I have always enjoyed playing computer games but I’ve never understood why. Why waste real life by playing a simulated one. I have wasted life in this way for probably way over 1000 hours. I doubt I’ve actually gained anything but I will do research in to whether there is a beneficial gain from playing video games.
Doing research and using my brain. I have found that there are 4 main reasons for why people play games:-
1. For the challenges that may be involved. The actual game play. Problem solving and the need for strategic thinking. As in life setting challenges and over coming them is very fulfilling in a game where you can repeat the challenge over and over again until you succeed it can be addictive. I’d say games like PORTAL, STAR CRAFT and CIVILIZATION would be in this category.
2. Fun. People like to be entertained. Maybe the game has a very good storyline and you keep playing to see what happens next. Maybe the game is very open ended which gives you the opportunity to explore and adventure. Perhaps the game is very mysterious and you want to solve them mysteries. FALLOUT, MASS EFFECT,AMNESIA and BIOSHOCK would be in this category.
3. Escape from the real world. Perhaps you are not happy with your life or had a bad day. Going into the game world is a brilliant escape route very soon you are too busy worrying about giant ants with fire breathing abilities to worry about the job you botched. People play to play their ideal lives or be part of a different world.Soon if a game is very engrossing you end up forgetting to eat. Hell I’ve been so engrossed before I nearly wet myself. SKYRIM,THE SIMS and GRAND THEFT AUTO has done this to me.
4. Socialization. Before on-line gaming this was not a big one on the list but since the creation of on-line gaming networks like xbox live this is a big one. Now many casual gamers play for the socialization aspect. Now you can play as part as a team and make new friends through gaming. Personally I don’t enjoy this aspect but that’s probably because I don’t enjoy mindless shooting games that involve no challenge but aim and fire buy hey ho. I personally enjoyed playing on-line games like World of Warcraft but It was stupidly expensive and I had absolutely no social life in the real world. Examples of these games would be the CALL OF DUTY series’ and WORLD OF WARCRAFT.
I’d say I enjoy a bit of 1 and a lot of 2 and 3. Number 4 I would enjoy if I’m playing a 2 player game with someone in the room with me but not on-line there are too many idiots around. I also like to be alone playing games because if there are real people in my game world I don’t get quite as immersed in the game world. I especially hated when playing World of Warcraft people don’t name themselves to match the world like H0tGuRLL4775 does not match the realm your playing in. Get out of this world. You are probably the opposite of Hot if you are calling yourself it.
Research:
Click to access xeodesign_whyweplaygames.pdf
http://www.ign.com/blogs/mcscroggz/2012/10/04/why-do-we-play-games/
http://theweek.com/article/index/218070/why-we-play-video-games-an-instant-guide
Geek in the closet 