6 ms·

Why do most gaming products look like an edgy 13-year-old has designed them? This trend goes from useless RGB coolers on RAM modules to tuning software for main

by hs86 6y ago

Why do most gaming products look like an edgy 13-year-old has designed them? This trend goes from useless RGB coolers on RAM modules to tuning software for mainboards with a UI that is essentially a fancy bitmap with random interactive elements spread throughout for the user to figure out. (Basically Winamp but worse) The most ergonomic mice are usually from one of these gaming companies, so it is difficult to avoid them. But their drivers are over-stylized bloatware, and their useless colored LEDs are covered by my hand once I start using the device.

runawaybottle 6y ago
This is tough to determine. One could make the argument that Gaming is inherently a childish activity that draw people with childish tendencies and childish tastes. The counter to this would be what Nintendo learned with it’s product redesigns. Their original Game Boy Advance looked like a toy, but when they redesigned it into the Gameboy Advance SP, it became their best selling Gameboy up to that point. Nothing changed other than the design. The same could be said for the childish GameCube design, where the modern/Apple inspired successor Wii became their best selling console up to that point as well. This is probably the same issue Tesla made about EVs. Why does an EV have to look like some particularly weird looking car? Why can’t it look like a decent entry level luxury car? So ya, none of this advanced gaming hardware has to look this fucking stupid for sure. The design teams are basically insulting everyone’s taste based on some kind of prejudice, that we’re all some kind of Mountain Dew Code Red drinking neck beards with zero taste. This chair looks like it has some very good utility that solves some issues around desk space, viewing angle and ergonomics. If they just approached it with less prejudice, it could follow a smaller modern minimalist form that would appeal to vast swaths of the population. For what it’s worth, a design like this is better at tackling the reality of sitting at a computer all day than the Standing desk. The standing desk is mainstream, but this will never be. I wonder why? I cannot have a fucking scorpion chair in my apartment as an adult.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- metalliqaz 6y ago
  > One could make the argument that Gaming is inherently a childish activity that draw people with childish tendencies and childish tastes. This was true when games entered the home and Atari/Nintendo/Sega/etc decided to sell them from the toy aisle (specifically the boys toys aisle). But that was 40 years ago. Similar to how the Simpsons is now seen as an old people show (and Looney Tunes even older), video games have grown up. Especially in the mobile space, but PC isn't far behind.
- stryan 6y ago
  >The counter to this would be what Nintendo learned with it’s product redesigns. Their original Game Boy Advance looked like a toy, but when they redesigned it into the Gameboy Advance SP, it became their best selling Gameboy up to that point. Nothing changed other than the design. The same could be said for the childish GameCube design, where the modern/Apple inspired successor Wii became their best selling console up to that point as well. That seems to be a bit of stretch. The original Game Boy Advance was already selling very well when it came out, being the fastest selling console in both NA and Europe soon after release. The GBA also never was the best selling Gameboy lineup: that's always been the original Game Boy/GBC. It also seems like you're implying the Game Boy Advance SP was mainly redesigned to look more "adult" and that's why it was more successful. This ignores the fact that the SP also added a rechargeable battery and, most importantly, a long-requested built in light (first front-lit, later back-lit). The latter feature alone was another for many people (myself included) to side-grade from a GBA to a GBA SP. I'll leave the question of whether the original GBA and Gamecube actually had childish designs (because they're both..purple?) to people who actually understand design.
  - runawaybottle 6y ago
