Video game culture in a virtual world

From Pong to Pac-man to Mario to Skyrim, video games have had a long pop culture history and a cult following.

"With the video game community, there's no good way to describe the different types of gamers there are," said president of Wright State's Adventurers' Guild Robert Leonard. He said gamers tend to group based on their preferred game genre.

According to Leonard, one of the most popular types of video games are multiplayer games like Call of Duty and Battlefield. Another genre that gets a lot of attention is RPGs (role-playing games), like Skyrim and Dragon Age, where the focus is on the story.

Nicole Reel, a biological sciences major and self-professed gamer, said the gaming community is subjected to a lot of stereotypes.

"I'd say the most used are that we never get outside, waste our life with games, are ugly, never play sports and are complete nerds," said Reel. "While sometimes that's true, most of the time it's the complete opposite." Reel said the stereotype she hates the most is that girls only game for attention.

"Why would I take days of my life away playing a game for attention?" said Reel. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

Another stereotype about gaming is that it leads to violence. Robert Leonard said the problem wasn't with the games.

"What people don't understand is that a lot of those really violent games like Grand Theft Auto V (five) are supposed to be parodies. It's game designers trying to show how ridiculous the things people want from their video games are," said Leonard. "It's the people, not the game."

Gaming subculture started decades ago in real life but has developed a huge online presence. Reel said her older sister was the person who introduced her to gaming. Now Reel mostly interacts with other gamers online.

"I compete on some online games against other people around the world," said Reel. "I don't really get out [to compete] in person except when I have a chance to go to a gaming con."

Reel said that the gaming community is pretty inclusive. She also said it depends on the gamers, but "a lot of them welcome you with open arms."

"Games are different than books or movies," said Jake Mullins, an undergraduate religion major. "Every time you play it's a little different. You get to help make it what it is."

Mullins said the best thing about gaming is that anyone can really do it.

"You meet so many different kinds of people, and you all have this one thing in common," said Mullins. "Also, sometimes it's hard to find other gamers around."

The WSU Adventurers' Guild provides one way for gamers to meet and play in person--whether they are into video gaming, card gaming or tabletop RPGs. Robert Leonard said WSU's Adventurers' Guild has about 70 members, but it used to be larger.

"At one point in time, the Guild was the largest non-Greek organization at Wright State," said Leonard.

"See?" said Mullins. "There are more of us than you think."