@grey_fox1984 If i were proud that I were great at baseball (I'm not but still), and were on a gaming podcast, should I try to find a way to squeeze it in at every opportunity? Would that not annoy you a bit. Being proud and talking about something constantly are two different things.
When Kevin referenced Ryan, they were talking about memories of Ryan, so really anything that included thoughts, feelings etc about Ryan was fair game. It is not a fair comparison. And When Tom stood by his review about a game on a gaming podcast, come on, do I really need to explain why that is ok?
You are right, I listen to the podcast, in hopes of gaining some insight or knowledge about games and gaming news. I tend to find that people are more honest and open in podcasts about their feelings on a game than they are in a review. I also like the debates on subjects pertinent to the industry, which can include sexuality from time to time, just not every episode.
And I am certain you didn't lump me in with the jerks, because you are too intelligent to say that someone with a valid complaint is the same as some jerk with nothing but hatred to spit forth. Those jerks should really just retire their accounts.
@mrworkaday @MasterOfMordor I agree they handle the way they speak in a graceful, politically correct manner. However, the lack of grace was meant directly towards one of the cast members consistent mentions of their sexuality or sexual identity. Flaunting such in someones face is not graceful in my opinion. I hope that clarifies things a little bit, and I am sorry if I created any confusion for you or anyone else reading my post.
@carolynmichelle @Cordliss Actually, what you had said on the podcast is "I don't blame Phil Fish if his feelings get hurt or if he feels wounded at times". However the comments made about Phil Fish, at least in the case of Marcus Beer, were attacks against his character, not his race, religion sexuality etc.
You then went on to change the subject for all intents and purposes. You took a leap off a cliff from one person attacking someones character into insults against sexuality, ethnicity etc, when one had absolutely nothing to do with the other. Where is the connection there, beyond the anonymity that the internet provides for people to be jerks. I would just like clarification on how attacks of character, which are open season, especially when that character is as debatable as Mr. Fish's, got turned into a conversation about sexuality etc.
Another podcast, another opportunity for Caro to throw her sexuality out there. Is there a reason why I can listen to many of these podcasts and not know Kevin or Tom's sexuality, but there is no questions as to Caro's lifestyle choice?
To echo my sentiments from my comment on last weeks show, be proud of who you are, but do so with grace as Tom and Kevin do, flaunting it in my face every single week is not graceful.
On to Mr. Fish vs Mr. Beer, Beer, as Annoyed Gamer, his online persona, crossed some lines with how he put his message forth, but the message behind the venom is a solid one. If people don't want to talk to the media, then the media doesn't need to talk to him. There is a back and forth. Maybe not expressed, but implied. Especially for an indie developer. The media helps sell your game, don't forget that, from previews, to reviews, to glowing praise on podcasts like the GiantBombcast. The media drives sales, so is it so much to ask to throw them a bone and make a comment or two? It's not like he is afraid of aggravating MS, I mean, does anyone remember the Fez patch fiasco? So just say a word or two. It isn't blood they want, despite what CliffyB (pompous yet talented fellow who should just get back to doing what made everyone care who he is in the first place) says.
@destemido @MasterOfMordor First off, thank you for the level headed and well argued response. I will concede that by calling them e-sports you can argue that they are a wholly different breed of game than what I would consider "true" sports, and therefore not beholden to the definition or convention of what a sport is.
I suppose my issue is with the people who wish to have e-sports considered on the same lines as what I and many others consider to be true sport, and by including the word "sport" in what they do, it adds a weight to it that isn't deserved in my opinion.
I know they are skillful, I know they practice, but athletes play sports, and gamers play games. If you are a high level gamer you are still just a gamer, you have not transcended into "athlete", and the game has not transcended into "sport", just competition for money.
Put it this way, when you play DOTA2 with friends for fun, you say you are playing a game, but you get insanely good at it and start playing it competitively for money; why would you then say you are playing any sport, e or otherwise? Whereas if I go play softball tonight for nothing but fun, I am still playing a sport, even though no money or audience is involved.
@destemido @MasterOfMordor if you are sponsored to play poker or chess are you an athlete? Does it mean you are playing a sport? I feel like the definitions of athlete and sport are bandied about a little do freely. Don't misunderstand, I am certainly no jock looking down upon gamers anyone else, but competition does not equal sport whether it is sponsored, at the professional level, or any other tag you want to throw on it. A NASCAR driver is not an athlete, and NASCAR is not a sport, esports as you call them, are even farther removed from sport. But I guess in a world where the Olympics can remove wrestling but keep ping pong, anything is up for discussion as a "sport", unfortunately.
@MuggyTadpole I haven't played Halo since the first game way back when, so I'll disregard your first argument. The second argument, I completely agree with however. Turning a faceless hero who can be anyone you want him to be in to an Aryan god is not fair to the millions of people who have imagined him as themselves for well over a decade. On their podcasts, the staff loves to decry the "horrible" depiction women get in video games, because "they aren't like me" (Carolyn is the most egregious offender of this) but when you make such an argument McShea runs away rather than acknowledging that you might be right.
Keep in mind, I only agree with this specific case because he has been faceless for so long. I do not believe game designers should be beholden to the fact that some game players are "brown" as you say, or they dont have huge breasts, or they don't have bulging biceps. But if for example in Mass Effect 3 they took away "your" Shephard and said "nope this is the one true Shephard", the gaming world and the entire staff at gamespot would have gone ballistic and with good reason. You are having the same crisis with "your" Master Chief and people tell you to suck it up. That is just wrong.
Playing video games is not sport. Sport as defined by a simple google search is "An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others". I don't feel playing a video game meets the physical exertion criteria. Does playing a game on the highest level require skill, of course, but so does painting a picture. Should competitive painting be considered a sport?
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