Video Games

Video Games

With the advent of computers not only efficiency during working hours has increased, but likewise leisure time was diversified. Individuals now could spend hours at a time playing a video game that virtually transported them into an online, multiuser, shared, and in a way implicitly agreed on, reality, such as the one in World of Warcraft. The phenomenon is so widespread, that it was even used to gently poke fun at Penny, the bubbly blonde living near two brilliant but socially awkward physicists, all of whom are protagonists of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory.

A magenta colored hair woman on a castle’s rooftop. Computer games often focus on treasure hunts, quests, itineraries to complete, and goals to accomplish. Many, such as the long-established, albeit much changed, classic Prince of Persia, take place in a castle, sometimes almost entirely. As can be seen from the picture, image: Copyright © Megan Jorgensen (Elena).

Of course, long before Internet, or even single user, computer games were a popular, quasi-omnipresent cultural characteristic, individuals already engaged in playful activities for enjoyment. Therefore, an example going back to Antiquity is the game of chess. Rumor has it that, initially, the game represented a quarrel aimed at dividing the sky among supernatural beings. Today, while the origins are largely overshadowed by tournaments, world champions, rules and strategy (and three dimensional chess as featured on many televised ventures), it continues to be a hobby for many, while also now being available in highly computerized versions. Amazingly, international chess geniuses have even been able to win against the best chess-playing machines, although depending on the levels and settings, it may me difficult, or virtually impossible, for an average player.

Regardless, what seems clear is that most games require some degree of imagination. Conversely, fantasy is so engrained in games, that perhaps it is even natural to assert that all games are permeated with the fantasy component and thus, fantasy (as in fantasy art and literature) games fall outside discernible boundaries.

Copyright © 2011 Megan Jorgensen. All rights reserved.

Games surround us. Photo by Elena.