Video games seem to offer two things: always available and endless playability. I say “seem to” because you still need certain items: supply of electricity, computer, video display, input devices, and relative privacy.
With regular games and any mainstream social activity the times that you can participate are limited to open hours of the venue the event is at and the number of people that are willing to participate. Take football as an example. It’s a great sport and I like watching it, but to participate would mean getting a group of people together with like-minded intent, find a field where the owners don’t care if the ground gets torn up, a good football, maybe flags if people don’t want to get too physical, and a time to play. That “event time” is limited to daylight unless you find a field that has flood lights.
Football video games lets you play football with a full sized team that has different strengths, play that team against another team, and all in a virtual space that represents a real life stadium. Granted no one is really tackling another person or throwing a football, but then again no one is getting hurt, sweating, or suffering from heat exhaustion.
Since a person playing a video game doesn’t tire easily, many games can be played; even a whole season can be played in one session. If that person has a friend or two or eight, then they can all play without getting grass stains. Or maybe they’ll trade the grass stains for ketchup stains if snacks are present. Games can be played over and over again in the comfort of your own home.
Now, I’m not advocating everyone play video games: that would be a bad idea. What I am promoting is a new view to video games. Instead of condemning the hobby because a few bad apples take them too far, why not embrace them as a connecting hobby. And besides, isn’t it better if a person is interacting with his entertainment rather than just sitting on the couch and passively watching?
--HardWearJunkie
No comments:
Post a Comment