I have long wondered about what, exactly, drives me to be as obsessive about video games as I am. What is it about playing Final Fantasy X that makes me so saddened by the fact that I can’t ever realistically expect my wife to play through it of her own volition? I think it’s because games provide me with a real sense of participation in whatever ordeal is presented to me. This varies wildly from having the real ability to successfully make 2x2 same colored squares in Lumines to helping Yuna figure out how to defeat Sin once and for all. In a very real sense, when Tidus says “This is my story” at the beginning of Final Fantasy X I feel like he’s speaking with a distant echo of my voice even though I make no impact on the game’s outcome. I care about the fact that these complicated program will only progress due to my direct input, and I hope one day I can get my wife and others to understand this.
This post was inspired by this article.
It is an escape from reality. This is what can make it so addicting. When reality gets stressful, it can be enticing to just run away and visit another story far more captivating and entertaining. I find that Video Games really help me to relax after a long day. I just need to be really careful that they are just that, a method of relaxation and not a way to hide from reality.
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