Video Games

Video games used to play a huge part in my life. When I woke up, the first thing I did was turn on my computer so I could start off the day with a nice little gaming session. Depending on my schedule, I would play throughout the day then end up sitting at my computer at night, playing until I felt too tired to go on. I would then dream about the video games and wake up and repeat the whole process.

At my peak, I was probably playing for three to four hours per day on average. Yea, thats a huge number when I look back on it, but it didn't seem like it at the time. (I don't feel TOO bad because some of my friends have told me they spent an average of fourty hours per week playing video games.) Of course, it wasn't three hours EVERY day, some days it was one hour and some days it was twenty four hours.

In my Competitiveness blog, I breifly mention about chemicles in the brain making us feel good when we accomplish something. Video games are no different. Well, it is different in the fact that we aren't actually accomplishing anything when we accomplish something. Our brain makes us feel good about winning in something that doesn't even exist. This is one reason it is so addicting. You can literally gain self-satisfaction by doing next to nothing physically.

When I discovered video games, I realized that I was pretty darn good at them compared to most other people. The video games that I played required me to use my mind, and my mind would adjust to the scope of the video game for optimum performance. In games where I had to shoot people, I would learn the layout of the maps and plan out multiple attack paths. I became a virtual effecient killing machine. In games where I had to build a city, I would find the optimal way to build my city while also defending it from my enemy and destroying his city by excellent control of my army. I became a tactical mastermind and general.

I think that one draw of video games besides the competition is the fact that it allows us to use our imagination. When I play a video game, I don't play the "go to school" game, or the basketball or soccer games. I can do all that stuff in real life. I play the games where I can shoot aliens and blow buildings up. It gives us a sense of power, and also makes us feel like our life is more interesting than it really is.

I used to think that I loved video games, but as I have gotten older, I realize that I played them because that is what my friends did. We tend to take on the characteristics and hobbies of our friends because having things to do in common brings people closer. Sure, I still enjoy them, but not as much as I used to. I have learned that video games will always be there. You don't need to spend so many consecutive hours playing them because it isn't going to get up and walk away. I would rather do things in person with my friends. I am at a point where if I am playing a video game and my friend calls me to do something, I will just drop it because I know it will still be there in two hours; saved games are helpful.

I haven't completely kicked video games, but I am at a different stage in my life now. I don't play them because I think about it all day, I play them as a space filler when there is nothing else to do. As more and more of my friends start dropping away from video games, I found that I am doing the same because there is no longer anyone to compete with. I realize that I am sitting at my computer not because I want to, but because I am waiting for something better to come along. I am looking for more interesting things to do in my life, and when they come, I will take them on with the same vigor that I lent to video games.