I grew up with videogames.I witnessed step by step their evolution from something ''kids play'' to a wider audience.Countless times I have caught myself trying to be a videogame ambassador to people that aren't gamers or choosed to make them look like demon's work.I feel like it's my duty to spread the word like when reading a  book or hearing a story that influenced you and want to tell it to as many people as possible.For some reason I feel a little ashamed when i try.Maybe because i sense the feeling of prejudice for videogames around me or maybe cause people nowadays are not as openminded as they seem.One reason could also be that videogames should be better experienced than telling stories about them to really understand what makes them stand out.Do you feel that there's still a bad reputation about the videogame industry as a whole?Has it really matured in people minds?Have you witnessed the same experiences?

Most people are hypocrites, they play Facebook or smartphones games all the time, but console gaming is almost a taboo. I've seen it happening and sometimes it really pisses me off.

Having articles about video games being the reason why a kid killed his mom doesn't really help us much, because if it is on the news, then it most be true, and many people fall for this.

It will take a very very long time before video games are taken seriously by the media. And in general gamers don't help the current situation, just look at the GTA V Gamespot review where gamers were attacking the reviewer for a 9.0 and calling her transgender and what not, how are we supposed to be taken seriously when people acted like that? 

It's a combination of people's ignorance and gamers actions, the latter is easier to change, the former is much harder, and until (if ever) games are treated like movies (not in the sense on how they are made, but how they are perceived by the public) the current situation won't change much. This is one of the reasons developers and publishers are taking the "make games like movies" route, but the issue is bigger than just that.

Yes it's really ridiculous that everyone is gaming on facebook or at their phones and console gaming is being treated like the forbidden apple.And i always wonder are there really intelligent people that blame a videogame for a murder?There are so many factors that could lead to it.Maybe videogames is the sheep to carry all sins nowadays.

Try explaining that you're enjoying an MMO like world of warcrarft to your friends who do not care for gaming in general...

Hell, even playing FF or any old school jrpg gets frowned and laughed upon by other 'gamers'... Mostly the fps lovers.

Haha!Yes even gamers carry the same prejudice.I imagine how funny it would be to explain to a cod gamer about animal crossing or even better nintendogs.

People simply lack the eloquence to properly explain the appeal of videogames. Spending more time with your friends, planning and achieving difficult goals, learning to work together, fierce competition and the investment that comes with being actively engaged in the moment. Those are appealing to any human being. Most people simply aren't going to explain it to the casual observer in that fashion.

Once a friend told me that all console games suck and that smartphone games are the best, I really wanted to kill him.

It advanced greatly sinced the "kid's play" thing, but thre's still a long way to go.

Is it really easy to convince people to make the transition from mobile games to console ones?

This is why we play videogames: the psychological concept of flow, invented by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi

Flow is one of the main reasons that people play video games. This is especially true since the primary goal of games is to create entertainment through intrinsic motivation, which is related to flow. Through the balance of skill and challenge the player’s brain is aroused, with attention engaged and motivation high. Thus, the use of flow in games helps foster an enjoyable experience which in turn increases motivation and draws players to continue playing. In addition, game designers, in particular, benefit from the integration of flow principles into their game designs. Overall, the experience of play is fluid and is intrinsically psychologically rewarding independent of scores or in-game successes in the flow state.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)#Gaming