In this day and age, where more people than ever opt to stay in and play video games, it is easy for critics to blindly state that the joyful freedom of expression that we gain from activities such as soccer, music, or perhaps painting for example, has been lost. However, due to the advancement in technology, the very video games that have been slammed by many, now have the power to allow the user to create and express themselves in the company of an unprecedented number of people.
Gone are the days of "Pong" and "Donkey Kong" where you were limited to simplistic actions. These have been replaced instead by sophisticated games which allow the user to act in such a way that the possibilities of what you can do are almost endless. Popular games such as the "FIFA" series allow the player to pull off a multitude of complex moves with undetermined end results, meaning that the scope of what you can do is truly enormous. The joy of planting the ball in to the top corner after a superb flowing move is an incredible sensation, something beautiful that your skill and expertise has created. Artistry is not normally a term you would have associated with video games in the past, but nowadays it is very much a relevant term when describing aspects of the gaming world.
It is the incredibly complex programming and powerful machines which have allowed computer games to provide such unpredictable gaming patterns, and therefore scope for a wide range of results. The subtleties of a video game are so hard to pick up on now, that when you do it is an incredibly satisfying feeling when you do perfect these techniques to improve your skill levels that much further. As it is for a gymnast when they finally land that front flip, it is great to be able to demonstrate your skill on a video game when you have finally overcome a certain challenge. It is a way of expressing and exhibiting a difficult ability you have managed to perfect.
Another way in which the video game can allow for excellent levels of expression for the user, is that it can delve into the realms of fantasy. Of course, games don't have to be realistic, which means all forms of unthinkable things can be achieved. Where else can you summon dragons, leap at lightning speed from building to building, or transform yourself into beast form? Certainly not in real life, which gives video gaming even greater scope for the expression of imaginative, creative ideas.
Probably the greatest advancement for video game players in terms of expression, though, must be the implementation of online gaming. In most walks of life, it is only the people at the top of their profession who get to show off their skills to a large audience. For instance, it is only really the multi platinum selling musicians that get to play their music to packed stadiums, or the brightest artistic talents who get their work into the most famous of galleries. Those who still love their professions but aren't at the top of their game yet will find it very difficult to express their talents to a large audience.
This is very different for gamers, thanks to the phenomenon of online gaming. Now gamers can upload their best clips, play against people from all over the world, and also chat and socialise with them. There are very few other activities where this can be done. Now, that top corner goal you scored on FIFA after that superb flowing move can be seen by millions. You may have achieved this sitting in a friends lounge, but this expression of skill can be viewed by almost anyone. It is a powerfully emotive feeling knowing that what you have just produced can bring joy to such a large number of people.
The combination of almost limitless boundaries, the perfection of skills, and the ability to share this with all corners of this world, means that video games now offer the most incredible way in which to express yourself. Traditional activities for displaying artistry and skill still remain, and stay very important in today's world, but they now have a virtual rival that is looking to sweep them to one side.
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