It’s Just a Game

By Joe Lutovsky
Contributing Writer

Why do we play video games?

We play for lots of different reasons. I would guess that the main reason we play games is for fun and to entertain ourselves. Often we play to escape reality for a while. If we sit down to play games for fun, why is it then, that we so often find ourselves yelling at the television, or squeezing our controllers in frustration?

Its just a game right?

Though I, as well as many others I suspect, would argue that video games are now more than ever more than just mere games, to some extent that will always be true.

So why let these games drive us to the point of extreme frustration or anger? Anger and frustration are not good for anyone, not for yourself or those around you. Yet I’m sure you still find yourself in gaming situations where these emotions start to rise up.

I was in this situation a lot back when I played Gears of War 2 online regularly. If you’ve played that game online, especially back when it was first released, you’ll know where I’m coming from when I say that it frustrated me to no end.

I often found myself in play sessions where my anger and frustration at the game would outweigh the fun I had playing it.

This bothered me.

I wasn’t a professional gamer or anything. There was nothing depending on my performance in the game. Nothing bad was going to happen if I lost.

I decided back then that I wouldn’t let games get to me anymore. I want to be as happy as possible as often as possible, and playing games that make me mad gets in the way of that philosophy.

If you look back a month from now, a week from now, or even a day from now, you’ll realize that getting mad over a game was just a waste of your time. Time you could’ve spent having fun and being happy.

This is why I don’t take games as seriously anymore. And I encourage you to examine yourself and how you treat games in this regard as well.

I love playing games online, and especially doing well online. But if I’m losing, it doesn’t bother me, I’m in it to play it, not to win or prove to all of the anonymous people out there that I’m better than them. In most cases, whether you win or lose, you’ll still bank yourself some XP anyway.

And if it comes down to it where a game is starting to get frustrating, just quit. I do. Drop out right there, or just wait until the match is over, and go find something else to play. Or take a break from playing all together.

You’ll feel better.

Gaming should be about positive feelings, not negative ones. That’s how I strive to experience the games I play and I think you should too.

So next time you hop into an online gaming session, remember that whether you do good or not, it doesn’t really matter. Just play to have fun, I promise you’ll enjoy the whole experience much more if you lighten up about it. And when you look back on it in the future, you’ll be glad you decided to play happy rather than angry.

Enjoy your game.

Enjoy your life.

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