I had been wanting to blog about this for a while when I realised one of my friend's character seems so different (from what I thought) when he started playing an online game. From what I know through the years, he's a bit of a workaholic and stayed away from his emails and any other means of contact through the computer platform. Recently, we had a class gathering and everyone was asking if one or the other had an account with a certain networking site. He obviously didn't even hear of such a site, let alone have an account, and so asked if I could start one for him, which I did.
A while later, there was a game where the person takes care of a pet, where the pet can be fed, washed, and played with. Once he got started playing the game, he got hooked and became a little obsessive about it. First shock to me was when he actually told me that he had spend money to buy stuff for this virtual pet. Honestly, I don't think anyone who had bills to pay would actually buy credits in a virtual game that didn't reap any rewards. But he did, and as he put it, "Since I can't keep a real pet and spend money on it, I'm spending money on my virtual pet." Sometimes I wonder if he's being stupid paying to play this game, but if you look at the money he spends in real life, you'd realise that this might be a better investment than some of the things he's paying for.
The other day, he sent a message asking if I would recommend him to some of my friends so that he could show his pet off, as well as his pet's home. Well this isn't much of a surprise coming from someone who was status-conscious. He loves his branded goods and would most likely buy something if it's associated with some brand. What got to me was the fact that he wanted to show off the pet's house which, to me, looks like a warehouse. So he had almost everything made available in the game. Just as in real life, not everything in the world can be put into one place and look good. There's moderation to everything, even in the virtual world. I'm wondering if there should be a group therapy session for obsessive players like him. However, I can imagine these people just going into therapy with their laptops, playing the game till their computers are confiscated.
Then there was the time he asked if he could get somethings from me, or if any of my friends had the things he wanted for his virtual pet. In the end, he got somethings and promised to trade somethings back, which never happened. I'm left wondering if this was the kind of person he was in actual fact. Just that in real life, I don't have anything he wants. But if I did have something, then would I end up not getting my things back in the end?
Other than this friend, I noted something else about another friend who played a different game. In this case, the person seems to give out derogatory comments about the other player while playing. At the same time, I noticed that this person would also try to put other people down with name-calling and comments even when not playing any games.
So if the way that one plays games can tell what kind of person you are? Or is it what the game essentially is about?
Personally, I like the Sims games. What it essentially is is a game in which you are in control, playing God. Though not all situations in the game in entirely in your hands. So does that mean I like to be in control? Well, thinking about it, I do prefer being in control, but in life, just like in the game, you can't control everything. What does it mean if someone gets easily bored with games? Are the games not entertaining, or is it that the person needs more stimulation in their life to keep them interested in something? Or is it just that the person hasn't found the right game for themselves?
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