Sunday Thoughts: 05/07/09
Is your gaming hobby an escape from real-world pressures?Published 05/07/2009 at 17:07 by xvLIAMvx
Sunday Thoughts: 21/03/10 [13]
Sunday Thoughts: 07/03/10 [72]
Sunday Thoughts: 28/02/10 [18]
For me playing a game has many attractions. I can be competitive and tactical in a lot of the games I play, and there are decisions to be made that sometimes require careful thought and an element of problem solving. Playing with others online to meet new people and interact with different characters. Increasing my social skills and general knowledge as every man is pretty much shaped by everyone he has ever met in his life. I believe there are far deeper sub-conscious reasons for why I enjoy gaming than I will ever understand and I acknowledge that I may seek to escape real world pressures via a trip to Helghan.
Many years ago gaming was simply a hobby, as I jumped up to smash that block and net myself a gold coin it was just simply a bit of fun to pass time. I still went out and climbed trees, made dens and threw myself down hills with little respect for danger. My young bones breaking and face needing corrective surgery is testament to my adventurous youth. Today sees games that provide a virtual alternative to the adventure I once sought as a youth, and as the games get more sophisticated and the real world becomes more dangerous I believe that games can offer us more than light entertainment.
Many seniors will consider anyone younger who is playing a video game as being lazy and counter-productive but these seniors may fail to see the pressures to be in fashion that we are constantly exposed to in today’s society and the dangers we face stepping outside the front door. We are told that we are to wear these shoes, drink this drink and shave with Gillette Fusion because Thierry Henry does. We are also told that two students were killed outside a night club last night and that there was a bomb alert at Paddington station. So we have pressure from the media, reminding us what we are to do and buy, and what we are to fear when stepping outside. It is no wonder we turn to video games and perhaps films too to avoid such a harsh reality.
You play a game to escape all the pressure and nagging that the real world is full of but even now you are pressured into choosing a PS3 or Xbox 360 as whichever you pick will just attract abuse from those at school/college with the opposite console. Hopefully most people will ignore this and just blow it off as the childish fanboyism it is but there are still many that will feel the pressure. Companies are starting to get to you via in game advertising and seem relentless in their quest to influence your life. This intrusion is most unwelcome and I hope that it never becomes as persistent as real-world marketing. But it is a sure sign that until recently games have been a safe haven from all of those pressures.
I love flying off to Helghan knowing that I won’t receive a call from BT on my mobile asking for a quick customer service survey before I trip over C4, miffed but knowing I also have plenty of lives in this virtual escape. Escaping to the Wild West for an hour or two to avoid another reminder that a legendary pop icon is dead and that five British soldiers are now coming home in body bags. No disrespect intended, but I don’t want all that negative information shoved into my face each day, and gaming allows me to escape that. As harsh as it may sound, I even play games to escape the pressure of family life and work. I will always put my family first, but sometimes it is nice to assume the role of somebody not tied down and with the freedom to tear up Liberty City.
So do you play games to escape? If so, then escape from what? Do you think there will be a day when you won’t be able to progress to the next level in an RPG without your character first having to shave with a Gillette Fusion razor? Do you too fear that the pressures from real world marketing will eventually be every bit “in your face” as they are outside of your wonderful shiny PS3?
If ever the time comes where I get a “we interrupt your game to bring you this latest breaking news” I will move to a log cabin in the middle of nowhere, grow a beard and go shooting deer with my dog.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
rht992 | 05/07/2009 17:20
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I don’t use games to escape reality. For that i have mind alternating drugs
Timesh1993 | 05/07/2009 21:41
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Mind Altering Drugs FTW!
Tuffcub | 06/07/2009 12:56
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You are very naughty boy, go straight to your room.
Downey92 | 05/07/2009 17:21
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Yeah, unless it is literally life threatening news, I don’t want to know.
Out of interest what games actually have advertising in them?
darknight88 | 05/07/2009 17:27
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Burnout paradise has a burger king advert in it lol. Just next to the entrance into big surf island.
darknight88 | 05/07/2009 17:28
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(Just an advertising board by the way, not a vid)
Watchful | 05/07/2009 18:07
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Burnout has a lot more advertising in it than that. Conveniently on topic, it has Gillette Fusion and Diesel, the fashion brand, liveried vans as well as a Diesel store in one of the shopping areas. Famously Obama had campaign advertising in it too. There’s lots of other advertising scattered throughout Paradise City too.
For those of you completely against in-game advertising, you can bet it’s pretty much the reason that we got the free updates to Burnout Paradise during its first year following release.
And now EA have stated that their games are going to become more like virtual store fronts we will be seeing a great deal more advertising for both real world goods and game add-ons, etc. Fight Night Round 4 has recently been discussed in our forums for the amount of advertising it thrusts into your face, for example.
toutski | 06/07/2009 14:11
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Well, football games are more authentic with advertising in them.
peespee63 | 05/07/2009 17:25
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I wholeheartedly agree with what you’re saying here, Fruit.
Peer-pressure and media bombardment is just an ugly facet of modern life and I feel disgusted by it.
Plus in-game advertising is very annoying, (I’ve alrerady bought your game, now you want me to buy a pair of running shoes because all the cool kids have them?) but I’m seeing it more and more and I feel disturbed by it.
But, personally I don’t feel that I play games to escape stuff, or maybe I do. This is a rather profound question which deserves a lot of thought and careful consideration.
