Bring Back Splitscreen

When I think of gamers, what comes to mind is not a pretty picture. Gamers are a group of people that are foul mouthed, inane, insensitive, hateful, sexist, elitist, uninformed, vulgar, angry, pretentious, mean, apathetic trolls who don't care about anybody but themselves. When did it come to this? When I think of gamers back in the day, we were all friends. We would go to each others houses and play video games together. We would exchange cheatcodes, and learn from one another about different techniques in our favorite video games. What changed?

Well, the internet and online multiplayer happened.

Ever since its introduction, the realm of online multiplayer has been a hostile one. I remember when I first jumped on Xbox Live with Halo 2, and the horrible things that I would hear from kids who should not have been using the language that they were using. I mean, there's nothing wrong with trash talk, but there's no call for such hateful speech. The nature of competitive games is a hateful one: I beat you, so that means I'm better. This gets in the way of us gamers recognizing that we're all gathering in the same place because we love the same game, and instead of gushing over it and being passionate about this game, instead we throw caustic comments at one another because we don't like the way the other person is playing. Gamers speak with prejudice and inconsideration. They don't think that there's another person on the other end of that headset. They don't think that maybe it could actually hurt someone's feelings with all of this hate. If gamers were able to play in the same room together, I guarantee it would be a different situation.

There have been studies conducted that just fifteen minutes of playing the game Rock Band with another person can form a stronger bond between two people. That's because they're working together, and they're playing in the same room together. In my experience, my friendships have gotten stronger from playing competitive games together. Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart, Mario Party, Soulcalibur, and various other competitive multiplayer games have help make lasting memories for me. Those nights are the best! When all of my friends come over to play video games, and we just have fun. That's what those games are about. When playing online, you have to have a lot of patience, and the will to stay in it, even though you may lose time and time again. When you play with friends, it's different. Your opponent is right there, and you feel that connection with them because of their presence.

Video games these days don't have splitscreen anymore, or at least it isn't a priority for them. I don't know why. Well, I have a guess.

By making games a single player experience, with online only multiplayer, it forces gamers to buy more copies, because they can't play together. Yet, this method of multiplayer design constricts the community of players. Because of that anonymity between other gamers, friendships are difficult to make. Even if the other player was friendly and cooperative, the chances of playing together again are rather slim (for me at least). I know that games like The Division can't really be expected to have splitscreen, but imagine if it did. Imagine going through the streets of Manhattan with your best friend, and kicking butt together. That's fun. When you play online, it's more of a hassle than anything else. It involves scheduling, and coordinating, and hoping that you'll be able to end up on the same server. Sure, you have to set up a date with a friend to come over and play games together, but that's a lot easier. And there's also a high chance of pizza!

So, are the developers at fault for separating gamers? Yes, but in a small way. Gamers are also the ones who push other gamers out. Gamers are the ones who spit out hate. Gamers are the ones who don't care about anything but achieving victory in a video game, and are unconscious of the things that they say to one another.

Gamers! Unite as a group of people who enjoy video games together. Be kind to one another, even if the other player isn't as skilled as you are. Be encouraging, and always be willing to help. Help to cultivate a community that is friendly and accepting of one another and those who are new. Online multiplayer gives us as gamers to meet people from around the world, and form strong bonds of friendships. Do not look upon these people as their digital avatars, but as real people with feelings.

The Bigger They Are

The story of David and Goliath is one that everybody has heard at least once. It's a story of a young boy who defeats what is thought to be an unstoppable warrior. This fight was clearly one sided to on lookers, and it seemed as though the odds were stacked against young David. However, in spite of all of this, Goliath was defeated. Lately, I've been listening to various podcasts while at work, and one of them was discussing this very fight. The podcast was the TED Talk radio hour by NPR and the theme was misconceptions. The podcast opened up with this talk about David and Goliath, and spun it in a way that made it seem as though Goliath was the one who was truly at a disadvantage. Of course, this got me thinking about video games.

Video games always seem to put players up against seemingly impassable obstacles, and yet, every time, players surpass and overcome these blockages. What's the point of putting up these walls if the player is just going to knock them down anyway? It's to make the player feel accomplished. Often in video games the player is a one man, or woman, army who can topple any kind of defense that is in front of them. However, this isn't without some challenge. Players who are persistent will overcome anything. Whether that is an enemy army, or a giant that is so large that it can't even fit on the entire screen.

The game that illustrates the David v. Goliath scenario the best is, of course, Shadow of The Colossus. Players take control of a regular dude with a sword, that he really doesn't know how to use, a bow, that he's actually pretty decent at using, and his trusty horse, who is the best horse in all of video games. The player character isn't really anything special. He starts off pretty weak, he's uncoordinated, and he generally has no idea what he's doing. The character is pretty darn relatable, he's about as lost as you are. When players come across the first colossus, they are stuck with awe and terror. The same goes for every other colossus that follows. Because, again, you're just a dude, and you're not really trained in the ways of killing gigantic stone beasts with weapons that are bigger than a double-decker bus. Each colossus presents a seemingly impossible challenge. How is someone who is just a dude going to take down that enormous monstrosity? Well, with a bit of courage, and a lot of wit.

