Perhaps it’s time for introspection. More importantly, perhaps it’s time to let go of some of the nasty habits that have become entrenched in gamer culture.<\/p>\n
Here are some habitual gamer practices that really need to end in 2015.<\/p>\n
Petulant entitlement<\/h3>\n
As consumers of digital interactive media, we are entitled to a lot of things regarding our purchase.<\/p>\n
We spend money on a game, so we expect it to work. Ubisoft has been particularly bad in this area of late, releasing a number of shockingly broken games.<\/p>\n
So yes, I feel that, within reason, we’re entitled to demand a level of quality that was promised, but not delivered.<\/p>\n
That’s where our entitlement ends, though.<\/p>\n
When it comes to a game’s content, its message, its delivery and its conclusion (*side eyes Mass Effect 3*) – this is not our call to make.<\/p>\n
Obviously developers’ design choices aren’t beyond criticism, but there’s a difference between saying “I disagree with this”, and calling for a full boycott and burning down of the studio because you feel slighted.<\/p>\n
If you feel strongly about the content of the game not matching your expectations, the most effective way to have your say is with your wallet.<\/p>\n
Going online and acting like a spoiled brat who didn’t get his or her way is nothing short of shameful.<\/p>\n
Stop that.<\/p>\n
Trash talking is regarded as a core\u00a0part of the gaming experience, be it calling our friends “gosh darn silly campers” in a local match, or expressing polite dissatisfaction at cheap shots online by shouting “You nincompoop!”<\/p>\n Everyone loves a little competition, and that’s fine. What most people don’t love is being told their immediate family is danger of being maimed and penetrated without consent. That doesn’t give a sense of friendly rivalry, but rather breeds an atmosphere of contempt.<\/p>\n Whether we\u00a0like to admit it or not, gamers have a reputation for being an aggressive bunch (a claim almost sure to be validated in the comments section) and juvenile. Violent trash talking does nothing to change this image.<\/p>\n Words like “rape” and “gay” and their\u00a0very many iterations do not belong in gaming in this aggressive context.<\/p>\n Stop that.<\/p>\n Games can be frustrating, every gamer knows this.<\/p>\n But there is absolutely zero reason to get so worked up that you lose your sh*t and start breaking things. Especially other people’s things.<\/p>\n Smashed screens, shattered controllers, obliterated keyboards – is this really a constructive way to express our anger? Can’t we\u00a0just hug it out with a bro or something?<\/p>\n Last I checked, games are supposed to be fun. Some games are also supposed to be challenging, and if you’re into that, that’s cool.<\/p>\n But going ape after getting fragged, or shouting visceral profanity at what is effectively compiled visual projections of 1s and 0s is just stupid.<\/p>\n The videos on YouTube<\/a> showing this sort of behaviour doesn’t make us\u00a0look cool. The world is laughing at us, while secretly being terrified at the prospect of us\u00a0reproducing.<\/p>\n Stop that.<\/p>\n Game developers have gone to great lengths to prevent online matches from suffering from the “quit before you lose” tactics of sore losers.<\/p>\n Little can be done about post-game tantrums and abuse, though.<\/p>\n Sometimes our gaming skills suck. Sometimes it’s on fleek. We\u00a0need to learn to take the good with the bad, and commend people when they get the best of us.<\/p>\n Even if our opponents exhibit any of the traits mentioned above, be the better player and slap on a “GG, WP.” and move on to the next match.<\/p>\n Losing, and then spamming your opponent with a torrent of abuse to mend your bruised little ego is a lank kak<\/em> move. Not ayoba.<\/p>\n Stop it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Don’t worry PC gamers, this isn’t aimed at you.<\/p>\n Platform wars are as old as the industry, and are\u00a0unlikely to ever change (and the good-spirited rivalry keeps the industry ticking).<\/p>\n But if you’re super ‘leet’ at a specific game, or think you’re part of some exclusive group of awesome people and flaunt that like a douchebag, you’re doing gaming a disservice.<\/p>\n What we\u00a0should be doing is making our game or gaming platform as welcoming as possible, because growing popularity means *more*.<\/p>\n More players to go up against, more interest (thus more content and more developer attention), and more fun.<\/p>\n Sure, be the best – but learn some humility.<\/p>\n Treating games as some sort of special party that no one else can come to guarantees an echo-chamber mentality where a select few reinforce their own awesomeness among themselves (but everyone else just thinks you’re a bunch of tools).<\/p>\n Stop that.<\/p>\n “Get over it”, “this is gaming”, “grow a thicker skin”, “[flurry of expletives]”, “Rabble rabble rabble!”, “OP needs to grow a pair”, etc, etc.<\/p>\n Yeah, thanks, this article is about you.<\/p>\n Stop it.<\/p>\n SA vs the world: best countries to be a Steam gamer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"just](\"http:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/just-stop.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAbusive trash talking<\/h3>\n
![\"please](\"http:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/please-stop.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\nOverreacting<\/h3>\n
![\"stop](\"http:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/stop-posting.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBeing a sore loser<\/h3>\n
![\"want](\"http:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/want-it-to-stop.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\nElitist bullsh*t<\/h3>\n
![\"Stop](\"http:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Stop-it.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPredictable responses to articles calling for any sort of change<\/h3>\n
![\"Stop\"](\"http:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Stop.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\nMore gaming\u00a0stories<\/h3>\n