Has the Smash Community become more united or divided?

[Foxus]

NOTE: This is not a personal rant nor a rave thread, its a opinionated thread.


I have noticed over the past year since Smash 4 has been released that the community has become well, less empathetic to say the least. Every time a debate comes on, whether it be on a Smash forum or FB group, it always becomes heated in some form or another without friendly compromise. People who do not confirm to the standards of their peers are often picked on or shunned altogether. Therefore, especially on a competitive level, I believe the Smash community has began to divide more than ever, a gang mentality almost.

Implementation of For Fun/For Glory modes - This i a large contributing factor, and the "fun" misnomer has come with generalized and ugly stereotypes. If you play For Fun, you're not considered series. If you play For Glory you're either considered a scrub or have a bit of skill. In actuality, both of these should not be true and are merely uneducated generalizations. Let people fight how they want to fight, skill takes time to build. It says NOTHING about their skill level regarding which mode they choose. N-O-T-H-I-N-G.

Smash Ballot -Good idea, but didn't have enough regulations as to who can be voted for, which probably explains why you get the Shrek and Freddy Fazbear spam. How this has acted more like a divider, from what I've observed, is because of players ideas being deliberately put down, a good example being that Wolf is a "Fox Clone" (we could debate whether or not that holds merit, but that can be saved for til a later time). Just stop, stop with the hate okay? Could I live without the DK Villain? Yes, but I'm not going to tell someone their vote is stupid or mediocre because its a creature I can live or live without.Yes, I could still breathe without having Banjo and Kazooke made a thing.

Those are my two observations that is seeming to further and further divide the Smash community. What do you think? Looking forward to your thoughts.

 

[Cyn]

Technically, untied and divided are the same thing .

 

[E-Mann]

NOTE: This is not a personal rant nor a rave thread, its a opinionated thread.

I have noticed over the past year since Smash 4 has been released that the community has become well, less empathetic to say the least. Every time a debate comes on, whether it be on a Smash forum or FB group, it always becomes heated in some form or another without friendly compromise. People who do not confirm to the standards of their peers are often picked on or shunned altogether. Therefore, especially on a competitive level, I believe the Smash community has began to divide more than ever, a gang mentality almost.

Implementation of For Fun/For Glory modes - This i a large contributing factor, and the "fun" misnomer has come with generalized and ugly stereotypes. If you play For Fun, you're not considered series. If you play For Glory you're either considered a scrub or have a bit of skill. In actuality, both of these should not be true and are merely uneducated generalizations. Let people fight how they want to fight, skill takes time to build. It says NOTHING about their skill level regarding which mode they choose. N-O-T-H-I-N-G.

Smash Ballot -Good idea, but didn't have enough regulations as to who can be voted for, which probably explains why you get the Shrek and Freddy Fazbear spam. How this has acted more like a divider, from what I've observed, is because of players ideas being deliberately put down, a good example being that Wolf is a "Fox Clone" (we could debate whether or not that holds merit, but that can be saved for til a later time). Just stop, stop with the hate okay? Could I live without the DK Villain? Yes, but I'm not going to tell someone their vote is stupid or mediocre because its a creature I can live or live without.Yes, I could still breathe without having Banjo and Kazooke made a thing.

Those are my two observations that is seeming to further and further divide the Smash community. What do you think? Looking forward to your thoughts.

To be frank, Nintendo's fanbases in general is almost like this. Almost.

While I wholeheartily agree that the Smash fanbase is quite rowdy and vocal, that's only the minority. Those people make up the "hate" side, not the actual community in general.
I understand how you feel, because I myself can't stand that minority well.

 

[Foxus]

Technically, untied and divided are the same thing .

I know they're closely related, but that wasn't what I was trying to convey in this post.

 

[E-Mann]

I know they're closely related, but that wasn't what I was trying to convey in this post.

I think she read the post. She wanted to point something out.

 

[Cyn]

I know they're closely related, but that wasn't what I was trying to convey in this post.

I thought you meant "united" in the thread title and accidentally typed "untied". I was poking fun.

 

[Foxus]

I thought you meant "united" in the thread title and accidentally typed "untied". I was poking fun.

No worries.
Oh wow,just saw I spelled "United" wrong now. I feel like an ass now lol.

 

[Cyn]

No worries.
Oh wow,just saw I spelled "United" wrong now. I feel like an *** now lol.

I figured it was a typo; that's why I said it. Lol.

 

[Raijinken]

I am inclined to say that we have, as a four-game community, less united but at least (to a degree) less hostile. There are, of course, exceptions within each game's fanbase, but most people seem to at least finally be grasping the idea that we're all weirdos with a strange obsession with Nintendo mascots beating up each other and Sonic.

Edit: Forgot PM, so five games (more if you want to count Minus, Plus, BBrawl, etc, whatever). Doesn't change my analysis though.

 

[Evello]

On the one hand, with more games and more options, you inevitably have more disagreement on what and how people should play. Melee vs. SSB4. Items vs. no items. Customs vs. no customs. FG rules vs. competitive rules. Miis vs. no Miis. Lots of stages vs. few stages. It's natural to have more things to discuss and argue about as games get bigger.

That said, I honestly feel like the community is a little more tame now than during the end of Brawl's tenure. I felt like there was a lot of bitterness and animosity between Brawl and Melee fans prior to SSB4's launch. Now, I don't feel like either SSB4 fans or Melee fans seem quite as threatened by each other. Both titles being at Evo certainly helped that. Honestly, I would even say the community has mellowed since SSB4 first launched, when Melee fans were vocally disappointed by the game, people were constantly calling things broken and game-breaking, and SSB4 fans felt the need to over-defend their new title.

