Hoo boy.
It has been a while since I’ve read a “video games are the devil” article, but here we are. I mean, we’ve come a long way since the days when playing video games was the “nerd” thing to do. Video games have become a billion-dollar industry, and everyone from Brendan Fraser to Patrick Mahomes to your grandpa plays them. It’s a shame that a recent article published in The Telegraph ignores the positives of adults who play games and shines a negative light on the whole thing.
The article, which was written by Camilla Tominey, is titled “Grown men shouldn’t waste their lives playing video games”. Tominey talks about Nintendo advertisements “infantilising their customers”. The ads feature grown men and women playing Nintendo Switch, which is something “her eight-year-old daughter enjoys playing”. She also refers to us adults who play games as “overgrown school children”:
“Hashtagged #SetPlaytimeFree, it appears to make the false assumption that most commuters like to while away their spare hours playing Mario Kart, Minecraft and Pokemon. Doesn’t Nintendo realise that the only adults who still use the word “playtime” post puberty aren’t the types to be found on the tube? They are the overgrown school children riding around outside on e-scooters.”
It’s baffling to me that “grown men” are the target demographic for Tominey’s article. Women play video games too. It’s also a major understatement to only mention Minecraft, Pokemon, and Mario Kart when talking about video games. I mean, those games are awesome, and there’s a rush of adrenaline one gets from knocking their kid out with a blue shell and taking first place, but it’s a statement that only scratches the surface of gaming. What about games like The Last of Us and God of War? They’re not exactly kid-friendly experiences. These are fantastic and mature games with engrossing stories that have captured the hearts of millions of fans. The gaming industry isn’t just for kids anymore.
The article brings up the whole idea of gaming as an adult and considers it a waste of time. Video games unfortunately are always looked at as a waste of time, but compared to what? Sure, you could watch your favorite sports team kick a ball around, binge watch eight hours of your favorite TV show, or read a book over the course of a week and end up hating it. I just don’t understand how any of that could be considered a better use of your time. I feel that as long as you love something and are passionate about it (and it isn’t causing harm to anyone else), it shouldn’t be considered a waste of time. Do what makes you happy.
Video games have evolved over the years into more than just something you would “play with your friends in your mom’s basement”. There have been friendships made through online gaming that are truly wholesome, and video games have become a source of joy for those with children with disabilities. My wife and I love to play games like Final Fantasy XIV together. My kids and I love to sit down and play games together. There’s lots of bonding time, and it can be a positive experience, no matter your age. Video games, just like anything else, are a form of entertainment that can be great for kids and adults to relax and blow off steam with. Personally, I’ve been playing games since I could hold a NES controller, and I’ll continue to play them for years to come. Video games especially helped me out when I was going through my fight with testicular cancer. Being able to spend a few hours in a fantasy world helped take my mind off things and acted as a form of escapism during tough times.
If you’re one of those grown-ups (like myself) that loves to play video games, The Dad has a Facebook group called The Dad Gaming Community. There are over 36,000 members in this group, and it’s not just all dads. Everyone is welcome, and it’s one of the most positive communities I’ve ever been a part of (and I’m not just saying that because I write for The Dad). If you love video games and want to talk with other like-minded individuals, this is the happening place to be. We also have Facebook groups for individual games and even a tabletop gaming group, so seriously, no matter your preference, there’s something for everyone.
I feel like life’s too short to be upset about something that millions of people (yes, even grown men) get enjoyment from. If you’re reading this Camilla, maybe sit down with your daughter and play some Minecraft or Super Mario 3D World: Bowser’s Fury on Switch. You can’t go wrong with any of these co-op experiences, and who knows, you might actually have some fun too.