Archive for January 7th, 2009

The only sort of game I would play is a role playing game or RPG. The kind that is slow moving with a little bit of action or event here and there. RPGs are ever popular due the the fact that it allows the gamer to fantasize and live a different sort of life. You cannot deny that in our ordinary lives it can be pretty mundane and boring at times. It is not so when you play RPGs.

I am currently playing Harvest Moon Cute and Animal crossing: Wild Life. Both are RPGs but with a slight difference. In Harvest moon you get to play as a farmer. Build your farm from ‘nothing’ into ‘something’. Plant crops, care for animals, make friends with the people in the valley that you are living in, give gifts, get extra close to one person in the valley with the intention of marriage in the future, upgrade your farm, marry and get a child.

In Animal crossing, it is slightly different because the games will continue even though you do not play with the game for so long. When you go back to the virtual world of animal crossing you will see so many things out of order. Like weeds here and there, plants wilting, your neighbours will ask where you’ve been etc. You get to extend your house, decorate it how ever you like, send mails to both friends in the game and also with other gamers through wifi connection, buy and design your own clothes and accessories, make money through digging for fossils, selling fish and bugs and much more. Another thing in the game, you need to pay the mortgage for your house bit by bit ( teaches a little bit of reality to kids here).

It is not much difference really, lives virtually and in reality. But I like the virtual one a little better because everything seems 100% sure. You work hard, it is definite you will have lots of money. You show love to your friends, shower them with gifts and they will love you back forever. You know everything will go fine – the future is somewhat secured. But in reality, even if you work hard there are so many factors that will contribute to whether you will succeed in the end. Factors that many times you are out of control of.

Anyhow, regardless of how fun and safe-feeling it is to hide away in a virtual world, one always have to bring oneself back to the reality of life which is the real one that has be taken care of.