell you folks, if it doesn’t involve bloodshed, guns, sports, or a dance pad, most guys over 18 won’t even hink about playing it. If it features bright colors and more fun than realism, those same guys likely won’t get near it!
Ok, I’m exaggerating a bit, but there is a whole new age of video gamers that seems to think playing the latest Mario, Zelda, Monkey Ball, or even the new Animal Crossing is considered “un cool”. I read a comic on Penny Arcade once that made the point that you've already crossed the line if you're a gamer. “Ask your girlfriend if gaming is cool, and if you don’t have a girlfriend that’s part of the test.” Which brings me to the point of this article, the geekiness.
Sure, gaming has become more socially acceptable, but as a whole, it’s still a geeky pastime. I have a great wardrobe of gaming t-shirts accumulated over the last 2 ½ years. I could go for around a month wearing a different gaming shirt each day. I’m a college student and a journalist. I’m going to wear my free clothes, even if they are a little on the dorky-side of the force.
I can’t say that the line “I’m a gaming journalist and I work for Cinescape, a nationally published entertainment magazine centering on sci-fi, horror and fantasy”, has ever worked on a girl. Of course I’ve never really tried it either. Usually when asked what I do I comment about writing for an entertainment magazine, but usually refrain from the gaming comment. Of course, with a lot of girls, as soon as that comes up, it’s all over.
So where did we get this bad reputation, and what can we do about it? It all hearkens back to the old days when gaming was a fairly unsocial activity. There were lots of one-player games, and gaming alone in a dark room. Hell, look at the arcades back then. They were dark, smoky, and not really a place to take the family.
Fast-forward to 2002. Arcades are bright and cheery, and really more like a gym then a gaming center. The most popular games are multiplayer, either in the form of party games (SMASH BROS. MELEE, SUPER MONKEY BALL) and first-person shooters like HALO. Also, gaming has broadened into being more socially accepted thanks to the Sony brand on the PlayStation (part of the reason the original PSX sold so well).
But where do we go from here? How do we continue to diminish the stereotypes? How do we get people to drop the stereotypes? And most importantly, how do we get more people playing games? (Note: How do I make it seem like I really wasn’t re-enforcing that same stereotype with the girl comment?)
I’m not entirely sure. Look at the top-selling games of all time: MYST, THE SIMS, and TETRIS. All simple games, all wildly addictive, and all very popular. Sure, COUNTER-STRIKE may be popular in the hardcore gaming circles, but how many of you have girlfriends who can own all in that game?
Ultimately, I don’t know what we do to further reduce the stereotype. I’m not saying we all drop our first-person shooters for THE SIMS, but sooner or later, something has got to give.
Ok, I’m exaggerating a bit, but there is a whole new age of video gamers that seems to think playing the latest Mario, Zelda, Monkey Ball, or even the new Animal Crossing is considered “un cool”. I read a comic on Penny Arcade once that made the point that you've already crossed the line if you're a gamer. “Ask your girlfriend if gaming is cool, and if you don’t have a girlfriend that’s part of the test.” Which brings me to the point of this article, the geekiness.
Sure, gaming has become more socially acceptable, but as a whole, it’s still a geeky pastime. I have a great wardrobe of gaming t-shirts accumulated over the last 2 ½ years. I could go for around a month wearing a different gaming shirt each day. I’m a college student and a journalist. I’m going to wear my free clothes, even if they are a little on the dorky-side of the force.
I can’t say that the line “I’m a gaming journalist and I work for Cinescape, a nationally published entertainment magazine centering on sci-fi, horror and fantasy”, has ever worked on a girl. Of course I’ve never really tried it either. Usually when asked what I do I comment about writing for an entertainment magazine, but usually refrain from the gaming comment. Of course, with a lot of girls, as soon as that comes up, it’s all over.
So where did we get this bad reputation, and what can we do about it? It all hearkens back to the old days when gaming was a fairly unsocial activity. There were lots of one-player games, and gaming alone in a dark room. Hell, look at the arcades back then. They were dark, smoky, and not really a place to take the family.
Fast-forward to 2002. Arcades are bright and cheery, and really more like a gym then a gaming center. The most popular games are multiplayer, either in the form of party games (SMASH BROS. MELEE, SUPER MONKEY BALL) and first-person shooters like HALO. Also, gaming has broadened into being more socially accepted thanks to the Sony brand on the PlayStation (part of the reason the original PSX sold so well).
But where do we go from here? How do we continue to diminish the stereotypes? How do we get people to drop the stereotypes? And most importantly, how do we get more people playing games? (Note: How do I make it seem like I really wasn’t re-enforcing that same stereotype with the girl comment?)
I’m not entirely sure. Look at the top-selling games of all time: MYST, THE SIMS, and TETRIS. All simple games, all wildly addictive, and all very popular. Sure, COUNTER-STRIKE may be popular in the hardcore gaming circles, but how many of you have girlfriends who can own all in that game?
Ultimately, I don’t know what we do to further reduce the stereotype. I’m not saying we all drop our first-person shooters for THE SIMS, but sooner or later, something has got to give.