    It’s hard to find articles about it right now, but a lot of adults did not feel shame playing the GBA SP in public. The design impacted a lot. I encourage anyone to look up the original Gameboy Advance model and compare it to the GBA SP model to convince yourself how obvious that design change was. As for the subjectiveness of the GBA and GameCube designs, it feels obvious to me. Like, the GameCube had a fucking handle on it lol. No dear sir, “purple” was the least of it. To hammer the point home, Nintendo specifically mentioned that the modern redesigns of the Wii or GBA were Apple inspired, and were deliberate. They consistently made those types of modern design changes since the success of SP’s redesign (DS Lite). All the design changes looked less childish, a simple before and after google image search should confirm this for anyone.
    - stryan 6y ago
      I couldn't find any articles agreeing with you on the GBA aspect, and I think you're overestimating the "adult design change" versus "you can now play video games without having the perfect light source" aspect. > Like, the GameCube had a fucking handle on it lol. No dear sir, “purple” was the least of it. I'm intrigued by your implication that adults never have to carry anything. The handle always suggested a briefcase look to me. I did find an interview[0] talking about the Wii's design and you're right that the Gamecube was viewed a bit like a "toy" and how they tried to avoid that again. It's a neat look into their design process, specifically how they wanted the Wii to be placed directly next to the TV, but to look more "fun" then just a piece of AV equipment. Not sure where you got the Apple inspiration part, the design imagery was set by the Nintendo DS. On a related note, the DS Lite is not an SP redesign. Typo perhaps? [0] https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-Wii/Iwata-Asks-Wii-Hardware/2-A-Design-For-Everyone/2-A-Design-For-Everyone-205730.html https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-Wii/Iwata-A...
- falcolas 6y ago
  > One could make the argument that Gaming is inherently a childish activity that draw people with childish tendencies and childish tastes. This is, frankly, an insult against a majority of adults in the US. The "average" gamer is 34 years old, owns a house, and has children. 65% of American adults play games daily. It's no more childish than watching TV or reading.
  - runawaybottle 6y ago
    Yeah it’s insulting, but sometimes we do it to ourselves. Scorpion chair is a no no. Sometimes just take the easy wins.
    - hesdeadjim 6y ago
      That chair is wonderfully ridiculous, and I would enjoy the feeling you’d get every time you hop in it. Those who judge tend to have their own hang ups around this kind of stuff. What’s yours?
      - kevin_thibedeau 6y ago
        Looks unsafe if there is a fire and the power goes out.
        jacquesm 6y ago
        At a guess you are not into bondage.
      - klondike_klive 6y ago
        I get a mild castration anxiety looking at it.
  - hesdeadjim 6y ago
    Yea, more than a tad bit insulting. Let’s just forget how great of a social activity is, especially during an isolating pandemic as well. Some of my gaming experiences are my fondest memories, as “real” as any normal event. I’m also quite well adjusted with social activities, plenty of “real” world friends, adrenaline sports, and being a father. But I also have no judgement for someone who makes gaming much more of their life, as I did at one point.
jedimastert 6y ago
> Why do most gaming products look like an edgy 13-year-old has designed them? I think you've answered your own question... In all seriousness (and I mean no disparagement to the kinds of folks who do enjoy gaming or making gaming rigs) I suspect that the kinds of folks who enjoy big flashy computer rigs are gamers who enjoy big flashy video games that need big flashy rigs to play them. Also, I think it's a status symbol. Kinda like asking why performance cars have...well, RGB everything and look like a edgy 13-year-old has designed them. Huh.
hesdeadjim 6y ago
I asked myself the same question for a while. Built “tasteful” personal rigs. Then as a bit of a joke when I was helping some friends build their PC for the first time, we decided to be egregious with RGBs just for the hell of it. And you know what? It was fun to not be so serious. And I think that’s part of it, why not have a PC built for games have some personality in the form of pulsating water coolers, light bars, video cards with self-illumination? If you get sick of any of it it’s trivial to disable them in software of hardware (e.g. take them out). I should also mention I’m not an edgy 13 year old, I’m a 40 year old dad.
- MrBuddyCasino 6y ago
