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Those of us who know non-gamers have surely heard the
sacrilegious lines “I don’t play video games. Real life is enough of
an adventure,” or similar sentiments. Personally, I never thought
too much of them. After all, games are a part of my life, and if
games excite me, then my life is exciting. Simple. Who has the right
to judge whether a white-water rafting excursion or a trip to
Zanarkand is more exciting? People shouldn’t fault those who
passionately enjoy something, and we all know how passionate gamers
can be. Who else will starve, ignore bodily callings, and blow off
everyone to log an extra few hours into a static character or
story’s development? We are a rare breed, and no matter what anybody
tells you, games can be a vital part of life – if placed in the
proper perspective.
We all make comparisons. A great experience will linger, and
we’ll search out things that appear to mimic or retain that feeling.
A shoddy experience lingers as well, and we avoid everything
associated with it and even rid ourselves of everything which
reminds us of it (like throwing away pictures of ex-lovers). That’s
how we determine what we like and dislike, what we buy, eat, and
play. It’s how we judge. Once one has a suitable base to judge
things from, there is no escaping that fact. A brand-new gamer is
almost like a newborn baby, eager to experience, with a fresh,
untainted perspective. But after the first one, that perspective
shatters, and the neophyte enters the realm of comparison. Those of
us who started with a classic game, like Final Fantasy VI, or in my
case Chrono Trigger, are the unluckiest of the lot. There is no
comparing to those legends, unfortunately, and it makes enjoying
anything else quite difficult.
If one has already played every classic RPG out there, how do
their standards mature? If a player only compares games to a
repertoire of FFVI, CT, or other classic games, they’re sure to be
let down. Such is my case with the numerous games I failed to finish
as a result. I couldn’t stop my unfortunately lucky roster of
previously played games from dragging my experience down.
So what do I do? I compare games to other things. I liken
characters to people I know and see in real life, or those I saw on
screen or read in a book. I compare plots to my own real experience.
The time I spent in Europe, or the great Midwest or the stroll down
the street looking at the passerby. I liken graphics to great
paintings I’ve viewed in museums, or my niece’s drawings they send
me for my birthday. And, as those of you who read my first column
know, I imagine the sounds as I would a symphony, or at the very
least a good quality recording of my favorite musicians and
composers. I draw upon everything I’ve seen and done to enhance my
gaming experience. And in turn, when I venture out into the world, I
likewise compare certain things with games I’ve played. It’s a nice,
complete circle.
A prime example is Baiten Kaitos: Origins. I compare the caves
with caves I’ve gone through, the flying ships with those I’ve seen
in films and read about in books, and the tyrants with some notable
politicians which I won’t name. And, of course, I make the
comparison between their world, which has physically split apart, to
the melting glaciers, disappearing forests, and weird temperature
changes which the world has undergone lately. And I can compare the
game, and the consequences of the wastefulness of their world, with
our world, and imagine a similarly frightening future. It makes the
game infinitely more enjoyable than had I simply compared it to
other games.
I understand this presents a problem for people who haven’t had
very much experience outside of gaming, or life experience in
general. But, simply said, if that’s your case, all you need to do
is remember that after you shut off the console, don’t forget that
there’s an entire world out there. And, going even further, try and
make time to do something else, if only for an hour or two. It’ll
make everything, gaming included, infinitely more rewarding. |
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