Hey "Social Media," Keep Your Filthy Mitts Off My Games

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People who know me are aware of my contempt for so-called "social media." And if you try to combine that contempt with one of my favorite hobbies...bad things are going to happen.

It's an ongoing trend and one I'm sure the young'uns like. Some games are starting to sport Facebook and Twitter integration, so you can keep your friends and family apprised of your gaming accomplishments. So in other words, if you just finish a particularly tough level, you can tell everyone who "likes" you just how awesome you really are.

Now, for the record, I have no trouble with gamers bragging about their achievements (to people who actually might care, of course). That was always part of the fun when I was a kid; going to school and just bursting with the news that you beat the next-to-last level in Rygar and really, it's only a matter of time... But that actually is social, in that human beings are actually speaking to one another. This Facebook/Twitter nonsense is just plain silly. Or rather, beyond silly. Stupid.

I mean, it doesn't really have anything to do with multiplayer, either. That's when people are playing a game together and don't need to be updated on your progress, as they're right there. So updating your Facebook page and Twitter account with news of your grand gaming prowess is only for telling people who aren't in front of you, and aren't playing the game at that time. Is that really necessary? I know we've abused these forms of communication to the point were actual face-to-face communication has become a dying art form, and everyone has to tell you about the hydrant their dog pissed on, but come on.

If I want to play a game with someone, I will. And we'll be doing it together, even if we're not in the same room. If I want to tell someone about something cool I did in a game, I will do so in the realm of real conversation. This in-between, totally superfluous and entirely unnecessary implementation of "social media" can - and should - disappear tomorrow. I think the last time I saw something about Facebook or Twitter pop up in a game, I held up my hand and screamed, "go'way, go'way, go'way!" ...okay, maybe I didn't. But there was a lot of eye rolling.

Tags: gaming, video games, social media, video games, facebook, twitter

6/27/2012 8:53:51 PM Ben Dutka

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