The DoFuss Podcast – Motivational Screw Ups
Sorry this is late. I know I said know we would be on time with these, but I am an idiot. Darren and I recorded a fantastic discussion about motivation as well as the usual news unfortunately I forgot to record it. So what you are (hopefully) about to listen to is a well rehearsed, Darren edited, podcast on said topics. If you have any opinions on the podcast or thoughts on what motivates you to play games please leave a comment.
On iTunes we are listed as explicit and this episode we use some very strong language, so if you are easily offended please don’t listen. And listen or skip to the end if you want to win the Mario Kinder Eggs as no body entered last time…
Enjoy.
Tags: Motivation, news, podcast
Add a Comment Trackback
![[Valid RSS]](http://dofuss.net/xml.png "See my RSS feed")
Late to the party here…
The question of “why” is a really hard one to answer when it comes to games. In a sense, I play games for the same reasons I watch TV or a movie or read a book: I want to be entertained by something. But video games do not entertain in the same way those items do because video games require me to play the main character’s role myself.
A lot of people talk about games as fantasies or wish fulfillment and I’m not sure I agree with them. I don’t dream of driving around New York killing people but it sure is fun to do just that in GTAIV. Likewise, nobody had an urge to arrange small floating blocks into orderly columns but somehow Tetris managed to conquer the world.
I think the answer is more simple than we’d like to believe. I think playing video games is the simplest form of FEEDBACK that we all crave. Any form of entertainment will, ideally, occupy your time. But no movie, no matter how good, will actively congratulate you for watching. Playing a game, though, is a constant interaction – input and stimulus. Anything else – graphics, narrative, escapism – is a modern bonus. My Atari 2600 didn’t give me any of those and I played it constantly.