Comments on: The Rise of the Word “Gamer”

By: Jesper

Jesper — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:22:38 +0000

@Ipolon I didn’t say that it was scientific…
Feel free to suggest better searches.

By: lpolon

lpolon — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:59:12 +0000

i suggest you to compare it with something or try any kind of control before discussing anything..

other “game-related” words, is it possible to look for cross-terms?

very scientific indeed.

By: Jesper

Jesper — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:19:00 +0000

@Bobby That’s very possible – the term being avoided as to avoid the stigma.

@Mike Not quite sure about the peak ca. 1915-1918. The dates suggest WWI, but a quick google books search mostly comes up with Gamer as a last name.
“Action by JT Thomson against Charles Gamer and others. From a judgment for plaintiff, Gamer appeals.”

@Simon Agreed!

By: Simon Dor

Simon Dor — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:00:14 +0000

Probably the rise of casual games has something to do with it. At the same time, gaming itself is becoming more casual. It has impact to call yourself a “gamer” when everyone “games”.

By: Mike Keesey

Mike Keesey — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:03:42 +0000

What’s with the bump in the late teens? Did “gamer” have some other meaning that became popular for a few years?

By: Bobby

Bobby — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:54:37 +0000

Perhaps it flattens because (post PS2/Xbox and rise of the 360) the term gamer had earned an unflattering connotation that would put off the mass market of “regular guy” consumers who were now casually consuming Madden and Halo in record numbers but wouldn’t want to associate with JRPGs and Mario. Maybe “Gamer” culture matches the commercial games market best between the 16-bit and PS2 era hardware.