Yes, I Play Video Games
Yes, I’ve been playing a long time.
No, I didn’t start gaming as a kid. I was a studious child and didn’t get hooked until I was married, completed college, and had a career. It started as a Christmas present from my husband for both of us to share and gaming in some form has become a Christmas tradition for both of us since.
Yes, I can be obsessive about gaming. I have been known to play 12–15 hours with only bathroom stops and quick food breaks. After crashing into bed, I can start the cycle again.
No, I can’t just play 1 hour and put it down. I get too immersed/excited/interested (pick any engagement word here) in anything I do in front of the screen.
Yes, I play on multiple devices and I still have them all. I’ve owned Nintendo, Wii, PC, and Android games.
No, I don’t have to have the latest console. I don’t like throwing money away on electronics since they don’t age well, so I pick the best I can afford at the time and milk it for all it’s worth. And I don’t jump on the next game release until I read reviews and select what I think are quality games that deserve “investing” my free time in them.
Yes, I try to make the game last as long as possible. I hate to end the story (and the fun). And I don’t waste time on anything that doesn’t last more than a week (80 hours of play at least). So I play every side quest, every internal game, every extra challenge I can to drag out the experience as long as possible.
No, I don’t share my progress or conquests with friends. This is personal entertainment, not a contest. I want to experience everything the developer gave me to enjoy; the beauty of an open world that still has plenty of wildlife and serenity, the chance to get on a horse and gallop across the hills, hearing nothing but the horse snorting and galluping or other animals; and the the amazing music that sets the tone for different scenes to warning me of danger, increase my entrigue, enhance joyful scenes, and sometimes, move me to tears. I often buy the soundtracks to enjoy thoughtful, calming, even meditative states that remind me of the fun and frustration I had in the game.
Yes, I use these to procrastinate. To forget my problems for a short time. To experience the high of beating a tough opponent. To solve an unusual puzzle. To parkour over obstacles I couldn’t possibly hurtle without serious and / or permanent physical damage and embarrassment. Or, to vicariously beat an enemy to a pulp venting my pent up emotions for the day (he’ll always respawn to fight another day).
No, I don’t think video games are a waste of time. They fill needs passive activities can’t address and when you look back on the experience, you might learn something about yourself you might not see in “normal” situations.
======Recommendation ======
If you are interested in the evolution of video games from the late 1980’s (or in cultural trivia of that same time) you should read the Ernest Cline books Ready Player One (2011) and Ready Player Two (2020) or see the 2018 film Ready Player One which follows the first book closely.
03/09/21 Addition: Another opinion of someone who uses video games like the Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla game in a similar way from Wired Magazine.
