On the PC Master Race and the Language Police

[Doom972]

I always knew that "master race" was a nazi term, but I have to say that I never found "PC master race" offensive, and I come from a Jewish family with holocaust survivors. I think that it mocks the nazi ideology and that's fine in my book.

As for PC gamers embracing the term:

?Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.? - Tyrion Lannister.

 

[Homey C-Dawg]

I find it amusing that people ever take the PC Master Race thing seriously at all. Some people should really get a handle on their over-sensitive feels.

 

[Stabby Joe]

And here I was thinking Tyler Wilde made the most jokes/remarks about the vast superiority of PC Gaming on the Laser Time podcast network haha

 

[Username Redacted]

If some millennial can honestly use the term 'PC Master Race' for years without even knowing that it's a Nazi reference, then I'd chalk that up as a win.

And I'd say it is poor education that might actually lead people down that exact rabbit hole again. We see it happen right now in certain parts of the world.

There is a bloody reason Germany schools teach the second world war, what lead up to it etc over several years in schools. The people here don't want to see it repeated. They don't want a rise of fashism and nationalsocialism. Claiming that ignorance of people is somehow good.. I don't get it.

First they came for the WiiU owners, and I did not speak out-
Because I did not own a WiiU.

Then they came for the X-Box One owners, and I did not speak out-
Because I did not own a X-Box One.

Then they came for the PS4 owners, and I did not speak out-
Because I did not own a PS4.

Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak for me.

 

[Elijah Newton]

*gasp* Garcon?! There's a sentence fragment in my (otherwise delicious) soup.

Oh, can I point out his comma splice? I twitched when I saw that comma splice.

Spoiler

Only large, immeasurable, unpredictable trends will decide what will and will not enter common parlance, very rarely can it be done as a conscious decision on the part of individual linguists.

Does this mean we're

*fumbles for glasses and dated references*

Spoiler

grammer nazis?

( While I don't really hold with the expression, maybe this illustrates the validity of a figure of speech? )

 

[Thanatos2k]

But....a PC does every single thing better than a console.

There's no universal answer to gaming. Each medium has pros and cons.

10 years ago this was true. It is no longer true. Consoles are now weak PCs and do nothing better than them, and many things worse.

Pray tell what pros do console gaming has?

And yes i am asking only to shoot every argument you're going to produce down.

The major pro for me is that my PS4 will be able to play Bloodborne and Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, aka, the two games I'm looking forward to the most this year, which is something no PC will be able to do.

That's not an advantage of consoles, that's simply a platform exclusive title. Which, really, are the ONLY reason to own a console. It's why I own consoles. Again, nothing to do with the benefits of the platform itself.

I thought the advantage was in local multiplayer.

With Steam Big Picture, one of my friends set it up and we played 4 player (!) couch co-op with controllers on a PC game. Consoles don't even have that anymore. And local multiplayer over LAN is even better. Laughably consoles tried including this for a short period.

I believe a considerable part of the joke is karma - back when Yahtzee first used the "PC Master Race" joke in his video, there was quite a lot of drama and hubris floating around along the lines of PC gaming being either dead or dying and so back then the self-proclaimed console fan boys would wade in to take turns poking the supposed corpse that was PC gaming.

...and then PC gaming didn't die

So nowadays what we see is a complete reversal of the situation above where it's now consoles that are painted as being dull, broken, stagnant, obsolete, etc and PC's are the new realms of the latest and greatest innovations and technology. Add to that how much it seems to annoy all the console fan boys and well, it ain't too hard to see why the term has become so popular.

Exactly right. It went from a mockery of PC gamers to "It's funny cause it's true" territory as the latest console generation has spiraled into the dumpster while PC gaming is stronger than ever.

Not to interrupt the lively pc versus console debate going on in this thread, but I'd just like to say the original PC Gamer article was just... really bad. I don't understand how it got spread around so much in the first place.

Fun fact, the author of the article promptly got exposed as sleeping with an Ubisoft employee while covering their games and not disclosing the relationship.

Is anyone surprised?

