Gaming is very much the idea of playing pretend. To become someone that you're not. To become bigger than life. To feel powerful. To feel of importance.
This is the beauty of gaming. My parents would always ask me why I played as much as I did in High School(and still do). Why not go socialize and engage in activity with my real world friends? What could I possibly be doing for hours on end every single day? What amused me so much about something as seemingly juvenile as video games?
I was playing pretend. And I loved it.
I have this thing called Asperger's Syndrome. It falls under the branch of autism, but is believed to be a much less severe diagnosis. Fortunately, my case is very minor. But it brings its share of obstacles.
I can't exactly approach people and initiate conversation. When i'm approached, I tend to freeze up and let anxiety get the better of me. Now picture someone with such traits and place them in a single gender Christian school, a boy's school, where the population consists of very uninformed, snobby, and not particularly friendly people.
That was my life throughout Middle and High School. Constant isolation. Basically just being the odd one out. Being told I was pathetic on a day to day basis. My home life wasn't much better either. I felt powerless. So, I contemplated suicide on multiple occasions. But I pulled through - somehow.
When I look back at those years, my greatest memories weren't even grounded in reality. They were from video games. They were of me essentially playing pretend. Pretending I was Master Chief. Solid Snake. A hero. Strong and brave. Great at whatever I do. Things I was always fooled into believing I couldn't possibly be in the real world.
THAT is the beauty of gaming. ANYONE can be whoever they dream. THAT is why we love this industry. Each and every one of you, myself included, are very much childish. Sure, we kind of grew out of building LEGOs and pitting Star Wars action figures against each other in epic war, but we've moved onto bigger things in that same realm; the realm of pretend.
Why play with Army Men when you can play one of the many great WWII games in existence? Why build a model tower with LEGOs when you can construct entire cities in Minecraft?
We are addicted to the concept of action and reaction. We do one thing, and another thing happens as a result of that action. You press an action button on your Dualshock, what do you see on-screen?
The Reaction.
That's how it's been since our youth. Each of us crave the power that comes with being in control. The power to control the actions and reactions. In my case, I never had much control over what happened in my life. And so, I turned to playing pretend. It gave ME the power. And so, I continue to play. As do each of you.
Bash each other all you want for holding preference for one company over another. For disliking one game everyone else seems to love.
Just recognize this: You and me are a special bunch. We still haven't stopped playing pretend. This is what separates our industry from any other. This is why games are special.
Others may not see it, but no matter. Just keep playing pretend. Be whoever you want to be.
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This blog really strikes a chord with me. I'm physically disabled, and I've been unable to stand or walk unaided for the last 25+ years. Gaming allows me to take a break from the confines of my day-to-day life and imagine what it would be like to run parkour, travel the world of Ivalice, or live an adventurer's life in Skyrim.
That's why I'll always game (at least as long as I'm physically and mentally able to do so). It's brought so much joy to my life by giving me a chance to set aside the physical disability I've had since birth and focus on just having fun.
And having fun is, after all, what draws us to this amazing hobby in the first place.
Thanks for sharing this blog. :)
First of all thanks for breaking your personal barrier and sharing your experience with us. It's really great to read such a blog, finally, let's speak about the great aspects of gaming!
I have to thank gaming for a lots of things. To me is an activity I do with my partner (he introduced me to gaming, yes, I was that ignorant) and I discovered an amazing new universe.
Gaming has taught me the meaning of cooperation and teamwork, something I wouldn't have experienced otherwise.
It's taught me the concept of challenge and of committing myself to a task.
It's allowed me to playing pretend, as you say. I'm against weapons by principle, but I have a great time playing with my team in Battlefield. I really felt on a battle field playing Killzone 2 and I loved commanding my own squad in SOCOM. All things I wouldn't have otherwise experienced and I could make a long, long list.
Gaming is something unique and it's, in my opinion, the ultimate experience, because it involves you in a way nothing else can: not a movie, not a book!
Gaming has also had a great influence on my creativity and that's something I deeply appreciate.
Thanks again for sharing your vision and prompting a smile, sometimes I'm really tired about debates and polemics :).
Ivy