The Online Universe

This blog entry is not to inform of how games are shaping the world around us in ways that benefit entertainment needs, but a realization.

According to Michael Fitzgerald from the FAST COMPANY the magazine, gamers are closer than ever than having complete online interaction with the other players of different consoles. CCP, an Icelandic developer is releasing Dust 514 which will allow players from the online game Eve to play with players who have the expansion pack on the PlayStation 3. Of course a variety of aspects from the original PC game will change but the whole universe will be affected from both side of consoles whether it  be a PC player or PlayStation 3.

What did this make me think about (what does it make you think about?) and how does it relate to the rest of the blog?  The network of how people are connected is getting larger, and it doesn't look like it will stop until the gap is minuscule. Many are even afraid, asking themselves the question are we even actually connected or just filling a void? Games may make some become introverted for the sake of playing a game, but games,actually, can help more people connect in a less superficial way.

People who constantly have what to some may be frivolous conversations through social networking may eventually have trouble communicating, an idea that was presented to me through an opinion based article  in the New York Times. The problem is that people not only tend to feel lonely and therefore go and post for little to none of a reason, but then leave the discussion after a "like" or a few comments. With games, people can connect, fight a strategic oriented battle, and even chat in an ingame lobby or talk to your friends and family if they're playing right next to you.

My conclusion that I am trying to make is that games like a board game and other social activities brought and bring people together. Maybe, if and only if placed in the right direction with the right kind of games, video games will bring people closer together. Games needed are ones that can bring people closer, make people have conversations, bring up controversial thought. A game where everyone participates and enjoys.\

Fitzgerald, M. F. (2012, May). Gamers unite. FAST COMPANY, p. 42.

Turkle, S. (21 A). Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/opinion/sunday/the-flight-from-conversation.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all

Let's keep playing!