German television programme makes fun of gamers - controversy ensues

Hallo, Leute! Odds are that you have never even heard of the television station RTL or their show 'Explosiv', but the controversy surrounding this programme's coverage of last week's Gamescom expo may be worth taking note of.

'Explosiv' (take a wild guess what that word means) apparently is a sensationalist programme that rather enjoys poking fun at the niche groups of German society. With this concept in mind, it's not wholly surprising that their report of Gamescom didn't exactly portray the audience of said event in a 'fair and balanced' way. At least, that's not how many people would define approaching adolescents who clearly have no experience with giving interviews, and asking them suggestive questions ('do you have a girlfriend'). Having one of the booth babes analyse the bodily hygiene of some of the more eccentric individuals present at the event wasn't exactly a class move, either. And stuff like this happens to be what the entirity of the report consists of.

 

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Oh well, it's not like it's the first time that a television programme plays the 'GAMERS R NERDS' card for a few cheap chuckles. Let's forget about it and move on to more important things (like playing games).

Well, that's not what German gamers thought. Offended by the suggestive and rather apocalyptic portrayal of the practitioners of their hobby, they posted angry reaction videos on YouTube, made parody videos, and created online petitions and Facebook groups.

Having underestimated the care factor of the gamers they ridiculed just a few days earlier, RTL Asplosiv was quick to apologise with an official statement. It still remains to be seen if the angry gamers will accept the apologies: it's not unlikely that ze crocodile tears will only add fuel to ze fire.

But, come on. They're sowwy.


Jesse Dolman, NoobFeed.