WOTC ad - insulting to gamers?

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

I was amused by ad, and frankly, am surprised that anyone would get all bent out of shape about it.

The hoopla about this ad reminds me about the hoopla surrounding the Nike commercial with Jason Vorhees.

Both about people deciding to be offended.

How many of you sit in the basement on an MMORPG and play an elf, never going outside, never eating anything but cheetos, and never interacting by humanity?

How many of you wouldn't run if Jason Vorhees came at you with a chainsaw?



If you're offended by this, it either strikes a little too close to home, or you take yourself too serious.

 

[lgburton]

i thought it was hytsterical. and i'm a former EQ player, so i really do understand the stereotype.

 

[The Persian]

EQ2 addicts scare me My friend's family at one time, all they did when they got home was play EQ2, and that alone wouldn't be strange, but all they is craft!

What was that Nike commercial about?oh wait...did it have a girl running from Jason through some woods? I have vague memories..

 

[WizarDru]

This ad has appeared in multiple magazines, such as PC Gamer, EGM and Game Informer, in addition to Paizo's publications. IMHO, it is teh funney.

I think it's a brilliant ad; many MMORPG players end up frustrated by 'the grind'...that endless slog of reptition necessary to gain another level. There are countless tales of players staying up into the wee hours of the night to camp a spawn, in hopes of finding a rare drop or to help someone in his guild or allegiance finish a quest. This ad capitalizes on that fact.

And finding it a negative stereotype? The guy in the ad is thin, moderately good-looking and relatively trendy. His only flaw is looking very bored and somewhat tired, playing an online MMORPG. There is no indication that he's in his PARENT'S basement...it could be his own (that's where my PCs are).

I mean, the tag line is "Get Some Friends. Roll Some Dice. HAVE FUN." I think that's a DAMN FINE summary of D&D. Offended by this ad? This is written by people who UNDERSTAND D&D. This isn't point-dexter snorting loudly in his sleveless cardigan gang, this is 0wnzj00 the Dwarf realizing that it's going to be 10 more levels before he can do the Plane of Fear, wondering why he's even bothering, when a wise voice tells him to play the game that inspired the one he's playing.

We've already tried the pretty-people become fantasy versions of themselves campaign, remember?

 

[turbo]

i saw it in a video game magazine one or two months ago, which I thought was ballsy placement: "what this magazine is about sucks; try something better"--wow!

 

[Teflon Billy]

As for the ad, i didn't find it funny, and I wish they produced more tasteful representations of the gamer than this half-baked excuse of an advertisement spot.

Why would they? The guy portrayed, if anything, appears on the top half of gamers as far as social fucntionality.

Seriously man...the stereotype of gamers as bearded guy's with eating disorders in sandals and grubby t-shirts is borne out if you just attend Gen Con--or most any Convention--and look around.

Stereotypes don't develop in a vacuum, they develop around a kernel of truth.

This particular Kernel of Truth is pretty damn big

Should we be portrayed by the media and ourselves as the pinnacles of human beauty and achievement?

Because...on the whole, we aren't We have our good points, but by and large "Traditional Good Looks" and "Social Aptitude" are not as well-represented in our peer group as their opposites.

 

[The Persian]

Why would they? The guy portrayed, if anything, appears on the top half of gamers as far as social fucntionality.

Seriously man...the stereotype of gamers as bearded guy's with eating disorders in sandals and grubby t-shirts is borne out if you just attend Gen Con--or most any Convention--and look around.

Stereotypes don't develop in a vacuum, they develop around a kernel of truth.

This particular Kernel of Truth is pretty damn big

Should we be portrayed by the media and ourselves as the pinnacles of human beauty and achievement?

Because...on the whole, we aren't We have our good points, but by and large "Traditional Good Looks" and "Social Aptitude" are not as well-represented in our peer group as their opposites.

It's branching out, and more than you think. Does a person that starts playing D&D automatically become a geek, though? I consider myself one, but playing a game or being a part of this doesn't place you into yet another section of culture.

 

[Teflon Billy]

double post

 

[Teflon Billy]

It's branching out, and more than you think. Does a person that starts playing D&D automatically become a geek, though? I consider myself one, but playing a game or being a part of this doesn't place you into yet another section of culture.

This is a stock answer to all questions of Archetypal portrayal of folks "things are changing", "there are exceptions" etc.

Just answer this: Do you think that the sterotype of the gamer mentioned above is over-represented in the actual gamer populace?

I'm not asking if you think that they are the majority, or anything like that.

I'm asking if you think they actually seem to be more prevalent in gamer society than in mainstream society.

 

[The Persian]

This is a stock answer to all questions of Archetypal portrayal of folks "things are changing", "there are exceptions" etc.

Just answer this: Do you think that the sterotype of the gamer mentioned above is over-represented in the actual gamer populace?

I'm not asking if you think that they are the majority, or anything like that.

I'm asking if you think they actually seem to be more prevalent in gamer society than in mainstream society.

Just D&D, Console, PC gaming , board gaming, or all of it?