  > why not have a PC built for games have some personality in the form of pulsating water coolers, light bars, video cards with self-illumination? Because this is the opposite of personality. Its dressing things up in pre-fabbed cookie-cutter accessories with a uniform aesthetic of cheaply made electronics. Its just an easy way to sell generic products at a markup. Personality is personal, something that you came up with, not something that you bought of the shelf - that just makes you a consumer. Examples of PCs with personality: * https://www.pinterest.de/pin/527765650070789504/ https://www.pinterest.de/pin/527765650070789504/ * https://www.pinterest.de/pin/170714642095089041/ https://www.pinterest.de/pin/170714642095089041/ * https://www.pinterest.de/pin/278941770641263283/ https://www.pinterest.de/pin/278941770641263283/
  - Pfhreak 6y ago
    People enjoy the things they enjoy. Busting out the "No true Scotsman" to put down the tastes of others as having the 'opposite of personality' is needlessly negative and gatekeep-ey. The bar for personality is not 'Spend thousands of dollars on bespoke computer cases'.
    - MrBuddyCasino 6y ago
      This is not "tasteful / expensive" vs "cheap / tacky". This is about paint-by-numbers vs painting free-form, from your own imagination, or playing Guitar Hero vs actually learning to play the guitar, and maybe writing a song. It doesn't matter if the result meets other people's standards, it just matters that the template wasn't already carved out by someone else. I picked my examples because I like them, just substitute them for something cheaper / less impressive, but self-made, if that is what you're getting hung up about.
MrVitaliy 6y ago
> The most ergonomic mice are usually from one of these gaming companies No they're not, just do your research [0] and don't buy flashy gear aimed for 13 year-olds. My general rule of thumb is if it looks like an LED alien, it's almost always a bad product. The company spent more money on marketing/looks than on engineering. This is very evident with current WiFi routers and motherboards. [0] https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/mice/mx-master-3.910-005620.html https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/mice/mx-master-3.910...
- toast0 6y ago
  Can't left mouse with that one. Since the intellimouse is dead, gaming mice seem to be the only ambidextrous, full sized, wired mice out there. You just have to put on dark glasses until you can find the rgb toggle.
  - kevin_thibedeau 6y ago
    Go to eBay and find a suitable NoS symmetrical mouse. I have a late model IBM scrollpoint in the left hand right now.
- friendlybus 6y ago
  I have an MX Master 2S. It's nearly the perfect mouse except for a 10ms input delay that makes it subpar for precise 3d modelling work. It sits on a shelf and collects dust. I use a G903 gaming mouse now, it delivers a precise mouse with zero input lag. It is possible to make the perfect mouse, nobody does it.
- Dahoon 6y ago
  Have you seen the software? Might as well be programmed with LEDs!
ChrisMarshallNY 6y ago
Because people spend money on that kind of gear. A lot of money. It’s really that simple. It’s like useless spoilers on sports cars. Me, I’m not a serious gamer. I use a Mac. For all the hate poured onto Macs as “toys,” they are awful gaming rigs. Also, I use a standing desk. I am not the target demographic for this product. I have friends that are serious gamers, and they have spent many thousands on (multiple) flashy rigs and man-caves.
sdfin 6y ago
I believe that the most ergonomic mouses are the vertical ones. There are some models without leds.
cortesoft 6y ago
Might be a bit of a selection bias happening... you probably don't notice the normal looking gaming equipment, or don't consider it gaming equipment if you don't see the ridiculous RGB stuff.
wombatpm 6y ago
I have multiple machines with a KVM switch. I have different colors for each machine which is the only use I have for the LEDs.
justinclift 6y ago
For the mouse example (specifically), you could solve that by making (say) an OSS mouse: https://github.com/biomurph/Mouse https://github.com/biomurph/Mouse But creating your own case for it. It'd likely be fairly time consuming, and need lots of iterations. But once done, you'd be able to re-use the design pretty much forever. :)
MisterTea 6y ago
I just want a boring, sparsely populated green solder masked PCB. I don't like these gaudy heat spreaders shaped like saw blades and gears covered with RGB led's. I look at a screen. Not the case. I bought a nice little Logitech mouse for my Linux box which turns out NEEDS a driver to disable the RGB leds which by default runs a color changing breathing pattern. At first I used tape to cover them but I soon opened it up and cut out the blasted things. No way am I bothering with a damn driver to turn off childishly obnoxious lights on a mouse. I should have returned it but I mistakenly threw out the box during a cleaning spree.

