Is gaming more acceptable now?

[Phantasy Violence]

Growing up in the ’90s, I was cautious about bringing up video games with other kids. Plenty of us played, but talking about it at school could get you labeled a nerd. It was like watching Pokémon or Dragon Ball Z—lots of kids did it, but you had to pretend you didn’t.

These days, social norms feel much more accepting. Rappers reference Naruto, PS5s are in living rooms instead of basements, and I have no problem telling my wife I’m playing Elden Ring for a few hours.

Do you think gaming and “nerd culture” have become more mainstream, or is it just about growing up and becoming more confident?

 

[MajesticSiN]

Nerd culture became more mainstream a while ago which is why it's more prevalent in most forms if not all forms of media.

 

[jankusanagi]

Depends on the region, probably, but I'd say definitely yes.

 

[Waffles]

I think what happened was a simple generational shift: when we were kids there was a huge smearing campaign against videogames -- you could be labelled a serial killer in-the-making for playing Mortal Kombat or Doom. There was a huge stigma about Pokemon and other games designed to make you inhabit other worlds, and people generally didn't talk about games nearly as much. There was also the fact that consoles were moving faster than people could buy them (or even read about them, because no internet). You could genuinely bring up a game and have the other person stare blankly as they would have no idea what you were talking about.

 

[Gorse]

Gaming has been a massive multi-billion-dollar international entertainment industry for at least the past quarter-century, and the point of no return on its popularity was probably crossed in the 2000s, which were two decades years ago. A lot of people in their mid-40s have been around video games since they were born, and many of their own kids (in their early twenties) can say confidently "My dad plays more games than I do."

I do think there is still a stigma and likely always will be, in the same way that there were stigmas about watching TV and listening to rock-and-roll music, and certain demographics (of all varieties) definitely do play games more than others, but, at least in English-speaking countries, the market is so big now that it really don't matter anymore.

 

[ThatsNotRich]

I just believe we have multiple of generations of gamers now. There are Grandfathers out there playing because they have been since the beginning. Props to the people who passed down the title Gamer.

 

[Tonberry]

Absolutely. Video games is the highest grossing entertainment industry out there, and there are so many ways for people to engage in the medium. They're also way more accessible now than before.

Still, it varies on a case-by-case basis whether or not this is "socially acceptable" in some ways, depending on demographic and location etc. You might find it harder to connect with other people if you're only interested in niche japanese games if you live in the west for example. I didn't know many people in the semi-rural area I grew up in who cared about Megaman when I was a kid (I was obsessed with him haha) but people I made friends with because of Megaman are friends I'll have my entire life.

There still seems to be some pushback against videogames as a legitimate form of expression, and there are moneygrubbing people not interested in the games themselves who like to take advantage of the popularity of the medium to earn more money, but I think we're in a pretty good spot overall right now.

 

[Gorse]

There still seems to be some pushback against videogames as a legitimate form of expression

I don't think this particular stigma is ever going to change, as a matter of fact. Some media will always be viewed as "just kids' stuff" – animation has been around for a century and puppetry for at least half a millennium, but you'll never see either in a proper art gallery (at least, not without heavy pushback from professional critics).

 

[Strategist]

I think what happened was a simple generational shift: when we were kids there was a huge smearing campaign against videogames -- you could be labelled a serial killer in-the-making for playing Mortal Kombat or Doom. There was a huge stigma about Pokemon and other games designed to make you inhabit other worlds, and people generally didn't talk about games nearly as much. There was also the fact that consoles were moving faster than people could buy them (or even read about them, because no internet). You could genuinely bring up a game and have the other person stare blankly as they would have no idea what you were talking about.

Yeah, Mortal Kombat and Doom were the biggest targets for moralizing politicians in the 90's. Also Dungeons and Dragons and Magic the Gathering got bad publicity for being associated with Satanic cults. I remember when I was kid it was a hot button topic. I specifically recall a sermon denouncing the evils of rock music and video games. Fortunately, I was a smart enough kid to know that the pastor was full of shit.

 

[Gorse]

Ironically, now rock music is the boring, crusty old medium that kids have moved away from! I wonder if that will ever happen to video games when something new comes along.

 

[olli64pc]

It's shouldn't matter what you're called Or what you're in to or anything as long as you're having fun and not hurting anyone

 

[Tonberry]

I don't think this particular stigma is ever going to change, as a matter of fact. Some media will always be viewed as "just kids' stuff" – animation has been around for a century and puppetry for at least half a millennium, but you'll never see either in a proper art gallery (at least, not without heavy pushback from professional critics).

That's true. Sucks to be those critics I suppose, they don't know what they're missing!

I take offense (not saying you did this with your example ofc) to the notion that "Thing = For Kids = Bad", like so what if it is? Aren't kids allowed to have good, meaningful entertainment too?
It's the same thing with people insisting that something they like that's clearly made for a younger audience suddenly isn't because then they would somehow not be allowed to like it. Just like what you like, don't worry about others.

 

[middler]

I just believe we have multiple of generations of gamers now. There are Grandfathers out there playing because they have been since the beginning. Props to the people who passed down the title Gamer.

