Negativity in Gaming??

[ODogg]

Why is it that so many gamers today are so negative about a hobby that should be considered fun and enjoyable?

Do people really feel the way that they portray online?

Does arguing with someone make you feel better or worse? It seems a lot of folks today have a lot of pent up anger and need to find a release.

I just think it's misdirected and not very helpful to either them or whomever they are attacking.

Have you guys found yourselves embroiled in a hostile discussion and wonder how you got there?

I see it here on OS as well but at least this place is moderated well.

What in the world is going on folks?

[canes21]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

I'm convinced the less face to face interactions people have the more socially inept and out of touch they become.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

[peter42O]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

I believe that a lot of the negativity revolves around gaming media first and foremost. Look at all of their negative articles with Starfield over and over or Microsoft or Xbox. Gaming media has been heavily favored towards Sony and PlayStation for at least the last decade and with Microsoft not screwing around anymore and spending money, a lot of those in the gaming media can't accept the reality that Microsoft will buy companies and take games away as they should.

When Sony takes away games for 25+ years from Sega, Nintendo and continue to do it to this very day against Microsoft, you reap what you sow. When it went that way, no one complained. Now, that it's starting to go the other way, people can't accept it and they lash out as opposed to just buying an Xbox Series X/S console.

Gaming media and mainly from what I have seen, the PlayStation fanboys and extremists were so used to getting pretty much everything on their preferred platform that they became spoiled and thus, felt entitled to have everything when in reality, they're not entitled to a damn freaking thing.

You see more negativity about Starfield from PlayStation fans because they can't play the game on their beloved PlayStation and talk more about Xbox in a negative way than they do positively about PlayStation. Gaming media loves posting articles and whatnot about Xbox when it's negative because they get insane amount of clicks and traffic. When it's positive Xbox news, not so much. When it's positive PlayStation news, they get clicks and traffic but when it's negative which is very rare (look at the price increase for PS5 digital new model, the massive price increase for PS+ which is a freaking joke of a subscription service that Sony barely puts any money into at all in order to make it better for their fan base or even during Evo a few months ago when the PlayStation 5 started melting cables or some such crap. Not a single word about any of it).

Naughty Dog lose their vice president Eric Wells, not a peep. Someone leaves Microsoft, you hear about it for months.

So it all starts with gaming media and it simply trickles down to the respective fanbases. And it's only going to get worse as the generation progresses.

This site is great and pretty relaxed mainly because everyone I think is older as opposed to being a teenager or early 20's.

Luckily for me, I own an Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. Love Starfield and have the digital deluxe edition pre-ordered for Marvel's Spider Man 2 next Friday which also starts my 10 day vacation. Yay me!!

Back to the topic, I eliminated forums like NeoGaf, IconEra and a few others because just no point. It's always negative like every freaking day.

The only forums besides here that im on is XboxEra because they talk about Xbox in a positive way unless Microsoft does something stupid which they will then criticize them as they should but it's very laid back and relaxed. Main difference is that I have noticed that Xbox fans are mostly quiet and just play games where as PlayStation fans talk more about Xbox than they do playing games on their PlayStation. It's weird to me especially with Spider Man 2 a week away.

Twitter is probably second worst after gaming media sites itself but I follow Xbox and PlayStation guys who for the most part stay away from all that crap. They simply just talk about what they're playing, what they like and what they're looking forward to on both sides. So it probably just depends more on who and what you're following and whatnot. But whatever, it all is what it is.

Back to playing Assassin's Creed Mirage!!!

[ODogg]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

Back to playing Assassin's Creed Mirage!!!

You gave a great, in-depth reply about the industry, and I believe you're spot on in your analysis. I get like fanboys arguing about a game, but it's strange to me when someone just posts a picture (me for example LOL) from a game and says "Hey cool pic from (whatever game)" and people start analyzing it, tearing it apart, finding mistakes, talking about how the game is TRASH, etc.

Then, if I reply, I am viciously attacked and told I'm a n00b, things of that nature, when people going after me don't even know me! I mean they don't know that I'm 53 and a long time veteran of gaming.

