[Golden Pen 2020] Reflections on Gaming – A Joyful Companion

This article is by Nguyen Duc Nhat submitted for the Golden Pen 2020, the editorial team only made adjustments to the presentation for suitability.

GAMING WITHIN ME

Surely, those who read this article have had their own “glorious” moments worth remembering: When I first looked at the TV screen with the 4-button console, when I was caught playing at the game shop by my parents, and when I grew a little older, skipping breakfast to have money to buy CD games with eye-catching graphics, and the first time I experienced playing CS or Age of Empires with friends even if it was just a LAN connection between machines…

Like you, all those experiences opened up a colorful world to a child like me over 20 years ago. But back then, who knew anything? Just seeing the screen with colorful moving scenes was fascinating enough, moreover, “playing video games” was a concept that was extremely frowned upon by parents: mothers, relatives, neighbors, all the adults even stigmatized the owner of the video game shop.

But it was not because of prohibition or disdain that we – the kids, lost our love for video games. Around third or fourth grade, when my mom forbade me to eat rice for playing video games, I had a thought in my mind: “One day, games will become something great and my parents won’t be able to stop me from playing anymore.” Thinking that way, I continued to play, playing many different games to experience each one as a gift even though it was not easy to find and play at that time. The excitement I felt before a gaming session back then remains unchanged to this day – as a 30-year-old father of two.

As I grew older and went to school, the era of Mario or Contra passed, making way for computer games like CS, Age of Empires, The Sims 1… at internet cafes. When I got to play, I tried to explore everything: How to change buttons in CS, the keywords that appeared whenever I clicked on The Sims, and the countless vocabulary words that were mind-blowing for an elementary school kid back then.

I even looked up basic commands using the dictionary with my limited English, and then guided other players. There was nothing more satisfying than boasting to my elementary school friends: “Do you know what Shot means? It means shoot. The box right below is “aim”, “left” is left, “right” is right…” while their faces were blank. Such trivial things made me start to get interested in understanding games, the values that games bring.

By the time I reached middle school and high school, with pocket money, I often saved up to buy magazines with many analyses and introductions. At this point, I also understood that gaming was my joy and passion, and I began to search deeper: Game characters, game storylines, game music, and hidden secrets within games. Many of these things surprised me and I also applied them in real life. If your experience is similar to mine, then I am sure that many times your friends or family thought you were silly in both thoughts and actions. Am I right?

After that phase, I packed my things and moved to Hanoi for university, bringing along my passion. With a computer, I tried almost all types of games, both online and offline. It’s hard to count how many games I installed, played, uninstalled, and installed new games. There were times when I didn’t attend lectures just to wait for the release of Diablo 3. I also spent sleepless nights watching DotA 1 and DOTA 2 tournaments just before exam days. My girlfriend also canceled dates to stay home watching and playing The Witcher… I can’t even express how big my love for gaming is (almost didn’t get married).

So what is it about games that captivates me so much? I’ve tried to answer this question many times but still don’t have a truly accurate answer. Like many of you, passion is just passion, no need for a reason. However, there is one thing I am sure of: Games have many values, even the values from games can influence a person’s mindset and character.

The games of the past often had straightforward plots, good against evil, but over time they have offered us many more choices. They often have longer, more artistic, and interactive storylines, and most importantly, a truly great game needs to convey a meaningful message about life perspectives to players.

After all, games are created by designers. A game is filled with the colors and perspectives of those who crafted it. If you watch a movie, read a book, or listen to a story, it is usually presented from a third-person perspective, while games provide us with genuine experiences by giving you a character, putting you in a situation that you must consider and reflect upon. The choices you make in the game reflect who you are, reflecting your behavior when faced with similar issues in real life.

From the joy of captivating visuals, games have now become a place where I can feel my experiences, a place for me to piece together the joys and sorrows of real life whenever I am overwhelmed. As an “aging youth” like me, waiting for a new game means waiting for new experiences, new stories, and new lessons that I have never gone through, which I bring into the real world.

My story is often told to my students whenever I have a moment. Sometimes to prove that they need to pursue their passions, sometimes to share that I too had moments of playfulness, and sometimes to feel proud for spending time doing what I love while not forgetting to contribute to society.

Looking back in recent years, the esports movement in Vietnam has gradually developed, people no longer stigmatize gaming, viewing it as a recreational pastime, and professional gamers have also grown stronger each year. Gaming also provides us with experiences that connect friends and emotional bonds between people. I often recall my childhood thoughts and smile. Gaming has given me many things, most importantly, it has shaped me into the person I am today.

This article is addressed to the youth, if you love gaming, cherish it like a lifelong friend. Because loving games, in my view, is also loving yourselves, loving the values that games bring you. Don’t play games blindly but see them as a refreshing mental tonic. I am also sure that the games you have played, are playing, and will play will become a part of who you are in real life just as they have made me who I am today. Best regards! Now I must ask my wife for permission to play games!