Articles

I did something unusual
(for me) last weekend. Instead of waiting to rent the video, I went
back to the theater and paid to see a movie I’d already seen. Lord
of the Rings drew me in like no other film has. And, the second
time through, I was just as emotionally involved. I cringed at the
menace of the Ring Wraiths; I wept in earnest at the fall of Gandalf;
and I gazed in awe at the majestic Pillars of Argonath.

I don’t love this movie
because I grew up with J.R.R. Tolkien. Or, because I ate peyote and
dreamed of Middle Earth in my formative years. I love this movie because
I am an escapist at heart and real life has never been enough for
me. I’m too late to explore lands unknown or find the ultimate treasure.
And, I live in a world that is often routine and chaotic. A world
where the good guys don’t always win and where magic and mystery are
distinctly absent. In short, I live in a world without wizards or
unicorns. Don’t get me wrong. I am not unhappy. On the contrary —
I take great joy in the wonder of my children, in the unconditional
love of my dogs, and in the tremendous blessings that this lifetime
has bestowed upon me. But, on a very core level, something is missing.
Like Mark
Ross, I long for experiences that simply aren’t available to me
in this incarnation.

So, I turn to vicarious
adventures. I blaze new trails through books such as King Solomon’s
Mines or Journey to the Center of the Earth. I return to
mystical times with movies like Excalibur or Lord of the
Rings. And, I lose myself completely in fantastic worlds when
I play games like Asheron’s Call, Omikron, and Outcast.
At the end of an ordinary day, I put my children to bed, turn down
the lights, turn up the sound, and load up a game. I voyage to places
unknown where I am a wizard, a warrior, a detective, or an archaeologist.
I traverse the past, the present, and the future and I am in absolute
control of my own destiny. I am a hero who can make an immediate difference
through intellect, practice, and luck. And, when I make a mistake,
I get a second chance (if the game designer has not messed with the
save system). While others sleep, I save the world.

This is not to discount
the value of adventuring in real life. However, I only get four weeks
of time off each year. Since I have yet to win the lottery and was
not born with the surname of “Kennedy,” I am destined to
be a working stiff. I celebrate my time off and use vacation for the
best adventures I can afford. But, what’s a person to do with the
rest of the year? For me, the answer is gaming. It provides a virtual
vacation… an act of ongoing recreation… a hobby that permits me
to slip beyond my own reality and responsibilities without leaving
the house. When I play a game, I transition from the roles that I
have chosen in real life (provider, parent, employee) to those of
a true adventurer.

I should point out that
we adventure gamers are not unique. We are simply using new technology
to follow in the footsteps of many who have gone before. One only
has to look at literature through the ages to see that the heroic
quest is a core part of our heritage. Since we first drew pictures
of successful hunts on cave walls, we have reiterated our need to
see good triumph over evil… to affirm that courage and a pure heart
can empower the most unlikely among us… and to believe that, through
action, we can change the story of mankind. Moses led his people out
of Egypt. Jason retrieved the Golden Fleece. Sherlock Holmes solved
the Curse of the Baskervilles. Paul Atriedes overcame the Harkonnens.
And, Gabriel Knight defeated Van Glover. Although the circumstances
change over time, the themes of heroes and myth remain the same.

Thus, I am baffled by those
I meet who state that they “…just don’t understand that fantasy
stuff” or those who note that “…computer games seem like
such a waste of time.” I remain clueless as to how my peers at
work can settle for the nightly reading of business literature while
refusing to unlock the wonderful imagination that is an essential
element in our humanity. For them, it is enough to dress for success
and win through intimidation. For me, I think not!

I challenge each of you
to take a mental vacation to Neverland and to spend time with the
Lost Boys… to step back into the mysteries of childhood and remember
when dragons and wizards were part of our daily existence… to refuse
to believe that being an adult is synonymous with leaving your imagination
and sense of fun behind. I dare you to be brave and to experience
an adventure game, even when your friends at work think you are a
bit daft. Sure, Leo Durocher is known for his assessment that “Nice
guys finish last.” I would disagree. Nice guys (or girls) should
not settle for last place. They should play computer games and save
the world!