Maybe I've just finally managed to block out the constant flamewars, but people seem pretty cool to me recently. Rather than worrying about how much people argue, sit back and admire that we're playing a series that gives us enough options that we can argue this much haha

 

[Foxus]

On the one hand, with more games and more options, you inevitably have more disagreement on what and how people should play. Melee vs. SSB4. Items vs. no items. Customs vs. no customs. FG rules vs. competitive rules. Miis vs. no Miis. Lots of stages vs. few stages. It's natural to have more things to discuss and argue about as games get bigger.

That said, I honestly feel like the community is a little more tame now than during the end of Brawl's tenure. I felt like there was a lot of bitterness and animosity between Brawl and Melee fans prior to SSB4's launch. Now, I don't feel like either SSB4 fans or Melee fans seem quite as threatened by each other. Both titles being at Evo certainly helped that. Honestly, I would even say the community has mellowed since SSB4 first launched, when Melee fans were vocally disappointed by the game, people were constantly calling things broken and game-breaking, and SSB4 fans felt the need to over-defend their new title.

Maybe I've just finally managed to block out the constant flamewars, but people seem pretty cool to me recently. Rather than worrying about how much people argue, sit back and admire that we're playing a series that gives us enough options that we can argue this much haha

Oh man, you haven't been to the FB groups.

I got flamed for mainly putting out my opposing views on certain areas of the game (in a totally reasonable manner) and solutions (not extreme ones) I thought would be good to remedying the problems I observed. People also got defensive when I reasonably questioned Sakurai's moves on certain things. Basically the atmosphere made it feel like unless you confirm to a particular viewpoint, or did nothing but consistently praise Sakurai, you and your views were considered nothing less than taboo.

I got booted from one group for just possessing these views, none of them extreme or inflammatory in any way, and really there was no justification to banning me from the group. Some people just cannot stand hearing from opposing parties.

 

[LancerStaff]

There's definitely a lot more acceptance/understanding between casuals and more hardcore players as of late. Of all things, for Glory is largely what brought this about. Since Nintendo basically came out and said that not all stages are fair and items aren't fair at all you don't see nearly as much "tournies should be run like XYZ" kinda comments.

 

[Wintropy]

Yeah, as @ Evello said, the fact that Melee and Smash 4 ran simultaneously at EVO demonstrates the two games can coexist peacefully. I reckon the community's slowly but surely becoming more united under a common banner of Smash.

 

[Saikyoshi]

It's strongly divided.

Melee, Smash 4, and Project M are fighting a three-way war. It won't end until there's only one scene left.

It's unfortunate, but that's how it is.

 

[NGUY (guitarstage)]

sm4sh community is becoming **** everyday.But some still consider melee to be more toxic... Lol

 

[CrazyPerson]

If there are different ways to play game, different rules to set there will be division.

But... are we any more divided than other competitive events?

NFL football changes some rules every year... there is the "protect from concussions camp" vs the "I'd rather my head be hit than my knees." camp. There is the group that wants to protect QBs more vs the ones that want to be allowed to hit them harder. There are those who thought the old PAT system was fine and those who thought the recent change needed to happen.

MMA: Pride rules or UFC? Legalize soccer kicks to the head? 12-6 elbows? keep 10 point must or change it? New scoring criteria?

Heck... monopoly: Money on free parking or no? Collect rent while in jail or no? Income tax: 10% or $200 or flat $200? Allowed to count before making the decision?

In all cases there are official rules that a small group has come up with... and while people follow them or not, there isn't' agreement.

So... no game community (video game, sport, or other) will ever be truly united in their opinions... and to often our pack nature causes us to group together and deem us superior to those who are different. (major flaw in the wiring of our brains IMO) but I am getting way to philosophical here.

Difference here is that a lot more people are able to give input and be heard... and when talking over the internet often the typical consequences of dissrespecting someone in person aren't present. Don't need to worry about the social issues that could come... or the inherent risk of someone being ticked off enough to snap and punch you... and furthermore the ability to be anonymous (varies from site to site) makes more jerks than when reputation and respect are of long term importance.

Conclusion: there so many different fun ways to play this game... and different ways are valid to different ends are valid.

 

[Itty Bit]

From a lurker's perspective, I've seen a lot more peace between the more casual players and the more serious players. Remember that stupid "Tiers are for Queers" thing that came out back during Brawl's release? I'm glad that has seem to have died off.
That being said, it still does exist, it's just not as bad as I remember it being. But that being said, I've been lurking around everything and not taking any part in much since Smash 4's release

 

[Powerman293]

It's strongly divided.

Melee, Smash 4, and Project M are fighting a three-way war. It won't end until there's only one scene left.

It's unfortunate, but that's how it is.

The year is 20XX....

 

[Neckbeards]

Divided just like all the other fanbases

 

[Fuerzo]

Better than how it was circa Apex 2015, at least between Melee and Smash 4 (RIP Project M)

 

[HeavyLobster]

Things have definitely settled down since around Apex, as Smash 4 is still doing well as a competitive game and has not really degenerated into a hypercentralized mess(top tiers still obviously win out at nationals, but character diversity and overall balance are still better than Melee/Brawl) nor has the game become ultra-campy as certain doom-sayers predicted. The divide between the games still exists, but the worst has largely died down. A lot of the core disagreements persist, but mostly people have decided to shut up and play what they like. I wouldn't say the community's become more united as much as less hostile. Also PM's still going even if it's got less visibility. It'll probably wind up in the shadow of the other two games due to its nature as a mod, but it'll continue on for years to come.