Previously I talked about the meaning of fun and what it is as it pertains to gaming, but the discussion was mianly based upon solo playing.  This time I want to open it up a little more.

Being a gamer can often lead to more than just playing games, which is why huge communities, events, and even industries have risen from this silly fun hobby we all share.  But at what point does it all transcend from fun to not?

I am involved in the gaming event world and I have seen a lot of people come through and just not be good at what they do.  To be fair and candid about it, they were even very bad at the task they set themselves up to accomplish (this can be people that run tournaments, sub-events or even whole conventions).  It’s not that these people weren’t smart (at least I think they were), and it may not have been that they didn’t care enough.  

That got me thinking – I think for anyone to get involved in the enormity of a community/event/etc. it has to start somewhere.  A love of a specific game or genre.  A need or want to “spread the love.”  For an event or situation to go bad there is normally a number of circumstances that will lead up to it and compound.  I am sure the person or persons involved got stressed, angry, sad, and felt many other emotions.  I know it has happened to me. It can get to a point where they can’t remember the reason they got involved, and are just lost in the ridiculousness of it all.

Maybe it’s a person who discovered the tournament world, got really excited, and became disillusioned with the politics of that world. Maybe it is someone that loved an area of gaming so much that wanted to try to bring that passion to the masses. And maybe that person did not have the skills and/or support system to do what was necessary to succeed. If it all goes badly then what are they left with?

Can they still have fun? Can they still draw upon that passion that made them get involved in the first place?

I don’t have answers to these questions as the answers most likely depend on the person. The only advice I can give anyone in any of the above situations is to try to stay the course and remember the reason you are here – for the fun.