Home Gaming FFD: Why You Heff to be Mad?

FFD: Why You Heff to be Mad?

1 min read
98

Mad ffd 1

Gamers are a passionate bunch. we love our hobby, love the way games make us feel. Whether we just want to come home after a tough day at work and kill hordes of enemies to blow off steam, or spend the weekend joyfully exploring a unique world filled with cool stories and characters, we all enjoy our time spent in game. Some of us also enjoy talking about and sharing our fun or interesting gaming experiences. Of course, we also like commiserating about problems, ranting about micro transactions and other perceived issues in the industry. But some people take it too far.

After No Man’s Sky was delayed, the studio and even the journalists announcing it received death threats. Death threats! Beyond the lack of logic (I’ll kill you for delaying the game, thereby permanently delaying the game) I have to wonder what gets gamers to this point. Sure, I get it, they’re passionate and disappointed, but threatening someone’s life? How can you make that kind of leap?

While our own journalists have never been threatened, we have been called all manner of awful names when we cover news that people don’t like or agree with. We like to laugh about it amongst ourselves, and my favorite is still when Geoff was called a Mayohead, but it’s still something of a dark side to this hobby that we all love.

So, why are gamers like this? Do you think it’s just an issue of passion run amok? Or perhaps the anonymity of the internet unleashes the worst in people? Or maybe gamers are just more willing to show their darker sides? Does this happen in other industries and we’re just less aware of it, or are gamers unique in their ability to get so upset?

 

Last Updated: June 3, 2016

98 Comments

  1. Mistake Not...

    June 3, 2016 at 10:32

    Geoff was called a Mayohead? I didn’t know.

    I shall lock away this information for future use. Along with minions.

    Reply

    • Mistake Not...

      June 3, 2016 at 10:37

      Also, people who say they’re going to murder someone because a game isn’t coming out when it was supposed to come out aren’t gamers. They’re first and foremost people who should most likely see a psychiatrist (and who happen to play games in their free time).

      True gamers are accustomed to the disappointment that is frequent game delays. (Dammit No Man’s Sky! You would have been in time for the end of exams!).

      Reply

    • Sageville

      June 3, 2016 at 10:39

      Is that like a asian racial slur? I’m not up-to-date on these…

      I do love mayo though… and turtles….

      Reply

      • Anon A Mouse

        June 3, 2016 at 11:13

        I think it’s like that Ice cream vid Avo posted many moons ago, just with Mayo…

        Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      June 3, 2016 at 14:50

      Mayohead was completely beaten by someone calling him a Maximum Autistic C*nt …

      Stil my favourite insult

      Reply

  2. Sageville

    June 3, 2016 at 10:37

    I think ugly happens with the perceived anonymity that the internet provides, having swam in the sewers that is social media I can confirm that the ugly is not gamer specific, the ugly is all over the place on social media…

    Shall we discuss the current local gaming drama… Unfounded accusations of sexism based on zero evidence, defamation… That was so ugly…

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

      June 3, 2016 at 10:41

      Anonymity – because death threats are illegal and No mans skys lawyers can’t prosecute people they can’t find

      Reply

    • Her Highness the Hipster

      June 3, 2016 at 10:48

      agreed, that was awful! Especially as once the person in question was called out on it, she chose to keep attacking instead of apologizing for the miscommunication. sad state of affairs.

      Reply

      • Pariah

        June 3, 2016 at 11:04

        I was discussing this with my gf last night (who is friends with the guilty party) – and it’s even more sad that if there were any real things, valid parts of that letter, if they exist – few people will now take those seriously. No apology even though she is well aware of her mistake (check her Twitter, she knows). And perhaps a valid point or two lost in rabble and hearsay with little respect for those she’s done wrong to herself.

        Reply

        • Her Highness the Hipster

          June 3, 2016 at 11:29

          that’s just it! the gaming industry is typically male dominated, but it has improved so much in recent years (even since I’ve been an “insider”) and while she does make the odd valid point, it’s totally undermined by some totally wrong stuff.

