I'm writing this note for a number of reasons: first as a means to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Sony's original Playstation. It's also the 11th anniversary of Sega's Dreamcast, quite possibly the most under-appreciated console in video game history. However, what I really am hoping to do with this note is to explain to those who aren't gamers why we do it, and why I don't think it's as horrible as so many experts would have you think.

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I love video games. I have an infamous World of Warcraft addiction (I can quit whenever i want!), an on-again off-again relationship that gets reignited with the slightest mention of new dungeons, gear or content. But my love of video games started much earlier than my entry into the world of Azeroth.

I received my first console, a Nintendo Entertainment system, at the fresh age of 2 years, though it would take a few more years for me to begin to consciously enjoy my gaming habit. I became a fan of Role Playing Games early on in my gaming career, my first RPG was an NES game revolving around the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. These games, as you might guess, are very text heavy, and so I would be constantly asking my mom to read to me. After a while, as any mom would, she just told me to start reading it for myself. And read for myself I did. There is no doubt in my mind that my early exposure to video games contributed to two of my most valuable traits as an academic: the ability to read well and to read very quickly. In elementary school I was leaps and bounds ahead of my peers in reading level, and by high school I was reading 150-200 page books in a single class period. I understand that it would be foolish to make the argument that because video games help me develop a very advanced reading level from a young age, everyone should buy a console for their kids for their second birthday, if for no other reason than the fact that video games have changed drastically since my introduction to them in 1987. As anyone in my generation could tell you, even those who aren't gamers, the evolution of video games in the last 20 years has been nothing short of amazing. And yet, the newest generation of consoles has a great deal to offer kids, provided that it is used effectively.

What good is there in letting a child sit in front of a screen several hours a day blasting away aliens? Not much, if you let them play for several hours a day. In controlled environments however, video games can promote teamwork and problem solving skills while also inviting new gamers into a wonderful and diverse community that spans multiple generations. Sure, there's a fair share of old-time, hardcore, "get off my lawn ya damn kids" gamers that insist that kids these days "have it easy" compared to our old 8 bit systems. Those who praise the days of space invaders and duck hunt, long before the arrival of voice acting, computer generated cutscenes that rival hollywood blockbusters and epic soundtracks that are reminiscent of the works of Hans Zimmer and John Williams. Still, at the end of the day, a love of video games is all that is required to bond a baby boomer and a millenial. 30 year olds and 10 year olds alike can marvel at impressive graphics, enjoy hours of entertainment due to a well executed gameplay design, and share their appreciation for a well-told story all wrapped up in the form of electronic entertainment.

What is it about video games anyways? Why do gamers come back, time and again, to contribute to an industry that was worth 10.4 billion dollars in 2004? I believe the answer to be forked, and seemingly contradictory. On the one hand, gamers love the power. In a world where so many things are out of your control: your job, your school, your parents, co-workers, stupid drivers on the road, etc. how great must it be to know that you can go home, turn on your console and take complete control over a character? You can live your life vicariously through soldiers, magicians, martial artists, convicts, assassins, treasure hunters, adventurers...anything! Best of all, it is all in your absolute control. Why do you think open ended games such as the Grand Theft Auto series have been so popular? (Side note: Grand Theft Auto IV made $500 million in its first week.) A recent example is Rockstar's latest title, Red Dead Redemption. Similarly open-ended, it is placed in a more unique setting: the American west at the dawn of the 20th century. Those who aren't familiar with video games might wonder why the video game industry isn't as inundated with western games as the movie industry is bogged down with western films (Short answer: it was never done well). Red Dead Redemption has sold over 2 million units since its release in May, and while it's a far cry from GTA IV's 500 million in a week, the numbers are definitely still there. Another good example of this? When you ask friends about games like The Sims, or MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online games), how quickly do they mention their love of the level of customization they can bring to the characters? The more they can change and control, the better.

So on one side we have this desire for control and a constant environment. A solitary, island-like existence where the gamer is the alpha and omega of their own constructed universe. And yet, at the same time, they want to be a part of something bigger. They love being part of the "gaming community". Consider, for example, Xbox Live and the Playstation Network. When the PS3 first came out, compared with the Xbox 360, the PS3 was lacking in the online community arena. Xbox Live featured much more detailed avatars and friend options, and was much more conducive to fostering an engaging "community" of gamers. The Playstation network is completely free. Playing with your friends online doesn't cost a thing. Xbox Live requires a Gold membership to play games with friends and enjoy online multiplayer options at the cost of $50/year, and there is no built in wireless adapter, which comes at a cost of ~$100 (cheaper online probably) if you can't hook it up directly to a modem. And yet, players pay the $50 a year, which will be going up to $60 a year very soon. If a gamer has owned a 360 since release and held a gold membership since that time, they'll have spent ~$300 just for the ability to play online (not a bad deal considering that World of Warcraft Players who have played consistently since it's release have paid approximately $1080). So it's not just about the independent, all powerful, solitary gamer. It's also about the sense of belonging, a sensation that some kids go years without.

Video games aren't just about shooting guys in the head, disemboweling aliens or solving push-and-pull block puzzles. Video games are about understanding characters, extremely difficult ethical questions, and witnessing first hand the destructiveness of blind hatred and rage in a fictional world before realizing that some of these situations aren't far from reality. Video games are about completing a difficult co-op mission and knowing that you couldn't have done it without the help of your fellow gamers, and that the accomplishment is just one more thing that helps bond you and another player who may be hundreds of miles away, years older or younger than you and perhaps belonging to an entirely different social and economic caste. Video games are about control and a struggle to obtain, at least for a moment, an ultimate form of your fictional self. Live or die, the power is in your hands.

Video games are here to stay, that much is certain. The question is, will we embrace the possibilities of gaming and all that it has to offer? Or will it become increasingly stigmatized as a mind-numbing waste of time? I certainly hope that as video games continue to grow and evolve that the next generation will be able to appreciate and enjoy gaming as well as the gaming community without fear of judgment.

Happy birthday Playstation! Happy birthday Dreamcast! And thank you, video games and fellow gamers, for everything.