Gaming is a culture

6 October, 2022

This issue will be my introduction to the newsletter. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast-paced gaming industry while still living a full life. I'm here to help you find the best games and keep you informed about what's important and relevant.

This is not a news report. Video games are not culturally isolated. They're not products that disappear quickly. Games are part of everyday life and not an exception for anyone who plays them, which is becoming more common. They are part of my life and I want to discuss them in a way that reflects this.

Ask any anthropologist, and they will tell you that playing games can reveal a lot about a person. Popular games often reveal something about our culture and the world in which we live. When we examine how people play Fortnite, even if it seems like it has little to say, we can learn a lot from the game. It's a place teens use to hang out with their friends.

Gaming culture, which is both young and technologically advanced, can provide insight into the future of the world. Gamergate is a dismal example. It was a 2014 harassment campaign that predated the Trump campaign and the deceitful tactics of the alt right. But gamers were also early advocates for the Internet's ability connect and empower people through our newsgroups, and online lobbies. Before Instagram, people were creating new friends and curating new selves in videogame worlds.

All this is to emphasize the importance of games. They are not a guilty pleasure or a waste of time. They have power, just like all art and culture. They connect, entertain, and sometimes even effect change. It can be fascinating to meet the people behind them. Video games are my favorite form of entertainment. They can be both sublime and very absurd. You can make a huge difference in your life by playing the right game at just the right moment. It can also provide a way to have fun while you work, raise your children, and deal with the daily heartbreaks. That's good, too.

Since 1996, I have been a games journalist. I find them fascinating. I am excited to share with you the stories and games that make my brain happy.