The Play is the Thing

Why hello there young chaps! Welcome back to the blog that started it all. (Not really. I just thought it sounded cool. Probably not.) Anyway, my mind has been whirring around and around with topics I'd like to discuss. While I'd like to touch on them all, I think I know what needs to be discussed. Not only do video games thrive on this particular element, but other artistic endeavors as well. It sounds simple at first (and maybe it doesn't get more complex and I'm just reading too deep into it). Here it is: Play is the thing. That's it. Simple, right? The play is the thing. Say it with me now: "The play is the thing". So...wait what? What the hell does that mean? The play is the thing? That's so bland and boring! I was expecting some sort of secret to the universe or the keys to the heart of any girl (revealed later). The play is the thing. What do I mean by this? Imagine yourself playing a video game. I'm particularly fond of the Assassin’s Creed series. Say you're playing the best installment in the series, Assassin's Creed II. For those unfamiliar with Assassin's Creed II, many collectibles are strewn about each level and can be collected to unlock outfits, improve wealth, etc. Some people won't collect all the loot chests in the game (a loot chest contains money and various materials to sell). Some people might collect half of them; some might collect only what they need to get through the game. I tend to fall into the completionist category, so I try to collect all of them (a quite daunting task). Now, what's my point through all this "loot chest" talk? Well, the loot chests are widespread and, after a while, I don't really need the money anymore. I've built up such a horde of wealth, that the chests honestly won't make a dent in my bank account. However, I still go for them. I still want them. Why? Put simply: the play. I like the play of running around, finding the chest, opening it up, and taking what's inside, even if I don't need it. It's not the end result I'm interested in. I'm interested in the actual act of the play. The act of running up walls to get to the chests. The act of fighting off guards to enter quarantined areas for the chests. It's the play that keeps me going. If that example isn't concrete enough for you, here's another one. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a pretty solid RPG. Any Elder Scrolls game you play is probably going to be awesome. Since Skyrim is an RPG, naturally there's going to be a vast array of collectibles in the various sprawling cities one can travel. Things such as journal entries, books, weapons, chests, etc. all can be found littering the caves and dungeons and houses. For this specific example, let me narrow my focus down to books/journal entries. As any RPG fan knows, the journals and books found throughout the game add to the lush lore of the world's fiction. Books can be found documenting the history of the fictional population, or maybe even a book of rhymes and fairy tales. When the player collects these, they might read them (I always do). However, two years after playing the game, will the player remember more than 10% of the information they read? Unless you're some sort of savant or a die-hard fan of the chosen franchise, the answer is no. We'll hardly remember any of it. So, why is it worth picking up these cool books if we won't even remember them? I think you know the answer. The play is the thing. It's not the act of remembering it two years from now. It's the act, in the moment, of collecting the book and reading the book (or not if you don't like the books). The same goes for any other aspect of the game. Are you going to remember all of your encounters with every enemy? No. But, it's being in the moment that makes video games so great. It's being in the moment and physically playing and jumping and swinging that gives us the rush. It's the act of beating a challenge that drives us. The play is the thing. Next time you are playing a video game, stop and take a moment to take it all in. Immerse yourself in the act of playing. It’s what we crave.