This Just In - Gamers Are Human

A new study by the Entertainment Software Association reveals that, amazingly, gamers are regular human beings. The study shows that avid game players are just as religious, artistic, and social as anyone else. From the article: "Gamers are everywhere and they're everyone. They are your friends, neighbors, co-workers, relatives, and kids, they lead responsible and caring lives, balancing their enjoyment of interactive entertainment with many other activities important to a well-rounded lifestyle...Indeed, those who continue to portray the game population as single-minded loafers are living in their own fantasy world."

Comments

Something I've noticed

[bonch]

Something I've noticed is that it's become okay to be a gamer, even a computer gamer. When I first got into computers in the seventh grade, you were a nerd if you chatted with your friends via text. A mere three years later, and it was hip to be chatting your friends on Yahoo or AIM. Jocks and trendy girls were sending e-mails to each other, and it was okay.

While it was kind of hypocritical, it is cool because the result since has been that the image of a gamer is more mainstream now. In fact, I've noticed a lot more older gamers these days, which is natural since the people who first played Super Mario Bros. in the 80s are grown adults now, often with families, who still follow gaming. But I think the barriers of age, social class, and so on have kind of broken down. Though you still have gamers even other gamers won't touch, like EQ2 players. ;) The nerds of nerds.

All in all, though I think gaming companies are in trouble, the gamer is doing pretty well these days. And yes, we are human.

Maybe I am just old

[krgallagher]

but when I grew up everyone was a gamer. I played dominos with my grandmother. I played Scrabble with my aunt - a librarian. I played cards with everyone I knew. I played Chess with my best friend. I played Cops and Robbers, Cowboys and Indians, and even doctor with the girl down the street. When I was young I would watch as my parents got together with other couples for Forty-Two tournaments. In college we had marathon Dungeons and Dragons games. Even today I am just as happy playing cards with friends as I am playing online. Maybe happier, the conversation is better.

What is it about mainstream culture that has made entertainment something you watch rather than participate in. Isn't it more likely that sports fans are the ones that are not execising, going to church and voting. "Can't right now babe, the game is on." OK that is probably a personal bias since I don't watch sports. Still I do not get this attitude that gaming is somehow bad for you. Where did it come from?