Why we play

[boyrunning [deprecated]]

Hi guys, I was playing some arduous 360 game tonight, when it struck me, what is the point of playing a game? Is it to measure ourselves? Conscious escapism? How do developers truly measure what a mass collection of people would want? Are we all that similar? Do we even, WANT universal controls; forward, backwards, click here, press X there...

If we could truly experience a unique and subjective experience, what would it feel like? Would we even be able to articulate that experience? Would it be fair to even call that experience a game?

If a game is something by which to measure oneself, couldn't a truly unique interactive experience be compared to a dream, rather than a physical practice of a vernacular primal nature?

 

[Ranzel]

Not to sound like an idiot, I understood what your trying to say, but........your over thinking it. Games are by and large a hobby. Rather than building a ship in a bottle or creating a model airplane we, as gamers, game. I think its that simple, or should be looked at that simply.

To be honest, I think looking into the meaning of playing video games any deeper than the above makes gamers as a whole look socially awkward, and simply adds to the negative thinking that if you game, you have no life. As such you play games to step into a life of pure fantasy and take control of an avatar capable of things most men would never be capable of. Make yourself the hero of the game, to be praised by the virtual peasants when you finally slay Trogdor with your +1 Mace of Beastslaying, and for a breif moment you know what it is to be cool.

 

[The Irrelevant Gamer]

I play games for amusement. It really is that simple. It is the same reason I read a book, or watch a movie.

 

[dnv2]

Amusement, a challenge and to escape from normal everyday life are the basic things.

As Ranzel said I think you really are looking into it too much. You kind of make me think about what it'd be like if we had virtual headsets, but then again that would just be another frontier of gaming. No matter how realistic it gets you'd still just be doing it for the same purpose.

 

[kusarigama [deprecated]]

I agree with TankaX, I think you can forget about problems temporarily from playing games. But I s'pose you could do that by reading a book or watching a film, too. I think everyone has their own interpretation of why they play. I play to have fun, and to revel in the excitement or challenge of a truly great game. I assume most people play just to have fun, but then that makes one wonder why the hell people play world of warcraft.

 

[rhizic]

i guess it's differant for diffetant people, but escapism, challenge, amusement, artistic apreciation, social pressures [for anyone that plays EA games] , enjoyment of story and yea the list goes on, personally i like story, and networking and the suck so i play rpgs n online fps's , aside from that theres nothing like blowing of some steam in a game n i think everyone does that.

oh and did anyone watch that documentary on BBC a while ago where they showned that games are actually benifitional to child development? [jumping on the band agon a bit ^_^] yea they shown that it improves hand eye co ordination, cognitive abilities, imagination and suprising the want to play out with friends [army or something i presume] there was this great quote where the professors playing halo 2 with a four year old or something and in game he shoots the kid, the kids say

"stop it, we're working as a team"

there you have it, games make you get along with people, who'd of guessed. thats why you got all those games designed for toddlers out now, becuase now we know their good for you lol, [unless your a social recluse and WoW is your home]

 

[GrowlersAtSea]

There are a lot of conflicting information about the benifits and consequences of video games with children. It can often help increase hand eye coordination and some reflexes, while at the same time there are the perpetual concerns about the effects of violent games on a child's brain and the lack of physical activity involved with games. One of the more interesting things I've read about is how active the brain is while first learning a new game (learning the basic "rules", controls, and layout of a game) but how relatively inactive it is once a game is fully learned.

But on topic.

I generally play games for two reasons. Goal/Achievement or for a Teamplay experience.

I play most single player games because there is a goal in mind. Either I want to reach that 100%, I want to finish the game, I want to collect all of a certain item, etc.. I can often get very obsessive about getting to those goals, but once I reach them, I can usually just put down the game and never come back to it. It's rare for me to go through and play a game through multiple times.

But, I play multiplayer games too, mostly for teamplay. I don't have much interest in online games that are deathmatch or 1 vs 1 oriented, but when there are other people involved I get very interested. I like playing with other people (either split screen on a console, or online alone) where we have a collective goal in my mind and we're all working towards it. I love a game where I'm watching someone else's back, or where they're watching mine, or even when you have to do things that are not in your best interest so that the others can achieve a goal (who gets to run out first in front of the mounted machine gun so that the second player can pop out and pick off the gunner, or bait the tank into the Anti-Tank player). I really just enjoy the experience, when people effectively use VOIP in PC games it makes the experience ever sweeter.

Those are the reasons I primarily play. There is the occasional game that I will play just to experience, either for the art-style (Okami), storytelling (Knights of the Old Republic) or gameplay innovations (Portal). But most games I either play in order to achieve a specific goal or I play for teamplay.

 

[Social Pariah]

You can game for any reasons... for amusement, for plot, for that feeling of murder without getting your hands all gooky... I mean to release tention... but personally I either play:

To treat a game as a sort of interactive book or storytelling device as I generally only play games that interest me in that respect unless I do actual feel like simple amusement in which case they're fine for that too

or

To drown my sorrows and destract myself from life, because to be honest, if my particualr sorrow hadn't been there I wouldn't be playing computer games right now.

