It’s odd to think that whilst it’s a trait of the human race to fear the unknown, we choose to sleep every night under the perpetual threat of being transported into the very dark depths of our minds at the closing of an eyelid. Instead of exercising caution, we choose to embrace this unknown entity and take a journey into a fantastical world where nothing is quite what it seems.
[drop]Based around our relatively meagre efforts to discover how the brain works, scientists have determined that during our daily life we only use thirty percent of our brain’s potential. However, when we drift off at the end of the day this activity increases by seventy, suggesting that our dreams are formed from the most powerful moments of the brain’s existence.We are led to believe by the relevant media outlets that reality is real, but as Inception so effortlessly suggests, could we be living in our very own dream world now? Nobody knows, but the prevalence of dreams and other occurrences such as déjà vu should serve as conclusive proof that life isn’t as clear cut as we are led to believe.
Society has gradually evolved the word “dream” into something that connotes pleasure, but dreams can torture people as well as allow them to live out their impossible wishes. Greatest fears or past events can all be manipulated into something extremely sinister and made to seem so real to the inhabitant.
[drop2]Whatever you dream, a reason why we play videogames is to fulfil the fantasies that we cannot in reality. Whether it is working as a detective in 1940’s Los Angeles or becoming a world class footballer, videogames serve as an open door to all of our greatest aspirations and hopes. Likewise, titles such as Dead Space and Resident Evil allow us to participate in the fear of a nightmare whilst living in the knowledge that the fear is born out of the pixels on the screen and not a projection from the brain that could, potentially, be less synthetic than we allow ourselves to consider.Frankly, I find it difficult to believe that our minds can’t equal and even better the experience that can be had from playing videogames. Maybe in years ahead we will be playing videogames inside our heads, and returning to reality at the click of our fingers. For now though, I am forced to play with my Dualshock and simply speculate about where videogames could be taken in the impending years.
Who’s to say that this is reality? For all we know, we could all be a participant in one, awesome videogame, and a young boy could be sitting inside an arcade twiddling a joystick, leading our lives. Tough to comprehend, but with the existence of déjà vu and the little we know about the brain, who’s to say that someone, somewhere, isn’t inserting another coin?
beeje13
Amazing article!
but beware, having the thought: ‘Who’s to say that this is reality? For all we know, we could all be a participant in one, awesome videogame’ Is a xpress lane to insanity.
just sayin’ :O
bunimomike
Lovely article, Toby. The brain is indeed a fascinating place to be. Personally, what constantly amazes me is the diversity from person to person. From vivid creators to rigid logical types and everything in between.
I believe we enter REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep three times a night if we sleep an average amount. During university I looked to becoming lucid and in control of my dreams and it yielded solid results. Making conscious decisions in dreams and often being able to continue a dream after waking up, getting a drink (for example) then returning to sleep. However, I think the creative side of me makes me smile the most as the lucidity in a dream-like state helps me to recall truly astounding dreams. Only recently I was telling Hanny about two apocalyptic and truly cataclysmic dreams I’d had where the events were on such a large scale that I could only stand still and watch them unfold. Partially concerned for my own well being but too enthralled by the events of watching the entire planet being torn in half.
ANYWAY! Hahaha. Safe to say that the dream-world is an incredible state for us to subconsciously cogitate the musings of our conscious world or just enjoy the downtime whilst we slumber and have our room-mates balance beer cans on our slumbering heads. :-p
The Lone Steven
Excellent article Toby.:) I think some major devs do dream up their ideas. If this is a videgame. Then where the hell is the Job DLC and the unlimited funds DlC? Although it does have the best graphics i have ever seen. It is almost lifelike. The gameplay is boring as hell and Crawfail already did this joke.DAMMIT.
Anyway, I think i do tend to dream of some things that could make an excellent Machinima series/single video. But then that is usually followed by me forgetting it after i had a cup of coffee.
Again a smashing article Toby.
*this comment was dreamed up and was not written*:o