A New Age of Gaming

A New Age of Gaming By Aeskor Aeskor is a games enthusiast with a strong opinion. He has previously worked as a freelance games journalist writing articles, opinion pieces and reviews for various sites. He's unafraid to write what he thinks about the ever-changing world and culture of gaming, scaring each and every reader with his piercing wit and hopeful entertaining you along the way.

Dedication

The perception of gamers in today's society is evidently a bit muddled. We gamers are only now emerging from the wallows of stereotyping non-gamers have given us and are finally beginning to be accepted. Games are becoming less 'nerdy' and are becoming much more socially accepted.

However, one thing that can shift your status from 'cool guy' to nerd is game time. Put too many hours into your game and you're inevitably seen as a loser.

Imagine there was a man. This particular man builds model ships in his spare time. He's dedicated and puts his heart into his passion of building ships.

Now, ask yourself: Would this man, if he played games to the same degree, with the same gusto, get ridiculed?
The answer: Yes, most likely.

Put five hours into your favourite MMO one night instead of sitting on your arse watching T.V. all night like the bulk of the population and there's 'something wrong with you.'

Because gaming is such a new avenue of media, only 'gamers' are aware of the true impact gaming can have on one's life.

I'm sure anyone reading this can remember a time in gaming that was emotional or life-changing. That is the power of gaming! Yet, it is seen as an escape for people with no lives or an outlet for angry teens to shoot people or worse.

Video games were (and never will be) responsible for our actions. We control life and how we enjoy it and personally I think gaming is a fantastic way of enjoying life. Given the rise in technology it's almost ridiculous not to embrace our wonderful culture.

Still, I find it hard, fellow gamers, to understand why it is we get such a bad wrap. Why our hobby/passion is so frowned upon compared to practically anything else.

It is a matter of understanding!

People, non-gamers especially, cannot separate a simulated reality (games) to the real world and thus feel the need to lump games in the same category as bad people.

Still, I cling onto the hope that we're becoming accepted one way or the other; whether we become 'mainstream' in the worse sense or not.

Politically Correct?

A prominent sign that gaming is becoming more 'mainstream', if you will, comes from, of all people, the president of the United States, Barrack Obama. America's latest president embraced our lovable media and advertised for his campaign in nine of EA's latest games, the centre of attention being Burnout Paradise. Online in Burnout Paradise, billboards were displayed advertising Barrack Obama himself as well as the politician's website which contained directions on how to vote.  This technique worked wonders. In each of the states the campaign targeted (nine in total) Obama won.

This is also great news for the gaming industry itself. If video games are recognised as a viable media for outside advertisement the gaming industry will secure a lot more funding and thus more of our beloved games will be made.

Yes, we are slowly becoming accepted… or rather, gaming is becoming more accepted. This, of course, means a huge rise in casual gaming and obviously a matching decline in hardcore games.

Is that a fair price to pay for acceptance, a lower quality of games overall? I'm not so sure, gamers.