Lola’s Ramblings: Why I enjoy Gaming

Posted November 3, 2016 by Lola in Lola's Ramblings / 18 Comments

LolaRamblings

Lola’s Ramblings is a feature on my blog Lola’s Reviews where I ramble on about a book related or a non-book related topic. These are discussion type of posts where I talk about a topic and readers can weigh in on the topic in the comments. Usually these posts are everything that doesn’t fall under any standard header, like tours, cover reveals, memes, challenges, recaps or reviews. Lola’s Ramblings posts are discussions of a certain topic and my point of view on them. The banner for this feature is designed by Michelle from Limabean Designs.

So far I’ve been enjoying doing these game related posts the past few months, so when a topic for one comes to mind I’ll write it. Even though not many of my blog followers are gamers as well it’s still fun to talk about it. Today I wanted to talk about why I enjoy gaming.

Why I enjoy Gaming

  • Fun. The main reason why I enjoy gaming is because it’s fun. There are a lot of different types of games and they all are different types of fun, but the games being fun is a main reason why I enjoy gaming.
  • Story. I love stories, no matter in which form, whether it’s written in books or throughout games. Not all games have a story, sometimes it’s more a concept like with puzzle games or the story is pretty simple. But there are also games which are more story focused or even games that are very story driven and were the story is the main element. I like finding out what happens, next following the story and exploring the story.
  • Excitement. Games are exciting! There’s nothing that compares to finally finishing a difficult level or going up against a difficult boss or finding the solution to a difficult puzzle. It’s exciting!
  • Relaxing. While games can be exciting, they also can be a way to relax. It also depends on the exact game or the level which of the two it is more and sometimes a game can be both relaxing and exciting.
  • Escapism. Gaming is a way to distance myself form everyday troubles and go up in a game. Same way as reading is a way of escapism, games work that way as well. While I am gaming I go up in the game and don’t worry or think as much. It’s nice.
  • Gameplay. To quote Wikipedia: “Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player’s connection with it.”
    Every game is different in it’s gameplay and the gameplay I also part of what makes games fun. How you can interact with the game. It’s fun how different games have different types of gameplay and I like playing different game genres just as I like reading different book genres.
  • Interactive. I like that games are interactive, you play a role and can interact with the game, with the characters you meet, with the world. You can determine what’s going to happen and how.
  • Exploring. I also like the exploring part of games, whether it’s a whole world you have to explore or new levels skills etc. Discovering new things and exploring the game or the game world is part of the fun.
  • Control. This ties is pretty closely with the interactive one. In games you have a certain sense of control, you control a character and what they do or a group of characters or you are the one who decides which towers to upgrade. There is an elements of control, you control what happens and how the game changes. That’s what I like. It’s quite active compared to reading, which is more passive. Not saying one is better than the other, but sometimes I am more in the mood for one of those than the other. Or I game first before picking up a book to go and read.
  • Thinking. Not something that applies to all games, but many games have some element of thinking. Thinking about what to do next, what to do or what to upgrade. I like that part. With puzzle games this part is more extensive, while with other games it’s more laid back. It just depends on what I am in the mood for what I prefer.
  • Graphics. This one does not apply to all games and overall I would say graphics aren’t a big factor in whether I pick up a game or not, but graphics are part of how you experience a game. I don’t always care about the quality of a graphics and a cartoonish style can be just as visually fun to look at as realistic ones, but I do like the graphic parts of a game. With reading I like that you can visualize things and with games I like the fact you actually see what is happening. So yes graphics are part of what I enjoy about gaming. And there are games were the graphics really enhance the experience. Or some games were the graphics are so pretty it’s just amazing to watch.

Which other hobbies do you enjoy besides reading and what about those do you enjoy?

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18 responses to “Lola’s Ramblings: Why I enjoy Gaming

  1. It’s interesting to analyze why you like to do something. I had to nod in agreement to many of your reason for enjoying a game now and then (I’m not a hard core gamer or even a mid one).

    Gardening, nature walks, points of interest are things I enjoy outside, but inside times I enjoy jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles, movies, cooking, writing/correspondence, some crafts, light exercising, playing my piano or guitar.
    Sophia Rose recently posted…Winged Darkness by L.F. Hampton #ReviewMy Profile

    • I like analyzing things, so I guess that explains how I came up with this topic ;). I am glad you agreed on some of these even as a casual gamer. I wouldn’t really consider myself a hard core gamer either, I go months without gaming sometimes and then suddenly have a few weeks where I play a lot.

      I also love nature walks. And jigsaw puzzles! I still have a box with 5 puzzles lying around unopened somewhere, might start on one of them this winter. I didn’t knew you played the piano and guitar! I wanted to learn how to play a music instrument when I was younger, but only learned a bit of keyboard playing and eventually stopped with it. Didn’t have the patience for it.

