The Harsh Reality of Gaming in New Zealand

Summary

This video script offers a glimpse into the unique experiences of being a gamer in New Zealand, highlighting both the perks and challenges. The positives include being among the first to play new game releases due to the country's time zone advantage and the close-knit gaming community that often translates into real-life friendships. However, the negatives are also discussed, such as difficulties in finding lobbies for older games, high latency when playing internationally, slower internet speeds compared to other countries, and the social stigma associated with gaming. The script also humorously addresses the common misconception of New Zealand being confused with Australia.

Takeaways

• 🌏 New Zealand's geographic isolation means it often gets new game releases before other countries due to its time zone being at the forefront.
• 🤝 The small population of New Zealand fosters a gaming community where online friends are more likely to become real-life friends.
• 🎮 The close-knit gaming community can lead to unexpected friendships, as exemplified by the story of meeting 'Jim' through GTA 5 and him eventually living with the narrator.
• 📶 New Zealand gamers enjoy fewer server connection issues during game releases due to lower player counts, although this is not a significant advantage.
• 🚫 Difficulty in finding lobbies for older console games is a common issue in New Zealand, making it hard to continue playing favorites like Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.
• 🔌 High ping and poor connection quality when playing with international players are prevalent due to New Zealand's distance from other countries.
• 🌐 New Zealand's internet speeds, while improved, still lag behind those of countries like the US, affecting the gaming experience, especially for online multiplayer games.
• 📡 Internet availability is not as widespread in rural New Zealand, leaving some gamers with poor connections or no access to online gaming.
• ⏰ Gaming events and DLC releases often occur at inconvenient times for New Zealanders due to time zone differences with event-hosting countries.
• 🎮 There is a lingering social stigma around gaming in New Zealand, with some still viewing it as an undesirable hobby, unlike in countries like the US.
• 🏠 It can be challenging to find real-life friends who share the same passion for gaming in New Zealand due to the smaller gaming community and remaining stigma.

Q & A

Why do new game releases often happen first in New Zealand?

New Zealand is at the front of all the time zones, making it the first to experience the New Year. This also means that game releases that are time-specific to midnight in their respective countries can happen first in New Zealand.

What is a unique advantage of gaming in New Zealand due to its small size?

Gamers in New Zealand are more likely to make real-life friends through gaming because of the country's small population, increasing the chances that online friends live nearby.

Can you explain the story of how the gamer became friends with 'Jim' while playing GTA 5?

The gamer was playing GTA 5 and needed an additional player to start a heist. They invited a random player who turned out to be a good communicator and team player. This led to a strong friendship, and eventually, 'Jim' moved to live with the gamer for a year while studying.

Why is it less likely to experience server connection issues in New Zealand when big games are released?

There are fewer players in New Zealand, resulting in less demand on game servers during new releases, which can prevent the server overloads that cause connection issues in more populated regions.

What is the downside of trying to play older games on consoles in New Zealand?

It is nearly impossible to find lobbies for older games in New Zealand due to the small player base, making it difficult to enjoy older titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.

How does the physical distance of New Zealand affect the gaming experience when playing with international players?

The distance results in high latency or ping when connecting to servers hosted outside of New Zealand and Australia, putting local gamers at a disadvantage, especially in fast-paced first-person shooter games.

What are some common issues with internet speeds in New Zealand compared to other countries?

While internet speeds in New Zealand have improved, they still lag behind countries like the US in terms of both speed and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, rural areas may not have widespread access to high-speed internet or 4G connectivity.

Why might a gamer in New Zealand miss out on live gaming events or DLC releases at convenient times?

Many gaming events and DLC releases are scheduled based on US time zones, which can result in inconvenient timing for New Zealanders, such as events happening in the early morning hours.

What is the current perception of gaming in New Zealand according to the script?

Although the stigma around gaming is reducing worldwide, New Zealand still has some way to go, with an existing perception among older generations that gaming is not socially acceptable or is associated with being a 'loser'.

How does the size of New Zealand's population affect the likelihood of finding friends with similar gaming interests in real life?

With a smaller population, there are fewer gamers in New Zealand, making it potentially more challenging to find friends in real life who share the same gaming interests compared to more populous countries.

Why is there often confusion between New Zealand and Australia?

New Zealand and Australia are geographically close, and some people mistakenly believe they are the same or in the same location. However, they are separate countries with distinct cultures and identities.