CHENNAI: Are you over the age of 20 and gaze longingly at consoles at a shop and wish that someday, you too could play a videogame with zero-guilt? This article aims at clearing your conscience to ensure a satisfactory gaming experience.
“But I’m too OLD for this”
Games aren’t just about shooting, jumping and running. There are several games that require concentration, logical problem solving and spatial reasoning. ‘Portal’ (Available on Steam from `369) is a first person perspective puzzle game. It involves making ones’ way across the maze of obstacles at ‘Aperture Labs’ with teleportation and distorted physics, and fighting against the domination of Artificial Intelligence.
“I have no time for games”
You know that time when you need to get to the top floor and you’re already late to work, but the lift stops at every level? Everyone’s looking at their phone, typing “aasdasdafsf”, just so there’s something to do. At this time, instead of switching on your net pack you can play another level of “That Level Again” — a free-to-play logic game available on iOS and Android.
All levels are the same, but the way to win is different. I also hear that satisfaction levels are higher if you finish the games without hints. Tip: Refrain from spending too much time on 2048, Candy Crush, and other endless games. If a game is mainstream (over 10 million downloads), it means that it has the potential to take over your real world time. Also, achievements in these games make you just an average person. Explore uncharted territories.
“Gaming is expensive”
Paraphrasing Yoda, “Patience you must have, n00b”. You don’t have to buy the latest GTA and Call of Duty. I am assuming you are over 20; therefore you have no obligation to keep up with technological trends — you got your first mobile phone only ~7 years back. The PS3/Xbox versions of Assassins Creed have double packs out at low prices . Now that the PS4 has released, these games only get cheaper. Word on the street (and Olx) os that the younger generation is selling consoles and games at affordable prices. You don’t need to jump on the bandwagon. You can wait for two to three years until the heat dies down.
“But... I’m not good at it”
Watching walkthroughs on the internet is just as satisfying as playing the real game. This works particularly well when you don’t have the necessary tech to play the original game. ‘The Ocarina of Time’ is a timeless game — but who do you know who owns an N64? There are quite a few games with compelling storylines and audio tracks viewable online.
‘Game’ to play?
(The writer is an economics graduate who spends her time preparing for the zombie apocalypse)