Which begs another question, do people really think they know who they are talking to on the net or do they just not care?

It seems as if the majority of folks are really just hateful, miserable people, putting fanboyism aside, I see people tearing apart those within their own community! Is it self hatred????

I have seen it here of course but as you and others have said, this place is well moderated and bullying is not allowed.

It's fascinating, and sort of unnerving, just how much anger people in general have.

And it seems as if there's an ongoing competition about who can be the most offended, the most angered, the most hateful about something as well.

I often look at these sorts of comments and wonder if people realize that you only have so many days on this planet and when you spend an inordinate amount of time just ripping apart your hobby then maybe it is something you should address?

I know I used to be sort of in this vein, arguing with folks, I try not to anymore because even when you win an argument on the internet you still lose, LOL

[Picci]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

Negativity?

We're soon entering our 3rd year of the PS5 /XBox X/S generation and what do we have? Many recycled games and disappointing next gen games. Not all of them. Don't get me wrong. There's some great talents out there with many games many of us have yet to play or finish that are spoken of highly. But, the disappearance of Naughty Dog, the less-then stellar reception on Starfield. Listen, Starfield is our typical Bethesda game that if you've played them in the past will be a good story driven game that will rank in your all-time Bethesda games. But what we really needed was something more that would have taken Starfield to that next level which I feel it hasn't yet, but may eventually. The way games are now marketed, the move to everything digital in the way they reveal content feels distance from the crowd to me.

As for PSVR2 games, GT7, No Man's Sky, Moss, RE Village are outstanding, and must have games. Switchback, Green Hell, and Project Wingman have all released recently in disaster or basically broken which are being patched. Firewall our most wanted combat squad game? What the hell happened? It's as if they think we gamers won't notice the downgrade from the start? Don't even get me started about our beloved sports games that first and foremost brought me to this site and what it has become.

Now, for the cherry to top it off lets increase all our subscriptions prices!

Negativity towards gaming? This is my excuse

[ODogg]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

Negativity?

We're soon entering our 3rd year of the PS5 /XBox X/S generation and what do we have? Many recycled games and disappointing next gen games. Not all of them. Don't get me wrong. There's some great talents out there with many games many of us have yet to play or finish that are spoken of highly. But, the disappearance of Naughty Dog, the less-then stellar reception on Starfield. Listen, Starfield is our typical Bethesda game that if you've played them in the past will be a good story driven game that will rank in your all-time Bethesda games. But what we really needed was something more that would have taken Starfield to that next level which I feel it hasn't yet, but may eventually. The way games are now marketed, the move to everything digital in the way they reveal content feels distance from the crowd to me.

As for PSVR2 games, GT7, No Man's Sky, Moss, RE Village are outstanding, and must have games. Switchback, Green Hell, and Project Wingman have all released recently in disaster or basically broken which are being patched. Firewall our most wanted combat squad game? What the hell happened? It's as if they think we gamers won't notice the downgrade from the start? Don't even get me started about our beloved sports games that first and foremost brought me to this site and what it has become.

Now, for the cherry to top it off lets increase all our subscriptions prices!

Negativity towards gaming? This is my excuse

Just to be clear, I am not speaking about a commentary on the industry, as you and another person spoke to here.

I am speaking about posting a screenshot, or a clip, or just mentioning a specific game will incite people who want to rip it to shreds, criticize it, pick out maybe one small detail, that sort of thing.

The industry being in a good place or not is a lot more subjective and simple opinion. I'm speaking to the fact that it seems many gamers, if not most, seem to really hate everything and view their hobby as an outlet for hatred towards others.

Now, speaking to the industry as a whole, yes you can do as you have done and list a bunch of issues, and I won't dispute many of them, or you could look upon the plethora of games that provide entertainment better than most movies and dollar for time spent is an incredible value.

And lastly, as a consumer I don't like subscription prices, nor gaming prices, going up either. However, we have inflation and gamers continue to want more for less and the world don't work that way.

