Intel Pulls Ads From Gamasutra Over '#GamerGate'
By Erik Kain, Oct. 4, 2014, Forbes.com
I understand what Leigh Alexander was trying to say in her now-infamous “Gamers Are Over” article. She was trying to say that video games have evolved, that they’re no longer in the jurisdiction of so-called nerds, and that ‘gamer-culture’ as we know it has expanded.
That’s why she writes things like this: “Developers and writers alike want games about more things, and games by more people. We want — and we are getting, and will keep getting — tragicomedy, vignette, musicals, dream worlds, family tales, ethnographies, abstract art. We will get this, because we’re creating culture now. We are refusing to let anyone feel prohibited from participating.”
Alexander sees a broader culture for video games, one that includes more avant garde fare; one that involves more than the traditional shooters and platformers; and one that culture writers like Alexander herself could explore on a deeper level.
I get that this is what she was trying to say, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying that. After all, gaming has evolved. Video games are more diverse than ever. I enjoy a broad spectrum of opinions and topics. I enjoy that we can talk about video games as a crucial piece of our culture and economy. I also enjoy talking about game mechanics, graphics, and systems. All the little building blocks of these technological achievements.
I understand what Leigh Alexander was trying to say in her now-infamous “Gamers Are Over” article. She was trying to say that video games have evolved, that they’re no longer in the jurisdiction of so-called nerds, and that ‘gamer-culture’ as we know it has expanded.
That’s why she writes things like this: “Developers and writers alike want games about more things, and games by more people. We want — and we are getting, and will keep getting — tragicomedy, vignette, musicals, dream worlds, family tales, ethnographies, abstract art. We will get this, because we’re creating culture now. We are refusing to let anyone feel prohibited from participating.”
Alexander sees a broader culture for video games, one that includes more avant garde fare; one that involves more than the traditional shooters and platformers; and one that culture writers like Alexander herself could explore on a deeper level.
I get that this is what she was trying to say, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying that. After all, gaming has evolved. Video games are more diverse than ever. I enjoy a broad spectrum of opinions and topics. I enjoy that we can talk about video games as a crucial piece of our culture and economy. I also enjoy talking about game mechanics, graphics, and systems. All the little building blocks of these technological achievements.
Read the full story: www.forbes.com
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