by hs86 6y ago

runawaybottle 6y ago

This is tough to determine. One could make the argument that Gaming is inherently a childish activity that draw people with childish tendencies and childish tastes. The counter to this would be what Nintendo learned with it’s product redesigns. Their original Game Boy Advance looked like a toy, but when they redesigned it into the Gameboy Advance SP, it became their best selling Gameboy up to that point. Nothing changed other than the design. The same could be said for the childish GameCube design, where the modern/Apple inspired successor Wii became their best selling console up to that point as well. This is probably the same issue Tesla made about EVs. Why does an EV have to look like some particularly weird looking car? Why can’t it look like a decent entry level luxury car? So ya, none of this advanced gaming hardware has to look this fucking stupid for sure. The design teams are basically insulting everyone’s taste based on some kind of prejudice, that we’re all some kind of Mountain Dew Code Red drinking neck beards with zero taste. This chair looks like it has some very good utility that solves some issues around desk space, viewing angle and ergonomics. If they just approached it with less prejudice, it could follow a smaller modern minimalist form that would appeal to vast swaths of the population. For what it’s worth, a design like this is better at tackling the reality of sitting at a computer all day than the Standing desk. The standing desk is mainstream, but this will never be. I wonder why? I cannot have a fucking scorpion chair in my apartment as an adult.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
metalliqaz 6y ago
> One could make the argument that Gaming is inherently a childish activity that draw people with childish tendencies and childish tastes. This was true when games entered the home and Atari/Nintendo/Sega/etc decided to sell them from the toy aisle (specifically the boys toys aisle). But that was 40 years ago. Similar to how the Simpsons is now seen as an old people show (and Looney Tunes even older), video games have grown up. Especially in the mobile space, but PC isn't far behind.
stryan 6y ago
>The counter to this would be what Nintendo learned with it’s product redesigns. Their original Game Boy Advance looked like a toy, but when they redesigned it into the Gameboy Advance SP, it became their best selling Gameboy up to that point. Nothing changed other than the design. The same could be said for the childish GameCube design, where the modern/Apple inspired successor Wii became their best selling console up to that point as well. That seems to be a bit of stretch. The original Game Boy Advance was already selling very well when it came out, being the fastest selling console in both NA and Europe soon after release. The GBA also never was the best selling Gameboy lineup: that's always been the original Game Boy/GBC. It also seems like you're implying the Game Boy Advance SP was mainly redesigned to look more "adult" and that's why it was more successful. This ignores the fact that the SP also added a rechargeable battery and, most importantly, a long-requested built in light (first front-lit, later back-lit). The latter feature alone was another for many people (myself included) to side-grade from a GBA to a GBA SP. I'll leave the question of whether the original GBA and Gamecube actually had childish designs (because they're both..purple?) to people who actually understand design.
