Can You Be a Fan of a Game Without Playing It?

[dkpopman]

There's an interesting conversation going around on other parts of the internet currently that I've seen brought up a few times over the years. It's this notion that you can be a fan of a Videogame without playing it. And then the counterargument on average states that you have to play a game to be a fan.

Personally, I have a really complicated opinion on this that somehow ends on me being somewhere in the middle. I'll spoiler tag it incase you are more interested in the discussion at hand.

Spoiler: My Take

Videogames. Two words, video and game. That's the main point to discuss here if we want to dumb things down.

I have 'performed' dozens of games for the viewing pleasure of my fiancé. Meaning I play through a game she is interested in, but is intimidated by the gameplay. Often times the story is too good for her to miss, or maybe it's an oddity that she wants to gawk at. Plus, we get to spend some time together while doing so. It's great! I love doing it. I call the act 'performing' internally, because I feel like I'm part movie director while I play.
When We played Final Fantasy VII, I delegated voice roles to me and her to read aloud. When I played Death Stranding 1 and 2, I carefully moved the camera as much as possible to make every moment as beautifully cinematografied as possible (which isn't hard in that game, the camera is always considering the rule of thirds.) When she watched me replay Shenmue I and II when the PS4 versions dropped, the only decisions she made was what to do for the in-game day. I did all the driving, so to speak, and tried to pace each day like an episode of a TV show, checking in with her favorite side characters before the action began.
I point this out to say that any deep conversation about the massive Final Fantasy VII universe that we have can only go so far. She can never understand the way that the RPG systems work, or how much better the game would be if it had tank controls (yeah I said it.) Yet despite this, I still would consider her a fan, a fan of the story.

So when the conversation delves into the realm of people who's entire experience with a game is a Youtube Let's Play, and people react harshly, I can't help but kind of take a bit of an annoying centrist position. A real persnickety yes and no.
Can you be a fan of "The House in Fata Morgana" a visual novel, if you never actually played it yourself? I'd say yes 100%. The game is strictly a story, It has no decisions.
Can you be a fan of "Until Dawn" if you only watched a youtuber play it. Eh.. maybe like 70% yes? There's not any hardcore game mechanics you're missing, yet you made no decisions, which is at the crux of the design.
Can you be a fan of "Persona 5" when you've only seen a cutscene movie? Ok we're falling apart here... 40%? You're missing a LOT.
Can you be a fan of "Tetris" when youve only watched grand master gameplay? Definitely not, you just are a fan of the competition, which is fine.
Can you be a fan of "Ico" without playing it? Rock bottom 0%. Absolutely not.

So to make things extremely complicated, I think it depends of the game, and it also depends on the way the debated fan is discussing said game. To embellish on this, I'd like to speak on a old internet friend I used to know. We will call her Aydin.

Aydin was a MASSIVE shipper. You know the kind, endless flame wars with other women online debating fictional relationships. Mainly focused on the shipping wars in Final Fantasy VII, which are particularly toxic at times. (no really, they were and are brutal. i hope some bored youtuber makes a doc about it some day) Extreme personal attacks and flame wars over which bundle of pixels wanted to fornicate the other bundle of pixels. I was friends with this person mainly because we lived close to each other for a few years and met up once, they were quite pleasant. I always enjoyed spectating the conversations Aydin would get into, it was a window into a world I never knew, and she was seemingly an even bigger fan of one of my most beloved games than even me, so I would often learn things from her posts. We remained friends for years, starting around 2014.
This all kind of fell apart for me one day about a year after Final Fantasy VII Remake came out. We were discussing back and forth about mechanics in the new game compared to the original, when she dropped a bomb on my head.

"Oh yeah, I wouldn't know how it compares. I've never played the original."

I was flabbergasted. This person who I considered for the better half of a decade to be an expert on one of my favorite games had never even played it. I couldn't believe it... I myself had watched the occasional playthrough of a game I had never played, but to think that someone who had done the same could have such a strong attachment to said game, I couldn't get it. We went back and forth on this, and it took a while for us to settle on each others opinions, but eventually I had to concede. In some form or way, she was absolutely a fan of Final Fantasy VII, just a different one.

