> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://notes.bf.wtf/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://notes.bf.wtf/philosophy/incomplete-articles/why-i-like-video-games.md). # Why I Like Video Games * A lot of people who are productivity minded have vendetta against video games * "They're a waste of time" * "It's fake progress / achievement" * "Violent / anti-social behaviour" * I want to spend some time making a case for why I love games and why, for me, they are the ultimate form of creative expression * It may be surprising to note that I actually play games quite rarely, maybe only once a week or so on average * Playing games can feel like homework, research and critical analysis * I'm always testing the boundaries, wondering how they did something technically, how it was designed and thinking of the people behind it * This is the price you pay moving to the creative side of a field, it becomes harder to find the time and energy to earnestly consume the medium you work in * My taste in games is reflective of this too, I have a decidedly specific taste in games * Single player and local co-op * Precise controls * Playing as a character, very few god mode or strategy games * Despite this, when a *really good* games comes along... I totally lose myself in it and remember why I fell in love with the medium in the first place * Zelda * Persona * Dark Souls * Adventure, tiny worlds, exploration etc. * To make a game requires a lot of different skills * Programming * User experience design * Narrative design * Digital illustration * Animation * Sound design * Music composition * The list goes on... * Games are a microcosm of almost every form of expression that interests me * But when it comes down to it, games are the most reliable way I can take the emotive landscape in my head and reify it for others to experience --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://notes.bf.wtf/philosophy/incomplete-articles/why-i-like-video-games.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.