- runawaybottle 6y ago
  It’s hard to find articles about it right now, but a lot of adults did not feel shame playing the GBA SP in public. The design impacted a lot. I encourage anyone to look up the original Gameboy Advance model and compare it to the GBA SP model to convince yourself how obvious that design change was. As for the subjectiveness of the GBA and GameCube designs, it feels obvious to me. Like, the GameCube had a fucking handle on it lol. No dear sir, “purple” was the least of it. To hammer the point home, Nintendo specifically mentioned that the modern redesigns of the Wii or GBA were Apple inspired, and were deliberate. They consistently made those types of modern design changes since the success of SP’s redesign (DS Lite). All the design changes looked less childish, a simple before and after google image search should confirm this for anyone.
  - stryan 6y ago
    I couldn't find any articles agreeing with you on the GBA aspect, and I think you're overestimating the "adult design change" versus "you can now play video games without having the perfect light source" aspect. > Like, the GameCube had a fucking handle on it lol. No dear sir, “purple” was the least of it. I'm intrigued by your implication that adults never have to carry anything. The handle always suggested a briefcase look to me. I did find an interview[0] talking about the Wii's design and you're right that the Gamecube was viewed a bit like a "toy" and how they tried to avoid that again. It's a neat look into their design process, specifically how they wanted the Wii to be placed directly next to the TV, but to look more "fun" then just a piece of AV equipment. Not sure where you got the Apple inspiration part, the design imagery was set by the Nintendo DS. On a related note, the DS Lite is not an SP redesign. Typo perhaps? [0] https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-Wii/Iwata-Asks-Wii-Hardware/2-A-Design-For-Everyone/2-A-Design-For-Everyone-205730.html https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-Wii/Iwata-A...
falcolas 6y ago
> One could make the argument that Gaming is inherently a childish activity that draw people with childish tendencies and childish tastes. This is, frankly, an insult against a majority of adults in the US. The "average" gamer is 34 years old, owns a house, and has children. 65% of American adults play games daily. It's no more childish than watching TV or reading.
- runawaybottle 6y ago
  Yeah it’s insulting, but sometimes we do it to ourselves. Scorpion chair is a no no. Sometimes just take the easy wins.
  - hesdeadjim 6y ago
    That chair is wonderfully ridiculous, and I would enjoy the feeling you’d get every time you hop in it. Those who judge tend to have their own hang ups around this kind of stuff. What’s yours?
    - kevin_thibedeau 6y ago
      Looks unsafe if there is a fire and the power goes out.
      - jacquesm 6y ago
        At a guess you are not into bondage.
    - klondike_klive 6y ago
      I get a mild castration anxiety looking at it.
- hesdeadjim 6y ago
  Yea, more than a tad bit insulting. Let’s just forget how great of a social activity is, especially during an isolating pandemic as well. Some of my gaming experiences are my fondest memories, as “real” as any normal event. I’m also quite well adjusted with social activities, plenty of “real” world friends, adrenaline sports, and being a father. But I also have no judgement for someone who makes gaming much more of their life, as I did at one point.

