I wanted control—I wanted to play God. In elementary school, I discovered the simulation genre of computer games. After receiving The Sims for Christmas, I spent countless hours glued to the bulbous monitor, forgoing snack and bathroom breaks. Ten hours could pass with only the numbness in my limbs and the looming darkness to indicate the passage of time. Despite the red cracks it burned into my eyes, I continued this damaging practice for years.
I wanted power. Tropico, a game where the player is the dictator of a Cuban-like island, handed me the scepter. After beating all of the scenarios, I stopped and realized what I had accomplished—nothing. Sure, I had a surplus in my island’s treasury, but there was also a $40.00 hole in my (real) pocket from purchasing the game.
The power and control I earned in these games were fake. Meaningless. In the world outside of the minuscule square where I sat affixed to the keyboard, I was the same person. Gaming was a placebo. It gave me the illusion of productivity and the pride of accomplishment while preventing me from achieving either.
Mobile apps are better ninjas than PC and console games, as they hitch a ride with you everywhere. Additionally, they spew advertisements and often require in-app purchases to make significant progress.
I am ashamed to admit that I have paid for in-app currency with real currency—I traded my money, and thus my time and freedom, for fake coins. When the urge to download a new app to placate myself, I try to ask myself these questions:
- What will playing this game accomplish?
- How will beating this game/level improve my life?
- How could I better spend my time?
I recall obsessing over a game about raising dogs until I was smacked with an epiphany—I have a living, breathing dog. Why should I waste time appealing to pixel pooches when I could be walking my own pet like a responsible owner? Why would I try to raise fake money when there were financial goals to work toward outside of the glowing screen?
None of the badges or rewards led to tangible results outside of their respective virtual worlds. Yes, there is value in enjoying entertainment for the sake of entertainment alone, but not at the cost of progress in the real world and self-improvement.
If you focused on improving your stats, how much could you level up your life?
Submitted October 14, 2017 at 11:21PM by inlawoutlaw http://ift.tt/2icj3d2
