4 ms·

Gaming may be "worth more" but culturally it's still frowned upon. With smartphones, you can "hide" the fact that you're playing. Not so easy to do that with a

Gaming may be "worth more" but culturally it's still frowned upon. With smartphones, you can "hide" the fact that you're playing. Not so easy to do that with a Switch in public.

tzakrajs 8y ago
What culture are you in?
- sneakernets 8y ago
  Maybe it's not everywhere, but where I live, playing video games are still seen as a sign of immaturity and lack of social skills. Doesn't matter that there are mature rated games that require voice communication to play properly, doesn't matter that tons of gamers are in at least one gaming community. Somewhere in the mid 00s, society established a new gamer stereotype as some lazy man child who prefers to sit around reading comics and playing games to going out and "grabbing life by the horns" or some other nonsense.
  - Pfhreak 8y ago
    What society are you in? Because gaming is pretty ubiquitous and accepted in American culture (at least in the coastal areas I've been to). Playing games and identifying as a 'gamer' are definitely different, however. I play a lot of core games (PUBG, Overwatch, etc.) but I definitely do not label myself a 'gamer'.
techopoly 8y ago
So why would you say that is?
- sneakernets 8y ago
  Years of marketing video games to a way-too-narrow demographic with no disposable income - boys and early teens. It's not the only media that was stuck in the "kids only" camp - look how long it took cartoons to break free of that mould. Thank The Simpsons for that one.
  - fl0wenol 8y ago
    There has definitely been a shift here, though. Note the high-budget prime time PS4 commercials over the last few years featuring actors in and targeted to the 18-40 demo. The message seems to be packaged escapism there. Similarly, Nintendo is marketing the Switch like a lifestyle brand would (Apple, Samsung), although that shift started with the Wii. Just slicker and less quirky.
    - sneakernets 8y ago
      I think Nintendo's idea of incorporating it into life is way more successful than the "escapism" route (which may be contributing to those negative stereotypes we all know and loathe by now). Marketing video games to enhance a social setting rather than a way to escape one probably appeals to parents who are worried about the whole "screen zombies" thing.
folkrav 8y ago
Frowned upon by who?
jonshariat 8y ago
Yes definitely feel this way too.
- sneakernets 8y ago
  I'll never forget when I was discussing building a gaming PC at work only to hear "aren't you a little too old for that?" I had no answer for that.
  - Bayart 8y ago
    Just say it's "primarily for production". Works every time.
  - cwkoss 8y ago
    "aren't you a little too old to not have learned your manners yet?"
  - kozikow 8y ago
    The codename is "deep learning PC" :P.

Gaming may be "worth more" but culturally it's still frowned upon. With smartphones, you can "hide" the fact that you're playing. Not so easy to do that with a Switch in public.

tzakrajs 8y ago

What culture are you in?

sneakernets 8y ago
Maybe it's not everywhere, but where I live, playing video games are still seen as a sign of immaturity and lack of social skills. Doesn't matter that there are mature rated games that require voice communication to play properly, doesn't matter that tons of gamers are in at least one gaming community. Somewhere in the mid 00s, society established a new gamer stereotype as some lazy man child who prefers to sit around reading comics and playing games to going out and "grabbing life by the horns" or some other nonsense.
- Pfhreak 8y ago
  What society are you in? Because gaming is pretty ubiquitous and accepted in American culture (at least in the coastal areas I've been to). Playing games and identifying as a 'gamer' are definitely different, however. I play a lot of core games (PUBG, Overwatch, etc.) but I definitely do not label myself a 'gamer'.

techopoly 8y ago

So why would you say that is?

sneakernets 8y ago
Years of marketing video games to a way-too-narrow demographic with no disposable income - boys and early teens. It's not the only media that was stuck in the "kids only" camp - look how long it took cartoons to break free of that mould. Thank The Simpsons for that one.
- fl0wenol 8y ago
  There has definitely been a shift here, though. Note the high-budget prime time PS4 commercials over the last few years featuring actors in and targeted to the 18-40 demo. The message seems to be packaged escapism there. Similarly, Nintendo is marketing the Switch like a lifestyle brand would (Apple, Samsung), although that shift started with the Wii. Just slicker and less quirky.
  - sneakernets 8y ago
    I think Nintendo's idea of incorporating it into life is way more successful than the "escapism" route (which may be contributing to those negative stereotypes we all know and loathe by now). Marketing video games to enhance a social setting rather than a way to escape one probably appeals to parents who are worried about the whole "screen zombies" thing.

folkrav 8y ago

Frowned upon by who?

jonshariat 8y ago

Yes definitely feel this way too.

sneakernets 8y ago
I'll never forget when I was discussing building a gaming PC at work only to hear "aren't you a little too old for that?" I had no answer for that.
- Bayart 8y ago
  Just say it's "primarily for production". Works every time.
- cwkoss 8y ago
  "aren't you a little too old to not have learned your manners yet?"
- kozikow 8y ago
  The codename is "deep learning PC" :P.