I've always loved video games.
Growing up in my household had introduced me to books, problem-solving, and a general appreciation for all things creative at a very young age. I used to be much more into reading when I was younger, but sadly that passion has diminished over the years as I grew older. It's not that I don't enjoy reading anymore, but I simply tend to find more enjoyment in other hobbies nowadays.
This is where video games enter the picture. If I think about it, I suppose that the reason I like them so much is that I get to absorb a story written by the game developers, but I also have an active role in the outcome rather than being a passive observer. Either way, I can escape from the harshness of reality for a bit and let my imagination run wild.
The idea for my book first came when I was in my seventh grade Language Arts class. I don't remember the assignment in detail, but it had something to do with practicing creative writing. In my notebook (which I think may still be lying around my bedroom somewhere), I had written a concept for a fantasy story that has since become the base of my current story. Around that same time, I had been playing an online game that had captured my heart with its beautiful simplicity.
However, even a fantasy world was not immune to reality. My favorite game was taken down due to a lack of income coming in from players to support the servers. Naturally, I was heartbroken for this loss and the realization that no other great game could compare to how I felt about it no matter how hard I searched.
In the midst of my grief, I somehow remembered the original story idea I had been toying with since I had been enjoying writing more than I had in the past. It was then I decided to merge my video game character into my story and continue writing it from there as a way for the game to live on. About four years later, I have a semi-concrete timeline figured out. I'm still unsure how to connect plot point A to plot point B, but I hope to one day publish my story and maybe bring some comfort to others who played the forgotten game.
Too much of anything is bad for you. I believe this is why some think video games to be pointless or harmful, but it's really all about moderation when it comes to how one spends their free time. However, if they were to open themselves up to the wide world of gaming featuring a variety of stories, then maybe they too could recognize why the countless game developers, cosplayers, artists, writers, and more do what they do in order to create something that makes people happy while also inspiring the future generations to do the same.
