Before hitting your devices’ screen, you’d want to hold on a bit and ask yourself the question: “Why do we fight?”. Is it to win? Is it to protest? Or is it for charity?

One of gaming’s recent highlights was EVO 2015. With 9 different titles, fighting game aficionados were pampered. Whether you participated in or streamed the event, you’re probably aware of the dedication and expertise that the participants demonstrate for the game they love and want to champion at. If we are more observant, the way the gamers play comes close to a form of art, with balance, zoning, rhythm and other techniques. It’s also an event where exceptional sportsmanship is displayed as seen in the Street Fighter IV final, with Gamerbee (crowd’s favourite) not taking the round as he could due to his opponent Momochi’s controller malfunction. The latter’s technique and determination eventually lead him to victory. As such, we do fight to win but style and attitude to fighting is also, if not most, important.

In this week’s main event, the 2015 Summer Games Done Quick, gamers are fighting though the summer heat to raise donations for the global medical humanitarian organisation, Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières). The winter edition of this year raised $1.5 million, which speaks for the success of the event. Rather than labelling gamers with the uptight, antisocial stereotype, such events prove that gamers can be a factor of change in society. And that’s for the better.

Gamers have also been recently struggling for a moral decision concerning Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. There’s been numerous calls among fans to boycott Konami as their means to fight and protest against the company’s action. What with Kojima and Konami parting ways, removing Kojima's iconic brand from his latest masterpiece, Kojima Production dissolved and Kojima’s Silent Hills cancelled, people have the right to be curious about the ongoings inside Konami. In the midst of all this ugliness, we can’t judge for sure since the exact details aren’t available. The struggle here is such: if you purchase the game, you’re giving Konami your money and endorsing all actions it has taken. This might give Konami the boost it needs to fulfil its pledge to continue the MGS series. But it’s the masterpiece Kojima has spent years working on and you’ll want to honor his dedication to and hard work for the series and fans. However, it’s good to be reminded that it is a two-sided story. Kojima Productions cost a lot to Konami to run. With few major hits as before, it’s been hard for the company to financially supply and maintain the costly development team. These might explain its actions and also its delisting from the New York Stock Exchange and the new direction it has taken. But all of these raise further questions. What will become of the beloved series? How will this come to a close? Will it incite piracy? Will people have recourse to piracy and use the situation as an excuse to ‘boycott’ Konami but not the game?

So dear reader, why do you fight?

P.S: You are now authorised to unleash that hadouken you’ve been holding off.

 

[RevPokemon]

Personally I think gaming in general can be done for any reason which can include social reasons. But for me it is just for my personal amusement but at the same time I do see gaming becoming more political so to speak with certain game designer becoming more socially aware and implementing sans views. Like look at FE, it would of never had Samesex relationships 15 years ago but the industry has progressed and it served a nice subtle way of giving support to LBGT persons. I could find many more examples of this but I forgot. Likewise protesting peacefully is one of the best ways to show your against something but thier is a needed balance between that and being one of the many "I used the hashtag so I'm an activist" type which. Ultimately I have seen gaming being used for good (like helping charities) and bad (gamergate) but like anything gaming can be used for good or bad and that is up to the gamer.

 

[Prans]

@RevPokemon I believe most (all?) of us start play video games primarily for their personal amusement. But if it can be used for something better and/or beneficial such as charity or like some people make a living by reviewing games, doing videos and such, then their gaming objective shifts to that purpose. It just shows that video games, like other forms of entertainment have other applications and shouldn't be stereotyped. As for gamergate and other stains in the gaming community, it shows that we are not perfect and have also failed somewhere as a community.

 

[RevPokemon]

@RevPokemon I believe most (all?) of us start play video games primarily for their personal amusement. But if it can be used for something better and/or beneficial such as charity or like some people make a living by reviewing games, doing videos and such, then their gaming objective shifts to that purpose. It just shows that video games, like other forms of entertainment have other applications and shouldn't be stereotyped. As for gamergate and other stains in the gaming community, it shows that we are not perfect and have also failed somewhere as a community.

I agree its like I remember how thier was a charity playing a Penn and teller game for child's play (a great group) and can say gaming has allowed me to get to know people better and also that lead me to helping them in many ways. I also have seen how games can make people become interested in STEM courses (ya know that geek who is becoming an engineer) but also students with bad grades who do nothing but Xbox. Also parenting, for some families spending time playing smash,kart or skylanders can be a great way to spend time together or you could be the dad who doesn't give a crap and legs his mid play Xbox while daddy goes off. Ultimately games can be hard when people are irresponsible but they also can be a good social influence.

