Bombin' the A.M. With Scoops and the Wolf: 09/05/2014

I am having trouble caring about the "GamerGate" shit, so I'll juts say, I feel bad that I sold Diablo 3 on 360 because it was stupid and my girlfriend and I were bored. We just found it to be so easy. Perhaps if we had known that Normal was apparently ridiculously easy, we would have upped the difficulty and given it more of a shot. In saying that, I feel bad that we wrote it off so easily (although, in our defense, I shouldn't have to try out a game on Expert difficulty just for some degree of challenge).

I only got to listen to the first half, and I was scratching my head about what has happened to make you and Alex so visibly agitated with the gaming community at large. As someone who does respect your opinion Partick, Alex's as well, I did look more into the matters that you were eluding to in the show.

I walked away with the feeling that this whole mess is very childish and uncalled for coming from people who are grown adults. We could sit down together and chat casually about how bad people can get on the internet, but it's sad to see all of this comming from the gamming community. It's a community that I associate myself with. A community that I would like to share with my one and a half year old son, but it the kind of people that caused all of the vile defecation to publicly litter our homes, news feeds, and website conversation that is uncalled for. As a developer as well I'm pleased to see that developers are taking a stand and that so many people with good morality are left to speak up.

Yes, I was ignorate for the most part of what when down this week, but I think that ignorance of what happed is not bliss. I've walked away ashamed at people, I've also walked away with a stronger desire to represent developers, like myself better and stand up to be a better representative for the gaming community.(Makes me remember the whole premiss behind WWJD.)

Thanks Alex and Patrick for the talk.

@niyoko: I think it's unfortunate the actions of a small group of vile people has led you to believe that reflects accurately on the larger respectful gaming community. I certainly wish you the very best as a game dev and believe you will find significant support and encouragement in your goals from the wider community.

I would greatly appreciate it if you guys would stop giving your reactions to an event without telling us what the event was. I don't follow any news really closely because I don't have the time for it. One of the reasons I love this show is I find out about stuff I missed. If you're going to address something and not just ignore it please give us a brief overview. After a few minutes into this episode I just stopped paying attention because I had no idea what you were talking about.

Kind of incredible how many people in this very comment section of this generally excellent community are advocating, "Well now, maybe these people threatening death and sexual assault upon female game's journalists/bloggers have a POINT."

Even IF they're mad at something legitimate, this isn't how you EXPRESS that.

@undeadpool: can't find a single person in here that has said the death threats were appropriate. Completely disgraceful to imply that the users who have posted in here are advocating for that behavior. We are reading very different comment threads if the message you are taking away is that death threats and sexual assault are condoned.

I think if the mainstream video game media had higher standards for the sort of people they choose to promote, there wouldn't be so much backlash at those people from the dregs. When a particular person is featured on a website in a video chastising "internet jerks" for posting unkind things online, and that person is accused of doing something which is deeply hurtful and selfish to other people in their personal life, and that website refuses to make a statement about it, and in fact censors all discussion of the person in question, I think it can only really be expected that people won't be very happy. I think that when this person has been featured multiple times on this website within the span of a year, and when a major contributor to the website has this person's name listed in a section labeled "mad respect" on his personal website, and when the accusation directed at this person is of personal and professional impropriety, I think that there is sufficient personal connection between at least this particular website and this person that certain details of their personal life ARE in fact of concern to the readership.

Perhaps if the mainstream video game media had a modicum of respect for the reality that not all of their readership shared the same social views, and either abstain from promoting or being seen as promoting those whose views might be seen as radical, or at the very least offering some kind of alternative viewpoints on these issues, instead of marginalizing those with even moderately conservative views, some of these marginalized individuals wouldn't feel the need to resort to extreme tactics to make their dissatisfaction known.

I do not condone the harassment campaign that has taken place over the past week, and I did not make a single contribution to the discussion before this post, but I understand why people are acting the way they are. They're sick of the partisan self-righteousness that has become more and more conventional in the mainstream video game media. They're sick of having no voice, and of having their even-tempered responses ignored or blown off by wannabe political journalists. Since moderate calm has failed them, what else do you expect but radical aggression?

YOU are the source of it. YOU created these people. The least you could do is accept some of the responsibility for the toxic culture you've helped build, instead of just acting snarky or indignant towards it. And yes, this is to be addressed NOW, not after months of villainizing and wound-licking. That's what you do every time this happens, and where has it gotten us?

@bigwinnerx: Amen, man.

I liked Gods Will Be Watching, but Alex has valid points about the puzzles, especially about the third puzzle. The third puzzle is not well explained up front, you have to talk to the doctor a bunch in order to learn incredibly crucial information about what you need to do. It also isn't very clear on your actual time limits, the first number on the clock is actually only how long you have to clear all the rubble. You have 48 hours total to find the cure, and that time limit is never displayed, only told to you in dialogue.

I think I've said just about all I can on this topic. People involved longer than me have a very specific idea on when we can finally all call ourselves gamers. Right now it's apparently important to first distance ourselves and create a divide before the larger gaming community can be the place you want. I don't know what that will look like or if it's something I would ever want to be apart of. In my mind we should come together as gamers first and foremost then build off that mutual passion to create an environment we can all enjoy. I can't force that to happen alone though, right now we can'tt get there because people who aren't me make death threats.

