Monday Tip-Off: Gamers Always Complain…Or Do They?
We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some thoughts on the notion that gamers just always complain about everything.
When you’re part of multiple fandoms, it’s interesting how the same conversations take place in every bubble. What we like is the best, so much better than the rest! We love our thing, but man, we also have some of the worst fans! We complain too much. We aren’t critical enough! Everyone pretends to like what’s new. Everyone always hates the new thing! No matter whether it’s basketball gaming or real basketball, a different genre of video games, an iconic film or TV series, or professional wrestling, I’m sure that all of these phrases sound extremely familiar.
To that point, I happened to be browsing the Mortal Kombat subreddit, and ended up reading some comments that I’ve seen the basketball gaming community utter so many times. Specifically, it was opined that the latest game in the series is always bashed unfairly, while the previous game – which itself was once subjected to the same scorn – is held up as perfect. This of course prompted someone to basically say that gamers are never happy, and constantly complain about every little thing. See what I mean about the same conversations across multiple fandoms? There is merit here, but personally, I’m tired of all the self-flagellation that we gamers partake in.
First of all though, let’s acknowledge that there’s some accuracy in stating that gamers always complain. It is technically true in so much as you can’t please everyone, and that the people with complaints – valid or not – often seem the loudest. Unfortunately, their willingness to speak for everyone makes them the perfect examples for shills, fanboys, and sometimes even developers to point to, and say “See? Gamers always complain!” Never mind that toxic positivity in video game communities and other fandoms frequently shuts down insightful and constructive criticism, shaming people into silence because they dared to make a thing (and ostensibly, fans of it) look bad.
Therefore, blanket statements such as “gamers always complain”, and the sarcastic “new game bad, old game good“, lack nuance. They assume consensus and flip-flopping, when in fact it’s different people expressing different views. Yes, some people do like being contrarians for the sake of it, but more often than not, if someone says they liked the previous game and aren’t so keen on the new one, they weren’t one of the gamers “complaining” about the former release! If a long-running series has a habit of changing up the gameplay, responses will differ according to our individual preferences. Not every change is for the best, so the “complainers” may have a point!
I’m not being profound in pointing out the obvious like that, but it needs to be said because too many people ignore that nuance to downplay valid criticism. It’s why we see words like “spoiled”, “ungrateful”, “whining”, and yes, even “complaining”, to describe negative reactions to games. Let’s not pretend this word choice is accidental. “The community had several criticisms of the game” reads quite differently to “the community complained about the latest release”. One is a fairly neutral description of consumers having a negative response to a product, while the other conjures up images of unpleasable customers rudely kicking up a stink over petty grievances.
It plays right into the hands of anyone who wants to shut down criticism, for whatever reason. It’s bad enough when suits and even developers engage in it, but I’m weary of people throwing their fellow gamers under the bus. Granted, it definitely doesn’t help when anyone with a positive take is instantly dismissed as a shill, so we do need to be judicious about throwing around such accusations. Also, as a fan of Conan O’Brien and self-deprecating humour, I’m all for a bit of poking fun at ourselves and the worst stereotypes of gamers. However, when thoughtful critique is written off because of the notion that “gamers always complain”, we’ve overcorrected into toxic positivity.
Again, it’s true that “gamers always complain” in so far as that very few games are universally loved, so some gamers somewhere will have something critical to say; sometimes constructive, sometimes not. By the same token however, it’s also true that gamers always have positive things to say about one of their favourite hobbies, from enthusiastic compliments for the latest release to nostalgic memories of a classic title. To say that “gamers always complain” is to suggest that the only thoughts gamers share are negative, when in fact they run the gamut of criticism and praise. When it comes to the all-time best games, we can easily find contemporary examples of both.
Those games that people “hated” and “complained” about when they were new, and now “pretend they liked”? Go back and read old forum and social media posts, or user reviews on Steam, Metacritic, and other platforms, and you’ll see that many gamers always had a positive view of them. That’s not even getting into people who ended up changing their minds because a first impression didn’t last – possibly because a patch made a game so much better than it was at launch – or have a new perspective because the next game feels comparatively worse. Either way, “gamers always complain” isn’t the airtight, embarrassing gotcha that shills and apologists love to make it out to be.
Even if gamers do “always complain”, there are clearly situations where the critique is warranted. NBA Live has drawn constant scorn beginning with their stumbles early on the seventh generation. Only the biggest fanboy in deep denial about the downfall of the series would try to dismiss the valid criticisms of a number of flawed releases as little more than gamers hating on their hobby! Although NBA 2K hasn’t fallen to the same depths as NBA Live at its lowest point, greed, shortcomings, design choices, and a lack of alternatives, have led to gamers developing fatigue with the series. Many “complaints”, such as they are, are coming from a place of long-standing frustration.
