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Even games which have as one of their primary goals simulation of
some aspect of the real world recast the player into some role they find more exciting than
their own. Escaping into the role of adventurer, pilot, quarterback or even zookeeper provides
motivation for nearly every gamer. Escapism Motivated gamers seek out games where the environment
is rich, comprehensive, real. They thrive in worlds where suspension of disbelief is high, where
they can lose themselves in the depth and complexity available to them. They gravitate toward
role playing and simulation, environments where the world is rich and believable. They tend
to avoid abstract games where the underlying reality is difficult to believe or understand.
It is a strange sort of paradox that MMORPGS, with their incredibly deep histories and expansive
worlds, are not as attractive to Escapism Motivated gamers as pure RPGs. This effect arises
from the multiplayer aspect. Players talking in a public channel about out of game topics or,
worse, about the mechanical and numerical aspects of the game world may well ruin the escapists
experience and cause them to seek the company of non player characters or others who share their
motivation.
Much has been made of the downside of escapism. A gamer who spends too much time in a world
not their own can begin to lose touch. This sort of disassociation with reality can, and has,
lead to all sorts of problems with work, school and personal relations. This does not mean,
however, that escapism is itself an unhealthy thing. It is a basic part of the human experience.
The reason we vacation, watch moves, enjoy sporting events or go camping is inherently escapist.
As people, we are often unsatisfied with out lot in life. It's natural to seek out activities
that allow us to experience something outside of our day to day. Gaming is no different. However,
as gamers, we are an oft misunderstood community. We owe it to ourselves and to the world at
large both to fight with information, by spreading the positive realities of gaming and gamer
culture, and to fight internally against obsession. No matter how good a substitute for the
real world a game may seem it is, in the end, only a pastime. Leave it once in a while.
Next week, we conclude with Social Interaction. Then, we'll move on to some sort of unified
theory about all this.
About The Author: Steve is a member of the GrandMatrix team. They provide a broad range of games,
puzzles, articles and reviews. Read more articles, download and play the latest PC games for
free plus enjoy thousands of user submitted puzzles, quizzes and word games at:
http://www.grandmatrix.com
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