On 1/29/08, Joseph Pate <jpate@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Side note: I thought it was strange that someone in one of those > "Fluxx attention" links concluded that "gamers hate Fluxx. Non-games > love it". I don't find this to be true... but then we clearly have a > different definition of gamer. To me, a gamer is anyone who loves > games and at least thinks about creating their own. The other definition > appears to be "someone who uses games to massage their ego and lord > their skillz over others". This used to be me, but it didn't take > too long to realize that your l33t gaming skillz mean nothing if noone > will every play with you. Plus, if you're *that* good, the games get > a little boring, unless it's all about ego and domination [which it > isn't, for me at least]. In short, "whatever!". Me thinks I hear a bit of bitterness. That's not a fair characterization of the other side. It's not about domination and 1337 skillz. I, for one, am the kind of gamer who likes strategy and skill to play a significant role in a game's outcome. I find great joy in pitting wits against a skilled player. Fluxx is highly random in its outcome (I'm trying to say that as neutrally as possible, no judgement here), it's certainly entertaining, and it can be good to have a game that anyone can win regardless of skill, but I have always had the most fun against people trying their hardest to win a game where player actions alone (or at least primarily) determine the result. I'm talking deep strategy with no randomness like Chess, Go, Diplomacy, Homeworlds and the last IGDC winner, Pylon. Not sayin' your way is bad, just sayin' "don't hate the player" just because he has a genuine preference for a different class of games. Now, if someone is being a big jerk and thrashing you at a game just so they can rub it in your face, feel free to go ahead and hate that player. And if he tells you that you're not a "real gamer" because you like more casual games, again, feel free to hate on that guy. But please try not to villainize all strategophiles. -- - |) () /\/ It's OK, my wife doesn't get it either.