With the prevalence and popularity of all genres of PC games these days, most everyone has played their share of them at one time or another. But what kind of gamer are you? What drives that cultural addiction to these virtual adventures?
Although it seems like PC games have been around forever, the industry really isn't more than a few decades old. If you think about it, simply having a computer in our homes is a fairly new phenomenon. As recently as twenty years ago, the average person had barely even heard of one. How life has changed since then. Nowadays, many of us couldn't imagine a day without using their computer for one thing or another. Entertainment has become a very big part of this use.
PC games are a huge draw, easily offering the same entertainment value as any movie, and some with a budget to match. But why are they so popular? What brings us in so thoroughly and keeps us pressing buttons? Is it the chance to become more than we are or could ever hope to be through games? I'm as much a fan of believing in yourself as anyone else, but let's face it, the chances of anyone living today, of becoming a star fighter saving the universe from bloodthirsty aliens is fairly remote. But put the right PC game in our hands, and we can transport ourselves into just that world for as little or as long as we want. And there are thousands of other available scenarios. Do you have an outlandish life you want to live? Do it through gaming! There are countless opportunities right there at your fingertips. PC games for every taste. The only question is, what kind of gamer are you?
Is a quick diversion from your everyday life all you're looking for? Then PC games are the perfect thing! You can pass the time with everything from browser based, flash games to highly advanced titles with little else to offer but button pushing excitement. Yes, I did mention flash. They are computer games too! And anyone who hasn't had a look at them in a long time should check them out again. Flash games have come a ways since the days of simple, stick figure animation. In fact, anyone who remembers old, Nintendo games and wants to take a walk down memory lane can find some of their titles converted into browser games. Such classics as Donkey Kong, Mega Man, Doom, Quake, and a slew of others can be found with only a quick internet search.
For those who want something more than a browser based gaming experience, the options are even greater. Current mainstream titles can offer an in-depth storyline and complex gameplay. From the alternate, everyday life experience of PC games like The Sims, through the action packed lightsaber fest that is Star Wars, gamers can be drawn in for weeks of entertainment.
The next level of immersion lies with the popularity of massive multiplayer online games such as World of Warcraft, where players can spend years wandering around an online world with millions of other gamers. The size and complexity of PC games like this means that there are actually several different gaming experiences to be had in just one title.
The one thing that brings all of these PC games together is the ability to transport the gamer. Whether you want to jump over barrels to try and rescue the girl from the long-suffering gorilla in Donkey Kong, or roll a Warcraft mage and hurl fireballs at anything that moves, you are being transported into another world.
Be anything you want to be through PC games - starship pilot, medieval warrior, football sensation, mafia boss, or Batman. That's why they've made such an impact on our society. Anything that helps us dream tends to do that.