How to play games consciously

in #thinking6 years ago

Computer games have become normal to a degree, that people are playing them today. This can be seen from the fact that its possible to make a living, as its called, earning money from others watching you online when you play games. Streaming as its refereed to, as a form of entertainment. But most play games simply as a way to escape reality, as games as well as movies is means of doing. At least thats how I see it resulting in.

But that is not to say that there isnt anything to be learned from games, that can me applied to reality. That is what I want to address here. The idea came to me when I was reflecting on why I play the games I play, because, yes, I do play computer games. But as one who have an interest in reality, as in how it works and who we are as a part of it and nature, It makes me wonder why I do find computer games fun and interesting to play. Even thou on its surface, playing computer games does not affect reality at all. Yet today, gaming is changing society in several ways.

So how can we learn about ourselves and the world while playing games, if we do end up spending time playing them? Well for one, you could as yourself, why do you? And what makes you choose this type of game over another type? Finding that out might tell you what you would do if you had the option to if computer games did not exist. What you would want to but society isnt allowing you, or something you are longing for.

Then there is the lore, as its called. What stories is the games telling? What part of our reality does it reflect? If you actually pay attention to what is said by the NPC's in the games they might tell you something about our world. Then the next question is this; what is the message that is wanted to be transferred to the player? Or, if you prefer , how is the game programming the player?

If the meanings in the game isnt payed attention to, then you can never know if the message is intended to aid you or to control your thinking. This is also true for Movies or any story being told. In general its a matter of understanding the reasons for what is put into games. As it may also simply be because they want people to buy the game. So they use every bit of knowledge they have of the market and human thinking to get them to want to buy the game. Because money.


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