You can love things & criticize them too!

Case in point, I’m a big Bioware nerd. Love the games, write fic, etc. Have made a lot of friends due to our shared fandom. However, that does not mean I’ll ignore things I find wrong in their IP’s. By wrong, I’m speaking about representation or lack thereof. Judging how fuckable a character is or tech issues are not what I’m talking about re: criticism of their games. To be clear.

However, there’s a bigger issue at play here. It’s like some fans can’t hear a single bad thing ever about their faves. That’s fannish devotion to an unhealthy extreme. It means there’s no room for feedback or growth. That stifles creativity. For instance, my Offworld piece on race in the Dragon Age games, all some people took away was I hated DA & Bioware, somehow; or when I bring up the Witcher 3 as a super white game world. All some people hear is the teacher on Charlie Brown voice vs actual words.

Surprise I love the Witcher 3, the writing is some of the best I’ve seen in a game in a long time. But that critic negates my love somehow. There’s also the added issue of who’s speaking on these issues, though the unreasonable reaction crew seems willing to attack anyone. Look at how Jim Sterling was attacked over BotW review? Usually white dudes are safe in not liking a thing. What’s frightening to consider is if I’d failed to give BotW the due some fans think it deserves. I’d still be getting threats.

Without fail if you’re not white and female presenting, you’re going to get a lot more hate for the mildest criticism. I often wonder how games develop such devotion that borders on fanatical. There are real people who develop them but that’s forgotten. I often think people still view it as “just the Internet!” And not real. Like I’m supposed to ignore death threats over a game article, I have no guarantee that the person I brush off as harmless “troll” won’t be the one to show up at an event or where I live.

We know people do get threatened over these things all the time, but those who don’t get it will think we’re over-reacting. I digress, because doxing and such is a bit beyond my original thoughts. It’s the extreme end of a culture defined by consumed products. It’s like some people get so attached and fall so in love with a thing they can’t see it’s flaws. If you point them out, ooooh boy.

I’ll use Dragon Age as an example. When POC fans point out issues in representation, we’re told it’s not that serious, why must we make a big deal, etc. Yet these same people who don’t want to hear us because it kills their fun will write multi-page essays on elf and mage rights. That makes me as a POC fan either want to turn away from a fandom that shows I’m unwanted or makes me fight for a spot until I’m out of energy to fight & make my own little corner where I can do what I need to be safe & enjoy as much as possible. But if I do that & others, eventually there’s no voice for criticism and then we wind up with the same issues & the cycle repeats.

I’m also gonna be that person & finish off with how we as fans talk to devs about these issues. Think about who we see over and over getting to talk at developers about games? Not reasonable discussion, or attempts at it. We rarely see the fans who reach out to devs and go hey, this thing is an issue, here’s why. The vitriol crowds them out or, when someone does reach out to a dev publicly, randos come in to add their unwanted opinion & derail the conversation.

I saw it when folks tried to reach out to Aaryn Flynn about the marketing of ME:A. I get it when I try to approach devs on here. It’s a reason I’ll try to get another contact method because public facing discourse is toxic AF and attempts to dialogue can fail. That’s me though, and I know that doesm’t work for everyone. But that shouldn’t be an option on how we can contact devs about issues.

Finally, remember that games are made by teams of people. Humans who put years into that title. No one dev is to blame for what you dislike. Feel free to dislike and criticise but don’t single out one team member. Also that one dev =/= the whole studio. Often that one poor dev that’s been targeted isn’t even responsible for what you’re angry about. Find a constructive way to criticise the game. I’m sure that will get attention over a death or rape threat.

So love games, or hate em; we have to find a way to advance beyond the current level of criticism & discourse about them.