The thing is, that while these colossi are immense and extremely intimidating, most of them are slow and lumbering. Players are much faster than them, so agility is on their side. Often times, players will have to use the environment, and the colossus' rage to manipulate them and break down their defenses. So logic is on the player's side as well. These colossi may be huge and powerful, but each one of them can be defeated. It may seem impossible that a character that seems to hit the tip of the bell curve on every test can defeat these things, and yet he does. Every time. This is similar to the TED Talk that I referenced earlier.

The speaker spoke about the disadvantages that Goliath may have had, such as his abnormal size, and how people who are of that size can suffer from poor eye sight and slower cognition. The speaker also talked about how David knew exactly what he was doing, and how the sling which he used to defeat Goliath was no joke. Apparently, in the days of David and Goliath, the sling was used in artillery barrages alongside archers. Often times, soldiers who used slings were so proficient with them that they could hit a bird in flight. David most likely used his sling as a means of defense against predators to the sheep in the flock that he tended to. David could probably also hit a bird in flight with his sling. So, a very large man standing still across from him wouldn't have been that much of a challenge to hit right between the eyes as he did. While it may seem like David was at a disadvantage until the fight was over, it turns out that David had the upper hand the whole time.

This is the kind of scenario that players in video games are faced with every time. Whether it's one big enemy, or a whole army of them, players often fight and win these battles. Video games create the illusion that the odds are stacked against them, and that what they face cannot be beaten. Often times, that is true, but after a heavy dose of determination and even more retries, players come out on top.

I think that the same could be said for the things that we face in life. While most of us will not fight armies all by ourselves, or go head to head with a giant monster, we still have these things in our lives that stand in our way. It may seem impossible to get to where we want to go, or to get out of our dead end jobs, but with the will and determination to do something about these issues, often times, we can overcome and achieve our goals. It's difficult, and it's dangerous, but it is worth doing.

"It's Just A Game"

As we go through life, we experience much. We live, we learn, we love, we hurt. It's all part of the process of growing up. Along with growing up, we're also raised on certain things. Whether that's Star Wars, Disney Movies, Saturday morning cartoons, video games, or any other thing to keep us entertained. While a majority of society will see these things as merely for children, it impacts us in a way that they just don't seem to comprehend.

For me, video games are a huge part of me. They are so much more than a pass time. Video games have strongly affected me in the way that I think, solve problems, prioritize, work, and play. Games have changed my life. Games have SAVED my life. They mean something to me. For people to dismiss video games as simply a waste of time is to dismiss me as an individual. I have spent so much time with video games that they are a part of me I adore video games. I see them as something more than what others see. I find obscure angles and insight that others can't see right away. I have a very close relationship with my video games. They are a part of me. It isn't simply a way to spend an afternoon. I wouldn't say that is an investment, though it might be if my dreams come true and I become a video game journalist, but rather an appreciation of the medium of video games.

I find that too often people who aren't really a part of this generation, or into different fandoms don't quite grasp the emotion that we feel when we are around something that we love. I think back to when Jeremy Renner, the actor who plays Hawkeye in the Avengers movies, made an offhand comment about Black Widow's character. The internet, as it tends to do, exploded with rage. I didn't much care for his comments either, but I understood where the internet was coming from. These characters in the Marvel Universe have been around for a lot longer than these waves of movies have existed, and Black Widow is one of the more iconic characters. Heck, they all are. Fans of Black Widow look up to her character, they aspire to be like her. They appreciate her capacity to get the job done, and her confidence to accomplish her task. Black Widow is a really cool character! And when an actor who portrays one of those characters that fans look up to and admire is not invested into said character, simply because they are a work of fiction and they do not exist isn't the best thing for your image. Nor is it a very kind thing to say to fans of that character.

I've never met Luke Skywalker, but I feel like I know him because I've seen his journeys. I admire Luke Skywalker for his transformation from young, restless farm boy who longs for something more, to a Jedi master. I want to be like Luke. I want to be a Jedi. I want to be a force for good, and justice across the galaxy. While I can't actually travel across the galaxy and use a light saber, I can still take a few notes from Luke's book. The Jedi are not a real thing, but they are made up of things from this world. The Jedi are protectors of those who cannot defend for themselves, they fight against those who would do harm to the innocent, and they bring peace and balance wherever they go. I think that those are some things to aspire to. I'd like to live my life like a Jedi. I may not be able to move objects using the force, or pilot an X-Wing fighter, but I can do my best to protect those who can't protect themselves.

Art is something that is made to make a statement. It is something that is created by the artist to leave their mark on the world. It is a message to its audience to impact or influence them in someway. Sometimes for good, some for bad. But art is still something that affects every single one of us, and to deny that impact simply because it's "made up", or "just a video game (movie, tv show, cartoon, book)" is so harmful. People need heroes. They need someone to look up to. We can't all be Captain America or Superman, but we can try to follow their example and do what is right. These characters are models of virtue... well, not always, but they still have values that are worth fighting for. I can't always rely on the people in my life to show me what is right or wrong. We're human, after all. But these fictional characters, that can be crafted to be the very ideas of truth, justice, and righteousness can be a better role model.

So, no, it is not just a video game, it is not just a movie, it is not just a TV show, it is not just a comic or cartoon. It is something that is a part of us, and we look up to and aspire to be. We love our passions. We love our fandoms. We love our heroes. They may not be real, but they stand for something that is, and we can do our part by aspiring to be like them.