 

[Copter400]

...because it's fun? I wasn't aware that this was such a philisophical thing. It's just one of those little things the human mind can find entertaining. And I truly fail to see the point of talking about it. No offense.

 

[diemkay]

Playing is primary to and necessary (though not sufficient) condition of the generation of culture if you want to go "there"

 

[raankh]

Not to sound like a crank, but there's certainly more satisfying ways to drown your sorrows and escape your problems than spending some quality time with your computer/console. Women and wine come to mind, for one.

I play games when I'm in the mood for some gaming, when I _want_ to be entertained specifically by games, much like I can get the urge to read a book. Sure, I'm bored to begin with but, sorrowful ... nah, that's drugs, sex and rock'n'roll territory, 'sfar 's I'm concerned.


So you emokids can get some frags and cry all you want, I'll be stomping Goombas to the sweet sound of my own laughter. Haha!

 

[dislea]

This is an area I'm really interested in right now. I'm a student and currently doing research into why people play games, and so far I'm hearing the same answers. Essentially (and as I think escapist magazine are fully aware of) it's the sense of escapism.

What I would like to ask though is not so much why we play games, but why play the games we do? What is it about the game that attracts you? I'm sure a lot of this boils down to taste and reputation, but with so many games in the same genre, what attracts us to the games we play?

 

[TSED]

Not to sound like a crank, but there's certainly more satisfying ways to drown your sorrows and escape your problems than spending some quality time with your computer/console. Women and wine come to mind, for one.

Strange, women are usually the source of sorrows for me. And some of us just don't drink. Yes, I'm legal. No, I don't drink. Awful stuff.

Now, when I get all emo I go and read some webcomics or books, but don't assume that chicks and booze is a valid anti-depressant for every one else.

 

[Duck Sandwich]

This is an area I'm really interested in right now. I'm a student and currently doing research into why people play games, and so far I'm hearing the same answers. Essentially (and as I think escapist magazine are fully aware of) it's the sense of escapism.

What I would like to ask though is not so much why we play games, but why play the games we do? What is it about the game that attracts you? I'm sure a lot of this boils down to taste and reputation, but with so many games in the same genre, what attracts us to the games we play?

You mean what do I look for in a game?

A good challenge that relies on pure skill and nothing else (a bit of memorization may be necessary but not to the point where knowing how to win is like studying for a test). I can't stand random chances because if you die from an enemy getting a critical hit, it seems cheap. And if I happen to win because of some random chance, then I don't feel like I EARNED victory.

I also look for games that have stylish action. (ie. fun to use weapons, being able to jump up walls, etc.)

Sure, there are better ways to spend time. I don't mind not being able to play games if I have something better to do. But I find that, at least for me, playing games is a matter of convenience. Some people can't gather enough people at any given time to play a sport/ don't have a way with the ladies/ or their friends are busy with work so they can't go out and party, etc.

 

[HSIAMetalKing]

To speak in the broadest terms possible, I play games for fun. If I have fun while playing them, then they have fulfilled their purpose-- as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Narrator]

I may have to concede that I'm in the Overthinking It crowd. I'm always digging down for the greater symbolism, the metaphor enrichment, and the parallels I can draw between life and the game's universe. I don't swallow games as a placebo for real life problems, but if I can eschew a cathartic response out of myself by identifying with a game protagonist, then all the better.

I blame literary theory, and how it's pretty much ruined my ability to engage any form of media for the pure sake of Entertainment.

 

[Blayze]

I've never been one for symbolism and metaphors. I mean, what do we spend the rest of our money on? That is to say, the money that is truly *ours* after other factors have conspired to remove it from us through The System, a creation so huge and unwieldy that only the taxes it siphons off can sustain its growth into an even bigger drain on our money.

Obviously, there's the essentials. Then there's the expenditures that aren't truly essential, but we like to think that they are (You won't die if your house is deprived of electricity, for example. True, the change in lifestyle would take its toll, but still...).

Then there's the non-essentials. Alcohol. Clothes (Anything more than the basics). Software. Hardware. Porn. Magazines. Music. Televisions. Radios. Phones. Books. Videos. DVDs. CDs. The works.

Why do you buy them? What possible reason is there for you to purchase a music CD? Simple. You want to listen to it. Why do you want to listen to it? Because you enjoy it. Why do you watch movies? Because you enjoy them.

Why do you buy and play games?

Because you enjoy them.

Simple.

 

[yourself]

I play mostly for entertainment. I also play for the person victory over the challenges given to me. The little burst of joy you get when you get that head shot, level up, or time a jump just right. It gives you a warm feeling inside, you sit back in your chair and sigh. The personal sense of accomplishment that you feel inside is great, even though you know no one else is going to feel it.

 

[stinkypitz]

I play games to escape from this boring and depressing world.