It's easy to get caught up in specifics, such as the sub prices going up, but lose sight of the idea that it's quite possible to spend $70 on a game and have it provide months, if not years, of entertainment. A far better value than spending $25-30 at a movie or even $50 on chinese for you and the wife for the night.

[Madden08PCgmr]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

Its just Madden for me.

EA pees on my head and I'm supposed to thank them for the hat?

Unlike every other product I may choose to buy, there is no second option to move on to.

Anger is justified here, as I see it.

I do think this forum does a nice job. I remember the day the ban stick would hit anyone who had something negative to say. They seem to have found a solid medium.

[ODogg]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

Its just Madden for me.

EA pees on my head and I'm supposed to thank them for the hat?

Unlike every other product I may choose to buy, there is no second option to move on to.

Anger is justified here, as I see it.

I do think this forum does a nice job. I remember the day the ban stick would hit anyone who had something negative to say. They seem to have found a solid medium.

Heh, well you might criticize Madden and/or EA but you wouldn't personally attack someone I wouldn't think. And more importantly, you're not mad because you didn't get a promotion at work, or you're in the doghouse with your wife, etc and so you come on here and make someone pay for that by trying to humiliate them or just plain look silly.

I guess it seems to me some folks sort of blur the line between the game causing them anger versus the game giving them an excuse to let out their anger that may be from their unresolved mental health issues.

We will never really know of course but I think it makes sense as a theory.

[NYJin2011tm]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

You gave a great, in-depth reply about the industry, and I believe you're spot on in your analysis. I get like fanboys arguing about a game, but it's strange to me when someone just posts a picture (me for example LOL) from a game and says "Hey cool pic from (whatever game)" and people start analyzing it, tearing it apart, finding mistakes, talking about how the game is TRASH, etc.

Then, if I reply, I am viciously attacked and told I'm a n00b, things of that nature, when people going after me don't even know me! I mean they don't know that I'm 53 and a long time veteran of gaming.

Which begs another question, do people really think they know who they are talking to on the net or do they just not care?

It seems as if the majority of folks are really just hateful, miserable people, putting fanboyism aside, I see people tearing apart those within their own community! Is it self hatred????

I have seen it here of course but as you and others have said, this place is well moderated and bullying is not allowed.

It's fascinating, and sort of unnerving, just how much anger people in general have.

And it seems as if there's an ongoing competition about who can be the most offended, the most angered, the most hateful about something as well.

I often look at these sorts of comments and wonder if people realize that you only have so many days on this planet and when you spend an inordinate amount of time just ripping apart your hobby then maybe it is something you should address?

I know I used to be sort of in this vein, arguing with folks, I try not to anymore because even when you win an argument on the internet you still lose, LOL

I will never understand fanboyism. I’m glad I can enjoy games on all systems.

[peter42O]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

You gave a great, in-depth reply about the industry, and I believe you're spot on in your analysis. I get like fanboys arguing about a game, but it's strange to me when someone just posts a picture (me for example LOL) from a game and says "Hey cool pic from (whatever game)" and people start analyzing it, tearing it apart, finding mistakes, talking about how the game is TRASH, etc.

Then, if I reply, I am viciously attacked and told I'm a n00b, things of that nature, when people going after me don't even know me! I mean they don't know that I'm 53 and a long time veteran of gaming.

Which begs another question, do people really think they know who they are talking to on the net or do they just not care?

It seems as if the majority of folks are really just hateful, miserable people, putting fanboyism aside, I see people tearing apart those within their own community! Is it self hatred????

I have seen it here of course but as you and others have said, this place is well moderated and bullying is not allowed.

It's fascinating, and sort of unnerving, just how much anger people in general have.

And it seems as if there's an ongoing competition about who can be the most offended, the most angered, the most hateful about something as well.

I often look at these sorts of comments and wonder if people realize that you only have so many days on this planet and when you spend an inordinate amount of time just ripping apart your hobby then maybe it is something you should address?

I know I used to be sort of in this vein, arguing with folks, I try not to anymore because even when you win an argument on the internet you still lose, LOL

I don't think people care in general when conversing with others and it seems like if you don't agree with someone else's opinion, they bash you for it as if only one person's opinion matters. It's such a ridiculous waste of time that it's not even funny.

