Why I Play Games: My Escapism
Leigh Alexander, best known as News Director at Gamasutra and blogger at SexyVideoGameLand, agrees. “Escapism has been part of human entertainment culture forever and ever – I think games are the modern era’s latest form of that,” she says. “Games may allow players to have a sense of power and control they don’t have in life because of their interactivity, but people have always looked to art to give them an experience of things outside of their regular lives.”
//Taking offence
It’s for these reasons that I find myself taking it personally when our hobby is attacked by the media as a harmful pastime. But I would be one of the first to admit that the games industry doesn’t always hold itself up well against other media outlets. With controversies left and right, violence in games and underage playing, there is often a reason to put this entertainment under the magnifying glass. But there are many positives on the other side of the coin. Not only is it a gateway to escape the pressures of everyday life, but it can be seen as a tool to help people in other ways.
Young adults and teenagers often find it hard to express themselves, whether it’s emotionally or just conveying a point of view. This way of life can aid these people. Let’s look at a teenager, full of imagination and wants to find a creative way of exploring their own thoughts. Put them in front of The Sims or LittleBigPlanet and watch them work furiously at something they can be proud of. Gaming for that slice of society will allow them to find freedom in digital worlds. This could be their reason to play – maybe they’ve had a hard time at school, or maybe they’re bullied and find a release in tapping away on a controller.
One could also explore those who lack confidence and use gaming as an opportunity to strike up conversation through online services. Such a lack of an outgoing attitude often leaves people out of social groups, but exploring these communities online not only improves interaction between people, but it can also be seen as an easier task, as you already have one thing in common: games. A lot of support was given to me through the hard times; there’s always someone at the end of the Ethernet cable.
Obviously, this method of social interaction will have its critics. It’s a common belief that more people should be outside talking to “real people”. I wondered if Leigh considers this escapism a healthy option. “Anything’s healthy in moderation, and everyone needs to forget their problems for a little while,” she muses. “Being able to escape for a little bit does not preclude one from being able to cope when they get back. In fact, temporary escapes to relax probably help people confront real issues better.
“But there’s definitely a question of moderation. Alcohol’s called a ’social lubricant’ because a couple of drinks out in the evenings helps most people feel more relaxed and talkative. Obviously, though, someone’s life will fall apart in a direct ratio to how much and how often they get drunk.
“Watching internet communities around games, I do often get concerned about the personalities of those who spend the largest volume of time playing games. There’s a line between having games be a healthy way to forget the world and having games be more important than the world. I wonder if, because of the sense of control interactivity provides, people would rather just go on playing videogames than confront the fact that they feel totally powerless in real life.”
//Can’t we just play?
Let me paint a picture in your mind. You’re a kid again, and it’s Christmas morning. You wake up to find a brand new remote control car under the tree with your name on it. How does that make you feel? You forget everything else; all that’s in your mind is, I wonder if I can make a ramp to jump it off. I wonder if my friend got one. We can race them!
[Continues...]
Thanks for this Daniel – it’s quite refreshing to read an article that’s not so much an angry defence of games (as understandable a response as they are) but instead a sober, thoughtful explanation of some of the appeals.
We’ve had quite a few articles on Reso recently which have really made me think a lot about how we’re going through a really transformative period in games, in a sense that the way society as a whole thinks of games as a medium is really changing; this is definitely one of those articles.
Really good article, shame I was offline when you were asking for reasons. The ultimate reason for me is social interaction. I remember playing winner stays on on Pro Evo and tekken back in my youth and that has moved right through to Xbox Live. The funny thing is 3 or 4 consoles and a lot of years later and Im still playing with some of the same frinds that I used to.
2 words:
WIN
MOAR
A lovely article I have to say. I am one of these people that maybe spends a bit to much online then outside in the world because i can’t express myself very easily and yes your right in that its very good freedom. I actually think we should be allowed to escape more in this modern life, we don’t get many chances to now a days I feel…
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