Tip-toeing the line: why elitism is the bane of gaming

Whether you are into video games because you use them as an escape from a mundane reality, a fun diversion to use at social outings or you view them as one of the finest art forms in modern culture, there is one thing that unites us all- we are gamers.

As corny and cliche as it does sound, too often, I feel like we let rifts divide us into sub categories.

You play WiiU? You play kid games. You beat Demon Souls? You're truly elite. You only play Call of Duty online? You must be a teenager.

But why do we feel the need to attach labels to everyone who enjoys the SAME hobby? I minored in sociology in college, and the way that people within subcultures interact never ceases to fascinate me.

When it comes down to it, we should be accepting of anyone who has ever bought a video game. Why? Because they are all part of the wheels that keep the gaming ecosystem moving. Sure, we might not enjoy playing Nintendogs, but the people who do put money in Nintendo's pockets, and Nintendo delivers things like Ocarina of Time and Skyward Sword.

It truly does make me angry to hear any form of elitism in our hobby. Is someone who beats Bloodborne any "more" of a gamer than someone who plays, say, Goat Simulator? Not really. Not in the purest sense, anyway. Sure, you could argue one has more dexterity than the other, perhaps more patience. But correct me if I'm wrong, they are both playing VIDEO GAMES, right?

The great thing about gaming is that we are free, as consumers, to play whatever we want. See a game you think you would enjoy? Pick it up and put as much time into as you wish. It isn't vastly different than appreciating music. Are One Direction fans to be put into question because of what resonates to THEM? Are they inferior to those who strictly listen to Bach? Certainly, there are likely those who would laugh and answer yes to the previous question, but I would argue that answer is close minded and incorrect.

What does a gamer stand to gain out of putting another person down for what they choose to play? We all have our strengths, our weaknesses, our limits and our aspirations. Why, then, would anyone's choice of games ever be called into question?

Is it simply a case of validating one's achievements? "I logged five million kills in Advanced Warfare and you didn't, so I'm a better gamer." Is that true, though? One of my favorite personal gaming achievements was my completion of The Last of Us on grounded mode on the PS4. It was punishing. It sucked ass. I hated it and loved it at the same time.

Have many people done the same thing? Not really. But I don't consider myself elite because of it. Patient? Maybe. Elite? Not quite.

Not quite because I didn't have the patience for Dark Souls. Not quite because I'm not a 1337 Call of Duty online player.

Those games just aren't for me, but The Last of Us was. For those who enjoyed the last of us as a casual story telling experience, I don't brag about it. I don't rub it in their faces. They enjoyed the game and the hobby at their own pace and got what they wanted out of it.

Elitism has the inherent power of making people feel really shitty about themselves. It creates rifts within subcultures that lead to a sense of self worthlessness and an ultimate loss of passion for the hobby. As gamers, we can't afford to let that happen.

We have, as a subculture, come under fire in the past for violence and sexual themes in video games. The way that clueless bystanders rallied AGAINST us was frighteningly rapid and swift. If we are fighting with the public to protect our medium as an art form, we can't afford to wage internal conflict that effectively works to turn us against each other.

Kids who play Mario Maker may one day grow up to be level designers for a badass 2.5D throwback platformer that you love. Guys who enjoy Call of Duty and Madden may one day decided to try out JRPGs, or pick up a Witcher game.

You never know how taste will evolve. Thankfully, our hobby is full of variety. That is, after all, the spice of life.

I cringe when I hear or see people online being judgmental of others for their skill levels, or even more insidious, their taste in games.

Would you slap a 3DS out of the hands of a 12-year-old playing Animal Crossing because you think it's too casual? Does it threaten the enjoyment of your games? If you wouldn't treat that kid like that, why would you go out of your way to put down another gamer for their choice in games.

Play what you want, enjoy what you play and get the most of your experience. But I implore you to think before you drag another gamer through the mud because you don't see eye to eye with their choices.

-C

Why I won't 100 percent Arkham Knight

I loved Batman: Arkham Knight. I truly did.