I'm not much younger than you. I'm 45. I will debate/argue with my friend of 30 years who's a PlayStation guy since day one in 1995 but he seems to care so much about PlayStation being #1 and all this other crap where as I don't care if Microsoft is #1 or not and to be honest, can acknowledge that they won't be #1 in console gaming because their business direction goes far beyond the console. Also, I actually prefer Microsoft to stay 3rd in console gaming because they'll put more money into the Xbox brand which in turn means that I'll get more out of Xbox.

It all is what it is, I guess.

[ODogg]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

I don't think people care in general when conversing with others and it seems like if you don't agree with someone else's opinion, they bash you for it as if only one person's opinion matters. It's such a ridiculous waste of time that it's not even funny.

I'm not much younger than you. I'm 45. I will debate/argue with my friend of 30 years who's a PlayStation guy since day one in 1995 but he seems to care so much about PlayStation being #1 and all this other crap where as I don't care if Microsoft is #1 or not and to be honest, can acknowledge that they won't be #1 in console gaming because their business direction goes far beyond the console. Also, I actually prefer Microsoft to stay 3rd in console gaming because they'll put more money into the Xbox brand which in turn means that I'll get more out of Xbox.

It all is what it is, I guess.

Yeah, I am a fan only of competition when it comes to the systems. I am a PC gamer now, but I have been a Sony Pony for a while and an Xbot as well at times, depending upon my financial situation and what games are out.

So I'm like you, I don't get this personal connection (which is fine) but unhealthy obsession with someone really getting actually ANGRY if someone says something about their system.

I also think a lot of gamers tend to be Seinfeld like in that they may love a game overall but they get so focused on one flaw that it ruins the experience for them and anyone else they engage with.

Like just now on Facebook a guy was saying that RWD cars are not modeled correctly in regards to understeer. He's going on and on about it and I just asked him, are you intent on letting this one particular issue ruin the experience of Forza Motorsport for you?

I mean by all means I am not saying he's wrong with his analysis of rear wheel drive cars not handling correctly, i'm not really a big car guy so I don't know, but what I'm seeing is people will find reasons to be unhappy or angry to be dismissive of something.

Now it's hard to read the reality, maybe something does bother them so egregiously they cannot enjoy it at all. But I think my point is, why are so many people so eager to find a way to ruin their enjoyment by finding a singular flaw that they then focus on instead of the overall impact of the product and whether or not it's enjoyable.

Who knows, but I just see a lot of utterly miserable folks online and it makes me wonder whether that's the only way people know how to relate to others, by finding complaints and getting others "on their side" in agreement that a product sucks because it ain't perfect.

[peter42O]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

Yeah, I am a fan only of competition when it comes to the systems. I am a PC gamer now, but I have been a Sony Pony for a while and an Xbot as well at times, depending upon my financial situation and what games are out.

So I'm like you, I don't get this personal connection (which is fine) but unhealthy obsession with someone really getting actually ANGRY if someone says something about their system.

I also think a lot of gamers tend to be Seinfeld like in that they may love a game overall but they get so focused on one flaw that it ruins the experience for them and anyone else they engage with.

Like just now on Facebook a guy was saying that RWD cars are not modeled correctly in regards to understeer. He's going on and on about it and I just asked him, are you intent on letting this one particular issue ruin the experience of Forza Motorsport for you?

I mean by all means I am not saying he's wrong with his analysis of rear wheel drive cars not handling correctly, i'm not really a big car guy so I don't know, but what I'm seeing is people will find reasons to be unhappy or angry to be dismissive of something.

Now it's hard to read the reality, maybe something does bother them so egregiously they cannot enjoy it at all. But I think my point is, why are so many people so eager to find a way to ruin their enjoyment by finding a singular flaw that they then focus on instead of the overall impact of the product and whether or not it's enjoyable.