So there's my long winded, and ultimately inconclusive opinion. The truth is that subjectivity rules here, and there's plenty of people in fandom spaces that are secretly on a whole different level of engagement than you. Isn't that fun?
Personally, there isn't a single game that I consider myself a fan of that I haven't played. There used to be, but not anymore. That's a story for another thread I already made a while ago.

Below in a separate spoiler box are some screenshots of tweets about this that made me laugh. People on there are comically hostile in a way that I can't help but enjoy.

Spoiler: Example Posts

So what do you y'all think? Is watching a gameplay video equivalent to playing a game? Is accessibility a considering factor? Have you ever been a fan of a game that you've never played? Would love to see some hearty RGT discussion on the matter.

//​

 

[KamakoKamako's icon]

Yes, I think so. Before
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain released, I must've watched every trailer, combed through every gameplay demo, scoured through every interview, and generally rinsed every last morsel of content that was put out into the aether.

I talked about it endlessly, constantly conjuring up fan theories and rumours as to where the story would go. It was a major gaming event for me.

I was a fan far before I ever installed the game and pressed "Start"

By the time this trailer dropped, I was all the way in. **

 

[jon2]

Yes, one can be a fan

A paraplegic can be a basketball fan even without playing on the court

BUT

Can one be a credible source or even an expert commentator/critic?

Nope. Never.

One NEEDS to go into the oven to fully understand how hot the heat is

So one is free to say "I like that game" (subjective) but not everyone is credible enough to say "my statement is correct" (objective) and be accepted as fact

Liking is never equal to knowing

P.S. Proclaiming oneself as a VG expert by watching tons of videos without touching the game is the same as proclaiming oneself to be a Sex God by watching millions of porn videos without even being sexually intimate with another person

 

[Mal]

In my opinion, yes you can be a fan of something without ever having gone through it yourself.

"because you didnt experience it first hand" is super shallow and doesnt really understands how the media can speak in multiple ways.

Just considering that we all play games differently alone should be enough to say something, imagine if someone told you "you cant have an opinion on this game cause you didnt play it the way i did", this feels the same to me.

 

[JustLooking123]

I too think it's possible to be a fan of a game without ever playing it.

I have experienced it both way... i have played some games while the person who watched my gameplay enjoyed it, and i watched the gameplay of other people too and loved the game!

 

[Strategist Strategist]

Only in the most superficial meaning of the word "fan".

 

[Princess Viola]

I don't like to gatekeep fandoms.

As long as you actually engage with it in some way, I think you can call yourself a fan.

The only time where I'd probably say 'no' is if you're like exclusively a fan of like AU fanworks that have virtually nothing to actually do with the actual game itself, y'know? Like imagine if someone said they were a huge Mario fan but their entire fandom is centered around some fan comic that's a crime drama that has almost nothing to do with the actual games other than 'using the characters and their names'.

 

[Mal]

as for your take i do wanna ask,

Spoiler: Spoilers to your take

what does been a fan means to you?

to me its not an elitist badge of honor for experiencing the game or for the amount of knowledge that you have for it, but i often feel thats how people see it.

to me its more about whether you enjoy or not something the experience can offer.

i would not put a % bar on how much of a fan can you be, you like something about it? either its style, or music or the dynamics of the gameplay at dysplay then yeah you are a fan of it.

to put as an example, a fan of tetris thats casual is as much a fan to me as someone that is hardcore grandmaster, i dont see why someone just loving watching them cant be either.

 

[poppy_]

I don't think you NEED to play a game to be a fan. The sonic fandom has a lot of people who dont even really like the games, they just like the music, shows and movies. TBH I think thats fine. If you are earnestly engaging with the media (whatever that media may be) then it's totally OK to call yourself a fan.

 

[Jon-Patrick-S]

I think you can be a fan without playing something but there's certain things you can't credibly contribute opinions to without experiencing them yourself. You can probably generally talk about things like story, characters, art direction, music etc in video games without having to actually play the game but when it comes to anything regarding gameplay or the experience of say exploration or progression I don't feel like you can say be like yeah this game's combat is jank just because you watched a lets play and the player said they thought it was jank.

