Playing games has been an interest held by many for decades. While there is much (understandably and deservedly) talk about the games themselves, I think it is important to place emphasis on those who directly engage with them, as well. Just looking at the demographic of those who play games is telling in itself. Those who play games include young kids, teenagers, adults, and old people. It is something which resonates deeply with a lot of people whether they only played games when they were younger, play them only a little bit due to being busy with work, or play them nearly every day. For many people, playing games is a kind of escape from real world troubles despite what the game itself is about. This is where the importance of being able to interact with different digital worlds comes into play. For me personally, I’ve been able to find tranquility in the most post-apocalyptic, dangerous game universes. This is due to the fact that they are places totally different from the ones I find myself in every day. The issues of those inside these worlds, then, are also distinct.

This isn’t the only reason I play games, though. Being able to mentally travel someplace different is definitely a factor, but I also get deeply invested in the plots similarly to the way that I do with t.v. shows, books, and films. The themes of the titles I’ve played or watched, along with the things they’re trying to tell people, have been something I’ve deeply identified with. The difference is that this particular outlet allows people to directly interact with—or even influence—the plot, pacing and outcome. For instance, watching the protagonist of a horror film stumble through their environment as the terror unravels is one thing, but being that protagonist is a totally different perspective. Suddenly, everything is much more personal and increasingly terrifying as you traverse through dark hallways without knowing what will be behind the door at the end. You don’t get to tell the protagonist of a book or tv. show what do to, but you do get the decide certain things in games. For instance, in open world games it is often left to the player to decide if they will immediately continue the main quest or, instead, take breaks to tackle side quests or simply journey through the impressively designed world. These are things which have directly impacted me in all the time I’ve spent playing games over the years. For some people, playing games is as trivial as turning the t.v. on for background noise. For others, it is something which makes a sizable different in their daily lives. They can be transformative, in a way–games can and do leave undenial impressions on people, impacting the way they think, talk and even view the world around them. They could even be deciding facts in the direction of one’s life. Despite the identity of the person playing, there tends to be something there for them that they can personally dive into. The games people play are definitely important, but the ways they personally interact with them or are influenced by them are just as important.