          Reply

          • Pariah

            June 3, 2016 at 11:39

            This is something I brought up as well – the gaming industry has been making some serious effort over the last few years to be more inclusive. In fact, across every industry world-wide to me it appears gaming is the front-runner in this regard. There’s a lot to do still, but we’re making some wonderful progress.

            I also brought up how you called out the Ster Kinekor guy. If she had an issue, naming and backing that up is the way to go. Absolutely call people out, it’s how change happens. What she did isn’t. Also if you made a mistake, say so. Apologise. repair the damage. Be the example. Be the change. Make a difference, not a noise. There’s a difference. (puntastic but true)

          • Sageville

            June 3, 2016 at 12:44

            Pride is a cruel mistress…

  3. Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

    June 3, 2016 at 10:38

    Imagine traffic jams, municipalities, traffic departments and airports had comment sections XD

    Reply

    • Mistake Not...

      June 3, 2016 at 10:39

      The moderators wouldn’t give a damn.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

        June 3, 2016 at 10:40

        I’d ban them all after leaving a sarcastic comment for traffic jams, like, why don’t you use a helicopter like the Guptas?

        Reply

    • Sageville

      June 3, 2016 at 10:41

      I like to imagine the trolls and abusive peeps confronting their hate focus in real life… then you’ll see the passion dissipate…

      Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      June 3, 2016 at 10:42

      If traffic had a comment section my comments would be mostly *********** with a few “you” in between.

      Reply

    • Mistake Not...

      June 3, 2016 at 10:43

      I’m just imagining twelve year olds at the municipality screaming, swearing and saying stuff about the workers’ moms.

      Reply

    • BakedBagel

      June 3, 2016 at 10:54

      I want a Home Affairs comment section XD

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

        June 3, 2016 at 10:56

        YES!

        Reply

    • Admiral Chief Protector

      June 3, 2016 at 10:55

      LOOOL

      Reply

    • Mossel

      June 3, 2016 at 10:59

      I think it’s called twitter.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Protector

        June 3, 2016 at 10:59

        ROFL

        Reply

  4. Alien Emperor Trevor

    June 3, 2016 at 10:40

    Fucked if I know. I get being angry about stuff, I get angry about stuff – but death threats over a game delay, or weapon balancing, or a boob being covered up? I don’t get that.

    So I’ll guess: anonymity plus poorly socialised plus inability to distinguish between fantasy & reality plus think it’s funny plus zero consequences = idiotic internet rage

    Reply

    • Pariah

      June 3, 2016 at 10:43

      The real tl;dr of my comment right here.

      Reply

    • BacchusZA

      June 3, 2016 at 19:27

      The thing that befuddles me is that these internet death threats are given any credence at all, given we all *know* that it’s an impotent & powerless 12 year old (mentally if not physically) spewing bile over the internet. If you don’t do something drastic & significant like mention my home address or phone number in your threat I’m just going to go “Pfffft, whatevah, go play with your Fischer Price toys, little boy” and laugh you off.

      Then again, my job has involved people making a determined effort to kill me for real at times, so maybe I have a different threshold for what I take seriously in terms of what I see as a threat?

      Reply

  5. Ottokie

    June 3, 2016 at 10:40

    • Admiral Chief Protector

      June 3, 2016 at 10:55

      LOL bastard filling, love it

      Reply

  6. Darren Peach

    June 3, 2016 at 10:40

    People are bat shit crazy. All of us. Gamers, non gamers. It makes no difference. I think the Internet serves to illustrate this.

    Reply

  7. Guild

    June 3, 2016 at 10:40

    People have become entitled assholes. The end.

    Reply

    • Pariah

      June 3, 2016 at 10:41

      Become? No, just have the ability to communicate it more freely. XD

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

      June 3, 2016 at 10:47

      Somewhere Dutch_Matrix is looking for a thank you gif

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        June 3, 2016 at 10:54

        Sorry. I am not. I am looking for the will to get up from this chair to go have a piss.

        Reply

        • Pariah

          June 3, 2016 at 10:55

          Don’t get up dude. It’s fine.

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief Protector

            June 3, 2016 at 10:55

            Molimed to the rescue

          • Pariah

            June 3, 2016 at 10:56

            Molimed? Is that… Is that Molyneux?

