So many ways to play video games!

Every week it seems video game fans are subjected to some sort of drama. People are constantly getting called out as XBots, PS Fanboys, Console Peasants, or PC Master Race just to name a few. While I try to steer clear of the comment section in various gaming related articles, sometimes curiosity gets to me and I venture into that unholy land. I am then quickly reminded why it is a bad idea as the hate and vile quickly hits within a few comments. It’s sad when you think about it. Don’t even get me started on the battleground that is known as social media.

When did we become so divided amongst ourselves? Why can’t we just enjoy games of all kinds? Even better, why can’t we recognize that we all have different tastes in video games, gaming platforms, and so on? It is such a waste of energy to be so angry all the time. It destroys the fun and excitement that are video games. It also makes this industry look like a bunch of whiny little brats.

I am a gamer. I am not an XBot. I am not a fanboy of this or that console. I’ll be damned if I ever label myself as a Master Race of anything. I am a gamer, and it is glorious! I experience the vast expanses of space while playing Elite: Dangerous on my PC. When I need a break from my ever growing Steam library, I jump into some Destiny on my PS4, or load up Dark Souls III when I feel I need to be punished, or whatever the new hotness on my consoles is that week…looking at you Party Hard! When I travel, I capture Pokémon or attempt to conquer my ever expanding stack of shame on the Vita. At the end of the day, I’m having fun and isn’t that what video games are all about?

It’s time we as a gaming collective realize that there are good and bad points to everything. How someone decides to dine on the buffet of virtual worlds is their choice. Instead of fighting about what makes this console inferior to that console, or running to the hills to shout how glorious it is to play games on a PC, maybe we could talk about the games themselves. You know, have a discussion about why a new Zelda game could be a good thing, or what makes some random niche JRPG an experience that a certain group of fans should consider venturing into. It doesn’t have to be all sunshine and unicorns during these discussions. Yet it seems constructive criticism often turns into anger and hate. When someone disagrees with you, they sure like to let you know with some sort of rage filled comment.

I really hope that someday, the Keyboard Crusaders will become a thing we only read about in history books. I look forward to the day that we can celebrate all things video games, and just respect one another. Maybe one day, we can all just be gamers! Trust me, this is a time when the grass is truly greener on the other side of the fence. It’s lush soft green grass. The kind you just want to play in!