 

[Scow2]

I thought the advantage was in local multiplayer.

With Steam Big Picture, one of my friends set it up and we played 4 player (!) couch co-op with controllers on a PC game. Consoles don't even have that anymore. And local multiplayer over LAN is even better. Laughably consoles tried including this for a short period.

All on one system? And local multiplayer over LAN requires a computer for each player, except apparently there are now 4-player splitscreen (or shared-screen) PC games.

Xbox parties were the best thing ever - 4 consoles (Or more) with 4 controllers each on 4 TVs for 16-32 player party action, all in one room at much lower cost than 16 PCs and 16 TVs/monitors.

Fun fact, the author of the article promptly got exposed as sleeping with an Ubisoft employee while covering their games and not disclosing the relationship.

Is anyone surprised?

Did they previously destroy a charity event to try to improve diversity in gaming, and bring the wrath of the internet on anyone who dared called them on it, before going into hiding after accusing the world of 'harrassing' them and getting made out to be a hero?

 

[JarinArenos]

I have never used "PC Master Race" as anything but ironic self-depreciation. Yes, I primarily game on PC, and generally encourage others to do the same. However, I also own a number of consoles and have a decent sized library of games for them. Heck, I'm on my third PS2 at this point. I honestly can't think of any advantages (aside from exclusive games, which don't count) that consoles have over PCs, but someone doing something slightly inefficiently is hardly the end of the world, either. The list of games I feel I've actually missed out on due to them being PS3/XBone/PS4 exclusive is rather sadly short. Almost everything I've given a damn about has released on PC as well, so it's not like console popularity is hurting me any.

please tell me your just baiting.

Says the guy showing off the troll pride flag?

 

[Signa]

Not to interrupt the lively pc versus console debate going on in this thread, but I'd just like to say the original PC Gamer article was just... really bad. I don't understand how it got spread around so much in the first place.

Fun fact, the author of the article promptly got exposed as sleeping with an Ubisoft employee while covering their games and not disclosing the relationship.

Is anyone surprised?

I was going to comment on that. The whole article reeked of a console-centric publication getting frustrated on the power and market share the PC has gained in its current state, and tried to take some weak pot-shots at it with the best justification it could muster. The fact that we're talking about it as we are, as well as the fact that they were the best he could come up with shows how weak his points were.

Folks, this article by PC Gamer is the signs of a dying industry. I'm not sure if it's the journalism industry in its current form, or something greater like the AAA industry as a whole since they pay the publication's bills. Regardless, things are getting shaken up and we are going to see more of this as more and more businesses desperately try to justify their existence.

 

[Karadalis]

If I buy a game for a specific game-console, that console will play it.

Wich ubisoft tried its hardest to proof is no longer the case... well depending what you define as playable atleast that is. Assasins creed unity graphic glitches anyone?

Console games as a whole have become increasingly unstable. Crashes are more common then ever before, you have to install most games before you can play them and day 1 patches are the norm now and all other advantages that consoles once had, ease of use mostly, are gone now.

In turn console games arent moddable and their games die off relatively fast... think about it: There are still servers for neverwinternights 1 and 2 running. NVN 1 being over a decade old!

 

[Th37thTrump3t]

Now to go back to being a member of the glorious multi-platform master race.

Gather round and hear me, my brothers and sisters! For far too long, our world has been dominated by this so called "PC Master Race." These false champions have claimed to be the ultimate race, but we defy them! Gone are the days of the PC Master Race, gone are the days of console supremacy, gone are the days of the Console Wars and Flame Wars! For today, we usher in a new age, and bring forth a new champion race! A race of tolerance toward all platforms, both console and PC! We shall cleanse this world of the filth that is this "PC Master Race" and these so called "Console Gamers" with fire! We shall strike terror in the hearts of those who oppose us! For we are the true heirs to this world, and we will take it by force if need be!

[sub][sub]-ahem-[/sub][/sub]

Great article Yahtzee. Keep up the good work.

