Article: A requiem for Mass Effect: Andromeda

Well, if I'm being really honest, it's because at heart I'm a pretentious hipster elitist, and all this douchebaggery is bad for the image. Geekery works fine, but nowadays the demographic is crawling with dudebros.

So only "dudebros" play online games huh?

The professional side of CS would like a word...

Especially Jason right?

Yeah rape and death threats, harassment, endless videos and posts about sjw's feminazis destroying OUR games.

Ethics my arse. Bunch of entitled whiney children who i wish would either grow up or fuck off, to be honest.

Rape and death threats are bad, but without evidence, are just chatter. Many of them where self-inflicted and proven to be.

Videos criticizing profiteering instigators? Warranted and justified as these people attack a hobby that they have nothing to do with.

Ethical changes mad at major journo outlets kinda prove that ethics played a major role in the whole clusterfuck.

What. Requiem.

I'm just gonna bow out at this point. We are so deep in OT territory that thread-lock is imminent. See ya 'round the boards.

Bleh. As a sociology student I'm sure she understands that when you take a large group of people there are bound to be extremes present. A large fandom and the accompanying rabid element goes hand in hand with success, it's hard to see how you can... what, discipline? Your fandom, or that subsect of your fandom, without alienating a broader swathe. Then there's also the fact that the backlash existed for a reason, she acknowledges it herself when she mentions the "good humored" animation mocking (and there's really not a distinct line between "good humored" mocking and the vengeful gamer subsection she mentions, one feeds directly off the other), the idea that you can just handwave critique because "toxic fandom" is troubling and not particularly useful if you want to improve. 

Also, toxic fandom is becoming more of a thing and I always feel kinda squiggly when it comes up because I like to think I'm a pretty placid and well adjusted person but I also identify as a fan of [thing] so then when I hear someone, especially the creator, say something along the lines of "my fanbase is toxic" it makes me feel bad. Should I not identify as a fan? Should I identify as a 'real' fan? What defines a 'real' and how pliable is that definition? Cuz I can definitely see how dividing a fanbase between it's louder, more abrasive element and it's more pliant, laidback counterpart and only retaining/engaging with the latter would appeal to a large studio. 

My definition of a fan is pretty much "Person who shows an interest in and engages with [thing] consistently." Like I'd consider myself a fan cuz I buy their games and am on a forum devoted to their games but I don't buy any extraneous merchandise, write fanfiction, go to conventions, get tattoos etc.

That pretty much sums up what it is to me.  One doesn't need to go all out to be a fan.  In my case I play the games, participate in the forums, and keep my eyes open for any news on the games or upcoming games. 

Honestly...I think its the latter.

The problem is it stems from the vocal minority dominating conversation, a warped version of the pareto principle effectively showcasing what nerd subculture is and how disingenuous it gets.

Reminds me of this video parodying a gamer, recording himself on youtube at a midnight release and whining about some random popular game...Metal Gear Solid I think it was I dont remember. Basically its the caricature you expect- he threatens to burn the first copy of the game bought in the store on video to proclaim his hatred for the series, and curses out anyone defending it.

That caricature is slowly turning into reality. That makes me just shake my head at how fragile the subculture is.