The status quo dictates that women and homosexuals identify on those principles first. the effort to convince them they can't possibly be accepted in the gaming community is much too loud for someone like me to stop. I can scream at the top of my lungs that I want everyone to feel welcome in gaming but we just aren't there yet. Its not a conversation that the narrative has established we can have. This doesn't need to be change that takes place born out of journalism panels or podcasts, we hold the power as gamers to create the community we want. I feel like somewhere we have forgotten that. Like I said, I think I have said everything I can on this. I found some truly unique perspective in here and appreciate the opportunity to engage in the discussion with everyone.

Typed something, deleted it, retyped it, deleted it. Just going to say that I am so very glad that I have moved to a video focused, entertainment view on video game coverage. Parts of all of this shit from the past month bug me, but we can't talk about them so I won't. Looking forward to some more scares, BEAST office coverage, and the comments of fringe anonymous members of various internet groups to be forgotten. They help neither side and take away from my video game talk shows.

I was gonna bring up an example or three I'd read but they, and MANY others, seem to have been deleted. Yeah, I know, it sounds like a cop-out, but I assure you, I've loved this site since it was a blog crawl and I wouldn't just make some crap up to disparage it.

So at this point: we're both right. We are, in fact, both reading VERY different comment threads. And I'm happy to see that apparently the mods/staff DON'T condone those things.

Looking forward to seeing that video from the Chicago meet-up, @patrickklepek. I'm not even in the US (not even close) but I like seeing what geographically different 'fan groups' of the site do during gatherings.

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/bitwise/2014/09/gamergate_explodes_gaming_journalists_declare_the_gamers_are_over_but_they.html

@undeadpool: I don't think you correctly judge the power dynamics here, and who has the real power to bully people into submission. And it's not the nameless, anonymous masses. It's the people with a public platform.

http://rpgfanashton.tumblr.com/post/96720124203/gamers-are-not-dead-they-just-leveled-up

Fucking Goro is a fucking pre-order bonus? PUT HIM IN THE GAME!!!!!!!! IN THE ACTUAL GAME!!!! IT'S GORO!!!!!

Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb.

I'm not really sure what's happening... Tried to follow some of what happened regarding Zoe Quinn but... Got to be too much at some point. I'm incredibly thankful that it isn't my career to be (at times) embedded in the filth that surrounds 'gaming' as a culture. Keep at it Giant Bomb duders... All you can do in this situation is use it as a teaching point, and hope that some people reconsider their actions in the future.

Wait wait wait...I thought You get to play as Goro? ARE YOU TELLING ME HE ISN"T IN THE GAME EITHER WAYS?!

Goro is a staple, not a damn pre-order bonus.

I KNOW! But I got the impression that he would be part of the game and story even without the bonus! I just thought that by pre-ordering I'd get to fucking play as him.

Playing as him is the whole point!

I COULD CURSE THE SKY!

WTF were they talking about this week? I missed out on the "bad news" they were referring to so it all very confusing.

Can anyone just give those of us who don't mess with twitter a clear and concise recap of what the hell they were talking about (harassment? etc.) for so long. The strange cryptic tone in the this broadcast seemed really unnecessary.

I 100% agree. I am on twitter and I still get confused.

Also Medium is a a really generic word so I cant find that article Alex mentioned.

I feel like alot of us are just normal people not even seeing this crazy hate unless its being talked about by you guys.

Also someone responded to me here but I cant find their post. maybe they got modded for trying to help me understand the situation? Or maybe he was just posting garbage. probably that...

MOTHER FUCKER!

@spraynardtatum: I'll probably pre order now, I f*cking want to play as goro really badly!

I feel so in the dark about anything that has to do with gaming culture besides the actual products themselves.

I haven't read this entire article, but Vox appears to have a pretty good summary.

Yeah, you've basically nailed my thought process on this, especially as it relates to the "news" angle. Though there are bits and pieces that seem potentially worth addressing, but doing so, in a way, validates how this all started: a massive invasion of personal privacy masquerading as outing games journalism. I have zero interest in being party to that.

Interesting article. Thanks. It's a strange world out there.

Oh, buddy. My responses are in bold.

I still don't know what the etymology of "Gamer Gate" is.

There's plenty of harassment on both sides. Also belief that the side they are on is righteous, while the other is the devil. Bathing in a feeling of superiority.

If only it was ever clear cut.

Like I mentioned earlier, this article on Vox is pretty good.

Its simple: If you really care about the problems with "ethics in games journalism", help get rid of the harrsment campaign that is detracting from the message you want to get out. If this is really what concerns you, others are mudding up the message and making you all look like jerks.

@patrickklepek: BRAV-FUCKING-O MAN!

I would say the level of harassment is absolutely more one-sided.

That's what I don't get. There are real issues and concerns that need to be discussed. Yet those who do have real points to be made are on forums and sites where the harassment and attacks are being coordinated or encouraged or ignored. How can you argue for legitimacy while the person next to you hurls attacks and slurs?

Here is the video of them watching Alex on QVC

http://www.giantbomb.com/videos/the-beatles-rock-band-on-qvc/2300-1169/

@patrickklepek: Oh, thank you.

@patrickklepek: That's a lot to parse, seems like some crazy people chatting.

But it's not one sided: http://gamergateharrassment.tumblr.com/

@kasaioni: Google: Nixon, Watergate

...are you trying to compare that to people's Dropbox accounts getting hacked, home addresses published, and nude photos circulated?

Can I still hate Kotaku for being a bunch of click-bait bullshit without being labeled a Misogynist? That's all I really want.

For what it's worth, most people in the 4chan threads are decrying the harassment shit (like you said, it just muddies the water). It's hard to get rid of the people harassing when they're totally disconnected and are probably just trying to get a rise out of everyone.