Over 70% of households play video games in today's society. This makes us ask the question, why do we all love video games?
It is very common for video games to contain some form of narrative of story, and I believe this is one of the things that gets us all so interested for example. Movies keep our interest because we feel a connection to the characters and are curious about the plot. Video games are very similar to this except they give us the ability to interact and control the characters within the story. Take Fallout 4 and Elder Scrolls: Skyrim for example. In my opinion they are two of the best games ever produced due to their amazing storylines. However these games also give the player to determine the outcome of the plot. Who lives and who dies. Having power over such a moving story is something I think we all enjoy. These narratives within video games also contain cultures we may not experience elsewhere. The Assassins Creed series was made with brilliant historical accuracy, meaning as we enjoy it we are exposed to historical facts and experiences of the Roman and Colonial eras, which is something quite unique
So many of us live boring lives these days. School, work, taxes etc. Video games give us a feeling of escapism. For that brief time where we are holding the controller we become another person, climbing buildings, flying spaceships or shooting robots. We are able to push the boundaries more than in our normal lives, adding to the excitement of becoming someone else. Playing as Michael De Santa in GTA V gives us the chance to steal racing cars, jump out of planes and rob banks, all things the normal person wouldn't dream of doing in their everyday life. These extraordinary experiences within gaming add to the feeling of escapism.
So many games are released every year that owning a console or computer allows us to become so many different people and do so many different things. You could be playing an FPS game like Rainbow Six fighting terrorists one day but then exploring the nuclear Wasteland in Fallout 4 the next. This ability to pick and choose who and what to fight for means gaming can never truly get boring.
Finally, certain video games also make us think more deeply than we usually would day to day. Whilst working my way through Fable III 2 years ago this is something that struck me. Playing as a King of a realm you are forced to make decisions which will hurt them in the short term but save them in the future, this forces their perception of you to become negative. This issues of morality and reasoning within gaming is something that I have grown to love.
What do you love about video games? Tell us in the comments.
GMLG Recon
Co-Founder and Web Designer of GMLG