Gamer | Through Gamer Goggles

Pre-Convention Expectations

As a gaming convention virgin I really didn’t know what to expect from Con on the Cob in Hudson, Ohio. I’ve only been to a few “other” conventions of any sort (a toy-fare in Pittsburgh, PA and the Triplet Convention twice with my family), so I understood the general concept. Gamers gather, play all their favorite games, try out some new games, check out some cool and/or weird art, books and other gaming-related products, attend seminars, enjoy some entertainment and other parties.

Matt and I contacted many of the artists, vendors, game producers and other special guest to set up interviews and promote this site and our larger project of what Through Gamer Goggles is about to become.

And then we arrived.

Initial Impressions

We were a little early by intent, to give us time to meet Andy Hupp – the coordinator for the convention and artist extraordinaire (or at least extraordinarily weird) – as well as set up our own table and orient ourselves to the hotel facilities.

The first day Matt and I met a lot of artists, developers, etc. Check out the interviews! I cannot possibly thank all of you enough. But special thanks go out to Vicky Beaver from Savage-Mojo; Ben who ran some D&D Dungeon Delve encounters; Mary Ann of Chicken Hut Games; Jay and Sue of Lonely Die Press, John, Ryan, Ed, and Matt of Silvervine Games.

While I was secretly thankful for a cold that left my nose stuffy and unable to smell some of the less-than-hygienic gamers, I found this to be the most welcoming and friendly crowd ever. For a bunch of dice-rolling, basement dwelling, introverted geeks, even someone as shy as myself found it easy and enjoyable to interact with so many different people. As far as I could tell, a good time was had by all.

Introduction

Last week I provided an overview of depression. This week I shall take a look at its connection with gaming. I’ve been gaming for fourteen years, and have had the opportunity to meet a lot of wonderful people – folks that I gladly call “friend.” And there is one thing that I have noticed about the gamer population compared to the general population. I believe that the rate of depression in gamers is higher than that of the general population.

Gamers & Depression

Why is that? Are depressed people drawn to gaming? Or does gaming make one more depressed? Or is it simply a coincidence, or faulty observation on my part?

We can eliminate that last question based on the proven fact that I am always right. (Which, by the way, is another source of my depression. It is an incredible burden to be right all the time 😀 .)

The second question seems counter-intuitive: How can something “fun,” like playing games, make you feel depressed? Sure, many of the games we play are competitive, and no one likes to lose; losing can put one in quite a funk. But at the same time we recognize that “it’s just a game,” so the prospect and experience of losing are not that emotionally traumatic. Furthermore, many games, especially RPG’s are cooperative, allowing everybody to “win.”

Therefore I’m brought back to the first question: Are depressed people drawn to gaming? I think that there is some solid evidence to indicate this probability.

First, depression makes it difficult to socialize with other people, but gaming provides a “bridge” to social interaction. It’s easier to address another person through the medium of a game, with its rules and structure, compared to trying to strike up a conversation with someone at “regular” party.

Second, it gives the depressed person something to do. Lack of activity and motivation are the most difficult parts of depression to deal with. Gaming, at the very least, is an activity to focus on and participate in. Thus gaming is the vehicle by which one can combat that lack of motivation and activity.

I’m sure there are other reasons (which a qualified sociologist or psychologist could explain) why gamers seem to have a higher rate of depression than the general population, but these two stand out strongest to me. Continue reading »

A short time ago I was involved in a conversation about the “mentality” of gamers. The basic perception that these people had about gamers is that they are “freaks” . To be more precise they kind of thought gamers were a bunch of depressed anti-social people who could not follow the norms of society. This is so far from the truth. I mean the perception they had makes us outcasts, which is really the opposite of what we are as a whole. You might be wondering why this is important. With any luck I will cover that in the next few paragraphs.

Let us start with the meaning of the word game, more precisely its origins. According to Dictionary .com we have this little bit of history

“game

O.E. gamen “joy, fun, amusement,” common Gmc. (cf. O.Fris. game, O.N. gaman, O.H.G. gaman “joy, glee”), regarded as identical with Goth. gaman “participation, communion,” from P.Gmc. *ga- collective prefix + *mann “person,” giving a sense of “people together.” Meaning “contest played according to rules”

is first attested c.1300. Sense of “wild animals caught for sport” is late 13c.; hence fair game (1825), also gamey “having the flavor of game” (1863). Adjective sense of “brave, spirited” is 1725, from the noun, especially in game-cock “bird for fighting.” Game plan is 1941, from U.S. football; game show first attested 1961″

So the very nature of the word game tells us we are social beings. In some cases our group might be smaller, or we might even be a part of more than one group. In fact it is hard for us to be a gamer with out being social. It doesn’t matter what game you play they are you’re community, or if you are like me your communities. I also found it it interesting that that before the meaning of game became a “contest according to the rules” it meant “people together”.

Con on the Cob – Through a Gaming Convention Virgin’s Goggles

Pre-Convention Expectations

Initial Impressions

Gaming & Depression, part 2: Roll with It!

Introduction

Gamers & Depression

The Origins of Game

Gen Con 2011