One More Game...

Wouldn’t life be so much better if it were like a video game?  Think about it!  Everything would be arguably better.  Running low on cash?  Just cut some grass to find enough money, or simply rob a bad guy’s hideout.  Can’t seem to fall asleep?  Just enter in the combo move for a good night’s rest!  While these ideas may come off as nothing more than fantasy and day dreams, in truth, life, in many ways, is a game.  There are rules, goals, interactions, rewards, and feedback in this life just as there are in video games.  This idea of life being a game relates back to Wark’s theory of “Gamespace,” and brings up the question if there is an instance in which we are not a part of some type of game.  Is there ever an instance or situation in which we are not playing a game?  That is not the question I want to ask, nor a topic I wish to debate.  Instead, the question on my mind is that if life is a game, then what type of game is it?

            There are various and sundry forms of play, as well as a plethora of different gaming genres.  There’s agon, mimicry, shooters, fighters, puzzle games and many other types of games and play that we participate in.  So what type of game is life?  I would like to argue that life is in fact a conglomeration of all the various types of play and video game genres.  Think of it as an advanced version of Grand Theft Auto.  Just as Grand Theft Auto combines multiple gaming genres, so does life, except on a far grander scale.  Life, in many ways, is a meta-game, containing thousands of smaller, different mini games within it.  These different games can be found through out various aspects in life, and just as with different video game genres, some people are better at certain aspects of life than others.  Think about this for a moment:  I am arguing that little instances of life are games, or mini games.  Everything from conversations, walking down a path, working, eating, falling asleep, and opening a door:  these are all different types of games in the game of life.  This holds up true if we take into consideration that some people are better at certain games than others, and rarely is anyone good at all the games. 

            This argument begins to make a little more sense if we were to stop and think about it.  If every little instance in life is a game, then it makes sense if we are better at some instances or games than others.  For example, I may be better at conversations and talking to people more so than others.  However, I would not go so far as to call myself a master at talking to others, nor the best.  The manner in which I became adept at speaking to others however is also indicative of video games:  I learned and gained experience from multiple situations and instances.  Just as one grinds a character to raise their level in a RPG, or learns a new move, or practices a volley of combos in a fighting game to become better at the game, one needs practice and experience to become better at life and its games.  So in order to beat, or become better at the games of life, we need to practice and gain experience, or be born with the innate ability that automatically makes us great at games.  The games in life that we are usually good at, are in some ways fun!  I would like to argue that these are the games, or instances in life, that we want to play and enjoy.  These are the games we are good at, and rarely struggle with.  We may still fail at times with these games, but for the most part, we beat them. 

            While there are some instances of life that we may be better at, just as how we are better at certain games, rarely is one great at every game and all genres.  Someone may be great at fighting games and shooters, but they might be terrible at puzzle, and sports games.  The same goes for life and its cornucopia of games.  For example, I may be decent at the game of talking to others and conversations, however I’m terrible at the game of eating healthy, or even though I’m great at talking to others, I’m fail miserably when it comes to talking to a girl I happen to have a huge crush on.  While I could become better at these games with more practice, experience, and better skills, there are some games of life I’d rather not play.  Games such as visiting my sister, mowing, or raking leaves:  these are some of the games I hate, and feel miserable playing.  I don’t have any fun playing these games, and avoid them at all costs.  However, in avoiding these un-fun games, I am in a way playing a game:  a game of avoiding.  Although I may hate certain games of life, or be bad at some games, that’s not to say that these games, or instances of life are bad, and hated by all.  Some people are great at eating healthy, or talking and hanging out with their sister; the same as how some people are terrible at sports games and hate them, while others love sports games.

            In conclusion, life is a conglomeration of multiple, various, and sundry games.  Much like Grand Theft Auto, it’s a larger game filled with multiple mini games.  Just as there are several different types of video game genres, there are several different types of games that make up the larger game of life.  Arguably, every aspect in life is a game:  conversations, eating, walking, thinking, decision making, and work are all examples of games found in life.  While there are several games in life, some people are better at certain games than others, while others are better at different games than others.  For example, someone may be great at conversations and terrible at decision-making while someone else may be great at decision-making and terrible at conversations.  This may come off as common knowledge, but it’s interesting to think of in a gaming context.  So, while we may never be able to truly escape gamesapce, we should ask ourselves this question:  “Do we really want to live in a space were games, or game mechanics don’t exist?”