I used to enjoy games simply as an experience, but increasingly I tend to wonder why I play them. For me I think the answer is that they are the ultimate carrot on the stick experience. The carrot is the illusion of being competent and powerful. Unlike real life, there is a feeling that the time and effort I put into a game always brings a steady flow of results and rewards. Especially in RPGs, where every fight, even if it's trivial, goes towards that "level up".
But sometimes I step back and think about how I'm literally just interacting with a machine that is following a program someone wrote. The illusion is so compelling because the progress and competence feels permanent, like something that no one can take away (unlike say money earned in real life), but actually it is just a hardware failure or power outage away from disappearing. I guess I still have the skill of having learnt to navigate a particular game program, but that's never been useful and no longer even gives pride.
So I think for me the only value left in playing games is either the stories they have to tell, or the novelty of a cleverly crafted system. I think to be a game maker is to be like an illusionist... you must keep people chasing the carrot on the stick even though they are just interacting with a dumb machine (multiplayer excluded). I don't know, sometimes I just get the feeling that gaming is something I put an inordinate amount of time into and got back less than almost any other activity I can think of. I guess it's not so much different than other time wasters like sports or drugs. But if I could go back to when I was still a passionate youth who enjoyed things, I think I would steer clear of gaming and its great illusions to pursue activities more grounded in reality.
On January 13 2019 07:51 Starlightsun wrote: but actually it is just a hardware failure or power outage away from disappearing. I guess I still have the skill of having learnt to navigate a particular game program,
"once you unplug the machine the scores are gone forever."
I still enjoy video games. Great way to kill time and relax when I'm not at work. Though I can understand where you are coming from. I try not to think about it too much. Instead, I go with the flow and enjoy.
I feel this same way because I've spent the majority of my life gaming, like the above poster said, don't over analyze and just try to have fun, that is the most important part of a game.
So I think for me the only value left in playing games is either the stories they have to tell, or the novelty of a cleverly crafted system. I think to be a game maker is to be like an illusionist... you must keep people chasing the carrot on the stick even though they are just interacting with a dumb machine (multiplayer excluded). I don't know, sometimes I just get the feeling that gaming is something I put an inordinate amount of time into and got back less than almost any other activity I can think of. I guess it's not so much different than other time wasters like sports or drugs. But if I could go back to when I was still a passionate youth who enjoyed things, I think I would steer clear of gaming and its great illusions to pursue activities more grounded in reality.
Lol for putting sports and drugs in the same basket
There are some articles out there saying gaming can develop parts of your brain like logical thinking and stuff. So you kinda did level up in some departments
I wish all the time I spent on gaming after I turned 18 would have been spent reading instead. Gaming is always just an escape from reality, and it's not a very good one.
So I think for me the only value left in playing games is either the stories they have to tell, or the novelty of a cleverly crafted system. I think to be a game maker is to be like an illusionist... you must keep people chasing the carrot on the stick even though they are just interacting with a dumb machine (multiplayer excluded). I don't know, sometimes I just get the feeling that gaming is something I put an inordinate amount of time into and got back less than almost any other activity I can think of. I guess it's not so much different than other time wasters like sports or drugs. But if I could go back to when I was still a passionate youth who enjoyed things, I think I would steer clear of gaming and its great illusions to pursue activities more grounded in reality.
Lol for putting sports and drugs in the same basket
There are some articles out there saying gaming can develop parts of your brain like logical thinking and stuff. So you kinda did level up in some departments
he seemed to be pointing out that sports, drugs and video games are three pretty common and distinct identity-shaping hobbies for young people to pursue. all three are just recreational activities which cause chemical responses in our brains
On January 15 2019 02:12 Hollow wrote: I wish all the time I spent on gaming after I turned 18 would have been spent reading instead. Gaming is always just an escape from reality, and it's not a very good one.
i'm very curious what you think the difference is unless you're exclusively referring to nonfiction reading
On January 15 2019 02:12 Hollow wrote: I wish all the time I spent on gaming after I turned 18 would have been spent reading instead. Gaming is always just an escape from reality, and it's not a very good one.
Yeah I am kinda in the same boat. I don't mind that I gamed, but there's been a heavy imbalance for years where gaming and gaming related things like streams eat up 90% of my free time. I love gaming, but tbh I feel like it stunted my growth especially in college.
WCS
