Video game elitism.

[agent817]

I wondered this recently. Is this a thing? You hear about music and movie snobs, and I have dealt with my share of them. Fandoms also have their toxic fans, especially when talking about anime and comics. But do you ever hear about video game snobbery? I mean, are there people who act superior for not playing certain games or a certain genre? I know people who have their own tastes, nothing wrong with that in the slightest, but I could imagine if there are people who choose RPGs and platformers over action games, or even open-world action games, fighting games, etc.

Maybe I haven't looked hard enough over the years, but I remember in the 2000s, when it was either the early-to-mid when talking about the original Xbox and PS2, or mid-to-late when talking about the 360 and PS3, people were often going at it about their consoles being superior. Of course, you also had the Nintendo loyalists sitting in the background watching as things unraveled between the Sony and Microsoft people. I don't hear a lot of people saying the same thing about the PS4 and Xbox One, except that the PS4 had a lot more to offer than the Xbox One, but that's about it.

I know console elitism was/is a thing, but what about those who choose a certain genre and completely shit on another genre? Do those types of gamers exist?

[BorneAgain]

It terms of artistic snobbery, video games in general haven't quite reached that level out broad acceptance in the broader culture as art for that much of an elitist trend to emerge with gaming circles. Most of the time it takes the form of general newbie disdain (oh the game's hard, git gud) or just general bragging about hardware/exclusives. But even that seems more closely resemble the heated arguments between sports teams than debates between pseudo intellectuals.

The closest there has been was circa the 6th/7th generations of gaming where Nintendo specifically, but even certain series/genres were derided as titles for kiddies instead of the mature action/FPS/RPG releases for adults. But even that's died out as the "real is brown" era has largely faded away and many of the popular games are colorful and often for people of all ages. Even the 2D plaformer, one of the most basic of all game types has emerged with more mature narratives and serious settings.

Basically a lot of people are far more likely to attack your supposed lack of skill or that you're playing a lesser game in a genre than attack you for what type of title you're playing. Mobile games are about the closest thing that many console/PC gamers can agree about looking down on and even that's inconsistent.

[Ultimo Gallos]

It was more based around consoles. Going as far back as the 16 bit days.

Genesis was faster and better for action and sports games.

SNES had "better" sound and graphics. Plus way more RPGs.

Yea it exists. Elitism exists in every fandom.

[Hit Girl]

Yes, I still hate Nintendo, and Nintendo fans.

[Dub H]

There is blind hate for some ,like seen above.But it goes for every brand and console.

The closest we got was the PC MASTER RACE meme but it died down quickly.

There is also the " walking simulator" debate which some people dont consider it games but I think that is less elitism and more of an actual debate to be had

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

I would say gaming is one of the worst examples for gatekeeping.

[simplydurhamcalling]

Not really what you were looking for but there are plenty of people that still look down their nose at video games generally. As though it is some lower form of entertainment to just plonking yourself in front of a TV for hours on end.

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

It is absolutely a thing, in all manner of stupid ways. Difficulty snobs (e.g. anyone who unironically still says "git gud"), console war snobs, genre snobs, pc>console snobs, people insisting there's only one "right" way to enjoy a game, people who freak out if someone doesn't think games are art... and that's not even getting into the toxic lemmings who hurl death threats at creators for every little thing.

[Scoops]

Dark Soul’s fans exist, yes.

[Bo Rida]

To a degree. Most commonly towards anything not on the cutting edge, handheld, mobile, pixel art etc.

Nearly anything is just preference, stupidity or justified.

[Deleted]

Kinda. I like simple games like the Lego Star Wars games, Guitar Hero/Rock Band on medium difficulty, etc. but people kind of chuckle and think I'm a dork because I don't play Call of Duty and Fortnite and stuff like that.

[Allie Kitsune]

Difficulty/Speedrun snobs can be pretty obnoxious.

[camphor #BLM]

Sept 27, 2020 23:50:08 GMT -5 Ultimo Gallos said:

It was more based around consoles. Going as far back as the 16 bit days.

Genesis was faster and better for action and sports games.

SNES had "better" sound and graphics. Plus way more RPGs.

Yea it exists. Elitism exists in every fandom.

...or earlier...

NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY SEGA WITH HARRISON FORD

[agent817]

I just remembered this. When I was in high school, I knew this boy who had his own views on things and tried to get me to see things his way (Those people are the worst). For example, because I mentioned to him that I had The Getaway (that one PS2 game where it took place in London) and at some point he bought it. He said that he didn't like it. That's all fine and all, but then he tried to get me to sell the game. I still remember saying "I don't buy anything that isn't good" (or something to that effect; been too long) and the guy said "Well, you bought 'The Getaway.'" I often told him that it was a birthday gift and that despite its flaws, I still found the game to be solid. He also tried to get me to sell some games that I had, because "they're old," despite them coming out the same year. We were a lot younger, so I understand how a teen's mentality can be, but still.

[Ultimo Gallos]

Sept 28, 2020 9:38:22 GMT -5 camphor #BLM said:

Sept 27, 2020 23:50:08 GMT -5 Ultimo Gallos said:

It was more based around consoles. Going as far back as the 16 bit days.

Genesis was faster and better for action and sports games.

SNES had "better" sound and graphics. Plus way more RPGs.

Yea it exists. Elitism exists in every fandom.

...or earlier...

NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY SEGA WITH HARRISON FORD

Maybe outside the US sure. But the Master System,which was a great console, was almost DOA in the US.

[salz4life]

I was Nintendo all the way unto the Playstation came out.

[camphor #BLM]

Sept 28, 2020 10:22:33 GMT -5 Ultimo Gallos said:

Sept 28, 2020 9:38:22 GMT -5 camphor #BLM said:

...or earlier...

NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY SEGA WITH HARRISON FORD

Maybe outside the US sure. But the Master System,which was a great console, was almost DOA in the US.

...I mainly just wanted an excuse to post that picture.

But actually engaging with the question:  yeah, SMS was/felt like it was almost a half-generation step below the NES in terms of either system power, or what they got out of the system (or maybe just the lack of numbers of their game developers).

Being a NES kid (who kind of got out of video games when the SNES was ramping up), I remember in the early days of the web, reading what Sega was doing in the mid/late '80s and early '90s, and feeling surprised how much earlier the Genesis came out than the SNES.

[BorneAgain]

Really the Sega Master system did have regions where it was successful and areas in South America where its beloved to this day.

It just had the bad fortune of not doing well either in the US or Japan which meant its carried around the reputation of being the also ran to the NES, which isn't entirely fair given the quality games it had.

[Dub H]

Sept 28, 2020 6:54:33 GMT -5 Scoops said:

Dark Soul’s fans exist, yes.

Ok yeh I take it back when it is hard to find.

Dark Souls is the epitome of video game elitism.

[ERON]

Oh yeah, I run into this sort of thing fairly often - PC gamers who look down on console gamers, PS/Xbox gamers who look down on Nintendo gamers, console gamers who look down on mobile gamers, etc. It's part of human nature, I guess.