*** THE CASUAL GAMER ***

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Why Play Video Games?

I think there comes a time in every sane person's life when they begin to question themselves. One might question everything about his or her life, or maybe just sweat the small things, like the value of one's habits. Especially a habit like gaming. I mean, really, if you think about it, a serious gaming habit takes up a significant amount of time and money. Certain sacrifices must be made by the gamer in order to play and to continue playing games. Now, even if you can handle those sacrifices, there is still another important element to consider: the big "Why?". Recently I have been doing a little soul searching to find an answer to a question that is sure to plague every gamer at one time or another: Why play video games? Or, more specifically: Why do I seem to enjoy video games so much?

Your first reaction might be to ask, "who cares?," or to just say that "video games are fun, duh!." But it is not that simple for me. I need to know why I love interactive electronic experiences so much. It seems an odd question at first, considering that I've been an avid gamer as long as I can remember, and I've never before questioned my habit. But my recent self-doubting started with the purchase of Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams for Xbox. While playing the game I began to question my motives for playing it. The game mixes simplistic combat against "scary" looking monsters with solving seemingly irrelevant puzzles. All this is surrounded by a really erie atmosphere that is meant to cause fear and anxiety in the player. Now, I think that the look and atmosphere of the game are very cool (that's probably why I bought the game), but the puzzles and combat are, for the most part, just dull obstacles. I wondered to myself why I even bothered to put myself through the hassle. But I soon realized that I desired to see the story through; I wanted to see what happens next. I got hooked in the story, and I was willing to put up with some crap to see some more of the plot. So I began to wonder whether the story was that good, or if I had just somehow duped myself into playing this stupid game. Then I thought about other games I may have played for the same or silimar reasons. That reaction triggered the bigger and more important questions in the matter: Am I really enjoying myself, or do I just think that I am? Is this all a big waste of time? Why do I play games at all? Should I just take up knitting instead?

These are some serious questions that every gamer should ask his or herself. It's obvious that games are a form of escape, but why do we choose games as our medium for escape? Why not just watch TV, or watch movies, or go outdoors? I have pondered the subject and I think that I just might have come up with some real answers. I'm sorry if they are already obvious to you, but I wonder how often gamers really think hard on the subject. I think it all boils down to the kinds of stimuli in the games themselves, and how a gamer reacts to those stimuli.

Competition/Challenge - I think that this is the most basic and prevalent reason that games are fun to play. For the most part, people thrive on competition. Whether it is against another human or against a computer, we gamers seem to enjoy a good challenge. Becoming skilled at something is also fun, and is almost always the by-product of taking on challenges. This makes the whole experience even more fun and addictive. I think that if you look at almost any game that is considered a "classic," you'll see that it was based on this principle. Games like Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and the mighty Tetris all challenge you to get better and get higher scores. These and other old school games couldn't rely on realistic graphics or fancy effects, so they had to hook people with something better: great gameplay. What better gameplay is there than that which strikes at your competitive nature? Of course there is more to a game than just competition, but the right balance of challenge and sense of achievement is what hooks a lot of gamers and keeps them coming back for more.

Exploration - Another appealing aspect of good games is their ability to get you engrossed in a totally fantastic environment. Often times these new worlds are far from our reality, filled with wonderfully different heroes, creatures, and villans. Part of the fun of playing some games is just the enjoyment of exploring a unique world and discovering all that it has to offer. The Super Mario series springs to mind when I think of the exploration factor. It introduced a character that gamers could relate to while opening up the doorway to a whole new world to explore. There were many things in that new world that were totally unlike reality (and often defied it), and that is definitely something that makes people sit up and take notice. These experiences make gamers want to get further in a game, if only to see what majestic new area awaits them. RPGs are another area where this is a big factor. You are taken on a ride through a fantasy world where magic and monsters are the norm. It is quite a contrast to our everyday reality, and I think that is a big part of the appeal.

Story/Plot - A good story is always something that people like to hear. Why do you think that movies and books are so popular? Telling stories is a tradition that has been around since the beginning of mankind, conveyed through any and all means of communication. It is no wonder that storylines have steadily become a big part of the gaming experience. A good plot can really draw you into a game and make you care about the characters. It can also become the vessel for the gameplay; The plot could set up the situations that would be playable in a game. Some people might argue that gameplay is all that matters, and that you might as well watch a movie if you want a story. That is a good point, as gameplay should take priority over presentation, but a good combination of both makes for a truly great game. Plus, a game's plot can be fleshed out and greatly expanded due to the fact that a game's length is usually way beyond that of the average 2 hour movie (although even that is arguable nowadays, with some games seeming quite short...ahem-zoneofenders). Once again, RPGs come to mind in this department. They usually bring along on some epic adventure sweeping over a vast world, giving you motivation to play on while making you familiar the characters you are controlling. That is a very cool thing to be a part of.

Visuals/Presentation - This may be one of the weakest stand-alone reasons to play a game, but you can't argue that great graphics don't enhance a gaming experience. Cool art or character design can really help to get players lost in the game. Ico (everyone should play this game) is a prime example of what I'm talking about. Good gameplay and an interesting plot taken to new heights with amazing art direction. It was bold and original, and it made a lot of hardcore gamers sit up and take notice. Another game worth mentioning is Halo. The story of the game is interesting, but I don't think that the game would have been nearly as cool if the world of Halo and its inhabitants weren't done so convincingly. The buildings, ships, tanks, guns, and aliens were done with great care and imagination. Every genre, from fighting games to RPGs, can benefit from memorable characters, weapons, vehicles, and worlds.

Social Interaction - For some people, this might seem like the opposite of what they get from games. It is true that a good single-player experience can seem to cut down on one's social life, sometimes drastically. However, a good multiplayer or shared gaming experience can take a gaming session to new levels. A game like Tony Hawk 3 can be a lot more fun if you and a friend take turns trying to beat the levels or trying to beat each other's score. A game like Eternal Darkness could be more fun if you and a pal put your heads together to solve the puzzles. And then there's the multiplayer games themselves. A two-player co-op mode (more fun than deathmatch, in my opinion) like Halo's can make a great game even better. You and a friend can take on the enemies together, working as a team, sharing the experience every step of the way. Working together with someone else to accomplish a goal is a great experience in itself, so it can only serve to enhance video games. Sports games are also a great way for people to team up. Sega's Virtua Tennis lets you and a friend take on the computer in a doubles tourney. It is a lot more fun playing when you can turn to your friend and give him or her a high-five after a score. I think that more games should have co-operative elements in them.

Those are what I believe to be the biggest factors in what makes gaming enjoyable, and are the primary reasons that I play games. I think that these simple premises are the basis for why so many others love gaming as much as I do. Any game that can utilize one of these factors in a good way is going to be entertaining, and a game that can successfully combine any two or more of these is bound to be great fun. I can look back now and say that I enjoy playing Silent Hill 2, and that it is worth my time. It is the overall experience that I get with that game, despite its dull combat, that keeps me playing. Sure, it might not be the best game ever, but that's why I waited and bought it for $25 instead of $50. Anyway, the point is that I don't need to doubt myself or my hobby anymore, as long as I feel that I am playing for the reasons mentioned above.

Why do I play games? I play them because they bring me unique and enjoyable experiences that, often enough, aren't available in any other medium. So as long as I am still having fun playing games, I think I'll be all right, and you should, too.