Now excuse me while I go off and shoot some zombies in spaceships.
DarthSharkey | 05/07/2009 17:31
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I like putting myself in the characters shoes, emmersing myself in a good game with a great story. Being taken away from the everyday hassles and troubles of real life that we face helps me unwind and relax by playing games and watching films.
Going to the cinema or putting in a blu-ray for a piece of escapism is a great feeling, you forget all your troubles and lose yourself in the plot.
Also, I just really enjoy games and movies.
x-revenance | 05/07/2009 17:32
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i rarely watch the news and only skip/read through newspapers that guys at work buy, so i don’t consider myself to play videogames to escape from the harshness of the reality that we currently live in.
i do like being immersed in an alternate reality though, like many others here no doubt, i’ve seen 100’s of movies, read over 1000 books and played many many videogames. some of the things the developers can create now are mind blowing and i just love being in that world, nothing really to do with escaping from my ‘real’ life.
also, i haven’t shaved since new years day!
Boomshanks | 05/07/2009 17:54
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I think the day games start to resemble real-life situations is the day everyone will lose interest in games
The Sims and Second Life have proven me wrong but I think for the gamers I see here it’ll be all over
deadwelsh | 05/07/2009 17:56
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I dont play to escape, if i do manage to catch an hour of gaming its rarely uninterrupted by a phonecall/family/need to eat, etc…
Like x-revenance i just enjoy being able to do things in game that would be unfeasible in the real world.
I actually like to know what is going on in the real world, i suppose all the events that happen influence game designers as much as anyone else.
Would you really wish you were away from all conatct with the rest of the world when they actually invent a wipeout-esque vehicle, or if they do find out that Star Wars was really what life used to be like?
btime | 05/07/2009 18:02
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gaming is part of my ‘real’ life, in the same way that books are, a way to exercise my imagination and entertain myself. far more benefit to be had than from watching Big Brother etc!
so I guess it is an escape of sorts, but only in the same way as spending my lunch break at work reading an old Harry Harrison paperback is.
I do find it unwelcome but inevitable that advertising is going to become more intrusive in gaming. but everyone wants to make money, and its an easy way to boost income for the publishers.
oh, and I am old, have a beard, and on the rare occasions I use a razor I use the single bladed old fashioned safety razor that belonged to my grandfather
sign me up for the log cabin, rifle and dog!
hannes_truce | 06/07/2009 15:51
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I’m gonna go read through my collection of HH books. forgot all about him
Stainless steel rat here i come.
haza103 | 05/07/2009 18:25
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I think it definately is escaping for me. My idea of a good friday night is a game with the lads on MGO, we have a laugh and have fun. I don’t want to be like every other teen who’s aim is to get as drunk as possible. Because of this some people might say i’m too shy or quiet, but i don’t think i am myself.
Commando101st | 06/07/2009 00:46
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Well I’m going to forgive the stereotyping seeing as you are a teenager. Not everyone aims to get rat-arsed every night just for the sake of it, sometimes going out is just for a few laughs and a couple of drinks.
Also I’m going to hazard a guess that you’re not old enough to get served, I used to be the same before I could get booze.
Alex_Assassin_08 | 05/07/2009 18:42
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Gaming helps me escape, but if something is on my mind, I can’t concentrate on games.
I broke up with my girlfriend on saturday and ended up playing Battlefield: Bad Company all night and most of today, and it’s helped me.
(never realized how good this game was!)
deadwelsh | 05/07/2009 20:12
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seems that your breakup was not on your mind then…
Dar-Kaus | 05/07/2009 18:54
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I’ve been playing and enjoying video games since the mid 70’s, now even in my late 40’s, married with kids. I still ensure I find time every Friday and Saturday night to enjoy some ‘me time’ and escapism. I have to agree with btime, I find gaming is really a big part of my life, and probably the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Well, come on I guy’s gotta have a hobby!
radiobridge | 05/07/2009 19:20
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Totally agree, Gaming is me time especially when kids are a sleep,problem is my kids just don’t sleep.
promenad | 05/07/2009 19:23
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My gaming hobby is an escape from real-world pleasures. Just for the record.
ii3illy | 05/07/2009 19:59
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Killing people in a make believe world stops me from hurting those I love in the real world.
Snebjnr | 05/07/2009 20:51
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I must agree with what is said above, sticking a game/film on to escape modern life is great way to unwind.
What Fruit said above about people at school/college moaning and bitchin about what console you had (I have a PS3, the others had 360’s) was something I had to put up with for a whole year and more. Pain in the ass!!!!
I sometimes stick a game on to emmerse myself in its story
(If it has a good one ofc), and to escape problems or things that are hard on my mind.
I once saw myself playing the hell out of Killzone 2 and Wolverine Origins because I was very angry at something! (I wont say what)
Just the sight of wolverine ripping up robots and mutants made me feel better!!! =S …Shooting Helghast also helped…..
If I feel that modern life is too much, sometimes I will leave the PS3 or whatever and go read one of my awesome Sci-Fi books, as they have a different world compared to us.
So again, I agree with the above. I’ve learnt that is real-life is too much, go somewhere else. You’ll feel better afterwords
Great read Fruit
Snebjnr | 05/07/2009 20:53
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[EDIT] “IF real-life is too much”
Timesh1993 | 05/07/2009 21:42
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I’d rather go shooting Canada Geese with my dog