So, I had a bit of time to myself last night and decided to play some Skyrim on PS3. Such a great game. I realize that it’s much easier to lose track of time/ play too much with rpgs versus platformers like Mario. Mario, I’ll pick up for 30 minutes to an hour and be satisfied and done. But rpgs bring in this addictive nature of wanting to complete as well as wanting to see what’s around the next corner. There is something very human about wanting to tie lose ends together and being reluctant to quit until things are settled. I think games like Skyrim pull the player in with this element. When I finish a quest, I don’t just finish it, but I want to go back to town and make sure everything is resolved, my items are put away safely and everything is neat and tidy. But the game doesn’t really allow that because it’ll make sure that on the way back to town I’ll meet a dragon, get pulled into another quest or witness a fight in a market that, again, pulls me in so that I can get things resolved.
So anyways, great game and does speak to our human nature (its a very human game). I suppose the one danger is that if Skyrim becomes the preferred residence of us and the Earth is simply background noise. Games should be for leisure and relaxation, but sometimes that non-risk environment is what we crave for and we end up abandoning ship on our careers, friends and family and live our lives out in the game. Which is a shame.
Quinby 