Why is it that gamers can play games like Kirby without being considered childish?
- Thread starter Erana
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People like what they like. I know some friends that would prefere Mario and games like that over games like Gears of War 2 and other bloody, violent games. As for me, I basically just play stuff I like; and I don't like kiddie games. Mario and Donkey Kong were fun, but I eventually got bored with it (I still keep them around in case I want to play them again).
Peronally I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion and personal tastes. But if I go to a friend's house and they're playing Little Big Planet and ask me to play I would politely refuse. Not sure why but I cannot get into a game that feels "childish". I tried playing Fable and it felt so childish I just stopped. The game looks like one of those anime shows with over-animated characters with eyes as big as dinner plates. That's not exactly how it looks, but that is definately how it felt.
I agree with your reply that a whole "dismissing a whole univers as childish" is wrong. Some consider games childish, probably cause they think of games as Candyland or something. And some, like myself, consider it a new form of art and entertainment in the world. All the people in western society that gripe about what kids play is...misguided (IMO). Parents that blame games for stuff their kids learn. Well parents, there's a thing called a "rating" that comes with an "age limit" and (from the stores I go to) a kid who is eleven years old and looks eleven years old cannot buy Dead Space or Halo 3 without the parents there to give permission. While I'm on Dead Space, I had to show ID showing that I'm 17+ in order to get the game. So, as far as parents griping on games, look at the rating.
Peronally I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion and personal tastes. But if I go to a friend's house and they're playing Little Big Planet and ask me to play I would politely refuse. Not sure why but I cannot get into a game that feels "childish". I tried playing Fable and it felt so childish I just stopped. The game looks like one of those anime shows with over-animated characters with eyes as big as dinner plates. That's not exactly how it looks, but that is definately how it felt.
I agree with your reply that a whole "dismissing a whole univers as childish" is wrong. Some consider games childish, probably cause they think of games as Candyland or something. And some, like myself, consider it a new form of art and entertainment in the world. All the people in western society that gripe about what kids play is...misguided (IMO). Parents that blame games for stuff their kids learn. Well parents, there's a thing called a "rating" that comes with an "age limit" and (from the stores I go to) a kid who is eleven years old and looks eleven years old cannot buy Dead Space or Halo 3 without the parents there to give permission. While I'm on Dead Space, I had to show ID showing that I'm 17+ in order to get the game. So, as far as parents griping on games, look at the rating.
I thought this one up recently but I think it applies here:
games are like Lego`s some people consider them childish kids toys while others consider them things that can be used to create art
or maybe I`m completely wrong, eh who knows
games are like Lego`s some people consider them childish kids toys while others consider them things that can be used to create art
or maybe I`m completely wrong, eh who knows
Anyway so to answer the OP's question: While Kirby is dressed firmly in pink and cute, it's still all just a facade to a game, a black checkerboard with little plastic knights and pawns on it that you move about until the rules declare that a winner is you. Every player decides for himself how much weight to give to the setting and how much to the gameplay; and if a fully-grown, hairy-chested man decides to play Kirby and give all his attention to the gameplay and none of it to the setting, then that's fine because all he's really doing then is jumping around, kicking ass and solving puzzles, which is fine because those are all manly pursuits.
However, if said manly man-man were to, I dunno, read a Kirby book, he would be seen as childish because the setting would make out all of the experience - there would be no game system.
However, if said manly man-man were to, I dunno, read a Kirby book, he would be seen as childish because the setting would make out all of the experience - there would be no game system.
At the end of the day, it comes down to who's calling the games childish and whether the player cares what they think. The situation differs of course when it's someone you respect (or have to live with) saying it rather than some random journalist. Consider all the negative outcomes if that argument is had, because when the word "childish" is being flung around, don't expect the flinger to change their opinions on the matter any time soon.
As for the players, I think it's due to a nostalgia factor that they play them. Games have been around a long enough time for someone in their 50's to say they're into X-Nintendo franchise with little to no shame. There's a stigma to these games, most obvious in the box art, that they're for children, when in most cases they can be just as (and even more so, if their hand-eye isn't up to snuff) challenging to adults. The best consequence of this being the adults passing the love for them off to their children, because at least they'll have gotten a taste of classic gaming paraphernalia before moving on to stuff like Gears or GTA4, which is where I have to applaud Draygen for:
I'm not sure what society thinks as a whole, because as far as I know they're dealing with an economic disaster or something.
