Yahtzee's Not a Jerk, Just Baffled

[Susan Arendt]

Yahtzee's Not a Jerk, Just Baffled

Though he's gained a bit of a reputation as being a "jerk" toward his fans, Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw insists it's not because he doesn't like them - he simply doesn't understand them.

In an interview exclusive to the downloadable PDF commemorating The Escapist's 4th Anniversary, Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw discusses the challenge of staying enthusiastic about gaming, his surprisingly excellent relationship with developers, and the ex-girlfriend who unknowingly helped put him on the path to fame and glory.

He also discusses how fans make him "uncomfortable," which seems to have led to him earning a "reputation for being a jerk in real life":

Complete strangers come up and talk to me like they've known me their whole lives, and for that reason I can seem a bit standoffish....[T]he whole "fan" thing confuses me. I like things. Maybe you like the same things as me. That's cool. But I like a lot of things and it's almost certain I'll find other things some day that are even better than the things I currently like, so getting attached is just weird. I've seen guys who get ZP tattoos. It would be instructive to wait and see how they feel about that 20 years down the line.

He probably still thinks you're a tool if you love Super Smash Bros., though.

For more insight into the man behind Zero Punctuation, be sure to download the special edition PDF companion [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/content/issue_pdf] to issue 210 of The Escapist.



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[MrBrightside919]

That's understandable...

I'm not sure how I would be able to react if people came up to me and acted like they already knew me my whole life...

 

[jaeger138]

We all know he's not a jerk, he's Yahtzee! I'm sure the persona he uses for the 'fans' is just that, a persona. It's funny, it keeps you interested and amused, it's a character, it's Yahtzee! But Ben Croshaw the man, not Yahtzee the persona, is just a normal guy who likes his games. Maybe when Game Damage becomes more popular and permanent I'm sure he'll get used to the fans, but I gotta say, ZP tats? I'm not sure why you'd do that. It's a great series, but do I want it on my body? I gotta say no.

 

[Orange Monkey]

I certainly like his video series but I think a tatoo might be A BIT excessive.

 

[Nossy]

"I never thought Yahtzee was a jerk. Just honest about video games. I love you Yahtzee!"

-Says Me, the guy with a ZP Tattoo

 

[Zombie_Fish]

I can understand where he's coming from there. Fan is kind of a temporary status, you'll become fans of different stuff over time, everyone does. Even if they're absolute extreme Yahtzee fans, their opinions of him will change over time. I consider myself a Yahtzee fan, doesn't mean I'll stay one forever.

Personally, I've never thought of him as a jerk anyway.

 

[Arrers]

I can sort of see where he's coming from, but I think I'll need to get fans before it becomes apparent.

 

[XJ-0461]

I certainly like his video series but I think a tatoo might be A BIT excessive.

A T-shirt is fine, but you're right, permanently scaring your body in honour of a series of videos on the internet is not a good idea.

 

[BlueInkAlchemist]

It's been implied that were I to meet Yahtzee on the street, I'd gush all over him like a schoolgirl meeting one of the Jonas Brothers. And maybe I would. If I managed to control myself, however, I'd rather leave him to his own devices and perhaps offer to buy him a Strongbow in the evening if he isn't too busy. The man works hard and deals with a lot of idiotic crap so we don't have to.

 

[Nincompoop]

I don't see the point in analyzing Yahtzee. "He's a jerk!" -- "'breaking news', we were wrong!"

I just enjoy his videos (alot), for all I care, his attitude could be completely false, just to sell more.

Yahtzee ftw!

 

[Panda Mania]

ZP tattoos? Yeah, I'd say that's a bit obsessive... >.>

 

[Beltom]

Well it must be hard for him if he has to deal with people like that. I mean, not everyone spends one day making a living on temp jobs and special editions of AGS games and the next having a steady revenue from a series that is one of the most popular on the internet.

 

[Anarchemitis]

That makes him seem slightly more human in my eyes. Thanks for making me not hate you anymore Yahtzee. We all don't understand each other.

 

[Mstrswrd]

Well... okay? I thought people would have known this... you know... on their own. I guess I overestimated people once again.

Apologies if I inadvertantly insulted you. It was not my intent.

 

[historybuff]

I could understand that. How awkward would it be for strangers to come up and talk to you? If you see him at a bar, just buy him a free beer and be done with it.

 

[BoxCutter]

Video game tat's in general are very strange. But to get a tat of an online video series that reviews the games you love, that is extremely strange. It's understandable that the recognition he receives is very unsettling, to gain such fame from reviewing video games must be a head trip.

Whether or not hes an ass in real life, I enjoy his reviews. And likely will until he stops making them or moves on to bigger and better things. And as for meeting him in person, I cannot honestly say i'd even recognize him. I hardly recognized one of my cousins I doubt ill recognize Yahtzee.

 

[MasterSqueak]

I certainly like his video series but I think a tatoo might be A BIT excessive.

A T-shirt is fine, but you're right, permanently scarring your body is not a good idea.

Fixed.

 

[HardRockSamurai]

It just goes to show, obsession is never a healthy thing.

Now if you excuse me, I'm off to sacrifice a lamb for my poster of Danny DeVito.

 

[XJ-0461]

I certainly like his video series but I think a tatoo might be A BIT excessive.

A T-shirt is fine, but you're right, permanently scarring your body is not a good idea.

Fixed.

*Slaps self*
Ugh, I'm an idiot.