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With the maturation of online gaming and advent of all-inclusive events like the Penny Arcade Expo, players have more outlets than ever to meet each other and share their mutual passion.
I wasn’t always great at fitting in. My parents believed it was likely because I wasn’t interested in the “right” activities, so they decided to choose my hobbies for me. Unfortunately, many of the kids who played on the little league team were also the ones who picked on me. That didn't work out so well. So after they accepted my geek way of life, my mom and dad let me go back to my games.
Years later, a boy approached me as I sat outside my middle school one afternoon drawing characters and locations from Final Fantasy 7. He recognized what I was doing and praised me for my digitally inspired doodles.
I had other similar encounters, and I socialized more as the weeks passed. Eventually, I found myself having more friends than I could even count. I realized that video games weren't the problem. It was the fact that adults told me there was something wrong or antisocial about enjoying them.
Many non-players treat gaming like a reclusive activity for the introverted. In reality, gamers are probably the most social people I’ve ever met. Even single-player experiences give us topics to discuss in the real world whether it’s a simple conversation about artistic opinions or a heated debate regarding morality.
For instance, many individuals who approached me about my FF7 drawings discussed how the Shinra Company was a take on modern corporations and their power-fueled aspirations. Another friend of mine also took the time to tell me that even though he felt Unreal had a more open-ended structure, it lacked the story and character development found in Half-Life.
Gaming is also a great excuse for friends to get together and plan anything from store trips to tournament gatherings where people bring their TVs and consoles.
Popular events like the Penny Arcade Expo are examples of these social experiences. At these shows, fans come together to see the latest offerings from the interactive-entertainment industry. Enthusiasts can have fun in their own special way -- even if it involves dressing up as Chun-Li from the Street Fighter series.
Individuals who believe that playing through the latest releases is an antisocial activity couldn’t be further from the truth. Just look at all of the networks, conventions, and organizations that have emerged in the last few decades.
Games are some of the most collectively consumed forms of entertainment.
