I have to admit, I'm sometimes guilty of this dismissive attitude toward video games. I also have to admit, I struggle with finding areas of pure play in my own life. I was totally into Pokemon Go for a long time and Wizards Unite (so sad they pulled the plug on that). But Pokemon Go got too complicated and I did find myself getting a bit obsessive at times.
But also some of my fondest memories are of graduate school, when I used my brother's old XBOX to play the first Buffy the Vampire video game, with my friends who were also obsessed with Buffy. I played that game all the way to the end and was close to finishing with the second Buffy game. But then I finished my Ph.D. and moved away and didn't have anyone to play with. So maybe what I really need are some video game friends.
I haven’t thought much about video games since I don’t play them, but I agree the social aspect, as you’ve described it, is very important, and really isn’t any different from board or card games. My parents played endless rounds of bridge and euchre, hosted numerous euchre parties for their friends, etc. They simply loved playing cards. And in high school and college, just about everyone played those games (plus poker), played cards on bus trips, etc. Competition with friends, luck of the draw: so much fun.
I suppose one difference is that card and board games generally aren’t trying to sell you anything else, whereas video games typically are, but what isn’t these days? In the U.S. professional sports seem to be entirely dominated by the gambling industry. Video games seem like small fry compared to those whales.
As for screen adaptations, I recently watched Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and found it quite entertaining. Who would have thought Captain Kirk and Ana Lucia from Lost would make such a good pair.
A friend was playing video tennis with his young daughter (as in the Zoey’s Playlist GIF) and slipped and fell, breaking his elbow, a painful injury, so there are some physical risks!
Yeah, I agree. Unfortunately, the gaming industry right now is full of games that are extremely addictive and made to keep everyone gambling, basically. Maybe if there wasn’t so much incentive to make games this way things could change.
Oct 7, 2023·edited Oct 7, 2023Liked by Luiza B. Campos
I have recently ‘rediscovered’ video games as an adult and they’re a great way to relax, get off your damn phone, and do something fun.
One thing I’ve been amazed by is just how much things have advanced since my PS1 and Gameboy colour in the late ‘90s - the visuals and storylines are so complex and mind blowing (I’ve come a long way from being attacked by triangle people and locking the Butler in the fridge in Tomb Raider)
I also agree that it’s unfair that people dismiss them as being for kids and that being an adult means not enjoying things that are typically associated with fun or childhood. Those are literal made up nonsense rules and it’s sad that people cut themselves off from that.
Equally that myth of video games making kids violent has been disproved so many times - that entire premise has been based on one experiment and accepted as pure unchanging truth.
I think there’s a lot more work to be done around how there’s some gatekeeping when it comes to women who game though.
Incidentally my (female) friend works for a game developer and the people who make and design these games really are artists. So much talent and effort goes into creating these things - it deserves more appreciation as an art form IMHO
I used to really enjoy video games but kinda bailed around the PS1 because I had other things to do. Not because I didn't enjoy it. The Last of Us is a great show and I wrote about it myself.
I grew up with a SNES but didn't get to play most of the games for it. A few years ago, I got an emulator and have been playing through the classics (e.g. Chrono Trigger, Yoshi's Island, Kirby Super Star, EarthBound) and it's been so much fun.
Single-player games are also less "poisonous" than multi-player games. At least there's a determined ending, so it's less likely you'll get addicted, though these modern open-world games seem easily capable of sucking hundreds of hours out of you. Stick to 16-bit? Haha.
Yes to all this! There are games that are basically interactive stories with great visuals. I just saw a video the other day about a game called Stray Gods that is an interactive musical (?!) where the main character is a muse. It seemed great and super creative! Honestly, I’m blown away by some games.
I have to admit, I'm sometimes guilty of this dismissive attitude toward video games. I also have to admit, I struggle with finding areas of pure play in my own life. I was totally into Pokemon Go for a long time and Wizards Unite (so sad they pulled the plug on that). But Pokemon Go got too complicated and I did find myself getting a bit obsessive at times.