I find it interesting and not too shocking that you use the word grandfathers. I grew up in the 80's where gaming was not only pretty much a taboo but it was only something that only the boys that weren't jocks did. Of course that wasn't strictly true, arcades basically were alternative culture at that time, but its strange how locked in each generation is about gaming. Female gamers in my generation were extremely rare and, barring candy crush, they still are today.

 

[jankusanagi]

Some media will always be viewed as "just kids' stuff"

Indeed! Calling animation (in general) or videogames "just for kids" is sooo ignorant and idiotic

 

[Waffles]

I don't think this particular stigma is ever going to change, as a matter of fact. Some media will always be viewed as "just kids' stuff" – animation has been around for a century and puppetry for at least half a millennium, but you'll never see either in a proper art gallery (at least, not without heavy pushback from professional critics).

Which is ironic, since both require extreme amounts of discipline and mastery of the craft to pull off.

 

[Tonberry]

Which is ironic, since both require extreme amounts of discipline and mystery of the craft to pull off.

Slightly OT, but I always used to say that 2D animation was the most self-destructive artistic medium (I used to want to work with it, but nowadays I'm more of an illustrator). It's such an insanely difficult and demanding area to work in, and you oftentimes literally destroy your body (particularly your wrists, neck and back, even your eyes take a toll) working on it. But the end result is genuine magic, and the ones who stick to it oftentimes do it because of insane passion and love for the medium. I almost get something religious in my eye when I look at particularly wonderful stuff. I'm not a huge fan of Ponyo but the beginning of that movie makes me cry just because of how beautiful it is.

 

[Cheela]

Definitely yes! But there is some caveats i say. I think nerdiness in general has become more socially accepted but there is still a fair fight against more of the niche titles. Also there is schools and parents against cellphones and screens in general because of the increasing amount of “ipad kids” but that things kinda backfired when the pandemic happened.

But yeah it is more accepted, but there are still some part of gaming that are not as accepted as others.

 

[Waffles]

Slightly OT, but I always used to say that 2D animation was the most self-destructive artistic medium (I used to want to work with it, but nowadays I'm more of an illustrator). It's such an insanely difficult and demanding area to work in, and you oftentimes literally destroy your body (particularly your wrists, neck and back, even your eyes take a toll) working on it. But the end result is genuine magic, and the ones who stick to it oftentimes do it because of insane passion and love for the medium. I almost get something religious in my eye when I look at particularly wonderful stuff. I'm not a huge fan of Ponyo but the beginning of that movie makes me cry just because of how beautiful it is.

As someone who has dabbled on animation (and only to try my hand at it), I can confirm that it is an insane amount of work for even the simplest of results, often demanding entire days of careful planning and execution just to bring your creation to life... but those with the creativity, the drive and the passion to conquer that hill could take you through worlds and emotions that words cannot describe.

I mean, look at this:

 

[Tonberry]

As someone who has dabbled on animation (and only to try my hand at it), I can confirm that it is an insane amount of work for even the simplest of results, often demanding entire days of careful planning and execution just to bring your creation to life... but those with the creativity, the drive and the passion to conquer that hill could take you through worlds and emotions that words cannot describe.

I mean, look at this:

Absolutely, it's truly magical stuff, to breathe life into drawings in such a way. Nowadsys I'm still extremely invested and interested in it from a theoretical standpoint, but my practical animation skills usually only stretch to sprites for the game I'm working on, but I'm happy with that!

 

[Bonkers225]

Look at Twitch, Kick, Youtube, etc streamers. Successful ones are all millionaires, and the platform generates billions. Gaming/Nerd culture is as mainstream as the most popular thing in the world atm.

 

[Strategist]

I'm glad I got to experience the 80's and 90's era of animation. Both Disney and anime studios were cooking in that era. Clearly it was produced through a lot of outsourced sweatshop work, but the results are far more pleasing than the modern batch of computer aided animation.

 

[Auriiya]

Yes it is right up to (clean your room and eat your dinner or no games before bed.)just like I was. My room was spotless and I even ate my veggies to boot.

 

[Ian Naxieas]

Without a single doubt. I grew up in the 90s and while gaming was on the rise, if you told people (especially adults) that your hobby was video games, they'd look at you like you were some kind of dipshit. I still remember bits of that even into the 2000s. But eventually the kids who grew up with video games became adults, many had kids who grew up with video games and things just spread out from there. The rise of more casual games has helped too. The Wii was gigantic and was simple enough to be enjoyed by most anyone. Finally, we arrive at phones and tablets. Now the next generations are growing up with video games being more accessible than ever. As mentioned before, video game streaming is a giant business now, not even mentioning Esports. Video games have been around a long time, but now they've integrated into media like movies and music has. They're here to stay.

 

[tropicalavera]

I don't think there's much of a stigma around playing games. But labelling yourself a 'GAMER'?? oof, I'll stigmatize you myself tbh.

 

[Waffles]

I'm glad I got to experience the 80's and 90's era of animation. Both Disney and anime studios were cooking in that era. Clearly it was produced through a lot of outsourced sweatshop work, but the results are far more pleasing than the modern batch of computer aided animation.

I remember reading extensive articles comparing the work of the different studios handling Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs!, and being blown away by the differences in style as different animators handled the same characters. TMS, Akom, Freelance, Startoons... so much greatness.