I don't know who I should be identifying as the victims here. Do I have even an inkling of compassion for the delirious Nintendo fans who give Nintendo hobbyists such as myself a bad name, or the unprofessional man children given license through social media to express their unbridled hatred and animosity towards an inanimate corporate entity? No. If anyone deserves an apology, it's the level-headed gamer who, by no fault of his own, finds himself caught in the cross-hairs of warring factions impelled by sheer ignorance and inanity. Why can't I simply enjoy video games as a mode of entertainment without becoming entangled in the politics of the industry or the errant fanaticism that pervades the internet?
Maybe the notion of several competing consoles has overstayed its welcome. For some, the box sitting under the entertainment center has become more than a mechanical assemblage of transistors, shiny plastics, and silicon - it has become emblematic of a profound personal and emotional commitment. In the case of most self-professed hardcore gamers, it is quite literally an extension of the self. Making a derogatory comment about one's console of choice is now tantamount to throwing a punch, or insulting one's kin. I realize this console ingroup vs outgroup mentality has been raging for quite some time now.
Many of us fondly recall the tame-by-comparison console wars of the early and mid 90's. With the advent of social media and the growing popularity of forums, however, fanboyism has reached its critical mass.
Not to vindicate the EA senior software engineer, but I have to wonder why the implications behind his words hurt people with presumably NO affiliation whatsoever to Nintendo co Ltd. Part of me sees these individuals as hopelessly ensnared in a social experiment gone horribly wrong, and in dire need of clinical intervention.