jedimastert 6y ago

> Why do most gaming products look like an edgy 13-year-old has designed them? I think you've answered your own question... In all seriousness (and I mean no disparagement to the kinds of folks who do enjoy gaming or making gaming rigs) I suspect that the kinds of folks who enjoy big flashy computer rigs are gamers who enjoy big flashy video games that need big flashy rigs to play them. Also, I think it's a status symbol. Kinda like asking why performance cars have...well, RGB everything and look like a edgy 13-year-old has designed them. Huh.

hesdeadjim 6y ago

I asked myself the same question for a while. Built “tasteful” personal rigs. Then as a bit of a joke when I was helping some friends build their PC for the first time, we decided to be egregious with RGBs just for the hell of it. And you know what? It was fun to not be so serious. And I think that’s part of it, why not have a PC built for games have some personality in the form of pulsating water coolers, light bars, video cards with self-illumination? If you get sick of any of it it’s trivial to disable them in software of hardware (e.g. take them out). I should also mention I’m not an edgy 13 year old, I’m a 40 year old dad.

MrBuddyCasino 6y ago
> why not have a PC built for games have some personality in the form of pulsating water coolers, light bars, video cards with self-illumination? Because this is the opposite of personality. Its dressing things up in pre-fabbed cookie-cutter accessories with a uniform aesthetic of cheaply made electronics. Its just an easy way to sell generic products at a markup. Personality is personal, something that you came up with, not something that you bought of the shelf - that just makes you a consumer. Examples of PCs with personality: * https://www.pinterest.de/pin/527765650070789504/ https://www.pinterest.de/pin/527765650070789504/ * https://www.pinterest.de/pin/170714642095089041/ https://www.pinterest.de/pin/170714642095089041/ * https://www.pinterest.de/pin/278941770641263283/ https://www.pinterest.de/pin/278941770641263283/
- Pfhreak 6y ago
  People enjoy the things they enjoy. Busting out the "No true Scotsman" to put down the tastes of others as having the 'opposite of personality' is needlessly negative and gatekeep-ey. The bar for personality is not 'Spend thousands of dollars on bespoke computer cases'.
  - MrBuddyCasino 6y ago
    This is not "tasteful / expensive" vs "cheap / tacky". This is about paint-by-numbers vs painting free-form, from your own imagination, or playing Guitar Hero vs actually learning to play the guitar, and maybe writing a song. It doesn't matter if the result meets other people's standards, it just matters that the template wasn't already carved out by someone else. I picked my examples because I like them, just substitute them for something cheaper / less impressive, but self-made, if that is what you're getting hung up about.

MrVitaliy 6y ago

> The most ergonomic mice are usually from one of these gaming companies No they're not, just do your research [0] and don't buy flashy gear aimed for 13 year-olds. My general rule of thumb is if it looks like an LED alien, it's almost always a bad product. The company spent more money on marketing/looks than on engineering. This is very evident with current WiFi routers and motherboards. [0] https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/mice/mx-master-3.910-005620.html https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/mice/mx-master-3.910...

toast0 6y ago
Can't left mouse with that one. Since the intellimouse is dead, gaming mice seem to be the only ambidextrous, full sized, wired mice out there. You just have to put on dark glasses until you can find the rgb toggle.
- kevin_thibedeau 6y ago
  Go to eBay and find a suitable NoS symmetrical mouse. I have a late model IBM scrollpoint in the left hand right now.
friendlybus 6y ago
I have an MX Master 2S. It's nearly the perfect mouse except for a 10ms input delay that makes it subpar for precise 3d modelling work. It sits on a shelf and collects dust. I use a G903 gaming mouse now, it delivers a precise mouse with zero input lag. It is possible to make the perfect mouse, nobody does it.
Dahoon 6y ago
Have you seen the software? Might as well be programmed with LEDs!

ChrisMarshallNY 6y ago

Because people spend money on that kind of gear. A lot of money. It’s really that simple. It’s like useless spoilers on sports cars. Me, I’m not a serious gamer. I use a Mac. For all the hate poured onto Macs as “toys,” they are awful gaming rigs. Also, I use a standing desk. I am not the target demographic for this product. I have friends that are serious gamers, and they have spent many thousands on (multiple) flashy rigs and man-caves.

sdfin 6y ago

I believe that the most ergonomic mouses are the vertical ones. There are some models without leds.

cortesoft 6y ago

Might be a bit of a selection bias happening... you probably don't notice the normal looking gaming equipment, or don't consider it gaming equipment if you don't see the ridiculous RGB stuff.

wombatpm 6y ago

I have multiple machines with a KVM switch. I have different colors for each machine which is the only use I have for the LEDs.

justinclift 6y ago

For the mouse example (specifically), you could solve that by making (say) an OSS mouse: https://github.com/biomurph/Mouse https://github.com/biomurph/Mouse But creating your own case for it. It'd likely be fairly time consuming, and need lots of iterations. But once done, you'd be able to re-use the design pretty much forever. :)

MisterTea 6y ago

I just want a boring, sparsely populated green solder masked PCB. I don't like these gaudy heat spreaders shaped like saw blades and gears covered with RGB led's. I look at a screen. Not the case. I bought a nice little Logitech mouse for my Linux box which turns out NEEDS a driver to disable the RGB leds which by default runs a color changing breathing pattern. At first I used tape to cover them but I soon opened it up and cut out the blasted things. No way am I bothering with a damn driver to turn off childishly obnoxious lights on a mouse. I should have returned it but I mistakenly threw out the box during a cleaning spree.