I loved feeling like a complete bad ass by performing fear multistrikes. I loved gliding around the rain soaked streets of Gotham. Hell, I even (for the most part) loved speeding around the city in the fan polarizing batmobile.

However, I will not be completing everything.

Currently, after finishing all of the main story missions and a handful of side quests, I sit at 74 percent completion.

I don't plan on raising that.

In fact, I don't plan on playing Arkham Knight until the next DLC releases.

That doesn't change the fact that I think the game is great, however.

It's kind of like taking a trip to your favorite amusement park with a group of friends on a hot July day. Sure, for the first six hours, you're having a blast. Soaking up laughs with your friends, riding your favorite coasters and even stuffing your mouth like a fat kid.

However, after multiple rides on several of the park's best coasters, you're feeling tired. Your trio of friends, though, insists on staying until the very last minute the park is open.

Arkham Knight's slew of Riddler puzzles, multiple secure checkpoints and extra tank missions are that group of friends. Poking and proding you to stay for just a few more hours. But you simply can't bear to walk another step or ride another ride. It doesn't diminish the fantastic time you've had, but staying any later just might do so.

So you leave.

I'm leaving. But I'm leaving satisfied. I feel as if I've gotten all that I needed from the streets of Gotham. In my opinion, 200+ Riddler trophies are a bit too much to ask of players.

Obviously, there will be those who wish to complete every single challenge that Rocksteady has to offer and to them I say, more power to you.

Certainly, there are games that I have played to death to unlock every nook and cranny (I'm looking at you, Fable 2 and Fallout 3). But, that completionist mindset is likely not on the minds of most players. The same principle is at work here- I loved Arkham Knight for the 10-15 hours I spent with it, but I simply don't want to go any further.

I rate Arkham Knight an 8.75 on a 10 point scale and it is definitely worth putting some time into, particularly if you are a fan of the previous Arkham games or Batman in general.

Few games nail the feeling of being Batman quite like Arkham Knight does. Just don't let yourself grow to despise all that there is to do after the dust settles in the dark of Gotham.

If you've stopped Scarecrow, unmasked the Arkham Knight and put away all the criminals that you WANT to, you are done and should wait for the next crop of DLC to spin the disc again.

After all, a good hero knows when to bow and walk away.

How I fell back in love with Helldivers

It had been several months since I last started up the excellent, hard core multiplayer twin stick shooter, Helldivers.

As I entered back into the game world on a night where I simply wasn't sure what to play, I felt genuine regret for missing the game's first full scale war- one that apparently the humans won handily.

A gold PSN trophy popped for me for winning a war, but I had done nothing. At least, not yet.

Indeed, months ago at just over 13 hours of play, I put Helldivers down with no intention to return.

However, after plowing through a couple of missions with other online defenders of freedom, I see why I put 13 hours into this game.

There is something humbling about Helldivers. Something sobering. Something that reminds us why playing video games with others is so much fun.

Sure, friendly fire can drop your squad in a matter of seconds and yes, if all four divers are not on the same page, things can go sour quickly. But therein lies the beauty of Helldivers.

For as simplistic as the concept is, Helldivers consistently nails the minutia and delivers an experience that is simply unlike anything else out right now.

My fears that the community may have waned in numbers were put to rest after seeing as many games available as I did several months ago.

New weapons, objectives and enemy types helped make me feel like this game was fresh again.

Fresh, yes. Familiar, only a little.

It took me a couple of games to remember which button reloaded my weapon. Much to the chagrin of my online teammates, I got crushed by a couple of incoming ammo drops. But once I got the feel of the game once again, I was back to surviving, thriving and most importantly, having fun.

If you played Helldivers before, there hasn't been a better time to hop back in.

The great thing about Helldivers is, as hardcore and difficult as it truly is, it's very easy to jump in, and very difficult to master.

And if you have never played, there has never been a better time to deploy.

In the name of liberty, I implore you to deploy to this combat zone, as soon as you can. My hiatus is over, and I couldn't be happier.