Just thought I’d share something I thought was pretty interesting. I have a mother in law who is… well let’s just say she’s a stereotypical older mom who doesn’t own a computer, just an iPad. During the pandemic, she started getting into Nintendo games and bought herself a Switch. Fast forward a few years later and she’s interested in getting a Steam Deck, since one of her “mom groups” told her about some pandemic inspired games, similar to Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing that are only available on Steam.
When it comes down to it, she doesn’t care about her computer, she just wants to play computer games in a way that’s easy and accessible for her. We’ll be getting her a Steam Deck for her birthday, which in my opinion is just super neat. Even PC gaming is becoming extremely accessible, and it’s a fantastic time to be a gamer.
Putting the connotation aside for a moment, is it even accurate to call people who are interested on niche secondary gaming devices as “normies”? Whatever may be their backgrounds, seems to me like they are dedicated gaming enthusiasts.
I’d say they are. “Mom groups who want to play Animal Crossing-esque games” certainly aren’t what I’d think of when I’d think “dedicated gaming enthusiasts,” at least not what most people are thinking of.
Steam Deck lacks publicity relative to Nintendo Switch or even traditional PC gaming, but the product itself is absolutely more accessible than traditional PC gaming, even if not as accessible as consoles.
I mean, why not? Women play games and gamers do in fact sometimes breed or even adopt.
Mom groups that play animal crossing or SDV are gamers just like anyone else. I see this sentiment a lot and it reads like sexist gatekeeping every time.
When gamers refer to others as “normies”, I generally assume they’re people who are obsessed with their hobbies, have turned them into a part of their personality, and are annoyed that other people don’t “get them”.
If you deride normal people by calling them “normies” you’re either doing so ironically or deep down you know you’re not normal.
Thirty years ago people laughed at adulra playing computer games, but now playing games is just a normal hobby. It’s sad to see the “us versus them” mentality persist within some “hardcore gamer” groups. Someone putting fifty hours into Animal Crossing is just as much a gamer as someone putting fifty hours into Elden Ring or CoD.
The more someone devotes themselves to a hobby the less socially approachable they tend to become. At least in my experience
I’m pretty obsessed with gaming to the point it’s probably unhealthy and I still refuse to call people normies. It’s so cringe to me.
Thinking “normie” is cringe is cringe
Disagree
Agree to disagree
Agree to disagree is cringe
lol okay