 

[Ishal]

Not to interrupt the lively pc versus console debate going on in this thread, but I'd just like to say the original PC Gamer article was just... really bad. I don't understand how it got spread around so much in the first place.

Fun fact, the author of the article promptly got exposed as sleeping with an Ubisoft employee while covering their games and not disclosing the relationship.

Is anyone surprised?

I was going to comment on that. The whole article reeked of a console-centric publication getting frustrated on the power and market share the PC has gained in its current state, and tried to take some weak pot-shots at it with the best justification it could muster. The fact that we're talking about it as we are, as well as the fact that they were the best he could come up with shows how weak his points were.

Folks, this article by PC Gamer is the signs of a dying industry. I'm not sure if it's the journalism industry in its current form, or something greater like the AAA industry as a whole since they pay the publication's bills. Regardless, things are getting shaken up and we are going to see more of this.

It did indeed. Interesting thing though is that they published this after.

http://www.pcgamer.com/a-note-on-disclosure/

Not even an apology, just an admission of a mistake. Still they should have done it, and at least it was something. Of course, they got lambasted by a certain vocal group of individuals for ahem "caving to a terrorist organization" or some such nonsense. Demands so awful and abhorrent as wanting an apology for such shitty standards and practices and a vow to not do it again. Man... they sure did cave. Tsk Tsk...

 

[ryukage_sama]

I've applied the phrase to myself in a sincere manner but without any strong emotions behind it. I've never been one to angrily defend or deride one venue for gaming over another. I praise and/or criticize them but only insomuch that one side is fun while the other side is more fun.

 

[Thanatos2k]

I thought the advantage was in local multiplayer.

With Steam Big Picture, one of my friends set it up and we played 4 player (!) couch co-op with controllers on a PC game. Consoles don't even have that anymore. And local multiplayer over LAN is even better. Laughably consoles tried including this for a short period.

All on one system? And local multiplayer over LAN requires a computer for each player, except apparently there are now 4-player splitscreen (or shared-screen) PC games.

Yes, all in one system.

Fun fact, the author of the article promptly got exposed as sleeping with an Ubisoft employee while covering their games and not disclosing the relationship.

Is anyone surprised?

Did they previously destroy a charity event to try to improve diversity in gaming, and bring the wrath of the internet on anyone who dared called them on it, before going into hiding after accusing the world of 'harrassing' them and getting made out to be a hero?

They tried to destroy the evidence, which as we know never ever works, and PC Gamer eventually issued one of those "We're sorry we got caught we will try to be more transparent in the future" admissions.

 

[Thanatos2k]

Not to interrupt the lively pc versus console debate going on in this thread, but I'd just like to say the original PC Gamer article was just... really bad. I don't understand how it got spread around so much in the first place.

Fun fact, the author of the article promptly got exposed as sleeping with an Ubisoft employee while covering their games and not disclosing the relationship.

Is anyone surprised?

I was going to comment on that. The whole article reeked of a console-centric publication getting frustrated on the power and market share the PC has gained in its current state, and tried to take some weak pot-shots at it with the best justification it could muster. The fact that we're talking about it as we are, as well as the fact that they were the best he could come up with shows how weak his points were.

Folks, this article by PC Gamer is the signs of a dying industry. I'm not sure if it's the journalism industry in its current form, or something greater like the AAA industry as a whole since they pay the publication's bills. Regardless, things are getting shaken up and we are going to see more of this as more and more businesses desperately try to justify their existence.

The laughable part is that PC Gamer is exclusively PC focused. That's why the stench of consolitis was so out of place, which caused people to seek the reason. And the reason was quickly found....

 

[Rozalia1]

Wow they're out in force now and I wonder which poster gave them all that confidence. Well I think I have an idea but even I'm not going to tango with a dozen people at this point.
Keep debating with yourselves while avoiding confrontation, that'll really convince the person you want to convince (can you work out who?).

Pray tell what pros do console gaming has?

And yes i am asking only to shoot every argument you're going to produce down.

You're getting bold to be saying such things. We've done that tango so many times that I really fail to see how you could believe you could actually shoot down everything. Even I in my arrogance know I can't cover every angle in something.

