Survey: Vision of the game developers

LavaDelVortel

Hey, again I'd like to ask you people a favour. There's another survey that may help a bit. This time it's about game devs and how gamers actually picture them. I KNOW that some of the questions may look weird, but there's something behind every task. It's both about how gamers picture developers and what we expect them to be like; how we most often think of devs.

...anyway, here's the survey. Thanks in advance from me and the people who prepared the survey.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CTPyIcVKVGTjHRY2h7-OS_jRYV0PBblHnsqj7OuDVFI/viewform

(this one is much shorter when compared to the one I posted before - it should take like 6-8 minutes)

Tresset

Just curious: what are you doing these surveys for? If it is for school what are you studying?

LavaDelVortel

I myself am a pedagogue, PhD student at the Uni. There are 2 other game studies oriented PhD students with whom I work. We believe that academic teachers should (mainly those associated with pedagogy) finally realize that games aren't source of evil, gamers do not become mass murderers (make some people see that games can do some good, elicit amazing stuff, make people write, draw, think) etc. + we support the thesis that that games are a text of culture.

Apart from that people know me as a modder, author of many different projects that's mostly why am I fighting with the idea that gamers do nothing, that we're not productive etc :P

Tresset

Now it says at the beginning of the survey that you don't want game developers to take the survey... at one point I did work very closely with game developers as a beta tester. Would it be ok if I took the survey?

LavaDelVortel

I think testers are fine Thanks

Ravenslight

Interesting survey.

the_spyder

LavaDelVortel said:

... gamers do not become games do not cause people to become mass murderers

just a point of clarity. The statement you had suggested that playing games PREVENTS people from becoming mass murderers. While that is a nice vision of the Universe, it is probably closer to what you mean that playing the games do not force people into a path of mass destruction.

LavaDelVortel said:

(make some people see that games can do some good, elicit amazing stuff, make people write, draw, think) etc. + we support the thesis that that games are a text of culture.

You may have already done some research on the actual uses of gaming in society. Surgeons in some cases use video gaming as a way to keep their hands and reflexes supple and active. Child development specialists will often use (educational) games as a way to stimulate brain development and/or assess trouble areas for children. Etc...

My personal opinion is that playing a game is a step above sitting in front of the television and simply being entertained. The interactivity with the medium is more creative than simply sensory input. And although it is not as good as actually talking with people, the social aspect of gaming can help facility interpersonal and interactive relationships with others.

LavaDelVortel

games do not cause people to become mass murderers - that's what I wanted to say. Sorry, I can sometimes be quite chaotic, heh.

The whole matter becomes problematic when you have to deal with old fashioned pedagogues and old fashioned academic teachers. Every time I'm at a conference or other kind of happening where I have to explain what I'm doing, there's always someone who believes that this paricular matter is... let's say less than insignificant (even though there are researches that show kids start to play when they are 3+ or that computer games are played by kids, teens, adults and seniors, not just "irresponsible and addicted youngsters")...

There's much to say and write in the topic!

Anyway, thanks for the support

the_spyder

I hear you. In my professional career and even in social circles, I am VERY selective of whom I tell that I engage in this pastime. It is quite amusing to me when someone who puts face paint on half their bodies and sits shirtless in the freezing cold while screaming at a bunch of grown men throwing around a pigskin is considered "Normal" and well adjusted, but if you claim to actually have a console or do more with your computer than merely surf the web, you are considered childish and immature and a social pariah.

I even have several "Friends" who actually encourage me to actively hide the type of person I am in public for fear of being labeled themselves. It's really rather pathetic and I try and avoid those types of people wherever possible. The unfortunate truth is that they are everywhere and don't even realize how judgmental they are being.

As far as it goes, I grew up during the formative years of PCs. Back when they didn't even have hard drives, you had to really make them work in order to run certain games. I remember having to completely reconfigure the memory blocks on my PC in order to run the original Gold box SSI games. In fact, if it hadn't been for that early experience with computers, I wouldn't be the relative success that I am today (in what amounts to the IT field more or less).

Son_of_Imoen

If you don't post this survey on other sites as well, whoever will be named in the last question will be severely biased. I named @TrentOster and @AmberScott as most world-famous developers.

LavaDelVortel

@the_spyder - it's a bit unfair. I mean telling you to hide who you are. And it's really judgmental, too. The fact that gamers are considered "weird" is a bit disturbing. Just as much as considering games a waste of time, while they can teach you about both real and unreal happenings which can actually elicit thinking about some issues; they can teach languagues (f.e. English language learners can practice their English when they read and respond to dialogues etc.); they can help to relax; they can improve reaction time... everything depends on the genre.

@Son_of_Imoen - my friends and me posted this survey on different forums, pages, blogs. If it was just here it would be more like researching BG:EE fans, not gamers in general :P

We still need entries, so if possible, please share the link. It would really help us.
Thanks in advance!

the_spyder

@LavaDelVortel - it is quite unfair, but it is actually a lot more common than people generally think. But to be fair to them, they are focused on themselves and how THEY want to be (have learned to be) seen. It is a sad state of affairs that even though schools are where people learn socialization it is also where they learn that non-conformity leads to ostracization. It is actually learned behavior and so often happens without the perpetrator even noticing that they are treating others unfairly. "They are not like me so they are bad/wrong in some way". or more accurately "They don't conform so I need to shun them until they learn to conform".

Thankfully I have started to hang out with people who actually get my interests and entertainments. I recently attended Gen Con, one of the largest Fantasy and Gaming conventions in the US. 70,000 plus people most of whom 'Get' gaming and fandoms and all of that. It opened my eyes that there were actually people like myself out there.

AndrewFoley

the_spyder said:

I even have several "Friends" who actually encourage me to actively hide the type of person I am in public for fear of being labeled themselves.

You need some new friends. Ones without the air quotes around them.

Nimran

AndrewFoley said:

the_spyder said:

I even have several "Friends" who actually encourage me to actively hide the type of person I am in public for fear of being labeled themselves.

You need some new friends. Ones without the air quotes around them.

If only real friends were easy to come by...

cognoscentus

Sometimes, perhaps most times, easy and real are mutually exclusive.

Feel free to cross post this in the "Words of wisdom" thread