Why we play the games we play

Everybody plays the games they do for a reason, as for me there are a number of reasons, such as the genre. With each reason depending on each game. Some play a game because of its challenge; some play a game for the single player mode, others just the multiplayer, while still others play for the action, story, puzzles, or challenge in a game. Regardless of who you are there is a reason you play the games you play. To keep things interesting I play a number of genres. First Person Shooter’s (FPS’s), Adventure, Role Playing Games (RPG’s), Stealth, Racing, Action, Fighting, and Puzzle Games are among my favorite genres. I don't usually stick to one game and one game alone.

 One of my favorite games is “Call of Duty: Black Ops” (COD:BO). There are a number of reasons why. Although I think the graphics could have been better, I really like the overall look of this game, and I love all of the customization in multiplayer. Treyarch, the creators of COD:BO, made it possible to customize practically everything. Another thing I really like is the ability to create a unique symbol to go along side your gamertag; I have seen some very unique symbols created. The games single player modes are great, but the game really excels online. However I won’t play this game online alone very often. This is a game that I enjoy most with a group of friends. It's much more gratifying to brag about something I just did with someone I have contact with on a regular basis. The main reason being that I know they can relate, they know what I’m talking about, and they have the same passion for the game that I do.



On the other end of the spectrum, a game I will play alone online is “Bad Company 2” (BC2). Some of you may ask "Why can you play BC2 alone, and not COD:BO?" The difference is COD:BO is a very high paced game, which causes you to die more often, and due to level design the fighting usually ends up being found in only one small area, regardless of the size of the map. This creates less strategy and more frustration. I'm not saying I don't like it, I'm saying I'd rather play it with friends to add a level of strategy. BC2 has maps that are much larger in size. The larger scale of the maps adds a level of strategy that COD:BO can't compete with. Another reason I prefer BC2 is I play as a sniper. In COD:BO a sniper rifle isn't used as a sniper rifle for most people. People use techniques called "Quick Scoping" and "No Scoping". Both of which, with enough practice, are very effective at short range. It essentially reduces the sniper rifle to a shotgun. It's very frustrating because it's a one hit kill at short range. It's not how a sniper rifle is supposed to be used. In “Bad Company 2” you truly are a sniper. Due to the scale of the maps you are able to go to the outer rim of the map and snipe someone from hundreds of yards away. For the most part no one can tell where the shot came from and, if you are hidden enough, even the "kill camera” (a post-kill third-person view of your killer) can't give away your position.

Also the different choices in class options in “Bad Company 2”, (medic, engineer, assault, recon) really make you feel like a part of your team. The medic throws out health packs for his team mates to pick up, and can revive team mates if they die. The engineer fixes damaged vehicles and carries rocket launchers. Assault for fire power, using assault rifles as a main weapon, and is able to throw ammunition boxes for team mates to collect . Recon class, the sniper, is able to throw motion tracking devices. When an enemy walks by a tracker, and one of your team mates kills them, you get extra points. You can also obtain a marking system through the scope on the rifle, marking enemies in the area, and earning assist points once the marked enemies are killed by your team mates. By using all of your abilities in each class, and assisting your team mates, you end up earning more experience points, which allows you to obtain certain attachments for guns, or unlocks new weapons to use. In these aspects, BC2 uses and requires much more strategy than COD:BO. There is more emphasis on completing an objective, and helping your team out in BC2. Again, that being said, I don't dislike COD:BO, in fact I love it. I just enjoy playing multiplayer more with friends. Now, in answer to the title of my post, I play COD:BO because of the high paced game play and the incredible graphics. I play BC2 because of the strategy involved.

Another game I love is Grand Theft Auto 4 (GTA4), because it allows me to do things I would never do in real life. There is no way I would run up to a car, pull the person out and take off. But in this game I get to do that. I probably won't ever fly a helicopter, but in GTA4 I can. Another reason I like to play GTA4 is the experience of city life (designed after a modern New York City). Rockstar made the in game AI so real that it seems like you are driving down the streets of a city. The main reason I play video games is to experience something different, something unique, something as close to reality as I can get. Video games enable you to be in the shoes of a character in a world created for you. We are all different, and we all experience things different.

So, why do you play the games you play?