Tuesday, November 13, 2012

A Reflection Upon Video Games in My Life


Like all kids, video games found their way into my life and have been an obsession ever since I was first introduced to a Nintendo 64 system at a friend’s house. My parents bought me a Gameboy Color  and “Pokemon Blue” when I was 8 years old, my own Nintendo 64 with “Ocarina Of Time” probably a year or two later, and a Playstation 2 and “Kingdom Hearts” when I was 13.
Mom encouraged me not to over-do it, not to play them constantly. I got outside and played with the kids in the neighborhood. I had a steady balance of inside entertainment and exercise, probably thanks to the rules established by the parentals.

I still love video games, and lately I’ve been thinking about the effects they’ve had on my life. I probably know far too much about my favorite games, from far too much time invested over the years, but I think that those games have taught me some important things.

Kingdom Hearts is a story-driven rpg about a boy who is destined to save the universe from darkness and evil. The morals, characters, and overall story has inspired me with new ideas about right and wrong, a theory on friendship and cherishing memories, and something to think about when times are tough.
As far as the Pokemon series, I’m convinced that they are the most complex and ingenius video games ever created. While the games seem violent, capturing creatures and utilizing them to battle for prizes and tournaments, the game teaches strategy, prioritizing, management of resources, budgeting, sportsmanship, logic, and many other valuable characteristics that I really take for granted. I haven’t given much more thought to it until recently, but my god, I can’t believe the complex nature of those games. And I’m so happy that I picked those up at such a same age.

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