As I sit next to my brother and watch him play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for his Xbox 360, I notice my laptop sitting on his lap. Studying the screen intently, he does his best to watch and mimic the newest glitch that has come to light within the game’s multiplayer.

Curious to my brother’s motivation, I questioned why he would focus so hard on learning a glitch that would potentially get him banned, especially in light of recent events. Though my inquiry was passive by nature, I made it a point to advise against it without pushing my own view on the matter. Much to my dismay, he only rebutted with a simple “why not”.

Elevator Glitch in action.

For me, this is an average foray into gaming with my brother, one I don’t partake in myself. My younger sibling is no stranger to video games. His exposure to them was due in part to my extensive time spent playing them since I was three. While he did make attempts to get into video games when we were adolescents, it was stopped short by his unwillingness to submerge himself in the experience.

As our youth progressed into high school, we both led different paths: my brother was the athlete of the family and I was the “intellectual”. While my brother spent time preparing for football, I spent time making sure I had every ultimate weapon and limit break in Final Fantasy VII. To view this from the outside, it is clear that we were on very opposite sides of the social spectrum.

I wasn't the only one thinking this, was I?

Now that we’re both in our twenties, the video gaming community has evolved extensively. Two console generations have passed, and my desire to play games has turned me into a bit of a video game connoisseur, appreciative of a good story, good gameplay, and great art. In the past I may have been slightly reluctant to pick up an unheard of, but new game (for example: I pre-ordered Mirror’s Edge on a whim) as opposed to sticking with the Sonic’s and Mario’s of each console. The point being, I play games for the immersive and social experience and entertainment.

On the other hand, my brother is relatively new to the life devouring portion of gaming. It once started when I got him into Halo 3 after it first came out. His desire for a social experience came in a manner that let him connect with friends when he could no longer see them in school, or on his sports team. This enjoyment eventually led to his purchase of Modern Warfare 2.

When I say that my brother bought Modern Warfare 2, I mean that he purchased the multiplayer alone. In a literal sense, Activision could have charged sixty American dollars for half of the game and he would have bought it. As it stands today, I don’t think he has gotten any further than the end of Act One, if that. Welcome to the mainstream.

Now, I understand that I’m more than likely generalizing when I compare my brother’s gaming habits to those of other mainstream gamers, people who might actually enjoy a solid story, but refuse to pick up a game with little or no acclaim. What of those that are like my brother though? It’s clear that he isn’t the only person like this. Though it is a simple assumption, it’s plausible to believe that a vast amount of the minority (hell, it could be a majority now even) play games just like him.

What does this mean for gaming as a whole though? While it’s clearly not a huge issue, we can’t forego the potential for these people to sway the industry as a whole. If more companies like Activision arise and pander for the Almighty Dollar before their demographic, what will become of the industry?

Of course, I have plenty of room to doubt myself as the industry is growing larger every year, despite economic troubles. Even when it’s uncertain whether a game will fare well or not, with enough hype it can gain some ground.

Although, that doesn’t really answer the question of the mainstream gamer, he who seems to do nothing more than break down the system into nothing more than a highly interactive version of Facebook. For those of us who have come across the thirteen-year-old with the shrill voice spouting swear words, the guy with the way-too-calm voice who flaunts drug symbolism any chance he gets, or the person who wastes their time learning each new exploit instead of learning how to get better at the game, what can we do to make it a little more bearable and better?

Am I the only one who thought these titles were rather unnecessary?

The immediate answer is nothing short of uninspiring, unfortunately. For the most part we can only deal with it, due to games becoming a major part of culture in all corners of the world. Although, instead of condemning those types of gamers, or feeling frustrated with that one person you know, perhaps we should become more understanding. As much as I want to throttle my brother at times for using dishonest techniques during multiplayer games, maybe I just don’t understand his reasoning. Does he do it because he lacks the skill to actually play a top notch game and win, or does he do it for the simple exploration and exploitation of the game?

Though I promoted mainstream gaming at the start of this console generation, I’m beginning to wonder if complete transformation to a mainstream media is the best option. In the end, I still believe firmly in my mindset. As video games become more like broader entertainment forms such as television and film, we have to understand that different games draw in different crowds and different crowds are being drawn into the same game. For every blockbuster that brings in record sales, there will be that unheard of B-list movie that is a diamond-in-the-rough.

As the gaming industry evolves, we too must adjust. Those of us that have seen gaming as a passion our whole lives will have to make way for the mainstream, whether we like it or not. Despite that, we must voice our wishes and desires to those who are still listening and willing to craft an artful story and experience for us “veterans”.