A Week Of Gaming Abstinance: Part 2

What more is there for me to elaborate on pertaining to my muted excursions to the Isle of Wight and the unrelenting ambiguous ferocity, that is mother nature? Not much. There really is a limited amount of annoyance that I can justifiably convey, at the ironic absurdity associated with the British weathers cruel bombardment of torrential downpours, I encountered for almost a solid week of camping, only for me to return home to a heat wave (not that I don’t appreciate natures rapturous humour!). Nor the inevitable moments of discourse between friends that fluctuates nervously as the week reaches its conclusion, the worrying levels of water that sneakily filtered in through unknown oraphis, in my girlfriends car, or the relentless barrage of the hideously soul consuming sounds of radio 4, that one elderly couple continued to play, which even Jack Bauer would be hesitant to use as a means of torture. But these often tarnishing events that transpired, though largely tolerable, does seem to have had a rather profound affect on me, by at least partially affecting my perception on how I engage with games.

My experiences have become more pronounced, somehow more sympathetic to the depicted characters situations and interactions, more receptive to their vulnerabilities. I have been enlightened to my felonious nature in the way in which I manipulate the characters in-game, for instance decreasing the frequency of a characters stimulated mobility. I’ve discovered an increased feeling of empathy for the characters I manuever through the densely populated streets of Liberty City, the great vastness that Marston has to negotiate or the diverse weather conditions my admittedly tough Nord, must endure for the sake of my curious intentions. I’ll admit how eccentric and hopelessly optimistic my notions are, but sustaining these minor ethical sympathies needn’t be so encumbering to your progress.

My ego damaging tete a tete with natures boisterous attitudes, has significantly heightened the tortuous exercises I’m constantly burdening my simulated characters with. The unnecessary sprints that Niko endures to reach already acquired vehicles, the incredible feats of human acrobatics that are thrust upon Ezio to accomplish quicker, than are actually required at the time. Not to mention the incredible mental, versatility that my Nord in Skyrim displays, to sustain such acute sneaking capabilities and exhausting acts of dragon slaying skills he displays, despite the relatively feeble time allowed to rest his presumably weary head, I know I couldn’t function anywhere near as efficiently as he appears too, with so little time allocated to rest. But no more, the common negligence perpetrated by us shouldn’t become a requisite, and I dutifully declare my intentions to refrain from the constant, unnecessary strains forced upon my characters, until these services are actually required. So Niko can roam the streets reasonably unmolested, Ezio will stroll un-inhibited by any accelerated manipulation, and my Nord can finally rest and receive his required 7 hours of sleep, because pillaging tombs and absorbing dragon souls is a weary business….. Well, at least until I get bored anyway.

Are your virtual characters tirelessly overworked? Or are you indifferent to non-existent protagonists problems? Let me know your opinions.