          • Admiral Chief Protector

            June 3, 2016 at 10:59

            Possibly, it is for incontinence, and he has trouble keeping his excretions in

          • Dutch Matrix

            June 3, 2016 at 10:58

            I have this coffee tin on my desk. I might just make some Ricoffy…

          • Pariah

            June 3, 2016 at 10:59

            Dude it’ll probably taste better than Ricoffy.

          • Admiral Chief Protector

            June 3, 2016 at 11:08

            You know when you ride your bike in the rain? That muddy spittle that remains on the underside of your bike. Scrape that off. Put in hot water. It will still taste better than Ricoffy/Ricoffee/Blegh

  8. Pariah

    June 3, 2016 at 10:41

    I think the issue is more underlying than we realise. It’s a symptom of the anonymity of the internet coupled with gamers living in a fantasy world, inciting a disconnect with reality. These things combined might make a person think that threatening someone’s life is ok. It’s not, of course, but it takes a person understanding the boundary between reality and fiction to know that. It takes a person who understands that a game is like a book. A fiction that you close when you’re ready to go to bed or finish the story or whatever. Some people do not understand that. We’ve seen it before when a child jumped off a building because they thought they were a pokemon, or that 17 year old killed his friend because of that game. There’s a disconnect from reality. And it’s not a gamer thing – it’s a human thing. It’s just that games have such a wide berth of interest, and there’s very little that is taboo. So disconnects are more dangerous and far reaching in our case. And the anonymity of the internet allows us to act those out too, with little recourse.

    tl;dr people are psycho, internet enables, games create varied and drastic disconnects.

    Reply

  9. Deceased

    June 3, 2016 at 10:42

    “Nobody exists on purpose. Nobody belongs anywhere. Everybody’s gonna die.”

    Words to live by 😐

    Reply

  10. Captain JJ bound

    June 3, 2016 at 10:43

    I know I get mad and worked up sometimes.
    I think most of it is usually at companies who hurt the industry we treasure so much.
    We understand that making money is also key in this industry, like any other, so we’re not saying that you’re not supposed to make money or charge money for your product, we just want the people who create the content to be as passionate about it as the people who enjoy the content.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

      June 3, 2016 at 10:44

      passionate != profit
      – EA Games

      Reply

      • Captain JJ bound

        June 3, 2016 at 10:56

        haha

        Reply

  11. oVg Whippersnapper Post Review

    June 3, 2016 at 10:47

    AGE is showing its head. The new age kids born with cell phones and touch screens are all becoming more vocal on their soup box, and are now in their early teens. The target demographic for FPS games.

    ITS KIDS.

    I noticed this shift the last 2 years. Even gaming trends have changed dramatically.

    RUNS AWAY from internet to wash eyes out with Mature Single Player off line 50hour Expansion pack for $150.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      June 3, 2016 at 10:48

      Can tell age is showing its head. You hungry for your soup? *run*

      Reply

      • Pariah

        June 3, 2016 at 10:48

        You still give him soup?

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

          June 3, 2016 at 10:49

          Apparently he gums his solids

          Reply

      • oVg Whippersnapper Post Review

        June 3, 2016 at 10:49

        Trev, Blood and Wine is better than the main game. The narrative is so fucking cool.

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          June 3, 2016 at 10:51

          I started with it Wed night, only spent about 2 hours so far, but yeah, I’m digging it. Soon as the world opened up for me I started doing the vineyard quest – and can already see this is going to twist & turn.

          Reply

          • oVg Whippersnapper Post Review

            June 3, 2016 at 10:55

            I got completely sucked in after 11 hours. Role Playing by fixing up house that adds to stats, mutagen upgrades like in W2.

            I spent 4 hours doing one side quest out of 21 so far and Its better than most of the main story in the original game. Some character models are more fantastical than blue little Johnny.

            Fucking amazing game. You will laugh your bollocks off at the campy Penny Dreadful vibe.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            June 3, 2016 at 11:03

            Have you found the she-troll who had a guy in a cage? Even the smallest random encounter has layers of detail. Fucking awesome.

    • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

      June 3, 2016 at 10:48

      I give this comment Uncharted 4/10

      Reply

      • oVg Whippersnapper Post Review

        June 3, 2016 at 10:50

        Another variable to factor in. Game Journalism has become way too big for its boots.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

          June 3, 2016 at 10:51

          Gaming moves billions of dollars every year. Wasn’t like that during the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo era

          Reply

          • BakedBagel

            June 3, 2016 at 10:52

            Gaming has never been serious.

            I mean “serious” gaming has its own friking genre “esprots” 😛

            I dont know why all of a sudden Gaming Journalism needs to be “big” or professional.

            Number 1 point of games. To have fun. 🙂

        • Darren Peach

          June 3, 2016 at 11:02

          That review was utter shit. Complete and utter vomit. Next to the Xbox fanboy, He must be the only player in the world to have not found something positive to say about it. It was close to perfect for me. I read that he wrote for IGN and called himself the Contrarian. Ironically, given the topic of this article, there has to be something said overt a reviewer that produced that biased judgemental piece of dog turd of a review.

          Reply

  12. BakedBagel

    June 3, 2016 at 10:48

    I would actually say that due to the constant berating of gamers, majority of the time by people who dont play games, its added to the flame of an already passionate customer base.

    The likes of the list below have not made it easier for gamers to be “””Normal”””
    And rightfully so, Gamers are on the recieving end of alot of hate that seems to be forgotten or made fun of because “Its just games lmao Xd”

    Jack Thompson
    The Far Right
    The Church
    Anita Kekeesian
    And now the Far Left.
    ^ These people have contributed towards Gamers simply not giving a single fuck.

    I dont know why people would resort to death threats for delaying a game. Thats tantrum shit.

    Reply

    • Darren Peach

      June 3, 2016 at 10:50

      And all if those things you mentioned are crazy as a mad hatter.

      Reply

      • BakedBagel

        June 3, 2016 at 10:51

        Yet they are taken seriously.

        Hue.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

          June 3, 2016 at 10:51

          XD

          Reply

    • Anon A Mouse

      June 3, 2016 at 11:06

      And still “mature” and “conversation / debate” isn’t something that comes readily to mind when I think of the majority of gamers. I still think the internet compounded a lot of gamers lack of social skills and just gave them an easy way to vent.

      I also like the good old vent every now and then, but it never drove me to Oprah levels. “You get a death threat”, “You get a death threat” “Everybody gets death threats!!!”

      Reply

      • BakedBagel

        June 3, 2016 at 11:11

        It goes back to what Pariah said.

        Its the inability to distinguish a real world from a fantasy.

        Alot of gamers wanted a conversation / debate when the whole GG thing happened. Which was met with constant denial.

        Majority of gamers are kids tho. I never expect a kid to act maturely even more so on the Internet.

        Reply

        • Anon A Mouse

          June 3, 2016 at 11:16

          Good point. Just don’t think the majority is kids. They might act like kids, but the majority of VOCAL gamers might be kids. With an average age of gamers being 30’s I don’t think the majority of gamers are kids.

          Reply

          • BakedBagel

            June 3, 2016 at 11:20

            If they act like kids.
            Speak like kids.
            And smell like kids.

            There is a good chance they kids 😉

            But i must agree with you

  13. Admiral Chief Protector

    June 3, 2016 at 10:54

    They are like that because they are keyboard warriors

    Reply

    • BakedBagel

      June 3, 2016 at 10:56

      ???????

      What the fuck did you just fucking say about me, you little bitch? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class in the Navy Seals, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret raids on Al-Quaeda, and I have over 300 confirmed kills.

      :DDDDDDDD

      Reply

      • Pariah

        June 3, 2016 at 10:57

        PSYCHE!

        Reply

      • Admiral Chief Protector

        June 3, 2016 at 10:58

        Dafuq

        :p

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

          June 3, 2016 at 10:58

          *Swatting inbound

          Reply

          • Pariah

            June 3, 2016 at 10:59

            bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

            *swat*

            *#&^$ING mozzies

          • BakedBagel

            June 3, 2016 at 10:59

            whenever i see bzzzzz i think of a vuvuzela.

