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Back
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Keeping
up appearances...
By a
spotty, bespectacled Lewis Denby
 No,
that's not what I really look like. The specs aren't too bad, I reckon, but I'm
not keen on the spotty look. Still, that's what most would have you
believe constitutes the typical gamer - that, plus obesity,
and with a box of tissues handy for the next sex scene in Mass
Effect.
And it's weird, because we all know it's not true,
we've all had the discussion a million times, and we still
see such bizarre stereotyping of the gaming community in
this way. Is it the mainstream media? Not really - if
everyone followed their lead we'd all be seen as ravenous
murderers, desperate to live out our Grand Theft Auto
fantasies. So what is it?
Even beyond this image - which I don't think anyone truly
believes, despite the jokes that may circulate - our hobby
is still regarded as a low form of entertainment: culturally
irrelevant, socially damaging and academically
vacuous. In short, it's a bit embarrassing to be seen
as a 'gamer geek'. We keep hitting out at the masses,
with cries of "It's not true!", but the
assumptions still remain. Finally, I think I've
cracked it.
It's our fault.
Think about it. When was the last time you held
an open discussion about videogames with an abundance of
non-gamers present? I'd wager it's not too regular an occurrence,
but even if it is, did you really take any time to defend
your comments? "... As
if it's a secret. As if I'm ashamed..."
I'm as guilty of it as anyone - perhaps moreso. My
work life revolves around writing, my off-time revolves
around gaming and games developing (and music, to be fair),
and things like this sit in between the two. So I've
been pretty busy with games-related projects. Yet
whenever anyone asks me what I've been doing lately, I inevitably
respond with a muted, "Nothing much." As if
it's a secret. As if I'm ashamed.
I bet you do the same. And if your first reaction to
that is one of stubborn denial, think very carefully about
the public image you try to project, and decide if being
recognised as a gamer is high on your list of priorities.
I remember fellow Resolution writer Graham and I going round
to a friend's house one time, with the full intention of
having a booze-fuelled Wii session. But, even while
comrades swore like troopers at each other over a game of
digital tennis, it was us that remained at the receiving end
of the jokes. 'Cause, you know, we're passionate
enough to actually write about the stuff.
And you know what? I think we became rather reserved
about the whole situation once again. We shifted the
topic to the other, more respectable things we're involved
with. Why
didn't we explain? Why didn't we take the opportunity
to prove something?
The thing is, we could have become involved in a heated
discussion about film or literature - you know, the proper
narrative arts - and no one would have batted an
eyelid. Everyone would have joined in. But as
the industry starts to get a real hang of the expressive
power of the videogame, we need to start showing - and
voicing - an understanding of the immense creative potential
of this pursuit, and a pride in our gaming lives.
Until we do that, there's no hope. While ever we're
secretive and embarrassed about our hobby, it's never going
to be taken seriously. The minute we stand up to be
counted, and take some time to explain things from our point
of view, it stands a hefty chance.
I quite like those glasses, actually. I might have to
buy some.
Back
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What is
Resolution?
Resolution is a monthly videogames e-zine run primarily by a group of
egocentric misfits in Leeds, UK.
It's all delivered in the lovely, straightforward format of HTML, so you've no silly PDF files to download. We aim to talk about videogames in the most diverse and relevant way possible, meaning we've the standard 'news and reviews' gubbins, but also plenty of other worthwhile articles for you to cast your watchful eyes
over.
We do this because we bloody love videogames, we bloody love writing about them, and we're bloody proud of both of these facts. We hope that you - yes, sir/madam, you! - can share in this gleeful excitement about this most wonderful of creative media, and that you enjoy reading the words what we have written.
Contact
Resolution.
Any queries, troubles, pleas or death threats should be sent to
contact@resolution-magazine.co.uk.
If it's for the attention of a particular writer, say so in the subject line and it'll be passed on
accordingly. |
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