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-Why-
I write here today about something that has pestered me for ages now. A question, always at the back of my mind whenever I'm gaming. Why do I do this? Why do I spend £40 on a game of all things when i could use that money for more important things, (saving up for future, giving to charities e.t.c). Why do we as gamers continue to feed this expensive holiday, usually when we've played it all before. Why do we spend around £1000 a year on an addiction more expensive than smoking (10 ciggerettes a day) for a year? I am going to attempt to delve into the deep meanings of this important topic, trying to find an answer. (melodramatic pause) .
For this, I will need to look at HUMAN NATURE in 3 easy to swallow tablets of knowledge.
No. 1 "Human Instinct In Multiplayer Games" One could argue, that humans by nature are competitive beings, boys proven to be more so then girls. But whhat does this have to do with computer games and continually buying them? In general, most computer games nowadays have multi player modes and a game, being competitive by nature, pushes that competitive streak and much like a race, it is one human, against nother, trying to prove that one is better than the other. For some reason, there IS pleasure in proving your superiority over someone else, and for someone whos greatest talent lies in computer games, then all the bigger the reason to buy more of them, to prove their excellence. And though a non-sporty person may think lowly of an athlete for getting satisfaction through being better than someone, the same goes with computer games, and anyone who thinks otherwise, is a fool.
No. 2 "The Business Man's Secret Life" Gaming presents a break in reality, a colourful flight away from the monotony of every day life. Inside computer games, people can play as characters with a simplified life or problem, solving it, or even being or doing something that would be completely ridiculous in real life, but is made satisfying through creative talent from the designers part. (E.G tribes two, people kill eachother in an attempt to steal a flag and run back to the base, whilst obtaining a massive adrenaline burst in real life), but when this exciting break from reality, becomes the norm, then there is no escapism, because it is as good as real, and everything is known about the game. When this happens, a new game, new excitement, must be bought, this eventually running into compulsive games buying, where games are almost like a drug, for people to escape from what they already have into something more exciting.
No. 3 "The Feel Good Factor" I ask you a question which I will answer. Why do people support football teams? When a football team wins a match, supporters will generally feel happy, why? The supporter has no role in the game other than to supply the players with their weekly dosage of one gibtrillion pounds, yet no active contribution is made, yet when you hear someone talking about the football team that they support, they will often say, "WE played well yesterday" Is this a case of people venting their anger and lost excitement, and placing their emotions, into something of which they have no control over. Computer games differ in many ways, but the feel good principle is still there, yet emjoyment is placed in the players hands, so there is no denial involved after beating a game, because it was the player that won it, making the enjoyment, actually more real. That is why I believe that computer games will eventually replace football, because the player can properly feel good about themselves and a human will want more "feel good factor" hence them buying different games to test themselves continually.
Please write telling me what you agree or disagree with in this post, and make new points, untouched by me why you think that we buy computer games.
torticollis
I write here today about something that has pestered me for ages now. A question, always at the back of my mind whenever I'm gaming. Why do I do this? Why do I spend £40 on a game of all things when i could use that money for more important things, (saving up for future, giving to charities e.t.c). Why do we as gamers continue to feed this expensive holiday, usually when we've played it all before. Why do we spend around £1000 a year on an addiction more expensive than smoking (10 ciggerettes a day) for a year? I am going to attempt to delve into the deep meanings of this important topic, trying to find an answer. (melodramatic pause) .
For this, I will need to look at HUMAN NATURE in 3 easy to swallow tablets of knowledge.
No. 1 "Human Instinct In Multiplayer Games" One could argue, that humans by nature are competitive beings, boys proven to be more so then girls. But whhat does this have to do with computer games and continually buying them? In general, most computer games nowadays have multi player modes and a game, being competitive by nature, pushes that competitive streak and much like a race, it is one human, against nother, trying to prove that one is better than the other. For some reason, there IS pleasure in proving your superiority over someone else, and for someone whos greatest talent lies in computer games, then all the bigger the reason to buy more of them, to prove their excellence. And though a non-sporty person may think lowly of an athlete for getting satisfaction through being better than someone, the same goes with computer games, and anyone who thinks otherwise, is a fool.
No. 2 "The Business Man's Secret Life" Gaming presents a break in reality, a colourful flight away from the monotony of every day life. Inside computer games, people can play as characters with a simplified life or problem, solving it, or even being or doing something that would be completely ridiculous in real life, but is made satisfying through creative talent from the designers part. (E.G tribes two, people kill eachother in an attempt to steal a flag and run back to the base, whilst obtaining a massive adrenaline burst in real life), but when this exciting break from reality, becomes the norm, then there is no escapism, because it is as good as real, and everything is known about the game. When this happens, a new game, new excitement, must be bought, this eventually running into compulsive games buying, where games are almost like a drug, for people to escape from what they already have into something more exciting.
No. 3 "The Feel Good Factor" I ask you a question which I will answer. Why do people support football teams? When a football team wins a match, supporters will generally feel happy, why? The supporter has no role in the game other than to supply the players with their weekly dosage of one gibtrillion pounds, yet no active contribution is made, yet when you hear someone talking about the football team that they support, they will often say, "WE played well yesterday" Is this a case of people venting their anger and lost excitement, and placing their emotions, into something of which they have no control over. Computer games differ in many ways, but the feel good principle is still there, yet emjoyment is placed in the players hands, so there is no denial involved after beating a game, because it was the player that won it, making the enjoyment, actually more real. That is why I believe that computer games will eventually replace football, because the player can properly feel good about themselves and a human will want more "feel good factor" hence them buying different games to test themselves continually.
Please write telling me what you agree or disagree with in this post, and make new points, untouched by me why you think that we buy computer games.
torticollis
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I don't think so. I chose metroid prime for my GAD though. Hopefullly it will be good. I just wonder why it isn't dual analog. Hmmm.
Kyz22 wrote:
> Im 46 days old (I think) and I won my first GAD1 about a week ago. I
> think perhaps you have a new record torti
The record is winning a GAD in the first day. I forget who did it but I know it was someone.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!
> Im 46 days old (I think) and I won my first GAD1 about a week ago. I
> think perhaps you have a new record torti
The record is winning a GAD in the first day. I forget who did it but I know it was someone.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!
Im 46 days old (I think) and I won my first GAD1 about a week ago. I think perhaps you have a new record torti
It's had a good life.
yes.
torticollis wrote:
> I guess so. I wasn't expecting to win, but i want to thank everyone,
> for keeping this thread alive.
Are you going to let it drop now?
> I guess so. I wasn't expecting to win, but i want to thank everyone,
> for keeping this thread alive.
Are you going to let it drop now?
I guess so. I wasn't expecting to win, but i want to thank everyone, for keeping this thread alive.
Well done torticollis, well earned, I think sr staff gave you it having a hard time yesterday.
Thankyou very much.
Congratulations my friend, a well earnt GAD :-)
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