Loading ...Why do we play computer games?
I was sitting on the DART(Public train in Dublin, Ireland) the other day on my way home and i was thinking about makethisgame.com. I started to also think about computer games why we play them and why they are so popular.
I know this is a bit deep after a days work but it was a nice switch in “train of thought” to end my day. I started thinking about why we like games that mimic reality so much? Why do we immerse ourselves in similar and alternative worlds to our own and in some cases carry out everyday tasks, SIMS for example. Are we trying to escape reality or simply like the feeling of control.
Why do we play games that simulate war situations? Do we secretly long to be in that bunker popping up every few seconds and hoping that bullet that whizzed by your ear wasn’t your last warning shot. Is it an interest in participating without the risk of serious injury? Probably.
What i am getting at is, i think the games we are interested in tells a lot about us as a person, from my own personal experience i found i like to play games where there is problem solving, adventure and and an element of science fiction involved. In “real life” i am a software engineer(problem solving), i love to travel(adventure) and i also love science fiction, i confess i’m a trekky and a huge fan of other similar science ficion shows.
Is it as easy as that to map your personality to the games you play, ill leave that one up to you . . .
cant argue with any of that… but big messy demons are not in the equation! (Doom,DOW,and so on)…oh and killing nazis!… hmmmm maybe looking into this is not such a good idea!
Comment by Declan — August 1, 2005 @ 2:54 pm
Profound words…..from a chased man…..
I must agree. What I find more disturbing are the SIM’s fans out there. What could be more interesting that playing out your life in a computer?????!!!!!!
What the hell! Have you missed the point completely! Where’s the huge guns…or armies of space marine minions there!!! When I played the demo of the sims all I tried to do was start fights and make my sim die. This is no reflection of my behaviour in real life (I assure you), but it was more interesting!!!!!
Introduce guns to the sims….and a suicide add on pack. You could simply call it Sims Texas or Sims small town America….now theres a step in the right direction!!!!
Comment by Administrator — August 2, 2005 @ 9:30 am
I have to admit i have a deviously secret interest in playing Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. This game just blew me away from the moment i parachuted out of a lear jet into a canyon and landed a Cesna on the MGM grand casino in Los Venturas(Los Vegas).
A friend of mine recently told me how her boyfriend, also my friend, was playing San Andreas when she called him for his dinner. He replied with a classic, i’ll be out in a minute i’m just finished beating up this prostitute!!
What does this tell about me!!
Comment by Phil — August 8, 2005 @ 8:12 pm
As a recovering Sims addict post Sims 2 for me it was all about control and fun. Its like setting up a massive overly complicated row of dominos and then watching them come crashing down.
Anyway to answer your question, for me their simply Entertainment :). I dont believe its a form of escapisum or a way to live out fantasies unattainable to you in real life.Their just solid entertainment to kill a few hours.
Comment by Gutts — August 21, 2005 @ 3:37 am