Do you play video games? Are you…a gamer? Don’t worry, I am too, or at least I consider myself to be one. The definition of a “gamer” isn’t fully clear–there is a certain amount of gray area surrounding what constitutes a “gamer”. My personal definition of the term is anyone who plays video games in any capacity. The type of game doesn’t really matter…at least, to me. There are many people who would disagree with me, I’m sure. Gaming has a pretty distinct culture surrounding it, and it isn’t necessarily that great, but it also isn’t completely terrible.
A lot of gaming culture is focused on multiplayer games, which I don’t personally have a ton of experience with. Streaming, playing with your friends, watching other people play games–these are all shared experiences that gamers can bond over, and the culture has developed primarily through these multiplayer games. Gamers have a ton of specific terms and gaming vernacular that has developed across various games. League of Legends (ew), for example, has its own set of terms that I really don’t feel the need to write out here because they make basically no sense if you don’t play the game, but look them up at your leisure. Or watch this guide. Anyway, MOBAs like League have their own little language, FPS games have theirs, RPGs have theirs, etc…it’s actually pretty incredible, from a linguistic point of view. Humans just love developing their silly little languages.
On a negative note, the gaming community has not historically been very kind to women…and as a WOMAN myself, I can attest. I do not play games that I deem “war/terrorism simulators” because I simply do not find them fun. I don’t have a proper issue with them, they’re just not my cup of tea. But I have been ACCUSED of being a fake gamer for not playing these types of games! I like RPGs and tactical strategy games, sue me! Girls in particular are often made fun of for not playing “real” games, but I think that’s all really juvenile, because if a game exists, then it IS REAL. Gaming culture isn’t all bad, though–one of the key elements that I enjoy is the strong sense of community. Playing games and bonding over a shared love of video games is a pretty wholesome thing, and I think that gaming culture achieves that pretty well. Despite the weird, fabricated rifts that do exist among different members, the passion for gaming can usually override this.