"Previously employed Dragon Age writer expresses strong opposition towards critics who anticipate a game's downfall prior to its release."
In a candid interview with GamesRadar, acclaimed former BioWare writer David Gaider has raised concerns over the growing phenomenon of "anti-fans" within the video game community, particularly in the realm of role-playing games (RPGs).
These anti-fans, according to Gaider, go beyond constructive criticism and actively seek the failure of a game, viewing it as a warning to developers who may create similar titles. Instead of fostering interest in a game, anti-fans work to deter others from playing it, essentially anticipating its failure as a way to punish developers.
Gaider notes that this mindset is especially common among RPG enthusiasts, a group often divided over what they deem appropriate for the genre. He suggests that some of this hostility is fueled by the "outrage machine," alluding to individuals who gain influence by stoking outrage and controversy to boost their viewership. This dynamic encourages fans to link their identity to a game's success or failure and regard sales or player numbers as a measure of their personal taste.
Gaider regrets the impact this dynamic has on game development and the community. He contrasts anti-fans with true fans, who naturally promote a game, boosting its visibility. When anti-fans dominate the discourse, the potential harm is significant, as seen in the divisive reactions to recent BioWare titles such as Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Despite no longer being with BioWare post his 2016 departure, Gaider acknowledged some of the divisiveness around that game can be attributed to the rise of anti-fans.
In conclusion, Gaider paints a troubling picture of the current state of video game fandoms, characterized by anti-fans who wish for a game's failure as a cautionary message to developers of similar games. This environment, he warns, can stifle creativity and joy within the community.
- David Gaider, former BioWare writer, voiced concerns about the growing influence of anti-fans in the video game community, particularly in the realm of role-playing games (RPGs).
- Gaider believes that these anti-fans actively seek the failure of games, viewing it as a warning to developers who create similar titles, and work to deter others from playing them.
- Gaider suggests that some hostility towards games within the RPG community is fueled by the "outrage machine," individuals who gain influence by stoking outrage and controversy to boost their viewership.
- True fans, according to Gaider, naturally promote a game, boosting its visibility, in contrast to the divisiveness that can arise when anti-fans dominate the discourse.
- Gaider emphasizes that the current environment in video game fandoms, characterized by anti-fans who wish for a game's failure as a cautionary message to developers, can stifle creativity and joy within the community, as seen in the divisive reactions to recent BioWare titles such as Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
