There was a guy that just called gaming an addiction but also considered it a “superior form of addiction.” For some, being the best at the games is an obsession that the public fueled into considering being good at these games was alright when the results were good. It’s not unlike how society rewards those in sports that dedicate their lives to one sport, knowing the ins and outs and strategy like the back of their hand.
The difference between arcade games and modern games, the movie points out, is that one needs to memorize patterns in order to even get a few points more. Today’s games are much more complex and with more variables to filter that make it hard for someone to “master.” In fact, a whole genre of “lets play”‘s is the speed run and their community in which people try for perfect runs for the game. Some communities of speed runs have separate competitions for playing the game with exploiting glitches and another for a pure vanilla experience of a game.
Okay, one thing that frustrates me is the use of “get a little OCD” about things. I know it’s somehow become common parlance for a compulsion, but it’s extremely ridiculous how often it’s used. “A little obsessive compulsive disorder.” I know, I know, the acronym isn’t being used literally or with the intention of correct grammar, but come on. Just say you’re compulsive or it’s a compulsion. Read up on this stuff.
Yikes. “Mr. Awesome.” Even just the concept of this guy’s persona screams “Big Red Flag.”
I’m not a competitive gaming inclined person. I don’t even enjoy sports or other competitive things. On top of that, I hate how people are like “why are you so concerned about this thing? It’s just a game.” But damn, some of these people got inside someone’s house and took apart their stuff without their permission or even supervision.
Seeing the arcade, it makes me wonder about the capitalistic approach to the mechanics of these “classic” games. They’re simple but hard to beat, meant to suck your quarters from your pocket by the handful. The fact they’re so hard is what draws the challenge, and I’m sure the creators of these games put all they had into their products but I can’t shake the money aspect of why these games inspired competition, especially with how they mentioned how Twin Galaxies really put Billy Mitchell out there as a minor celebrity to boost their name and products.
Video Games Deconstructed 