5WG is pleased to present the following article, written by guest columnist Bryan Wiedey, administrator and sports game guru at Madden Nation.

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“By supporting them, you allow them to continue to make bad games.”
“That game is only for arcade players.”
“Everyone knows that game is trash.”
“You’re just a fanboy!”

Comments such as these have become commonplace within sports gaming communities. In fact, it seems as though many people spend more time bashing particular games than they do playing or discussing their own. This has become “the new sport” within online forums; infesting them to the detriment of those who actually contribute. When did playing sports games stop being about enjoyment, and start being about criticizing particular franchises?

I have always been a proponent of good, constructive discussion. Presented in the right way, issues can be addressed. Ironically, only a handful of people on forums who criticize heavily actually want to make an effort to address them. Rather, they enjoy finding flaws with games they dislike; indeed, they actually hope for it. I’ve experienced many examples of how these people want to bash a game, but have no interest in actually contributing in an effort to help make it better. It’s ultimately counterproductive.

Not only is a game left open to attack, but those who enjoy said game are a prime target, as well. There is a growing sense of elitism within communities. Certain people who like a certain game or brand feel a need to insult those who may like a rival game or brand. I suppose this comes from a need to make themselves feel better about their purchase. You have to wonder why those people spend so much time on opposing message boards when they hate (or don’t even play) the game, anyway. When it comes down to it, they feel they are innately “better” than anyone who has a dissenting opinion.

Opinions are no longer relevant, by the way.

The new thinking is this: what you believe is now fact.*

Now, there are clear examples of game-versus-game elitism throughout message boards. But you can even find them within communities of specific games. You have the “sim” crowd versus the “arcade” crowd. Those who wish to dictate the play of their opponents, and those who play to win at all costs. Of course, this means there are always excuses for a loss, and you’d be surprised how many undefeated players (in their own mind) there are out there. The terms of - and decisions made within - the games themselves are often used to insult others.

The level of hypocrisy is reaching new heights, as well. Fantastic examples of this abound when game reviews are published. If it supports their opinion, then naturally, it was a good review. It may even have been great that a site “took a stand” against a particular title! This is then used as proof throughout game forums to support their points. However if there is a review that was disagreed with, you’d better believe that the reviewer is an idiot, doesn’t play sports games, and/or was paid off by a rival company. It’s actually amusing (in a twisted fashion) to watch the shift in attitudes as reviews are either used as ammunition or dismissed as irrelevant.

Contrary to popular belief, crying and moaning, constant complaining, and insulting members or companies on message boards has never led to positive results. On the contrary, it’s entirely counterproductive; driving away the good participants and drowning out worthwhile discussion and progress.

Ultimately, it is detrimental in that it drives off those members who wish to have productive and worthwhile discussion, and stunts the actual growth and communication that could be made between the gaming community and game developers themselves.

Internet message boards have become a haven for negativity, and ultimately, that may be the biggest issue at hand to deal with. It’s past time to return to a time when gamers played the games they enjoyed, and didn’t spend their time forcing opinions upon others instead.

*[EDITOR’S NOTE: Esquire’s pop-culture guru Chuck Klosterman feels the same way. - SD]