Why Do You Game?

Coming to define the gaming experience is RecklessTortuga's fantastic viral series The Online Gamer, mockingly showcasing how permissibly irritable gaming culture has become. Of course the series is a purposefully terrible misrepresentation of the gratification and self-fulfillment the medium can give, but after binging through a few episodes after another tireless night, I wonder why people put themselves through such stress. Thinking further into the topic (dropping the "why" bomb is sometimes dangerous), I wanted to discover why people submit themselves to video games.

In my case it's rather personal, and maybe as my audience builds I'll disclose that information someday, but I've always had an insane interest in the psychological aspects of this industry. A prominent example being reports surface daily claiming pixelated violence leads to real-world aggression, then other studies come out contradicting that information. Supposedly countless acts of violence can desensitize us to the wrongness of the act, but levelheaded gamers can work past that. I play Grand Theft Auto to relieve real-world stress, not coalesce my murderous tendencies.

As a consumable medium, gaming is perhaps the most engaging, allowing interactivity between players but also sparking fiery debate among the most passionate fans. Through the discussion, I know of some people who associate themselves distantly with the culture, eventually being overwhelmed and respecting the diehard support of many fans. That adoration is infectious, and like communities formed around films and music, it's not outlandish to say many just fall victim to the culture. The passion is what makes gaming so attractive, essentially creating an unavoidable network of nerdiness. The culture surrounding this medium is palpable, from the wildest conference moments to everyday folks purchasing Angry Birds without a second thought. And as gaming finds its identity, more of society will embrace (and be enveloped by) this inescapable passion. "Gamer by accident" is the appropriate term.

Being so immersed in an experience can deeply affect the state of mind, even toying with feelings on certain objects and emotions. Many games force choices with inexplicable and unforeseen consequences -- Mass Effect utilizes this masterfully, and more than 1000 variables will shape the campaign for Mass Effect 3 early next year. Pitted with these choices, it's hard not to question our own sense of ethics and moral standing, and our decisions can even be traced to our deepest insecurities. Such choices -- whether to exterminate a race for misunderstood misdeeds, program a fabricated mindset into a hive mind, or shoot a trusted comrade desiring the best outcome for his people -- portray us either as monstrous beings or of the kindhearted. Playing these sequences is a great measure of our inner intentions -- perhaps unbeknownst to us -- and through these decisions we can actually witness the aftermath, something films or music could never achieve.

Lastly, and most importantly, scoring a headshot on the other side of the map on a buddy and acquiring the coveted trophy of any rivalry -- bragging rights -- is the greatest feeling.

To the readers: Why do you game? Do you use it as a social activity, to spur creativity, or maybe to kill time? We all have our reasons. Start the discussion in the comments below! (And don't forget to share this on any social networking site by clicking that shiny row of buttons. It helps out dearly.)