If there are lingering legacy issues, or divisive design choices, or greedy practices that are anti-consumer, then you bet that gamers will “always complain”, because we have something that’s absolutely worth “complaining” about! Sure, there are nitpicks that we can blow out of proportion, and personal attacks directed towards developers on social media definitely aren’t on. It’s become all too easy to lump any and all criticism under the umbrella of “whiny, entitled complaints”, though. It doesn’t help that too many people make their favourite game a huge part of their identity, or are angling for perks and access as a content creator, leading them to be overzealously defensive.
Of course, you don’t have to be trying to get an “in” with 2K to have a self-centred mindset. We can all be selfishly myopic from time to time. It’s what leads to having an attitude of “not my problem, therefore not a real problem,” and “my complaints are righteous, other people are just whining”. Taken to the egotistical extreme, you have the “get good” crowd, who love to dismiss any criticism as a “skill issue”. Never mind that it’s absolutely possible to master broken mechanics, and that not every concept is ideal for a game that should also be fun and widely accessible beyond the competitive scene. Indeed, it turns providing feedback and critiquing games into a competition!
When we accept the idea that “gamers always complain”, we’re allowing ourselves to be turned against each other. It’s what leads to zero-sum thinking, where the changes and additions that we desire have to come at the expense of what someone else wants, even when it’s possible – and preferable – to have a solution that caters to everyone. Instead of supporting each other and unifying to suggest ways to make the games better, agreeing that gamers do nothing but whine – well, those other gamers, not the ones who want what we desire, obviously – we’re easily and usefully divided. As a result, too many gamers stand with a billion dollar corporation, rather than each other.
On that note, it’s frankly shameful how some gamers – and in particular, those who are content creators – will defend greedy practices and scold others for daring to expect value for money. I was recently made aware of a video discussing how the cost of games hasn’t gone up, yet gamers “complain” about how expensive they are. On top of being rather patronising in general, the creator’s economic commentary was flawed and misguided. He also ignored issues such as predatory microtransactions, holding back content for DLC and pricey premium editions, forced grinding, and games that are buggy and feel unfinished; practices that jack up prices and deliver poor value.
In response to comments pointing this out, he even made the “it’s optional” argument regarding DLC and microtransactions, ignoring how they facilitate greed and weaker game design, resulting in a poorer experience if you choose not to spend money. He then ironically complained on his social media about the backlash to his patronising video, where his ego was soothed by sycophantic fans (such creator worship is a topic for another day). It’s unfortunate because it is interesting how the base price of games hasn’t increased compared to other products, but there’s an added expense if you want the optimal experience, as well as some disappointing trends with design and quality.
This “don’t complain, be grateful” mindset is simply obnoxious, and we see it in the basketball gaming community all too often. As for the ironic complaining about the complaints, it reminds me of so many “edgy” stand-up comedians who want to be controversial without the backlash and pushback that comes with controversy. If you’re going to wag a scolding finger at your fellow gamers for having legitimate complaints that you’re glossing over to shill for billion dollar corporations, don’t be shocked by the finger you receive in return! It’s fair to disagree and point out any unreasonable criticism, but “shut up, consume, and be happy!” is the stuff of shills.
As I said, I’m all for some self-deprecation, as well as the self-awareness to reflect on our collective behaviour and call out toxic negativity when necessary. That doesn’t mean we have to accept every negative stereotype though, including the notion that we do nothing but complain. As Dee has pointed out several times on our podcast, when games get it right – and there are plenty of them over the years that have – you’ll find enthusiastic praise, and tales of how fun they are. The user scores will generally be higher, and even bad reviews that blast a title’s predatory mechanics may still be complimentary of its gameplay and modes. These comments aren’t difficult to find.
Yes, gamers do complain, but they don’t just complain, and when they do, it’s not just for the sake of complaining. If a series tries something new and ambitious, it may not be to everyone’s liking, and no, it’s not always a case of “get good” or “get used to it”. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the developers need to acquiesce to their demands, but it’s worth considering a viable compromise that can cater to everyone, whenever possible. Even if it is a positive change that should be retained, people are allowed to dislike it and voice their opinion. They may have to accept that they’re now a vocal minority, but they’re allowed to be disappointed, and to have a different preference.
Once again, I’m well aware that I’m stating the obvious here, but it’s disheartening to see gamers not supporting each other. It’s one thing to call out bad behaviour, argue against poorly-reasoned takes, shame ridiculous overreactions, or just share opinions and debate contentious issues, but this knee-jerk defensiveness to any criticism plays into the hands of the suits and shills. Even the use of the word “complain”, with all of its negative connotations, is dismissive of nuanced opinions and thoughtful feedback. Let’s be more open-minded and far less self-flagellating here. After all, if we keep shutting down criticism, we’re guaranteed to end up with things to complain about!
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