Get in the Game : Video gaming beholds more than obsessive behaviors

Video games have been a constant source of various debates for many reasons since becoming a popular medium for entertainment,  especially after the advent of the home gaming console. People have argued over its validity as a legitimate form of media, the impact that violent games have on children and even if some games can ever truly be considered art. Since it is fall — one of the most important times of the year for popular game releases in the industry — the hot debate amongst the people always tends to revolve around obsession.

As far as electronic gaming is concerned, it's still a young, constantly-evolving form of entertainment. Not many traditionalists are able to view video games as anything more than a waste of time because it has yet to ingrain itself as a staple among the dominant generation of people. Yet, despite all the concerns over becoming overly enraptured with video games, they pose no more threat than any other form of entertainment.

The release of a new Call of Duty game every year pretty much guarantees my Facebook feed will be flooded with a slew of complaints from angry girlfriends about how obsessive their boys are over a stupid game. While I can see the girls' distaste for having male attention being diverted away from higher priorities, gaming is clearly a hobby I enjoy. An anticipated game release can almost feel like a holiday when it finally comes out. To shame them for such obsessive excitement is no more deserved than any Harry Potter or Twilight fan who waited in line for a new book or movie release or a Black Friday shopper who tramples slow-moving old folk for cheap TVs.

A few days of excessive game binging is normal after a big release. To deprive anyone of that would be the equivalent of letting a child open their presents on Christmas Day only to not let them play with them for more than 10 minutes at a time.

Besides, most people will burn out on religious Call of Duty play after a few months anyway. The real game that will test a couple's mettle this year is Skyrim. Not only is it a single player game, but it's such an addicting, time-consuming game that it requires far more attention to combat and story than the casual drop-in drop-out multiplayer of Call of Duty.

After all, you must really love somebody if you're willing to sit there and watch your partner lead their Argonian lizard-man around and slay dragons for more than 200 hours.

I wish to know what makes this behavior any more absurd or threatening than the other things people go crazy over. The previously mentioned Harry Potter fans are able to get a pass as being simple nerds just because what they love is in a book and not on a monitor or TV screen? What it comes down to is replay value and interactivity.

Video games offer something no other medium before it — other than maybe those choose your own adventure books — has been able to do. Over the past few decades alone, video games have evolved from simple 8-bit linear games to high-definition powerhouses with large open worlds, fantastic writing and artistic displays. Books may be a more traditional form of entertainment generally looked upon with more favor for their educational value, but over their centuries of existence, they haven't been able to evolve past words on paper.

Video games can be played multiple times with multiple different experiences and appeal to most of one's senses at the same time. No other medium takes into account the consumer's opinions, emotions and personalities more than video games are able to do. Can anybody really blame someone for being excited to use something that caters to most of their entertainment needs?

Those who say video games have no literary value can look at The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and see how epic tales can be translated into fantastic interactive experiences. Those who say video games do nothing but promote senseless violence, desensitizing  death, can look at Mass Effect and Heavy Rain for the gut feeling of disgust and terror when a teammate or close friend dies because of the decisions you made. And those who say video games are pointless and don't really matter, can look at the book they're reading or the episode of Jersey Shore they're watching and wonder if those forms of entertainment are really that much more important than a video game.

I know some folks let video games consume their lives, but the same thing can happen with anything. People abuse alcohol, drugs and McRib sandwiches, all which have far more harmful effects than a video game. I'm not sure how much longer gaming must wait to be recognized as a legitimate hobby, but just because the high level of interactivity draws a player in more than other media does, it doesn't mean they're overly obsessed addicts because of it.