The other thing that comes with labels is stereotypes too...being a "gamer" in some circles is still stigmatized.
Like many I've had a rollercoaster relationship with gaming. But I think I've settled on my "identity": in-game scientist (see what I did there? Lol)
I love asking "what can I do in this game?" which is how I got to this name. Plus, I love talking science and there's a whole world of science using video games...so this label seemed to be made just for me :)
I hadn't really thought about the stereotype angle to be honest. And you are right that there could be misconceptions attached to it.
The in-game scientist identity is a great one and why not be more specific. We are all individuals after all and labels help us make sense of the world but more specific differentiation can lead to interesting conversations.
Chaotic gamer is definitely a good description :D I used to say that I live in creative chaos, and maybe that is reflecting in my gaming.
I saw the label "variety streamer", recently and I think it means that they play all sorts of games on a stream. So maybe that is also a good one "variety gamer".
This post really resonated with me, especially since I'm in a similar position as a game tester and localization specialist. Trying to enjoy games when you are in the industry can be tough. Going 'oh, they made a typo there' and shifting into work mode when you are just trying to enjoy a game just sucks the fun out of it. Even though I love being in this line work, I had to learn how to separate my work identity and my gamer identity.
Now I'm just taking my time and not rushing through any games. This does affect the frequency that I write on Substack, but I'm just trying to have fun and go at my own pace. In the end, that's what matters the most for me.
I landed here randomly and enjoyed your reflections, thank you.
I relate to much of what you said, especially having multiple roles in life and also being involved in video games with different seats.
I was born, raised, and lived in many countries, and so I identified with different nationalities.
I worked in finance, then consulting, then beverages, and so I put on many different hats.
I was ostracized for being at the wrong places and times to love video games, board games, and manga, and now I realize being nerdy contributes to my social status.
And now I'm making video games with my fiancee :)). It's weird, it doesn't make sense, but I know in my heart I was always meant to walk this path. I'm just really, really glad I found it in this lifetime.
What a fascinating life journey you have had. I love squiggly journeys and how they make us grow. 💚
The nerd culture or being nerdy is also an interesting one to think about. I was not welcomed for my nerdy ness growing up but I didn’t let it stop me either like yourself.🎉
What a game are you making? Now nice that you both can work on it together. 🥰
I don't know if you've had this experience, but I've had many times when people I meet would say that they grew up playing games but don't do so as adults because it's too addictive or time-consuming, yet they wouldn't stop talking about how much they love games with me!!
We're making a roguelike engine builder! you build an army of magical balls to defeat enemies; at least that's where we're heading haha. I'm a lucky guy for sure ^.^
I absolutely loved hearing about your experience over the years with your gamer identity. We have so many opportunities to reinvent ourselves since many of us are lucky enough to live so long. We live many lives in a way. Your writing in this piece told your story really well. I would love to have heard even more!
I love that perspective and actually hadn't thought about it that way. You often hear "you have just one life" but then why not live many different ones within that. :)
Cool piece! My relationship with gaming has been a little rocky, nowadays (and for the last 5-7 years) I've only had more time to consume videogame information than playing games, which makes me more of a gaming industry enthusiast than a gamer?
I would say I complete 2-3 games a year and dab into a few throughout the year due to multiple commitments and responsibilities
Gaming industry enthusiast, is a great identity. It also encompasses you playing games I would say, but shows the wider interest you have.
I like it. There are certain games I would love to be able to play but I just don't love the style of gaming so I watch some videos on it instead. I think that also counts as gaming and consuming and being part of the wider gamer culture. :)
I think change is good in the end, whether for more or less time in gaming. I've had moments in my life where I wasn't playing any games for months and months. Then there were times that I was playing every day. Both times were necessary for me.
I will say, though, that being a game developer does rewire your brain a bit when playing games... But, I actually enjoy that part of gaming, so that's why I like narrative-driven games. I guess using Quantic Foundry's model... I'm into Creativity and Immersion (a narrative-immersed gamer? maybe?)
Good question! To me, playing the game that we're developing feels a bit different... A lot different, actually. It does feel like research and like policing, in a way. It's like sculpting a character, where each body part is a different system, and once you're done with the layout, you gotta go back and work on the details. And you kind of repeat that over and over until you're happy with it.
Playing any other game, to me, it's like going to a museum and appreciating their works of art, seeing how they did this or that. Before becoming a developer, I didn't have that appreciation.
Grew up hardcore in the Nintendo console ecosystem, got into video game journalism, then got a job in the gaming industry which sucked all my gaming passion away.
Despite still being in the gaming industry (working for a mobile developer), I feel that desire to return to the type of gaming I loved.
So, I’m actually starting a “quest” to revisit all those old NES games I never played.
Interesting piece!
Gamer, generally, is such a hard label for people to stick to themselves.
I’ve been more open with it since I started writing. But before then, it wasn’t something I presented as an identity. It’s just what I do?
I guess the good thing about labels is the right ones help you find your people, and belonging. And that’s the most important facet of identity too.
These are such blurry concepts. But can be boiled down to: Do and be what makes you happy!
The other thing that comes with labels is stereotypes too...being a "gamer" in some circles is still stigmatized.
