Playing Games
I love playing games. But I caught myself this weekend wondering why, what was the root cause of this infatuation?
The games I like to play range be poker, softball (tennis), Civilization 4 (Halo too). Was there a common theme among them, something that spoke to more than just my desire to crush the competitive. I'm slightly, nay obsessively, competitive, I think.
In poker, there's comfort in good strategical thinking. Know your odds, know your players, and know thyself. The raise, raise, and raise again. In poker, I find that I'm much more aggressive than my personality otherwise would hint at. Risk aversion flys out the window, in poker, you're supposed to take risks. The easiest way to lose is to not take any.
Hmm, well that's all interesting, but what about my other gaming love affairs? Softball (or baseball, or tennis) also focus on the mental (and physical) preparation / strategy. Where are my opponent(s)? What's the score? What's my position (role)? With all three, there is again, a focus on the individual. In athletic games, one can have the opportunity to take on the role of a hero (the amazing hit, the clutch defensive play). The opportunity comes when risk is high, but the reward (hero) is great. Hmm, that's interesting. That's kind of like poker.
What about computer games, specifically the one I most play? The goal changes dependent on the mode of play. But when you're competing against other players, risk plays a role. Do you attack with 70% odds, or with 30%?
In my love of sports and games, it appears that it is normal to subconsciously (and consciously) act in a manner which is different than which is the typically normal, everyday manner. The psychic value of success in a risky endeavor is intensified, but even failure fails to be permanent. There is always another game.
In games, I act in a manner that I do not otherwise. Perhaps life is meant to be lived in the same manner.
Fortune favors the bold.
The games I like to play range be poker, softball (tennis), Civilization 4 (Halo too). Was there a common theme among them, something that spoke to more than just my desire to crush the competitive. I'm slightly, nay obsessively, competitive, I think.
In poker, there's comfort in good strategical thinking. Know your odds, know your players, and know thyself. The raise, raise, and raise again. In poker, I find that I'm much more aggressive than my personality otherwise would hint at. Risk aversion flys out the window, in poker, you're supposed to take risks. The easiest way to lose is to not take any.
Hmm, well that's all interesting, but what about my other gaming love affairs? Softball (or baseball, or tennis) also focus on the mental (and physical) preparation / strategy. Where are my opponent(s)? What's the score? What's my position (role)? With all three, there is again, a focus on the individual. In athletic games, one can have the opportunity to take on the role of a hero (the amazing hit, the clutch defensive play). The opportunity comes when risk is high, but the reward (hero) is great. Hmm, that's interesting. That's kind of like poker.
What about computer games, specifically the one I most play? The goal changes dependent on the mode of play. But when you're competing against other players, risk plays a role. Do you attack with 70% odds, or with 30%?
In my love of sports and games, it appears that it is normal to subconsciously (and consciously) act in a manner which is different than which is the typically normal, everyday manner. The psychic value of success in a risky endeavor is intensified, but even failure fails to be permanent. There is always another game.
In games, I act in a manner that I do not otherwise. Perhaps life is meant to be lived in the same manner.
Fortune favors the bold.