What Gaming Means to Me.

My first time playing a video game was in the single digits and without a doubt one of the many Mario games available on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Being still a little too young to understand the goal of completing the game, it felt like the ultimate victory to actually make it to the end of World Level 1-1, grab the flag pole, and move on to the next level (and of course immediately die).

It wasn’t until a few years later that I started to understand a bit more the determination that it took to progress through an actual video game. The year was 1998, and my parents just bought my brothers a Playstation console. Sitting in front of our living room TV, passing a controller between each other, frantically trying to not only survive, but to get to the next save room. Enter the realm of survival horror, Resident Evil 2.

Resident Evil 2 (1998) Developer: Capcom.

From running through the streets of Raccoon City to checking every corner of the RPD, trying to progress through a game with a literal zombie apocalypse happening brought a whole new excitement (and terror) to playing video games.

Except survival horror games didn’t enter my realm until 13 years later when I played Resident Evil Remake for the first time, one of my favorite video game franchises. 13 years of platforming, action adventure, simulation genre games to even rocking out with Guitar Hero. My taste in video games have always been a variety, a game to play for any mood I’m currently feeling or wanting to feel.

Because playing video games is more than just clicking a few buttons on a controller or keyboard in a certain sequence to get you to the other side of the map or to complete a boss fight. Its puzzle solving. Its story telling. It’s emotional, the same emotions that bring adrenaline rushes, sighs of relief, and even gut wrenching heartbreak. At times it’s indescribable the feeling a game gives you.

The Last Of Us Part II (2020) Developer: Naughty Dog

When I think about some of my favorite video games I realize they all make me feel different emotions. Resident Evil 2 Remake makes me feel nostalgic and triumphant (it’s the first Resident Evil game I beat on hardcore difficulty, very proud). Bloodborne currently makes me feel stress and a bit of anger while on my journey to platinum it (I’m pretty sure I’ve died more during my New Game + than during my first ever play through). The Last of Us Part 1 & Part 2 make me feel so many emotions that it’s hard to pick just a few.

Having a hobby that captivates so many things I think is an amazing thing to have. I can travel to just about anywhere you can think of and do just about anything in a video game.

So, what does gaming mean to me? I think for me the meaning of gaming derives most from the feeling that gaming gives to me. I get to feel happy, sad, motivated, and (most importantly) I get to feel like myself.

Thank you for stopping by and reading!

_Heather.

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