Joey Krug
Anchor Contributor
In the world we live in, video games serve as an outlet that is intended to be enjoyable and an escape from the real world. To boost diversity, there are a variety of different types of games which include: Single player, Multiplayer, Strategy, Massive Multiplayer online games (MMO), Puzzle, Action/adventure and even Role playing games (RPGs). Each type of video game has guidelines/rules that one must follow as would be in any game like board games, cards and even competition sports or gambling. Unfortunately, there is a large majority of people who are making videogames difficult by participating in an approach titled “Griefing.”
Griefing is about exploiting a game rather than playing by the rules. This approach usually involves modifying the game in an unintended way, distracting others with voice chat or even sabotaging your fellow players/teammates.
The effects of griefers can be very stressful. They deter the whole point of the games being a positive outlet and turn them into a headache. Griefers are ruining multiplayer gaming, affecting the enjoyment of free time and causing some people to get angry when they should be having fun. The negativity from these moments can be viewed as a domino effect. Starting with one little joke on a game that may seem innocent can affect someone else in ways that were never intended and can cause that player to act out inappropriately or violently. Griefing in games results in a bad slope that can spread to other parts of a player’s day, routines and relationships.
The best way to help spread awareness of griefing and video game ethics is by bringing up our values and principles towards being around others. One is having consideration: everyone should be thinking of each other and enjoying their time online because the online gaming community wouldn’t be the same without everyone involved. Second is diligence: we have to consider that because everyone is there to play the game and it needs to be played the right way. There’s no positive point in changing the intentions of the gaming software or program. Next, there’s responsibility that we should all take accountability: realize what’s being done is wrong and recognize that anyone would be frustrated if they were in the predicament of being griefed.
Videogames were designed the way they are for a plot or purpose. So if one were to change something or alter the settings at the cost of everyone’s fun, then why would that person play it in the first place? This can all be related to the simple phrase, “if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all,” while being reverted to “if what you’re doing isn’t nice, then don’t do anything at all” to fit this scenario better. There’s reputation to consider because what gamers do in a game can unintentionally affect the rating of said game. In retrospect gamers always want to leave positive intentions. This way people will want to keep playing and the game makers get proper foot traffic. You wouldn't want your shenanigans being the reason for a multi-thousand or multi-million dollar project going to waste, thus ruining all the efforts put in by many to get the game out in the world.
An appropriate alternate method and simple solution can be that if you don’t like the way the game plays, then play a different game. Don’t ruin someone else’s fun when you could be playing something else that can make you happier without it affecting anyone else. We owe respectful loyalties to different groups of people, one being the developers as well as anyone who was involved in gaming production. Game makers and creators pour all their effort and time to make sure gamers are entertained and so the makers could earn a living off of their art. No one should be risking a game production's royalties for their own judgemental agenda. Lastly, gamers should be showing respect to co-players and overall, anyone who is also playing that specific video game. You never know what someone else can be going through or how stressful their life can be, so do your best to not turn a destresser into a stresser.
Video games may seem like a small subject compared to other issues that happen in our world, but a large majority of people play video games and frequently spend their time online. If adjustments can be made in our attitudes where individuals try to spread good practices to others, everyone will help improve overall online behaviors that can spread to the real world. Wouldn’t you agree that all our behavior starts somewhere and good can spread just as much as bad? It wouldn’t hurt to be more respectful and caring in the online and gaming world.