For gamers, the holiday season has cemented itself as worthy of celebrating just for the sheer number of game titles that hit stores. At the end of October I found myself looking online at the list of upcoming games the way Hercules looked upon his Twelve Labors: a mighty challenge that would reward me not with penance for slaying loved ones but with blistered thumbs from slaying death zombies.
Back in high school, playing through every hot new video game was a daunting task, but easily accomplished with dedication and a lack of social shame. Failure to keep up with the digital Joneses was a deadly mistake as lunchtime conversations were based on knowing the biggest secrets like how many people Solid Snake killed in Metal Gear Solid 7: Stealth Mustache. Now that I am a “young adult” with extreme emphasis on the quotations, this noble tradition no longer seems viable. In between work and study sessions I might be able to jump in a few quick rounds of Left 4 Dead but it’s just enough to curb my appetite but I feel the withdrawal like Chevy Chase yearns for a time he wasn’t doing movies such as “The Karate Dog”. Interestingly, I’ve noticed students don’t seem to count flash games as they procrastinate schoolwork, but some of these free digital distractions have higher production values than games from the last console generation.
It doesn’t help that the game industry chooses to release their top-notch titles all at once to capitalize on the commerce craziness we suffer during the holidays. The industry seems to be one of the few that’s recession proof as gamers would rather ensure they can chop up The Locust in Gears of War 2 than pay for this month’s heating bill. While it makes sense for your product to hit during a time of consumer spending, gamers suffer the other 9 months with paltry releases and bulging wallets just waiting for something worth buying.
When I was younger I would look at my older friends who rarely picked up the joystick anymore due to “important things” like college or marriage and say to myself, “I won’t conform to the system. I’ll always make time for this hobby. Also, there’s no way the new Star Wars prequels can be bad.” I don’t think it’s necessarily growing up that keeps my game consoles unplugged and covered in dust, it’s just the realization that if I don’t finish this research paper my life will become forfeit and then I’ll never have the chance to go adventuring with Link.
Have you grown up and shed your nerdy ways? If you choose to spend your free time reading the Wall Street Journal and watching the PGA Tour, then yes you’ve become one of them. But if you’re still paying attention to game reviews and debating with your colleagues whether Super Mario Bros encouraged drug use, then you’re in the clear. Don’t beat yourself up over your lack of time investment. There’s always retirement and nursing homes to catch up on everything you’ve missed.
Back in high school, playing through every hot new video game was a daunting task, but easily accomplished with dedication and a lack of social shame. Failure to keep up with the digital Joneses was a deadly mistake as lunchtime conversations were based on knowing the biggest secrets like how many people Solid Snake killed in Metal Gear Solid 7: Stealth Mustache. Now that I am a “young adult” with extreme emphasis on the quotations, this noble tradition no longer seems viable. In between work and study sessions I might be able to jump in a few quick rounds of Left 4 Dead but it’s just enough to curb my appetite but I feel the withdrawal like Chevy Chase yearns for a time he wasn’t doing movies such as “The Karate Dog”. Interestingly, I’ve noticed students don’t seem to count flash games as they procrastinate schoolwork, but some of these free digital distractions have higher production values than games from the last console generation.
It doesn’t help that the game industry chooses to release their top-notch titles all at once to capitalize on the commerce craziness we suffer during the holidays. The industry seems to be one of the few that’s recession proof as gamers would rather ensure they can chop up The Locust in Gears of War 2 than pay for this month’s heating bill. While it makes sense for your product to hit during a time of consumer spending, gamers suffer the other 9 months with paltry releases and bulging wallets just waiting for something worth buying.
When I was younger I would look at my older friends who rarely picked up the joystick anymore due to “important things” like college or marriage and say to myself, “I won’t conform to the system. I’ll always make time for this hobby. Also, there’s no way the new Star Wars prequels can be bad.” I don’t think it’s necessarily growing up that keeps my game consoles unplugged and covered in dust, it’s just the realization that if I don’t finish this research paper my life will become forfeit and then I’ll never have the chance to go adventuring with Link.
Have you grown up and shed your nerdy ways? If you choose to spend your free time reading the Wall Street Journal and watching the PGA Tour, then yes you’ve become one of them. But if you’re still paying attention to game reviews and debating with your colleagues whether Super Mario Bros encouraged drug use, then you’re in the clear. Don’t beat yourself up over your lack of time investment. There’s always retirement and nursing homes to catch up on everything you’ve missed.
