My friend Ross once remarked that he's amazed at how enthralled he gets into games. I said maybe it was an escapist thing, he was able to escape into the world, and becaptivated by its atmosphere. I was surprised when he didn't agree, I mean I've been playing games for nearly 15 years, so I thought I had an excellent grasp on things. He said he finds games enjoyable since they allow him to function on less actual brainpower, and I pondered whether or not that was actually a good thing.

Right away I thought that maybe he derives the game's worth on one level, as a means of not thinking, but then I thought that as human beings we have an inherent need to show dominance and power from time to time. I mean it's in our DNA, especially as men to be domineering and strong, but we have learned to supress it. But, games allow us to fulfill these urges in a cathartic manner.

At the time he was playing Assassin's Creed, and anyone who has played it has seen how fun and satisfying it is to take out nearly 30 guys in one expertly maneuvered bloodbath, and then quickly scale a building to get away. Games in their very nature serve as a means of escaping the world, become masters of our domain, being free of the bonds of reality. To some, this is considered an unhealthy solution, but I find games to be very therapeutic, allowing for contemplation, and a means of coping with an overwhelming world if for only a few minutes.

With many games such as Bioshock and Mass Effect serving as enthralling and intellectual mediums regarding morality and the human condition, it'll be very interesting to see the evolution of gaming from here on out.