What is it about being physically engaged with each other in competition that makes us so prone to enjoy forms of entertainment such as bowling, mini-golf, and other games that require little skill but place heavy emphasis on score keeping? And, moreover, are these type of activities entertaining by virtue of the activity itself, or, rather, by our active examination of our performance in relation to our opponent?
Thereby, a game requiring the physical presence of all parties makes games like the above-mentioned ones fun games to play with friends and acquaintances. In fact, the ability to associate with someone on a competitive, and therefore personal level, allows you to engage that person in an entirely different way; it introduces a sense of fun along with the competition, which rids it of its frustrating aspects, making the game a matter not only of skill, but also of group dynamics.
This is most evidently what I perceived in our trip to the arcade. For the first time in a while, the entire experience of gaming and competing seemed fun, innocent –healthy, to some extent. I really enjoyed being able to witness, perceive and respond to the reactions of those whom I played with/against, as opposed to letting everything boil down to got the W and who got the L.
Clearly, it is precisely this sociability which has made online gaming so popular, particularly within the context of AAA console titles (i.e. Fortnite) –the fact that players can now speak to each other in real-time as they interact with each other on screen is nothing short of a technological marvel which brings people together.
However, it is always important to step outside and spend quality time with friends engaging in some sort of activity in which you are all physically present. This is, after all, what leads people to believe in the value of friendship: the ability to share common interests as well grow together and in relation to each other.
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