Read on Twitter
Something that came to mind that I decided to open dialogue about: ableism and inclusivity in gaming, and how it pertains to me.
I have Nonverbal Learning Disorder (which I will notate as NVLD, as it commonly is), which makes spatial things really difficult, especially in games
I have Nonverbal Learning Disorder (which I will notate as NVLD, as it commonly is), which makes spatial things really difficult, especially in games
As I have comorbid Asperger& #39;s, it also creates social difficulties (I& #39;m literal and straightforward to a fault) and some spatial reasoning deficiencies that make certain activities difficult (I can& #39;t open boxes, envelopes, or find matching lids).
There are other things, of course, but I want to focus on these two topics, starting with spatial issues.
People act like playing difficult games is some sort of badge of pride. "I speedran Dark Souls/Bloodborne/Sekiro/Hollow Knight/etc" are things I hear a LOT among gamers
People act like playing difficult games is some sort of badge of pride. "I speedran Dark Souls/Bloodborne/Sekiro/Hollow Knight/etc" are things I hear a LOT among gamers
and these are things I just can& #39;t be a part of. I physically do not have the dexterity to match what is on the screen. I don& #39;t understand maps. And I just generally become confused by spatial challenges like this.
It makes me feel like a "fake gamer," in a way.
It makes me feel like a "fake gamer," in a way.
It doesn& #39;t help that I& #39;m already female, and any woman who plays games is seen as a slut only doing it for male attention, but that& #39;s not the point.
Simultaneously, I see people complaining about "games becoming easier," and for me, that was rather helpful.
Simultaneously, I see people complaining about "games becoming easier," and for me, that was rather helpful.
Finally, I felt like I could join in on games I formerly could not because I just did not have the capacity to understand. But people like me who genuinely need easy modes or games to be "dumbed down" a bit are ridiculed instead, so I don& #39;t talk about it.
So now I& #39;ll talk about it. Some of you erroneously think of me as smart (I& #39;m not), and in reality, I play games on easy mode! Sometimes, if I like the story enough, I& #39;ll bump it up and try harder (as I did with Bioshock), but ordinarily, I just play really simple games.
One of the reasons Warframe really clicked with me is because of what a personalized experience it is. I don& #39;t feel as alienated from other gamers because I can play however the fuck I want--and get support from players who are better at certain things (coughs on my wife)
But I still have NVLD. I don& #39;t socialize normally. I don& #39;t understand why people get bent out of shape about "metas" or whatever because I just want to be a ninja in space looking at interesting things.
In all avenues in my life--not just in gaming fandoms--I& #39;ve been extremely targeted by people for not understanding social conventions, why I should or shouldn& #39;t care about certain aspects, as well as just being "bad" at games in general.
