My December to Remember 3: Day Twenty-Three
News: Gavin Newsom condemns California’s plan to boot Trump off state ballot.
Putin says he’s open to Ukraine cease-fire.
Chris Christie off Maine ballot after failing to qualify.
Pelosis purchase between $1M and $5M worth of Nvidia stock.
I still love video games. These days I’m more consuming content about them than I am actually playing. I’ll watch grown men play Super Mario Maker or horror games, or watch creators delve into game theories, or just simply recapping the plots and storylines. I played a ton of games as a kid, though. Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Pokemon, puzzle games, platformers and more. However, the more I think about it, the more I wonder if I really got the true gaming experience that causes people to make all this content to begin with. I used guides a lot. I’d go online to find out all the secrets, discover cheat codes, or use my Game Shark to make sure I’d never die. It’s like I had no patience for exploration, I just wanted to finish it as quick as possible. Otherwise, I’d get angry and give up. And I’m not sure this relationship with games is the optimal way to play them.
Back in 2017 and 2018, I was trying to transition my YouTube channel into a game streaming one. I found a monthly schedule I was keeping, and I was doing two streams a day in some instances. I have no idea how I had the energy to do that. I played my usual fare of games; I did some Zelda or Bully or F.E.A.R. and generally had a good time about it. But there were a few games that I genuinely hated playing, and I made no secret about how angry they’d make me.
I played (and finished) Conker’s Bad Fur Day via emulator, and absolutely hated it. I felt bad about it because it’s such a beloved game, and a lot of people in my chat liked it too. But I had such a stank attitude about it, getting frustrated and screaming at the screen when I wouldn’t do well, and was without my precious guides. It was overall an unpleasant experience and I’m sure the viewers hated it too. I did the same with Majora’s Mask when I wasn’t doing well or getting confused. I’d end up blaming the game, not my lackluster skills. I was just too real with it, showing my true emotions instead of being along for the ride and having fun. And what’s worse is I had no respect for the process of the game, which can be an easy thing to forget when you’re so focused on plugging away at the controls.
I don’t make games. I have no idea how to code. It’s a wonder people even put their heads together long enough to program one. I just wish I had gone into some of these streams or videos with a better attitude on what I was about to do. I’m dealing with someone’s creation and transforming it by playing it. There needs to be an element of respect for all that led up to the finished product: the mechanics, the story, the assets, etcetera. It’s all important, or else it wouldn’t be in the game, for the most part. I may not always like what’s being played, but I can damn sure appreciate a player’s ability to win.
There’s all sorts of games we play throughout our lives. Sometimes we’ve got to play along at work, just to not be repremanded or fired. Other times, we can tell which way the wind is blowing, and input the right controls to keep people on our sides politically. It’s all one big game in the end. These days, it’s very hard to see the wins and losses, since a win here may be a loss elsewhere. Sometimes I don’t have to play in the tournaments, either. I can just watch the dice being thrown and appreciate someone’s skill, even though I’d never pick up that title to begin with. I’m always watching people’s strategies, even if I can’t always articulate why they do what they do. I’ll join the important matches one of these days. For now, a little escapist entertainment by myself is all I need. No more cheat codes, though. I’m too much of a pro gamer for that.
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