 

[HaloEffect17]

I enjoy the feeling of being together in a community all sharing the same gaming passion. It is the pure drive of gamers all engrossed in a particular video game that is truly, a captivating experience.

 

[CathyRina]

I love Videogames because of how they can pull you into the worlds they created.
It's the unique feeling that I simply don't get from Movies, Music or even Books. I love finding a game like demon souls and then being so fascinated by the game that I decide to dedicate most of my free time to play it.
For me, at it's best, video games are art. One that I understand and enjoy. At it's worst they're entertainment (or cashgrabs but I'm doing my best on avoiding those).
I love events like AGDQ and SGDQ. Playing games in a unique way while also rising funds for charity is a great thing to do in every possible way.
So yeah, gaming rocks, doesn't matter if PC, Console or Handheld. Gaming simply rocks.

 

[Xuman]

I fight for my friends (Someone had to do it)

Jokes aside, the simple fact that games are more accepted and, as art forms, gets good and bad critiques shows that more people enjoy it. Whether you played since 2, your in it to beat others, you follow the pop culture and drama etc. Gaming is proven to be a staple in society.

My ONLY gripe, is that I wish we could all set aside differences and play a game. And if you really do need to fight about something, #Settleitinsmash

Great read!

 

[RevPokemon]

I fight for my friends (Someone had to do it)

Jokes aside, the simple fact that games are more accepted and, as art forms, gets good and bad critiques shows that more people enjoy it. Whether you played since 2, your in it to beat others, you follow the pop culture and drama etc. Gaming is proven to be a staple in society.

My ONLY gripe, is that I wish we could all set aside differences and play a game. And if you really do need to fight about something, #Settleitinsmash

Great read!

At the same time debates over all forms of media and non media is quite common. Tribalism is natural in everything.

 

[vayanui8]

It's one of the few things that truly makes me happy, and one of the even fewer things that truly makes me happy that I can do pretty much any time, for any amount of time without getting tired of it.

 

[tony_2018]

Personal enjoyment but I would like to encourage more tournaments to mean something, like what "Gamers done quick". Use to be local competitions and all, the prizes were adequate and than local tournaments would start to dwindle. I really think the minds behind "GDQ" are making a better approach to gaming. You'll defintely bring in more contestants

 

[Prans]

@XrosBlader821 I too love video games for what they allow us to experience. Being a form of entertainment, they do pretty well at that. I like to think of them as a form of interactive book or movie, especially with the direction newer games seem to take like The Last of Us, The Wolf Among Us or MGS which has been doing it for a pretty long time.

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I enjoy the feeling of being together in a community all sharing the same gaming passion. It is the pure drive of gamers all engrossed in a particular video game that is truly, a captivating experience.

@HaloEffect17 can we like sticky your comment, because you like summed up perfectly what gaming is.

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@Xuman thanks for your comment!

The rise of video games in media coverage in recent years indeed show that they are becoming a popular art form. Also with the advent of 'casual' games, the community appeals to more people get to know more about said community and realise that hey, gamers and their games are actually pretty cool. And in such a way, stereotypes and misconceptions about video games will soon be a thing of a past (hopefully).

 

[Steena]

Gamerbee did take that round. He hit the opponent with normals (not to build meter) until he was on the health lead, and then let the timer run out to get the game.

Gamerbee is also known to switch to a particular character specifically to get favorable matchups depending on the opponent, and then turtle and healspam until time outs. While I don't call that "cheating" of any sort, he's pretty much the sleaziest fighting game pro currently active right now. So much for your "win with style" argument!

 

[Digital.One.Entity]

All Work and No Games make me go something or something.....Insane I think?


Games have always been a stress reliever and mental therapy for ever since gripping my first NES controller.Knowing that I had full control over something interactive made my mind race and my Gaming memories are some of the best.Waking up early Saturday mornings and going to my cousins house to marathon play on the Snes was majestic and serene as everything is still so vivid.One of my uncles when I was in high school got the gaming bug forcing him to buy a Snes mini & Mario All Stars.....all us surrounding him watching session after session of obsession sprinkled with defeat and victory.N64 brought the Bro' out all of us with the newly introduced 4 player madness.....Oh the many welted & sore "Mario Party" hands were things of horror(you know what I'm talking bout ) and respect all in one.


So why do I Game?

Because I must and anything else would be uncivilized

 

[Prans]

@Digital.One.Entity games do help a lot of us get things right. Whether we are in a bad situation/mood or need to blow some steam off, games are always there for us. Good to know they're taking good care of you too!