[Golden Pen 2020] Game – Not Just Beautiful Memories

This article is submitted by a reader for the competition Golden Pen 2020, the editorial team has only adjusted the presentation to fit.

Game – Not Just Beautiful Memories

I am someone who values memories and cherishes the joyful and sorrowful stories of youth. The best baggage into life is none other than the happy memories of childhood and school days, about a warm family with a strict yet warm-hearted father and a gentle, forgiving mother, about scorching summer afternoons with clusters of bright red phoenix flowers and the soft chirping of cicadas in the leaves, and about skipping school with friends to play video games, feeling anxious about being caught yet quickly forgetting it, and finally getting lost in the images on the computer screen.

I played games a lot and started very early. At an age when I didn’t even know numbers or letters, I already knew how to use the mouse and keyboard to control my character. With my tiny hands and innocent mind, I tried to find a way for my hero to defeat all the terrifying monsters and zombies to save the princess. But there was no beautiful princess at all; the game The House Of The Dead back then was too difficult for a 5-year-old like me, and I never completed this game, only to find out much later that the beautiful princess I was determined to meet did not exist at all.

Back then, the internet wasn’t developed, and there weren’t many games like today. I spent most of my time sneaking into the internet cafe, watching older guys play Half-Life (Counter Strike), shooting zombies (The House Of The Dead), managing a zoo (Zoo Tycoon), and shooting eggs (Dino Eggs), and sometimes I was curious to see some older folks typing letters and texts.

Watching so much made my hands and feet itch, so I went home to ask my mom for money, claiming it was to buy snacks, but in reality, I spent all that money on gaming. After a while, I was discovered, and of course, I faced the wrath of my mother, while my father just silently smiled sympathetically. A few days later, he returned with a brand new computer system and a set of accessories.

My father didn’t forbid me from playing games, but he set conditions: I could only play for two hours each day, and after playing, I had to do my homework or help my mom with house chores. When I was young, I loved my father very much, and as time went by, I grew to respect and admire him even more. He always handled issues delicately and effectively; thanks to his “initiative,” I transformed from a crafty kid who would sneak off for hours into a well-behaved boy who studied consistently (and of course, also played games regularly every day) and even learned to do housework. The only downside was that it resulted in a pair of nearsighted eyes: two and a half degrees in each eye by second grade, but reflecting on it, if I hadn’t become nearsighted from gaming, I would have from reading stories or studying anyway; it was just a matter of time for kids like me who maximized their eye use every day.

Games nurtured beautiful emotions and souls within me, teaching me that I need to live honestly to hold my head high and spread love to everyone. Games taught me to be strong and resilient like the Orc warriors, but also to possess the wisdom and knowledge of the Elf scholars, and at times, to embody the cunning and unpredictable nature of our Human leaders.

Games taught me to cherish love and sacrifice to protect those we care for: the beautiful yet tragic love story of Yuna and Tidus in Final Fantasy 10 surely lingers in the minds of those who have played it, where love, no matter how powerful, cannot conquer time and fate. Games taught me to protect my family; family is everything, the only thing that will persist and pass down my legacy from my ancestors to future generations: Geralt of Rivia in the Witcher series, though cold-blooded and emotionless, will not let anyone touch a hair on his “daughter” Ciri or insult his sexy, lovely lover Yennefer.

For the transient life of a monster hunter, this small family is the most sacred and precious gift that fate has bestowed, and Geralt knows and is always ready to risk his life to protect it.

Besides nurturing emotions and souls, games also taught me essential skills when stepping out into society: First, most of my English vocabulary came from games. I played a lot of offline games, and in some titles, if you don’t understand the dialogues or instructions, you could spend an entire day just trying to go in the right direction.

Games taught me strategic thinking to outline both short-term and long-term plans (which is crucial in Age of Empires), the ability to manage spending and invest money (a necessary skill in business simulation games like Zoo Tycoon or RollerCoaster Tycoon), or how to handle issues gracefully without showing weakness or inferiority (smart political strategies in Total War or Civilization games).

Beyond personal benefits, games also helped connect people with shared interests and created a cohesive and united society. Since the internet became widespread and increasingly essential in life, this has been strongly affirmed. In elementary school, I was very shy and quiet; while my friends were running to the soccer field, I only knew how to stay home reading stories and playing games. My body was thin and weak, so I couldn’t integrate with my peers.

But when I reached middle school, online games began to develop and become a trend; titles like Võ Lâm Truyền Kỳ, Gunbound, Nấm Lùn Phiêu Lưu Ký, and Mu Online attracted many people of all ages, including my middle school friends. Thanks to that, we found a common language; I truly gained friends who shared the same joy and interests, and we shared life stories, creating countless joyful and sorrowful memories in the internet cafes of that time. Consequently, when I reached high school, I was no longer shy; I confidently expressed myself and actively sought companions to enthusiastically grind ranks in League of Legends.

I and those friends created some of the most beautiful memories of our school days, and even now, as each of us has our own jobs, some have families, some study abroad, when we recall those memories, everyone laughs joyously and looks forward to a gathering to reminisce about the past.

Games are an essential part of my life; they have accompanied me from childhood into adulthood, and surely they will continue to accompany me in the future. One day, I will tell my children how I had a beautiful childhood and memories and explain to them how wonderful it is to have friends with shared interests. Games, like all other fields in life, have their pros and cons; the important thing is our mindset and awareness towards games. Don’t turn fun games or the touching stories behind them into something disgusting or frightening for many parents who do not understand games well. If your child is glued to the computer or phone screen, neglecting eating, sleeping, and studying, try my father’s approach; who knows, they might develop independence and a sense of responsibility. Finally, please gently guide them instead of threatening them; outbursts of anger or violence are the number one enemies of intelligent and modern education today.