We talk a lot about gamer identity: hardcore, casual, etc, but this week I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit. I’ve been playing a lot of the original Super Mario Brothers on my 3DS. While I hadn’t forgotten how much I loved that game (I talk about it all the time.), replaying it now has been a ton of fun. The game seems harder than I remember, and of course, I’m way out of practice, and can no longer just play it on auto-pilot. But, still, it’s fun, and I’m having a ball working through and rediscovering old (but now new to me) levels. Playing it, though, reminds me of how I recently, inadvertently, said something that made a friend think I thought only people who had played the original Super Mario Brothers were “real” gamers. Of course I don’t think that, and I don’t even remember what I said to make her think that, but unfortunately, that’s the world every female gamer lives in: we have to “prove” we are real gamers, and that “proof” comes largely from the types of games we play and how good we are at playing them.
I actually never considered myself a “gamer” until recently, and I only sort of consider myself one now because other people seem to see me that way. Personally, I don’t care one way or another about the label of “gamer,” but I do like to play games. I don’t always like to play the games that would make the gaming community at large consider me a “real” gamer. I do not like to play Call of Duty or really any FPS. I hate all the Grand Theft Auto games, although I do sort of like Watch Dogs. (But, I don’t love it.) I hated Skyrim, etc. I love Dead Rising (the original), all Silent Hill games, independent horror games, and, of course Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends. Some people would say I’m not a “real” gamer because of my preferences. Some might also say I’m not a “real” gamer because I don’t play with any regularity. I can go weeks without playing only to suddenly become very obsessed by a specific game. Or, sometimes, I just jump around and play a little of this and a little of that.
I suspect that many gamers go through some of this. People are always on the look out for what kinds of games you are playing, how much you play them, and, of course, whether or not you are any good at them. If you listen to the podcasts, you know I don’t consider myself very good at very many games. I am very good at Dead Rising because I spent countless hours with that game. I’ve probably played through it at least 3 times, maybe more. Other games, such as FPS’s and the Grand Theft Auto games, I’m definitely not good at. This may be due to lack of interest and, therefore, lack of practice, but nevertheless, I suck at those games.
So, some might say I’m not a “real” gamer (or at least not a hardcore gamer), but, like I said, I don’t care. I play games because I like them, and I play games when I want to. The weird competitive judgmentalness of the gaming community does get tiresome, though. We’ve discussed this before, in blog posts, on the podcast, and even in conference panels. But, what is a “gamer” anyway? And, who decides? At one point, in a discussion with my mother, I told her I would call my step-father more of a gamer than I would call myself one because he can play solitaire for hours on end. He, of course, does not identify as a gamer. But, if not a gamer, then what? (And, far be it from me to try to force him to identify as a gamer.) The point is, if someone plays games and identifies as a gamer (regardless of the types of games), then in my book she or he is a gamer. Or not, if she or he prefers not to identify as a gamer.
