How an “Old friend” Got Me the Most Wonderful Gift
How it changed my view of the world
I’ve recently been reacquainted with an old friend of mine. We haven’t seen each other for almost 30 years and boy, did she change.
If not for the name, I wouldn’t even recognize her. But I’m not talking about somebody from the old hometown or some classmate from my primary years.
I’m talking about computer games.
See I’ve grown with games like Mario, Battle City, and Contra, and have always been quite proud of the sort of adroitness I have exhibited in these. When I grew up, and when the family computer broke, “gaming” (as it’s now called), has become a non-entity in my life. It has to step aside in favor of other pursuits.
I’ve always thought that playing beyond a certain age means you’re just some spoiled, lazy man-child with dim financial prospects.
“What are they doing with their lives?!”
To me, being entertained by video games was okay when you were a kid. It’s ultimately cheaper than paying for a nanny, anyway. But playing, at an age when one can do more worthwhile things, screams “Loser!” in my book.
But I’ve since been converted…converted back.
Due to a recent global event that prevented us from going out and domesticated us practically 24 hours of every day, I decided to remedy my boredom with activities.
Since I had more time, I tried reading, but that only increased my nap time.
I tried cooking and realized it’s hard to follow a recipe if you only have half the ingredients.
I tried exercising once…I have yet to try it a second time.
And then, I bought a Sony PlayStation 4…
It was the best purchase of my life! It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Forget all I’ve said about gamers being “losers.” This is the coolest thing since PS3.
And whoa! Look at all the controller buttons?!
It used to be just two “A” and “B.” Now there’s “L1,” “L2,” and “L3”?! The thing is so futuristic, it looks like your controlling some spaceship in outer space.
I’ve played Red Dead Redemption, GTA, Resident Evil Village, and more. These games are so immersive they make you feel like you’re actually in a different world. The graphics are so vivid, the stories are so engrossing and the challenges can really tickle that noggin.
They are so good it now feels like I’ve been cheated by the games of my childhood. “Why couldn’t we have these games before?!”
Now I understand why many, regardless of age, get hooked on these games. I used to judge them. Now, I count myself among them.
I’m not saying that I’m any good. Far from it. I have terrible aim, my timing is off and my decision-making has lots to be desired. I even realized that my eye-hand coordination has seriously degraded over the years. Yes, I have to admit…I suck.
But that’s okay. I’m doing this for fun.
I just didn’t expect that I’d be getting more than entertainment. Playing games has rewarded me with more than the mental stimulation of solving puzzles. It’s made me realize how biased and judgmental I am of other people. Not just of gamers, but of people who are unlike me.
Not only have I misunderstood the people who play games, but I have also misunderstood people who are in situations different than mine. I’m limited by my own experiences. I realized that things really do change when it’s you plunged into the situation.
It’s hard to believe that a gaming console can have such an unintended consequence, but I’m running with it. My little reentry into gaming reminded me that maybe I shouldn’t be so fast in judging others. Placed in the same situation, I just might act in the same way.
So I’m more flexible now. Thanks to my PS4.
But to zombies, aliens, and frisky villains…I fire at will!