Who knows, but I just see a lot of utterly miserable folks online and it makes me wonder whether that's the only way people know how to relate to others, by finding complaints and getting others "on their side" in agreement that a product sucks because it ain't perfect.

If there's something in a game that is really killing my enjoyment of playing it, I just drop the game and move on. I used to be a huge NFL 2K fan but then it obviously died and I was never a fan of Madden. The last one I played and kinda liked was Madden NFL 13 with Calvin Johnson on the cover but the balancing was so off. I would have the CPU sliders set to 100 and for me, set at 25. I would bury the CPU. I move the sliders down 1 to 24 and couldn't do anything. I was baffled so after a while, I just said screw it, im done with Madden and haven't played it since despite being an NFL fan and 49ers fan.

Point being that instead of complaining for what would now be a decade since then, I just moved on to playing other games. I don't understand why people go nuts for even the smallest minuscule things. Like the Forza Motorsport thing, I get it because I used to want the ratings in NFL 2K to be realistic and whatnot but I would just edit it all myself if it really bothered me. Otherwise, I just said screw it and played the game.

Like I said earlier, it's all weird man.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

I am having a blast gaming.

Period.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[ODogg]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

I am having a blast gaming.

Period.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

YEAH! It's sort of strange that nowadays to be happy is to be "strange" or the odd one out. I think there's an idea that if you say, for instance, I am happy with Madden 24, that people seem to think that mean you have no criticism of it, which really isn't true.

I mean you can love your wife and not like certain habits she has, lol. That's how I see it, but it seems like today if you say you like or love a particular game that you've "sold out to the man" or something, or you "work for the company who makes the game" is the other one.

It's funny but us humans can make triumph out of tragedy but we can also make a tragedy out of a joy.

[JoshC1977]

Re: Negativity in Gaming??

I think entitlement is the biggest issue overall that has bred negativity (and it's a microcosm of a larger societal issue - we won't delve into that, lol).

Just because you buy a game does not mean you're entitled to get what you want. The reality is that the purchase price entitles you to nothing other than the product you have purchased.

But in addition to the "loud" individuals, you have the petty extremists (for example, the "hardcore sim" gamers for sports games or the "pro" gamers), "influencers", and the money-driven "content creators" all thinking their opinions should be heard and it is all a bloody mess. So you get a whole lot of people spouting-off with their entitlement-driven POVs and with opinions inherently varying amongst individuals, it creates conflict and anger. Many folks cross the line from "passion" to "pettiness" and the crux of it boils down to whether the person is thinking about the interests of the entire gaming audience or their own sense of entitlement/selfishness.

To be totally honest, I went through a period where the negativity in the gaming space was really bringing me down. I finally wised-up and adjusted my own behaviors to get away from this crap.

1. I liberally block/mute folks on various outlets (including here). I stopped viewing live gaming streams and don't watch sports-game content of any sort. And to be frank, many times, it's not because of the creator themselves but rather the other viewers.

2. I only buy/play games that I enjoy and stopped buying or trying to play through a game due to some ill-conceived notion that I "have to play this". Marketing can push one to think that "every game/mode is made for me" (which, when done well, brilliantly exploits a gamer's sense of entitlement) but that is just SO far from the truth. Once I have decided to "pass" on a game, I stop engaging (whether reading or writing about) in discussion of these games. With 1000s of games out there, it is completely idiotic for someone to get hung-up on one game...go play something else!

3. I had to stop doing (and reading) slider threads here for sports games as they encouraged within me a strong sense of entitlement (i.e. "I think this game should play THIS way" vs just enjoying how a game was developed) and exposed me to more negativity from others. I now realize that just because sliders are in a game, their presence should not override the mindset in number 2. Either a developer makes a game I enjoy or they don't (and I don't buy it). This mindset has allowed me to truly focus on just having fun with the games I love without wasting loads of time trying to coax enjoyment out of other games. I'm not saying this to judge others; this is what I had to do for myself (though I would encourage anyone here to be introspective and ask themselves if it is truly worth it for them - the answer will vary amongst individuals).

Anyways, that's my "take" and my "journey" through dealing with this....