Unfortunately, hostile gamers are nothing new. Online platforms such as social media websites, and gaming services like Xbox Live, have given these trolls microphones with which they can spout insults and profanity to their hearts’ content. With its in-game Twitter and Twitch integration, #IDARB has become another one of these microphones. It needs to stop.

The way #IDARB‘s Twitter integration works is that players can Tweet directly to ‘@idarbwire‘ using a particular match’s hashtag to drop ‘hash bombs’, which change the game depending on which bomb is used (for example, the hash bombs can block the goals, turn the ball into a bomb, rock the playing field like a boat, and so on). These Tweets, and those using the hashtag #IDARB, scroll across the bottom of the screen during a match, and it’s this publicity where the trolls find their microphone.

#IDARB is a fantastic game that I can’t stop playing, and its reliance on – and interaction with – social media is brilliant, bordering on revolutionary. It’s a shame that a few out of many have to take advantage of this system and use it in the worst possible way.

Upon booting up, the game displays the following message: “Your game settings allow the people of the Internet to interact with you. This may include profanity, threats, nudity, and unrealistic money-making opportunities“. While it makes for a funny boot-up screen, it rings completely true.

As I stated earlier, this type of behaviour, where people can take control of an outlet and spurt out vile, disgusting filth to any and all who are listening, is nothing new – but it is something that has to stop. It may not always hurt someone in particular, but it will always hurt gamers as a whole, when the vocal few give a bad name to everyone else. It’s this kind of behaviour that stops gaming from being taken seriously as a medium.

Grow up.

 

The following are some examples of messages that clog the #IDARB feed during a match (just a warning: many contain course language).

https://twitter.com/LilteazyMiller/status/564983186774441984

https://twitter.com/Hodor_HBO/status/564977529644384256

Send this to a friend