Note: This kind of thread has been attempted before, but I believe that I have created a more comprehensive and appropriate usage of the words "Conservative" and "Liberal" when applied to Gaming.
Lately I've had this idea running around in my head, that when it comes Video Games, those we might call "Hardcore Gamers" (which make up the majority of gaming forum users), are notably Conservative in the gaming sense.
What do I mean by that exactly? I'll explain, but first take two definitions from Dictionary.com
1. Conservative: disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.
2. Liberal: favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.
These two definitions are usually compared as opposites, and are not only applicable to politics, but to the Gaming Industry as well.
A Conservative gamer is either a PC or Console gamer, one who prefers his standard setup, be it the WSAD+Mouse, or Game Controller with Dual Joysticks. He/She disregards any other setup as insufficient and dismisses motion controls as a "gimmick", and even sometimes harmful to gaming. They also dismiss 3D gaming (liberals may also dislike 3D, but for different reasons than the Conservative). A conservative gamer likes games that stick to formula, and prefers AAA titles to Indy games, such as Minecraft, mainly because of the prevalence of bugs and lesser Graphical quality. The Conservative Gamer also hates DRM, although individual stances on Piracy may vary. DRM is seen as a new, invasive problem that is threatening the Game industry, and the Conservative sees DRM as a bigger threat than the piracy it's supposed to be combating.
In a nutshell, the Conservative Gamer hates changes to the real-world parts of elements of gaming.
The Liberal Gamer embraces motion controls, often embraces 3D and other steps towards the virtualization of video games. The liberal gamer hopes to someday achieve a realistic Virtual Reality game system, and is willing to play with the systems that he/she hopes will serve as stepping stones along the way. A Liberal Gamer plays both Indy titles and AAA titles, and often does so out of disillusionment with the developer establishment. Liberal Gamers also do not mind DRM, and feel that the DRM is either not really that invasive, or that the developers should be allowed the right to use DRM any way they wish. After all, they willingly bought a product. Also, for Liberal Gamers, Graphics are not as much of an issue.
TLDR; Conservative: Dislikes change to gaming environment, Dislikes DRM, Dislikes Indy Games, Graphics are very important. Liberal: Embraces motion controls, 3D, Indy gaming, Does not mind DRM, Does not mind lower-res Graphics
I am not trying to fit everyone into two categories, but most Gamers that I have read in forums like this one tend to mostly fit into one of these sides, particularly the Conservative category.
So my question to you is, based upon the definitions of Conservative and Liberal that I have presented to you, which do you most identify yourself as?
Also, feel free to suggest some criticisms to my definitions.
Edit: Keep in mind that I do not expect people to match either definition 100%, but that I feel that at least with most Gamers I have encountered, they rarely are split even 50-50.
Lately I've had this idea running around in my head, that when it comes Video Games, those we might call "Hardcore Gamers" (which make up the majority of gaming forum users), are notably Conservative in the gaming sense.
What do I mean by that exactly? I'll explain, but first take two definitions from Dictionary.com
1. Conservative: disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.
2. Liberal: favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.
These two definitions are usually compared as opposites, and are not only applicable to politics, but to the Gaming Industry as well.
A Conservative gamer is either a PC or Console gamer, one who prefers his standard setup, be it the WSAD+Mouse, or Game Controller with Dual Joysticks. He/She disregards any other setup as insufficient and dismisses motion controls as a "gimmick", and even sometimes harmful to gaming. They also dismiss 3D gaming (liberals may also dislike 3D, but for different reasons than the Conservative). A conservative gamer likes games that stick to formula, and prefers AAA titles to Indy games, such as Minecraft, mainly because of the prevalence of bugs and lesser Graphical quality. The Conservative Gamer also hates DRM, although individual stances on Piracy may vary. DRM is seen as a new, invasive problem that is threatening the Game industry, and the Conservative sees DRM as a bigger threat than the piracy it's supposed to be combating.
In a nutshell, the Conservative Gamer hates changes to the real-world parts of elements of gaming.
The Liberal Gamer embraces motion controls, often embraces 3D and other steps towards the virtualization of video games. The liberal gamer hopes to someday achieve a realistic Virtual Reality game system, and is willing to play with the systems that he/she hopes will serve as stepping stones along the way. A Liberal Gamer plays both Indy titles and AAA titles, and often does so out of disillusionment with the developer establishment. Liberal Gamers also do not mind DRM, and feel that the DRM is either not really that invasive, or that the developers should be allowed the right to use DRM any way they wish. After all, they willingly bought a product. Also, for Liberal Gamers, Graphics are not as much of an issue.
TLDR; Conservative: Dislikes change to gaming environment, Dislikes DRM, Dislikes Indy Games, Graphics are very important. Liberal: Embraces motion controls, 3D, Indy gaming, Does not mind DRM, Does not mind lower-res Graphics
I am not trying to fit everyone into two categories, but most Gamers that I have read in forums like this one tend to mostly fit into one of these sides, particularly the Conservative category.
So my question to you is, based upon the definitions of Conservative and Liberal that I have presented to you, which do you most identify yourself as?
Also, feel free to suggest some criticisms to my definitions.
Edit: Keep in mind that I do not expect people to match either definition 100%, but that I feel that at least with most Gamers I have encountered, they rarely are split even 50-50.