  2. My dad is the gamer in the family! I used to play easier stuff like Pac-Man and Crash Bandicoot but he’s into Call of Duty, Dead Space and Drake Uncharted! Hobby wise, I do scrapbooks of what is happening in the world, which I’ve been doing since 1994. I cover all the big stories in news and sport, sometimes entertainment. It’s hard work keeping up with it but great to look back on history. I’ve bought a pile of adult colouring books but haven’t got started on it yet. Mostly I watch TV and films when I’m not reading.
    chucklesthescot recently posted…Book Review: RV Ambush by Robert Boren (Bug Out #9)My Profile

    • That’s fun your dad games. I have played pac-man when I was younger, but none of the other games you mentioned.

      Oh that sounds interesting how you do scrapbooks about big stories in news and sport! I can imagine it takes a lot of time, but it must be great to look back at them later.

      I also have a pile of coloring books, I have colored a bit, but still have a lot of uncolored pages and books as well.

    • It really varies from game to game if I am good at them and quite some games still can be fun if you aren’t good at them. And in some games you can’t even be not good at them.

      You mentioned the zoo work a few times before, it sounds fun!

    • I have played 3 or 4 different Final fantasy games I think and enjoyed them all. I do agree the newest one seems to be a bit realistic, but I am still curious about it.

  3. I can definitely understand all of these reasons! I feel like I bring up The Sims every time you do these gaming posts, but it’s the only real comparison I have lol, and I do enjoy for a lot of these same reasons. It’s fun, it’s relaxing, it’s an escape, it’s interactive. I never even thought about the control thing, but you’re right, gaming is more active while reading is more passive. And The Sims doesn’t have a story in the same way many games do, but it does let you create your own story. And I love that aspect of it too, that I get to use my creativity and imagination. And when I play, and I know many others do the same, I create stories beyond strictly what the sims are doing. Like, in my head they have backstories and emotions and personalities beyond just what’s shown on the screen. But also, no matter how long I play, the game never ceases to amaze me with how realistic and human-like the sims and their actions are (not necessarily the graphics and how they look, but just how they act). So I don’t know, that’s just fun too.
    Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight recently posted…Book Review: The Moonlight Market by Aidee LadnierMy Profile

    • The Sims is a great game though ;). I’ve played it quite some time myself as well. I think I like gaming and reading for many of the same reasons, but the control thing is one of the points where they differ.

      I do think the Sims has a story in some way, not as concrete as in other gamed, but due to what happens it still has a story and how you make up a story in your mind. I remember a house I had with a mom and two daughters I think and eventually the mom died and stayed around as a ghost and one of her daughters became friends with the grim reaper, lol.
      And yes I definitely feel like I created some depth in my characters as well and have them personalities. And indeed the game is pretty realistic and human-like it’s great how they made that.

  4. I love story too. Especially the RPG type games, the story is often the best part! That and the character development. I like the party- based games too, where you level up not only your character but a party of NPC’s as well. I love optimizing a good party to take on foes. Exploring is also a big one for me- that’s one of the draws of Skyrim which is a game I really want to try! Mainly to wander around and explore lol.

    there was a game I played once where you DIDN’T control the characters, rather you had to induce them to do what you wanted with reward flags and that was challenging because they didn’t always do what you wanted, or if they did it wasn’t always WHEN you wanted. It was the only game like that I ever played. I otherwise like the RPG style stuff from Bioware and I’ve played a little Star Wars: The Old Republic.
    Greg recently posted…Fear The Drowning DeepMy Profile

    • Some games really have an amazing story! I almost wish I could game faster as I want the next part of the story. Party based games can be great indeed, I have played quite some of those, although in most cases like Final Fantasy the other party members are more side characters than really NPC’s.

      I own Skyrim, but haven’t played a lot, the wide world you have in those type of games definitely is part of the appeal.

      That game sure sounds original, but also a bit difficult with how you don’t control the characters.

  5. I totally understand all of your reasons! I don’t game (at all) but my husband does and I watch him do it. I used to love watching him game for hours, but that was before I started writing. πŸ™‚ It’s great that you do it and love it though. There are times when I wished I liked gaming. It would give me something different to do! πŸ™‚
    S. J. Pajonas recently posted…November 2016 GoalsMy Profile

    • Watching someone else who games can be just as fun at times. I still sometimes watch my boyfriend game although not as often as I used to. I have times where I game more and then weeks like the past few ones where I hardly game.

    • Fb games also are games in my opinion. I have played a few fb games as well, although not as often lately. They are nice when you have some time to pass between other things.

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