After my post about going cold turkey, I managed to get my hands on a different form of gaming. On a plane. At around 30,000 ft. They didn't have the best game library on this Quantas flight, but it sated my thirst. With that small controller in hand and an Xbox magazine half read on the flight, I almost forgot I hadn't played in a while.

Excuse the blood shot eyes and tired smile, flying to Australia isn't the shortest of trips.

Lauren

Due to personal circumstances, I have got to give up video games for the foreseeable future. Not absolutely all games I might add, just my main source - which is my Xbox. I haven't played my Xbox in just over 5 months. It's been a bit of a change going from playing once a week at least - my Sunday evening ritual - to nothing. 

I know some people will look at me with raised eyebrows when I say I do miss it. Playing video games was a huge hobby of mine, like a lot of other people. It helped me relax and escape from the everyday world. Some people play a round of golf, I choose to climb pixel mountains.

To get my regular video game fix, I have spent some time watching YouTube videos. I used to watch gaming videos a lot before I moved away from my Xbox; but now I'm getting a lot more out of it than I did. It's somewhat replicating the pleasure received from playing games myself. I like watching a few different Youtubers: Markiplier, Jesse Cox and Yogscast being a few. Some don't understand why you watch someone else play a game. I've heard things like: 'Why not play it yourself?' It's a fair enough point, but you watch Let's Plays mostly for the person's reaction, not always the gameplay.  

Jimmy Kimmel actually did a bit on his show about watching Youtubers play games - (with the lovely Markiplier as a guest)

Lately, I've been wondering if you can still call yourself a gamer if you've been out of the loop for a few years? Maybe even just a couple of months.

While I am away, I can play on my old MacBook; which includes GameBoy Advance emulators, The Sims and Tomb Raider II. I also dug out my struggling GameBoy Color as I knew I would be away for a while. Meanwhile, my Xbox is safety tucked away in a cardboard box. I won't be able to buy brand new games, but watch on longingly as they are announced and reviewed. Probably playing vicariously through Youtube.

But, I think I can always call myself a gamer; no matter where I am or what I happen to be playing at the time. It shouldn't matter if you play on a Playstation 4, a PC or N64, we can all call ourselves gamers at heart.




Lauren