So this week is simple. I’ll be looking over the social impacts and stereotypes of game culture and the word “gamer”. We got asked a question in class that I’ve never really thought about until know but it has made me think a lot.
“Do you find the term “gamer” useful? Dated? Destructive? Positive? And do you feel like you identify with the gaming culture?”
To answer this, first i want to answer a couple different questions. What is a gamer? Well, Googles definition is “a person who plays video games or participates in role-playing games.” I believe a gamer could be anyone who takes time out of there day to enjoy a game of some kind. They don’t need to be hardcore professionals or “sweaty nerds”. I know for fact if I’m not working I play some casual games or draw or ready the next Dungeon and Dragons session for my players (not that they ever schedule properly and play). Now let me guess. A lot of people just went “HES A NEEEEEEERD”. Lets take that mentality and discuss the stereotypes around the words “nerd” and “gamer”.
Stereotypes About The Culture
The word “Gamer” is a fairly new stereotype. When it first emerged people always saw them as lonely, fat, sweaty etc. It was a hugely incorrect stereotype. This caused major issues for many people. Especially kids in school. Myself being one. I was constantly bullied and ridiculed for liking games (especially DnD). These days the word gamer is more widely accepted. Kids are getting more and more into physical and video games. Of course this comes with issues. The whole FORTNITE debacle that happened when it launched. But I don’t want to be here for hours so I’m only going to give a quick example to why the stereotypes around “gamers and gaming culture” are wrong. An online casino posted a picture after “a study showed” how gamer would turn out in the future. This is the result
Obviously this caused some huge backlash.
Another occasion was specifically around Dungeons and Dragons. With DND on the rise again a man on social media decided to have a poke at DND players and also try to show off. Now famous actor Joe Manganiello wasn’t going to stand for that. This was the response.
For people who don’t know, Joe Manganiellio is well known for being “one of the sexiest men alive” according to multiple articles. He plays one of the characters in the movie Magic Mike as well being cast as Deathstroke for the DCEU. And for a throwback to all the comic fans, he plays the bully Flash Thompson in the Toby Macguire Spiderman Trilogy. Manganiellio is an avid DND player, even guest staring on the famous Critical Role DND Twitch channel. He has shown his place in the fight against the stereotypes surrounding games multiple times and even shares posts of him and his friends playing DND as well as many other things.
Back on topic. This does all lead back to my original opinion. In the wrong context the term “gamer” can be destructive, hurtful and many other things. But in the right context such as Manganiellio and his friends, it shows the gaming community to be a positive thriving family. Of course the negativity will still be there and some people will always aim to show the community in a bad light.
Do I Identify or Engage in the Gaming Culture/Community
I’ve never really thought about this until recently when we were asked in class. I guess my answer is a yes. Would I go around talking about how I am a hardcore gamer? No definitely not. I’m just personally not like that. But I do spend a fair bit of my free time playing games, whether they be physical or digital. Games are a big part of my life and I feel like they always will be. They were my escape from my rough childhood and now they help me escape work for a little while. Games have always affected my life and I’m sure they will continue just like they have others.
The Studies & Reviews of a Game Development Student 