 

[RageBurner]

I don't think so. Video games are not a passive medium; it would be equivalent to saying you're a fan of chocolate by watching someone eat it.

 

[Dancaster247]

It's an interesting question, although I think more than one person has experienced that feeling.

For example, in my case, before actually playing Persona 4 (OG and Golden), I only knew the anime (The Animation; I never liked Golden The Animation, lol).

Although some of the opinions you show in the images, like "not everyone can afford to buy lots of games," are a terrible excuse. Because you can pirate it and buy that game later when there's an opportunity (special offers or bundles), and if the game is old: emulate it. Nowadays, with phones, it's easier to do that.

 

[SpcDaicon SpcDaicon]

It's an interesting discussion that actually says more about our relationship with media than with the media itself.

Media can be experiencied in a variety of ways, specially video games.

Take Dark Souls for exemple. Some people like because of the challenge and gameplay, some others for the lore and worldbuilding. In this case, who is the "true fan"? Both? Neither? Since video games are a multifaceted medium, I can understand liking one aspect, but not having interest on other aspects.

I think Touhou is a great exemple on how people can be fans of something without even knowing the source material. People love the characters, music and lore but I don't think the majority of them played the original danmakus made 20+ years ago, yet no one question their position as fans. The aspect they gravitate towards can be everything but the source material, actually.

Persona is a interesting case. It does have games but also has animes. I never finished P4, I stopped halfway through Mitsuo's dungeon, lost my save but watched the entirety of the anime adaptation. I consider myself a fan of P4 but for some people I may be just LARPing.

After some consideration I see that this type of discussion is always started by people gatekeeping things. Yeah, is kinda annoying having to discuss things with people that may not have a clue about the "deeper" aspects of something but that dosen't invalidate them

 

[Tortuga]

No
You can be a fan of character design or music or something but not a game, game made to be played not watched
Being a """fan""" or a game/movie/anime/comic without playing/watching it is extreme tourist behaviour
unfortunately it's become pretty common

 

[TruxtonTatsujin]

If you haven't play the game yourself you very rarely ever have anything of value to say about it, that's the real issue. The concept of being a fan is used in the context of discussion. Try and have a conversation with any of these posers you'll understand what I mean immediately.

 

[JG5009]

As much of an emphasis that gets made of the videoGAME part , it's simply that games stopped just being digital games aka computer toys only just few years after their existence. And thus, people can be fan of everything but the interactive game part of a title with no problem at all, more so than visual media and music since there's so many of these separated components in each game.

I think Touhou is a great exemple on how people can be fans of something without even knowing the source material. People love the characters, music and lore but I don't think the majority of them played the original danmakus made 20+ years ago, yet no one question their position as fans. The aspect they gravitate towards can be everything but the source material, actually.

This is the best example.
The only way to play Touhou 6 is a convoluted mix of patches and non-legal ways for two decades now, but the characters of 6 in particular are the most popular ones, which in consecuence do bring more interest towards the series and all the extra material.

And now TH6 is finally having a remake which is almost a guarantee to sell really well, because now the source of the characters many like will be accessible to get.

People should simply enjoy what they want without being forced, if someone eventually wants to try the actual game then better for them.

 

[TheReal_TomokoKuroki]

It really depends.

I watched Lucahjin play Ace Attorney 1-4. Since it's a visual novel, there is very little difference from watching to playing, besides choosing evidence. So can I call myself a fan? I'd say so. Practically the same thing as playing the game with a guide.

But something like fighting games? They are far more interactive, and far less story-oriented (unless you're playing the actual story MODES, which you should). Now, if someone called themselves a fan of Guilty Gear, I wouldn't mind, but the moment they try to correct me on anything or certify themself as a better source than me, I will clobber them with a rusty sledgehammer.

 

[Burzuru Burzuru]

for me i don't understand why if you have this obsession with a game that you could play RIGHT NOW, but choose not to and never will.

 

[Morgan Katarn]

Honestly I don´t care what your fan of or how you became a fan just enjoy what ever the fuck you want you live only ones who gives a shit if others thing your a fan or not.

