People Who Live in Glass Houses Get Pretty Good at Ducking

We've briefly touched on this subject in our last blogs. The image of the stereotypical gamer. Unshaven, unwashed, and uninterested in anything apart from their level 63 battle mage. But are the shackles of "nerd-dom" really just for the hardcore? Today's soundtrack is the CPC 464 version of Total Recall from 1991, so let's dip in.

There has long been a stereotype attributed to the hallowed flock that is Nerd-dom, but now even that is changing slightly, and it seems to be annoying everybody. As a very inclusive family, it's tough for us to see people being belittled and criticised because they play video games to much or (a new and worrying trend) too little, or even because of their gender. It's turned into a double edged sword of late and, of course, if you try and insert a modicum of acceptance for either, the other side are going to be breathing down your necks.

Gaming has changed, massively. It's possible you wouldn't know it, with the testosterone mostly on show but at the last count gaming was split down the gender divide and instead of being the tiny minority, people who identify as female now occupy around 50% of the gaming market. Now, we hate the gender divide as much as you do, especially when it comes to gaming because, in all honesty, why does it matter?

It makes no difference if the l33t haxxor who's kicking our butt online is a guy or a girl, there's no need to feel insulted or ashamed, if you are beaten by either, you still get beat. The term "girl gamer" is bandied around a lot, although I find it hard to pinpoint a decent reason for calling them that instead of the other term I prefer for females who play video games - "Gamer".

It's even come to the point now where we see on various social media, people being lambasted because "they're not a real gamer". Now, I've been gaming for roughly 24 years. There have been times where I did nothing but go to work, come home and turn on my Playstation (or, later, Xbox). Now I'm hurtling towards 30 with no signs of slowing and I have less time to play, until my son grows up a little and I can play with him. Does that make me less of a gamer now, or any less entitled to think of myself as such?

"She's not a real gamer" - "They're ruining it for us" - "I bet they don't even play games"

While I admit it seems a little silly to pretend you play games just to fit in, this could be said of anything from pretending to enjoy lager to telling everybody your name is Thunder Doombringer (that actually sounds ok!). Silly, maybe, but I have no idea how it's possible for that to detract at all from my enjoyment of Colin McRae Rally, unless I force it to. By the same token, shouting about people playing Farmville or Mafia Wars on Facebook is largely similar.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't touch those games myself even with a ten foot clown pole, but unless people are constantly sending me game requests (and please do remember you can block these) I don't find that it's effecting my life at all. We live in a very judgmental society and while it's important that we keep focus on breaking down the prejudices regarding the big issues, I think we as gamers have to admit that our hobby isn't just for an "elite few" any more. People enjoy Farmville, Angy birds, and Hidden Object games. They enjoy games which they can drop in and out of easily, and I don't think we should discourage people just because they don't play the games we like or because they don't spend every free hour tea-bagging opponents in Halo

Like Elmer the Elephant, it's important for us to remember that some things you can give and give and give, and not lose any. Things like happiness, and love, and gaming.

Get over here!

Happy Monday, Bloggerverse! It's been a lovely weekend over here in surprisingly sunny Wales and with the Grandparents babysitting the little boy (thank you GPs) we've actually managed to get a good gaming binge in...The only problem is, we only have one tv, so what can we do when we both want to play?! Our usual soundtrack remains and today we're bringing things up to date with a lament from Twilight Princess

Back when I were a lad (and all this were fields and you could get into t' cinema for t' jam jar) gaming was still in the early stages. It wasn't a toddler any more but it was still bringing people together in a much more real way than it does today.

Gaming with my brother was always full of the hard decisions... and even before the dilemma of 'which sibling will get the third party controler (always the youngest) we had to decide who would get the "normal" controls on the keyboard, and who would be relegated to the keys in second place.

 The younger readers here may have a slight problem computing this... but I can assure you, even in the late eighties, it was possible for two people (or more) to play a game using one television, one "console" and one keyboard. It was trickier to get four hands on and not get in each other's way, but if you wanted to game two player on an Amstrad, that's what you had to do.