            Thanks WC2010

        • BakedBagel

          June 3, 2016 at 10:58

          :p let me show you the way of the copy paste QWERTY warrior

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief Protector

            June 3, 2016 at 11:00

            Your CoD level ‘insults’ are next level

          • BakedBagel

            June 3, 2016 at 11:03

            You should see my Millennial copy pasta bro. Top level shit

            “What the swag did you just fucking yolo about me, you little wayne? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class in the SwagF*gs, and I’ve been involved in numerous Obey Records , and I have over 300 confirmed Swaggers”

          • Anon A Mouse

            June 3, 2016 at 11:07

            You missed a yo momma and a bae in there somewhere. I think a FOMO as well.

          • Admiral Chief Protector

            June 3, 2016 at 11:08

            da
            fuq

  14. Anon A Mouse

    June 3, 2016 at 10:55

    Welcome to the internet. Go onto any forum for anything under the sun and you will find it. Some people like to vent, others are not mature enough and find the need to blame someone. Sometime it’s far easier to blame the journo since there is a more direct link between them and the reader than between them and the developer.

    I blame the bunch of entitled Mayoheads that will vote for Bernie Saunders and want everything handed to them on a plate. Ohh and the Trump supporters who like the USA so much they want to put a wall around it. Almost forgot the Hillary supporters that can’t multitask two email addresses but want to run a country. (Think I’ve covered everyone.)

    Reply

    • Mistake Not...

      June 3, 2016 at 10:57

      Really? I thought Bernie was the best choice. (Notice that I care more about USA elections than SA.)

      Reply

      • Anon A Mouse

        June 3, 2016 at 11:00

        To be honest this is probably the year with the crappiest candidates since I can remember. Problem with Bernie and his socialism is that someone has to pay for it. Who that someone is going to be when everyone is waiting for their hand out is my concern.

        Are there still elections being held is SA? I though the ANC automatically gets between 60 an 65% of the vote and then it is a coin toss as to which other parties get the rest.

        Reply

        • Mistake Not...

          June 3, 2016 at 11:03

          What you said sums it up. ‘Elections’ are pretty much a formality. Lets vote for the party that’s going to get us downgraded to junk status.

          Reply

  15. Mossel

    June 3, 2016 at 10:56

    Yesterday I became upset for not being able to shoot straight with a controller. It’s bloody difficult, really frustrating knowing that I can probably play the game on a higher difficulty with KB+M, but the couch is just SO COMFY.

    Reply

    • Pariah

      June 3, 2016 at 10:58

      Yep. I tried Fallout for 5 minutes with a controller. Switched back to kb/m. Aim assist on consoles makes one hell of a difference. You don’t even notice it’s there either. I wish it was better though. Controller while lounging back is so much more comfy.

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief Protector

      June 3, 2016 at 11:00

      Is that what happened that fateful night in the choppa?

      Reply

      • Mossel

        June 3, 2016 at 11:01

        Sadly I suck with choppers no matter the controller! One day if I can control it with my mind I might just be good at it.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Protector

          June 3, 2016 at 11:09

          No matter, I fly, you shoot. That worked

          Reply

          • Mossel

            June 3, 2016 at 11:12

            Teamwork makes the dream work!

          • Admiral Chief Protector

            June 3, 2016 at 11:14

            That needs to be on a TShirt!

        • Pariah

          June 3, 2016 at 11:09

          Unless someone who won’t be named (like me) starts with jump scares and random stuff to distract you. And I would. And laugh while the team falls to their death.

          Reply

          • Mossel

            June 3, 2016 at 11:12

            lol that could be catastrophic.

          • Pariah

            June 3, 2016 at 11:22

            But funny. 😀

    • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

      June 3, 2016 at 14:46

      Sooooooooo comfy. Bought a lazyboy with my christmans bonus two years ago. soooooooooooo comfy

      Reply

  16. Dane

    June 3, 2016 at 13:59

    On the internet, no one knows you’re a dog. Or anything about you at all except your username. So you can say whatever the hell you want. Please refer to figure 1.

    Reply

    • Dane

      June 3, 2016 at 13:59

      Figure 1.

      Fuck you.

      Reply

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