But also some of my fondest memories are of graduate school, when I used my brother's old XBOX to play the first Buffy the Vampire video game, with my friends who were also obsessed with Buffy. I played that game all the way to the end and was close to finishing with the second Buffy game. But then I finished my Ph.D. and moved away and didn't have anyone to play with. So maybe what I really need are some video game friends.
Buffy has videogame? That sounds awesome! Haha
And yes, there are many “party games” that are super fun. :)
There were two Buffy video games last time I was a gamer. The sum total of my gaming expertise is in slaying vampires.
I haven’t thought much about video games since I don’t play them, but I agree the social aspect, as you’ve described it, is very important, and really isn’t any different from board or card games. My parents played endless rounds of bridge and euchre, hosted numerous euchre parties for their friends, etc. They simply loved playing cards. And in high school and college, just about everyone played those games (plus poker), played cards on bus trips, etc. Competition with friends, luck of the draw: so much fun.
I suppose one difference is that card and board games generally aren’t trying to sell you anything else, whereas video games typically are, but what isn’t these days? In the U.S. professional sports seem to be entirely dominated by the gambling industry. Video games seem like small fry compared to those whales.
As for screen adaptations, I recently watched Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and found it quite entertaining. Who would have thought Captain Kirk and Ana Lucia from Lost would make such a good pair.
A friend was playing video tennis with his young daughter (as in the Zoey’s Playlist GIF) and slipped and fell, breaking his elbow, a painful injury, so there are some physical risks!
Yeah, I agree. Unfortunately, the gaming industry right now is full of games that are extremely addictive and made to keep everyone gambling, basically. Maybe if there wasn’t so much incentive to make games this way things could change.
I have recently ‘rediscovered’ video games as an adult and they’re a great way to relax, get off your damn phone, and do something fun.
One thing I’ve been amazed by is just how much things have advanced since my PS1 and Gameboy colour in the late ‘90s - the visuals and storylines are so complex and mind blowing (I’ve come a long way from being attacked by triangle people and locking the Butler in the fridge in Tomb Raider)
I also agree that it’s unfair that people dismiss them as being for kids and that being an adult means not enjoying things that are typically associated with fun or childhood. Those are literal made up nonsense rules and it’s sad that people cut themselves off from that.
Equally that myth of video games making kids violent has been disproved so many times - that entire premise has been based on one experiment and accepted as pure unchanging truth.
I think there’s a lot more work to be done around how there’s some gatekeeping when it comes to women who game though.
Incidentally my (female) friend works for a game developer and the people who make and design these games really are artists. So much talent and effort goes into creating these things - it deserves more appreciation as an art form IMHO
I used to really enjoy video games but kinda bailed around the PS1 because I had other things to do. Not because I didn't enjoy it. The Last of Us is a great show and I wrote about it myself.
Yeah, I don’t play games that need a loooot of time either. I would say I play 5-10h a week at most.
And add the link for your review here, if you want, so people can read it. :)
Here it is in case anyone’s interested:
https://tvphilosophy.substack.com/p/the-last-of-us-and-the-loss-of-love
I knew I liked you Luiza!
I grew up with a SNES but didn't get to play most of the games for it. A few years ago, I got an emulator and have been playing through the classics (e.g. Chrono Trigger, Yoshi's Island, Kirby Super Star, EarthBound) and it's been so much fun.
Single-player games are also less "poisonous" than multi-player games. At least there's a determined ending, so it's less likely you'll get addicted, though these modern open-world games seem easily capable of sucking hundreds of hours out of you. Stick to 16-bit? Haha.
Oh, Yoshi’s Island! 😍
It’s so pretty for such an old game. I loved it as well.
Yes to all this! There are games that are basically interactive stories with great visuals. I just saw a video the other day about a game called Stray Gods that is an interactive musical (?!) where the main character is a muse. It seemed great and super creative! Honestly, I’m blown away by some games.