(For cheap games I would recommend GamesDeal who have served me well in the past!)
I don’t know if it’s just me but gaming seems to get a tough rap. I’ve been told several times (notably by women, 30s plus) that gaming is for kids and to some extend I understand where this perception comes from (I’ll touch on this later). It’s also been blamed for several high-profile violent crimes, citing specific video games as the “cause” of the crime.
I noticed recently, when I was writing a personal profile, that I was hesitant about adding gaming as one of my hobbies and when I think back, I’ve often had this same fear with job applications (in the bit where you add your other interest) and any other times when I basically wanted to be taken seriously. In the end, I do always add it because that’s who I am. If people think that’s a reason not to hire me, don’t hire me.
So why is gaming treated so differently from other, similar, entertainment mediums such as movies and books? I think one reason is that video games have simply not been around very long. In fact, only 30 years or so. When I was a child (only someone old can write this), I was introduced to the very first “computer games”, as they were then known, and I’ve maintained an interest ever since. To me, it’s no different than still being into say, football (wait, is that also childish? hmm…) and, actually, if you think about it, games continue to evolve whereas football has pretty much stayed the same.
For my generation then, gaming was something new and incredible. It seemed to be mostly boys who were into it at that time – perhaps because it was less social or because girls were simply not encouraged – so it’s no surprise that some women of my age group would have associate gaming with childhood. Similarly, men and women of the generation above mine often share this view, because it was their children who were playing these games.
The average age of a gamer is currently around 35* (I’m 37), which goes to show that it’s not only me that continued this interest but actually most people my age. And gaming has changed dramatically in the time I’ve been playing. Not every game is (and never has been) about running around shooting something; there are probably more different game genres than there are book genres. Again, high-profile games such as Call of Duty (I am a CoD God btw; my average kill/death ratio on Black Ops 3 is 1.49. What’s yours? Yeah, that’s what I thought) have tarnished the image of gaming and the gaming community but it may surprise people that almost 50% of the gaming market are now women*.
Entertainment is largely about escapism, which is one reason why gaming is now so popular. It’s much more interactive than the comparatively passive nature of reading or watching television which means you can become a part of the story, rather than just witnessing it (although, personally, I love all these mediums). You can embark on such adventures of wonderment and charm, in worlds brimming with artistic beauty, that those who have never played certain video games probably wouldn’t believe. Anyone who grew up with Final Fantasy VII knows what I’m talking about. And I’m sure any other gamers reading this.
I’ve just started playing The Last Guardian and wow, what a beautifully crafted puzzle-adventurer that is. Just like it’s forefathers, Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, it’s innovative, creative, unique and I’m sure would delight many non-gamers if they were locked in a dark room and forced to play it (not that I’ve done that to anyone…and if I did, video games made me do it).
But that interaction is also what’s led to games being blamed for crimes. It’s almost too ludicrous a subject to broach so I will do so only briefly. People have psychological problems. Some, really bad ones. These people can be influenced to do bad things, whether they see it in a game, a film, or read it in a book. If they hadn’t played that particular game, would they have committed that exact crime? No, probably not. But is that really the game’s fault? Of course not.
Good, that’s out the way. So, is gaming childish? Well, I think that really depends on your notion of maturity. I, for one, am looking forward to retirement, so I can play all those gems I’ve already missed out on because there’s just too much choice, it’s too expensive and there’s nowhere near enough time. That’s assuming my fingers still work by then (thanks, Call of Duty).
*statistics quoted from Wikipedia –
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_culture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_and_video_games
As always, comments, likes and shares welcome.
A.J. Austin
theinnerlands.com 