We evolved fairly quickly from that into having consoles with two controller ports, and then the Playstation came along with its Multitap (and the N64 just gave four ports, because why not) and we could have up to four players huddled together to play Crash Bash, or Goldeneye. Micro Machines even kept things going, allowing 8 players to take part by each controller being split between two racers.

Things were going so well, we evolved into the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 having instant ability to attach four controllers... which seemed great, but where the hell are the games? Sure if you want online co-op or deathmatches, we're pretty sorted. But what about when me and the almost wife (one week today) want to have a break and game together when she gets a break from Indy-Plays, or have a party with friends all playing together?

Again, we don't really want to constantly be in deathmatches, but it's very rare these days to find a good game which will let you go through the story mode as a two or four player unit (even some which provide online co-op). We're currently going through one of this month's Free with Gold games, Army of Two III and it's good, cooperative play. We've gone through Lord of the Rings titles which were ok and, of course, Borderlands. All of these were ok when playing single player, but I will always enjoy a game more when I can play it with friends, and as I live with my best friend, I want to be able to play with her too!

Looking at the listings at Co-Optimus, it seems these days though, that the 'Couch Multiplayer' is a beast which is dwindling to extinction, and that makes me a little sad. Still, we definitely enjoy the ones which do support local campaign co-op via splitscreen, even if we are a little limited by what we can choose.

Why, that's the second biggest monkey head I've ever seen!

Gooood Morning Pixel Land! We're taking a break from our thoughts for a day and instead thought we'd start heading into the wilderness of other people's minds. Today, we're talking to Recollect Review and they have chosen their theme, the amazing Guile's theme from SFII. Plug in on the left as usual, and enjoy some classic beats.

It seems to be a growing trend these days. Retro is making a comeback and, as we progress, so much more is being carried under that catch all umbrella. Where it used to be just the 8-bit classics, we're now looking at even PS1 and some even class PS2 games as Retro. Either way you look at it, there's a whole host of goodies waiting for the gaming uneducated to dig into.

Recollect Review is a fairly simple premise. A shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a man... who likes going back to the games he was unable (or didn't get a chance) to complete. Recollect review, an old loner on a crusade, to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless... ok, my Knight Rider paraphrasing may have to come to an end here.

Like us RR loves to look back and wallow in nostalgia, and though it's just starting out, there are a fair amount of reviews already on their RecollectReview Blog and they are adding more as we go. we thought it would be nice to have a sit down and go over their Origin story, where gaming is concerned.

Hey there and thanks for taking the time with us today. We're going over Gaming Origins... What's the first thing that you remember hooking you into gaming? Any particular Characters, consoles, or games? 

Cannon Fodder on my eldest brother's Amiga. That was the very first game I ever remember and laughing my 3 year old head off when I saw there was a level called "Bugger Me It's Cold". My own first console was a SEGA Mega Drive with Sonic The Hedgehog, I used to have to call my other brother upstairs to defeat Dr. Robotnik in Green Hill Zone, I just couldn't get past that big gold ball! 

When you think of "Retro Gaming", what pops into your head?

Family. Playing games with my brother, Golden Axe II and Street Fighter II. My dad playing PGA Tour Golf, my friend owning a SNES and me owning a SEGA and being envious of each other. 

That actually brought a little tear to my eye. A lot of people forget how gaming can bring people together. Anyway, we've all grown up since the 90s... but we still love heading back and playing older games. Do you ever head back down memory lane yourselves? 

Every chance I get. I prefer them.

Right then, console Wars... Please list your preference, high to low 

1. Nintendo 2. SEGA 3. Sony 4. Microsoft 

Well, that maps out your Gaming journey pretty well. Thanks again for spending time with us :D 

It almost harks back to our recent post about technology and children. A lot of people see gaming as antisocial and while it does have the potential to be that, I think it's important to remember that it can also bring people together and form some really happy memories.

We'll be back soon with more whimsy and opinion pieces (and a chat with The Oliver Twins creators of our favourite gaming series Dizzy) so hang around. If you want to know more about Recollect Review you can head over to their BLOG or, of course, find them on TWITTER