Victims of Fanboyism: Can we all get along?

There is something dreadfully contagious that is spreading across the Wii (and general gaming) blogosphere, forums, and fan sites. A few remain to be unaffected. I, did not know much about this until I came into contact with it myself. It happened slowly and aimed to consume me. It was awful. It showed up in the posts, in the comments. I... became affected by something I previously sought to avoid at all costs! This phenomena is referred to, by the experts, as fanboyism.

I used to deny its prevalence and even its existence. The occurrence of someone taking pride in something that he did not create, explaining a work that was not his piece of art, defending the philosophies and emphases of a product of which he did not sit in the company meetings and develop. Nay, for I am not even a company employee.

Alright, enough with the dramatics. I observe that, on occasion, people will needlessly align themselves with a company or person, stick with them at all costs, and throw themselves forward to shield the verbal Q-tip arrows shot at said company. I came face to face with this harsh reality too, recently. I understand doing this if you work there or you know the person, but I don't understand why someone would take pride, and almost a sort of ownership, of a product that we didn't envision, toil over, create.

I am just fine with someone not liking the Wii. It's all about different tastes and things when it comes to entertainment. Imagine what it would be like if people succumbed to fanboyism when it came to things like people who make music (wait, way too late).

The point is that Nintendo is a great company. They can defend themselves. I think their product is great, but that doesn't mean I should be criticizing people who prefer other things. It's just a product! If you boil it down, all three of the major video game console producers want to make money off of us (of course, some are more blatant about it than others). That's how our economy works.

The Nintendo Wii will not fulfill me, the company is not going to hug me when I'm sad or shield me from danger, and it does not expect that from its fans either.

I need to say that, as it happened before, I could end up being a fan of Microsoft again someday if the next system they come out with is affordable. Before the Xbox (hard to imagine such a time, right?), I played the N64. Now I play the Xbox 1, with a bit of Game boy Advance on the side, saving up money for the Wii. Maybe I'll end up being a fan of Sony when the PS4 comes out, it's all about what's affordable. For some people, it's all about what will have the best graphics at any cost. That's good for them.

For others, it is only about the fact that a certain company made a system, and that's ridiculous if you think about it.

The point is that whatever you like, alright.

If you like the PlayStation 3, fine. But don't ever say things like "Ha ha, you can't afford it." You're jumping Jehoshaphat right I can't afford it! I can't afford a Wii. But this was just one person. There's probably a jerk somewhere who says "ha ha, you can't afford the premium dictionary." People who own PS3s, though rarer, are probably really nice people.

If you're a fan of Xbox 360, that's fine too. LAN parties and Halo 3, right? I've thrown many Halo 2 parties and I hope that you will invite me! If you think it's worth it, well that's your money. But don't ever say things like "the Wii is for immature people" as you turn around and play a 360 game where you... pretend to chainsaw someone's face for entertainment (somehow that's "mature"?).

If you own a Wii, don't throw your controller into the TV.

If you own all three... now that's just wrong.

That was just a little fun and joking. I have to say that, because someone might think I'm dissing "their" gaming system.

Here's the deal. If you buy a product, it does not mean you become a part of the product or even vice-versa. You are not an Xbox 360; you are not a PS3; you and I are not a Wii (or are we?). Chances are, you are not on the staff who made the console. If you are, then you made a great product and you probably don't want to dis the other systems because you know the hard work that goes into them. That would sting hard. This needs to become my mantra.

In actuality, most people who own a video game system do not get enraptured into a daze of fanboyism. Of course, you think a product is cool, and you want to share it with other people because you want to feel confident in your purchase. But it is rare that someone will assert that the product they bought is better than the other person's.

You bought something. I bought something. There's pros and cons. Who cares? Fanboyism in this generation of consoles may have started as a sort of fun dance but now it's getting to a point like the new denominations are going to secede based on what video game system you like.

Remember when we all used to be just regular people who liked to play video games in addition to other things?

As Sapadrew, (coauthor of this blog) said, "Wii is awesome 360 is awesome and PS3 is awesome! Why can't people just hold hands and sing about our great virtual world? lol"

Someday soon, Sapa. Someday soon.

:)

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