Why Game? 1 - TextFiles.com

Reason #2: Internationalism
John Szczepaniak
I grew up in an unusual part of the world
and was introduced to gaming in an unorthodox
way. My reasons for gaming may seem a little
bizarre as a result.
While growing up in South Africa, Japanese
Famicoms vied for my time against American
Genesis systems. Limitless international choice
was at my fingertips, even if my pocket money
couldn’t quite take advantage of it. I gamed
then because it was exciting, exotic, fresh and
new.
Later in life, I would squander entire days
at massive open air markets in the African sun,
searching for grey import goodies from abroad.
This would be followed by an evening at a
friend’s house in Chinatown, drinking beer and
playing import Neo Geo beat-em-ups, while the
sounds and smells of sizzling ginger and garlic
permeated the air. Gaming at this time meant a
juxtaposition of exotic imagery reinforced by the
thrill of human competitiveness.
I still game because gaming can still be
exotic, exciting, new, fresh and bursting with
sights, sounds and competitive gameplay, all
capable of making me giddy. I game because
all these exciting memories come flooding back,
also because it helps form new ones. People I
know from Lake Baikal all the way to central
Nigeria and even Malaysia play games. People
all over the world, no matter what the political
128 The Gamer’s Quarter Issue #3
or economic situation in their country, like to
game. Perhaps ninety percent of the world’s
population loves gaming in one form or another.
This is why I game. It’s an international
and thrilling pastime like no other - able to
transcend the boundaries of language, culture
and religion, with a greater impact than passive
movie watching could ever achieve. It brings
together people from all walks of life under a
single action, and no one can deny that they
love a good multiplayer challenge.
In short, I game because it’s the common
bond I see between all people. And it keeps
rocking my world as I travel across it.