But I would suggest if your fan of watching game play of the game why not give it a proper try.

 

[Majormachina]

i think you can be a fan of certain aspects of the game without playing it. like the music or the story/lore

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

Yes, I think so. Before
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain released, I must've watched every trailer, combed through every gameplay demo, scoured through every interview, and generally rinsed every last morsel of content that was put out into the aether.

I talked about it endlessly, constantly conjuring up fan theories and rumours as to where the story would go. It was a major gaming event for me.

I was a fan far before I ever installed the game and pressed "Start"

By the time this trailer dropped, I was all the way in. **

Maaaan, Kamako im sorry, but I despise MGSV I wouldn't even put it with the other games.
Its just Peace Walker with more tedious grinding and horrible celebrity wanking with obtuse cinematography.

Even with MGS4 with the excessive cutscenes, I can't bring myself to enjoy MGSV in any shape or form. Great gameplay tho. How could anyone enjoy a game that isn't complete AND have the horrible grinding aspects of PW? I wish we just got more of the games like 1-4 which were just fun open-ended story chapters.

Post automatically merged: Today at 1:43 AM

It really depends.

I watched Lucahjin play Ace Attorney 1-4. Since it's a visual novel, there is very little difference from watching to playing, besides choosing evidence. So can I call myself a fan? I'd say so. Practically the same thing as playing the game with a guide.

But something like fighting games? They are far more interactive, and far less story-oriented (unless you're playing the actual story MODES, which you should). Now, if someone called themselves a fan of Guilty Gear, I wouldn't mind, but the moment they try to correct me on anything or certify themself as a better source than me, I will clobber them with a rusty sledgehammer.

based Lucah enjoyer

 

[Tsukishima]

I don't understand why people need to be called 'fans' of something to enjoy something from the lens of an observer.

I love the aesthetics, visuals, sound design, music of Silent Hill. I just cannot click with the games themselves. Does that make me a fan?

No, and 'pretending' to be one is an outright waste of time.

 

[silada]

You can't be a fan of something you have not experienced, I think you can admire, you can even look up to be a part of it, but being a "fan" implies being immersed in that community, participating fully in what it offers.

I don't think we don't have people who think otherwise, quite the contrary, now that videogames are not a hobby but a significant part of the economy and even grounds for culture war, yes there are people out there gatekeeping content they don't even engage with. They do not identify with it, but they want it to be about them, they want to be there for others to see, even if they are not actually engaging with said content. It is a lost battle because now it is not about videogames anymore, but politics. The key is not complaining, but taking it back from these people and enforcing your views just like they do. Sinple really.

 

[here4outbreak]

the thing that bothers me most about not needing to play a game to be a fan is that the reasons being provided for why that's acceptable are pretty easy to "debunk."

the twitter user saying it's an expensive hobby is correct but if you have any kind of disposable income then it's a non-issue. resident evil games are old, persona games are old and thankfully, are easily accessible legally or otherwise. nobody is really larping CoD or 2K games, it's usually the ones that make very little sense to be this defensive about not playing.

people do have epilepsy, however thanks to a quick google search it's actually pretty uncommon especially as you age. games are also being made with these kinds of disabilities in mind though obviously not perfectly as epilepsy is a complicated condition but again, the people using it as a defense likely don't have the condition. i know that this point does come off as insensitive but i have a hard time being empathetic for people that so easily use medical reasons as a shield for something that ultimately doesn't matter.

regardless, posting that you physically cannot play the game for one reason or another rings hollow for me because the barrier for entry is so low. and twitter users are not gonna fall in the economic or medical bracket where it makes sense to do so. i'd be less annoyed if the reason for not playing a game is that it's too stressful for you or that you just don't have time to drop into an rpg. those are perfectly reasonable and the people with those reasons tend to also have an understanding that their experience is gonna be different from a "real" fan.

tldr; if you're honest and straightforward about it i don't really care if you have or haven't played the game itself. you may have a unique perspective if you're willing to share it but very rarely have i seen this happen.

 

[otogirisou]

no you can't, obviously.