Like many I've had a rollercoaster relationship with gaming. But I think I've settled on my "identity": in-game scientist (see what I did there? Lol)
I love asking "what can I do in this game?" which is how I got to this name. Plus, I love talking science and there's a whole world of science using video games...so this label seemed to be made just for me :)
Maybe chaotic gamer is a label you could own?? 😁
I hadn't really thought about the stereotype angle to be honest. And you are right that there could be misconceptions attached to it.
The in-game scientist identity is a great one and why not be more specific. We are all individuals after all and labels help us make sense of the world but more specific differentiation can lead to interesting conversations.
Chaotic gamer is definitely a good description :D I used to say that I live in creative chaos, and maybe that is reflecting in my gaming.
I saw the label "variety streamer", recently and I think it means that they play all sorts of games on a stream. So maybe that is also a good one "variety gamer".
This post really resonated with me, especially since I'm in a similar position as a game tester and localization specialist. Trying to enjoy games when you are in the industry can be tough. Going 'oh, they made a typo there' and shifting into work mode when you are just trying to enjoy a game just sucks the fun out of it. Even though I love being in this line work, I had to learn how to separate my work identity and my gamer identity.
Now I'm just taking my time and not rushing through any games. This does affect the frequency that I write on Substack, but I'm just trying to have fun and go at my own pace. In the end, that's what matters the most for me.
Thank you for the thought-provoking post!
I am glad you liked the post and got something out of it.
It is definitely tricky being in the industry and then to find joy in the hobby.
In the end that is what a hobby should be; fun and provide relaxation. Once it becomes a chore it is no longer a fun hobby I would say.
We all have different lives and paces, sometimes it is hard to not compare ones output to others but in the end it is for you. <3
interesting topic. especially as meanings change over time. these days 'gaming enthusiast' fits the bill.
I like it. It encompasses all the bits around just gaming and appreciating community, hardware and software etc 🎉
I landed here randomly and enjoyed your reflections, thank you.
I relate to much of what you said, especially having multiple roles in life and also being involved in video games with different seats.
I was born, raised, and lived in many countries, and so I identified with different nationalities.
I worked in finance, then consulting, then beverages, and so I put on many different hats.
I was ostracized for being at the wrong places and times to love video games, board games, and manga, and now I realize being nerdy contributes to my social status.
And now I'm making video games with my fiancee :)). It's weird, it doesn't make sense, but I know in my heart I was always meant to walk this path. I'm just really, really glad I found it in this lifetime.
What a fascinating life journey you have had. I love squiggly journeys and how they make us grow. 💚
The nerd culture or being nerdy is also an interesting one to think about. I was not welcomed for my nerdy ness growing up but I didn’t let it stop me either like yourself.🎉
What a game are you making? Now nice that you both can work on it together. 🥰
I'm so happy it stopped neither of us!
I don't know if you've had this experience, but I've had many times when people I meet would say that they grew up playing games but don't do so as adults because it's too addictive or time-consuming, yet they wouldn't stop talking about how much they love games with me!!
We're making a roguelike engine builder! you build an army of magical balls to defeat enemies; at least that's where we're heading haha. I'm a lucky guy for sure ^.^
I absolutely loved hearing about your experience over the years with your gamer identity. We have so many opportunities to reinvent ourselves since many of us are lucky enough to live so long. We live many lives in a way. Your writing in this piece told your story really well. I would love to have heard even more!
I love that perspective and actually hadn't thought about it that way. You often hear "you have just one life" but then why not live many different ones within that. :)
Cool piece! My relationship with gaming has been a little rocky, nowadays (and for the last 5-7 years) I've only had more time to consume videogame information than playing games, which makes me more of a gaming industry enthusiast than a gamer?
I would say I complete 2-3 games a year and dab into a few throughout the year due to multiple commitments and responsibilities
Gaming industry enthusiast, is a great identity. It also encompasses you playing games I would say, but shows the wider interest you have.
I like it. There are certain games I would love to be able to play but I just don't love the style of gaming so I watch some videos on it instead. I think that also counts as gaming and consuming and being part of the wider gamer culture. :)
I think change is good in the end, whether for more or less time in gaming. I've had moments in my life where I wasn't playing any games for months and months. Then there were times that I was playing every day. Both times were necessary for me.
I will say, though, that being a game developer does rewire your brain a bit when playing games... But, I actually enjoy that part of gaming, so that's why I like narrative-driven games. I guess using Quantic Foundry's model... I'm into Creativity and Immersion (a narrative-immersed gamer? maybe?)
Thanks for sharing! :)
Oh I can imagine that being a game developer makes you look at games completely differently. It must sometimes feel like research?
Do you find you make the sort of games you enjoy playing too, or are they very different?
Good question! To me, playing the game that we're developing feels a bit different... A lot different, actually. It does feel like research and like policing, in a way. It's like sculpting a character, where each body part is a different system, and once you're done with the layout, you gotta go back and work on the details. And you kind of repeat that over and over until you're happy with it.
Playing any other game, to me, it's like going to a museum and appreciating their works of art, seeing how they did this or that. Before becoming a developer, I didn't have that appreciation.
I feel like I’m in the same boat!
Grew up hardcore in the Nintendo console ecosystem, got into video game journalism, then got a job in the gaming industry which sucked all my gaming passion away.
Despite still being in the gaming industry (working for a mobile developer), I feel that desire to return to the type of gaming I loved.
So, I’m actually starting a “quest” to revisit all those old NES games I never played.