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GoNintendo 'End of Day' thought - How 'into' games do you get?

by rawmeatcowboy
01 October 2015
GN Version 5.0

My leg is still giving me trouble, but I think we're slowly getting there. I certainly hope that's the case. I'm tired of hobbling around! Another day of rest and a heating pad lies ahead. Let's hope it does the trick! See you in a few, short hours.

Having my parents play video games over the last few months has been a truly eye-opening experience. When it comes to my Mom, I knew she could play. I also knew she had some struggles, but she manages to finish most of the games she starts. Sure, there might be things that give her more trouble than what I'd expect, but she still gets the job done. So far, watching her play has been really in-line with what I thought. When I watch my Dad...I don't even know what to say.

When I was growing up, lots of parents would make comments about how games were stupid and you didn't get anything out of them. You just sat there and stared at the screen...and that was it. No mental activity, no movement of any kind, just blanks stares. Of course, we all know that's not true because we play games! It's usually people that don't play games that make those comments.

I was lucky enough to have parents that didn't say that stuff. My Dad may have never played or really understood why I enjoyed games so much, but he let me play. Now all these years later, he's starting to really play and see why I do/say the things I do about games. The absolute best part of all of this is seeing him understand just how much of a struggle some games can be, which leads to true excitement and joy when you best those moments.

Just the other day, my Dad was talking to me about how surprised he was with his body's physical reactions to the games he played. When he was playing, he said his hands would get super sweaty, he'd get sweaty in general, he'd feel his heart pumping and he was welling up with all sorts of emotions. My Dad is really in shape for his age and just got a clean bill of health, so there's no underlying issues to worry about here! He's just feeling what a lot of us gamers feel all the time. I know I've been there pretty often!

There are certainly moments when I play that I get really worked up. I don't get mad and yell at games, but I do sweat. I can feel my hands getting slippery. I can also feel my heart in my throat when I'm fighting a boss that is really giving me trouble. Those few seconds where you're close to beating a boss and also close to death...finally doing away with an enemy that you've tried at least a hundred times. When I land that final blow and win the battle, I feel like jumping up and down/screaming. It's pure joy and elation. I'm happy I made it past a troublesome spot, but I'm also super proud that I have the skills to get it done!

How into games do you get? Are you sweaty like I am?! Do you end up throwing controllers against the wall? Do you phase out everything around you and just immerse yourself into a game? Leave a comment and let us know!