I was going to comment on that. The whole article reeked of a console-centric publication getting frustrated on the power and market share the PC has gained in its current state, and tried to take some weak pot-shots at it with the best justification it could muster. The fact that we're talking about it as we are, as well as the fact that they were the best he could come up with shows how weak his points were.

Folks, this article by PC Gamer is the signs of a dying industry. I'm not sure if it's the journalism industry in its current form, or something greater like the AAA industry as a whole since they pay the publication's bills. Regardless, things are getting shaken up and we are going to see more of this as more and more businesses desperately try to justify their existence.

Considering the articles of PC Gamer I've read in the past I find your post quite frankly hilarious. We're in bizzaro world apparently, I love it Maggle.

Yeah yeah black helicopters, and I know what you're trying to get across but the fact that you're saying the PC platform is a massive beacon yet a PC publication has to appease consoles to survive is amusing.

 

[Signa]

I was going to comment on that. The whole article reeked of a console-centric publication getting frustrated on the power and market share the PC has gained in its current state, and tried to take some weak pot-shots at it with the best justification it could muster. The fact that we're talking about it as we are, as well as the fact that they were the best he could come up with shows how weak his points were.

Folks, this article by PC Gamer is the signs of a dying industry. I'm not sure if it's the journalism industry in its current form, or something greater like the AAA industry as a whole since they pay the publication's bills. Regardless, things are getting shaken up and we are going to see more of this as more and more businesses desperately try to justify their existence.

Considering the articles of PC Gamer I've read in the past I find your post quite frankly hilarious. We're in bizzaro world apparently, I love it Maggle.

Yeah yeah black helicopters, and I know what you're trying to get across but the fact that you're saying the PC platform is a massive beacon yet a PC publication has to appease consoles to survive is amusing.

I don't really follow PC gamer, so I'm not sure what point you're making.

 

[SecondPrize]

I've only ever used the term in self-deprecation. Are there people who actually take "PC master race" completely seriously? Because I've never met them.

Perhaps (no, definitely) on the internet, maybe not in real life. Look for old threads after the Xbox One was announced and try to breathe through reading all the smugness emitted from PC gamers (and would-be PS4 gamers, but very less so).

Now to go back to being a member of the glorious multi-platform master race.

You'll find few using it that do. People hearing it and raising a fuss are another story.

 

[Lunar Templar]

I just call them what they are

'irrational fanboys' if I'm feeling generous, or a short string of expletives questioning the the status of their mental functionality and breeding, THEN 'irrational fanboy'.

Though to be fair, I do that to every irrational fan-person I happen a cross.

LMAO, what? wow ... well, thanks for giving me more reason to mock these people mercilessly I guess.

 

[Sam Squires]

I realize the chance of Yahtzee actually reading this are next to nothing but I feel like I have to say this regardless:
Yahtzee, you have long proclaimed yourself an opponent of censorship but you seem to see it in people calling for more inclusiveness in media, and not the people sending false police reports in attempts to get 'the evil SJW scum' murdered by police.
Your claim that you don't see the game industry suffering because of misogyny is a glaring example of how privilege colors our perceptions. You don't see the problem because you never have to face misogyny, therefore you benefit from the privilege of being able to ignore it.
If you can honestly look at what gamergate has done, and continues to do, and say they are the opponents of censorship, when all their activity has the tacit goal of silencing their critics and women in industries of games or games journalism, then you are either willfully ignorant or a far bigger fool than your body of work suggests you are.
I've been a fan of yours since you started making Zero Punctuation, I've read one of your books, enjoyed your poetry, listened to your podcasts and Let's Plays, I've even played some of your games. All of what I've seen suggests to me you?re not the kind of person who can look at a group like gamergate and not see the truth, that they oppose everything you claim to stand for. Whatever your reasons for so determinedly sitting on the fence in this and refusing to condemn the violence and harassment gamergate is inflicting on the gaming industry and community, I can no longer in good conscience support your work.