As for the players, I think it's due to a nostalgia factor that they play them. Games have been around a long enough time for someone in their 50's to say they're into X-Nintendo franchise with little to no shame. There's a stigma to these games, most obvious in the box art, that they're for children, when in most cases they can be just as (and even more so, if their hand-eye isn't up to snuff) challenging to adults. The best consequence of this being the adults passing the love for them off to their children, because at least they'll have gotten a taste of classic gaming paraphernalia before moving on to stuff like Gears or GTA4, which is where I have to applaud Draygen for:
Where games get the bad rap is when parents just buy whatever M-rated game and let their underdeveloped offspring have at it.Draygen said:
I'm not sure what society thinks as a whole, because as far as I know they're dealing with an economic disaster or something.
Can they? Personally, I find that a lot of people think it's childish to play games. Period.
If it's Kirby or Gears of war, or even something with a little more meaning, like say, Syberia or Svea Rike (historical swedish game, historically correct too, come on, I have to make one obscure reference, at least) doesn't matter. You're still just as childish.
Perhaps not by other gamers, on. But there it might be because we can still appreciate the gameplay behind the game, despite the shiny graphics, at least when we're not busy shouting mainstream at it.
If it's Kirby or Gears of war, or even something with a little more meaning, like say, Syberia or Svea Rike (historical swedish game, historically correct too, come on, I have to make one obscure reference, at least) doesn't matter. You're still just as childish.
Perhaps not by other gamers, on. But there it might be because we can still appreciate the gameplay behind the game, despite the shiny graphics, at least when we're not busy shouting mainstream at it.
A lot of gamers dismiss Nintendo as a bunch of kiddy games, and they are stupid. If anyone willingly went to see Shrek, Finding Nemo, Ice Age or any similar animated movies and liked it they need to shut the hell up.
The Sims is not gay.
Zelda is not Childish.
Kirby is a fun game.
If you label these games as kiddish or gay then you need to click here. [http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=6PaHcZUHI00&fmt=18]
The Sims is not gay.
Zelda is not Childish.
Kirby is a fun game.
If you label these games as kiddish or gay then you need to click here. [http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=6PaHcZUHI00&fmt=18]
I'm 26 years old, and i play Little Big Planet, and Sackboy is charming when he is smiling with his tongue hanging out if his mouth.
Its such a nice break from the gritty brown of Fallout and the likes of other similar games..
And in what other game can you make your game charachter smile, cry or be angry on command.. That give's me the giggles.. lol..
Its such a nice break from the gritty brown of Fallout and the likes of other similar games..
And in what other game can you make your game charachter smile, cry or be angry on command.. That give's me the giggles.. lol..
I willingly went to see all of those films, and enjoyed them, and still thought they were silly, along with most of Nintendo's library of games.SuperFriendBFG said:
In my opinion most of the games mentioned in this thread are very, very 'kiddy' and 'stupid'. That doesn't mean they're not good. There's nothing wrong with some mindless, childish fun now and again.
But I most definitely would say that the likes of Kirby and Mario are considered immature, and rightfully so.
I've always hated people who go around saying "BL00D! G0R3! BEWBZ! ALI3NZ!", and think that all games that don't have killing, shooting, blood and gore, they are automatically boring, kiddish, childish etc.
One good example of this is Kingdom Hearts.
One of my favorite games ever, but none of the people I know played it, and all people who vaguely know something about it (that it's a Disney game), say that it's a Disney game, and it's childish.
One good example of this is Kingdom Hearts.
One of my favorite games ever, but none of the people I know played it, and all people who vaguely know something about it (that it's a Disney game), say that it's a Disney game, and it's childish.
It's just simply because it's fun. Also, a lot of gamers grew up with these characters and as such want to play through the next installments.
Why is it that gamers can play games like Kirby without being considered childish?
Because we are
Because we are
