A Personal Take On Gaming

Gaming.  Such a simple word isn’t it?  The word alone sends a tingle down your body as it resonates within us.  To most people, it is in fact,  just another simple word they may hear.  To Gamers,  like myself,  the word “Gaming” means so much more to us.  Gaming is a way of life,  a hobby,  a form of art,  it’s entertainment at its absolute finest,  but most importantly it’s a passion.  Some may see gaming as “juvenile” or even “immature’.  I say to those people,  “You haven’t experienced the things that I have through the magic of gaming”.

I’ve saved planets and galaxies alike,  rescued princesses from overgrown fire breathing dragon-like turtles,  prevented nuclear wars,  and restored peace to the many lands I’ve traveled.  I’ve seen stars up close and explored thousands of miles on foot in a land of dragons,  elves,  and dwarves.  I’ve slept in airships,  inns,  and tents as well. I can become rich from nothing but rags,  and build entire cities with the aid of many.  When’s the last time your average 9-5 day job personnel did all that?  Not many have in fact.

Being a gamer is an incredible feeling.  It’s the equivalent of being a double agent in some ways.  Average Joe by day at a desk job (or wherever you may work) for average pay,  driving an average car,  living everyday as we all do.  Then we race home from our jobs,  our schools,  & everyday lives,  and we become someone else completely.  A professional race car driver?  A medieval warrior?  Even a pilot in space in a giant Mobile Suit Gundam.  We can be anything we wish at a moment’s notice and it brings a heartwarming joy to us all.

What would you do to become the Hero of Time?  Speak in the tongue of Dragons?  Or fly your very own spaceship?  Would you pick up a control on the off chance you may very well wish to see the things we see?  We go to our local stores to buy these games we see and salivate over on the internet and magazines.  We hear about them from friends,  brothers,  sisters,  and even parents who game too!  Why do we do this?  Why do we become obsessed with these things?  Because we have a love for the industry as a whole and it’s a form of escape for many.  Just think of the worst day you’ve had recently and throw games into the mix of it.  Nothing takes away the feeling of anger or frustration like blowing shit up with your friends in some Borderlands co-op,  or playing some Rockband together into the night.  Trust me,  it’s a wonderful feeling.

The things we can achieve as gamers is a marvelous thing to see.  We can do amazing things for sick children while raising money during Extra-Life for a 24 hour gaming marathon every year.  We can come together as a community and help each other when we’re stuck somewhere.  We can be heroes to many,  in game and in real life.  There is so much more to gaming than meets the eye at first glance.  Choosing to be a gamer is an important choice in the life of a gamer.  It defines us as people and who we are,  and who we will become.

As a massive gamer myself and as the writer of this article,  I can only hope that I may have sparked something in you.  Perhaps I may have peaked your curiosity so to say.  Gaming is the only world that we have full control over.  No bills to worry about,  no rent,  no fear of death,  famine,  or disease.  Only complete wonder and fantastical worlds will await you should you choose this path like many have before.  If I were to offer you a choice to pick,  what would you choose?  In the famous words of Morpheus “You take the Blue Pill,  the story ends.  You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe.  You take the Red Pill,  you stay in Wonderland,  and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”

So please,  I implore everyone to at least just once in their lives;  Take a chance,  and try the Red Pill.  Let me show you Wonderland.