Updated 2 years ago
Guy’s half charlatan but he makes a very valid point here, especially with his description of dopamine. When you play a lot of games, the day-to-day in-between random creative insights you get are not about work, or life, but games.
I know this from experience.
When I gamed a lot, I played every day like it was a job. I spent around five years total, at least. That is five years straight not counting sleep.
I dreamed about games, I had ideas in the shower about doing better in games, I even had an ayahuasca trip where I was teleported into a game world, and there were armies trying to not just kill me, but to eradicate any memory of me forever. I was fighting for my very existence. Every slot each soldier had was BIS (Best in Slot.) There were dozens of troop types using every possible weapon. The leaders of the army were world-class generals, and each had a different cybernetic equipment setup that corresponded with their military bailiwick. I kept spawning healers from my stomach to try to keep me up. I eventually made it through, completely drained.
Looking back, I think of all those lost opportunities to improve my life were squandered. Now I just collect games, but can’t get into any of them more than 10 minutes if at all. it’s just too dangerous. But at least I am set for retirement.
I am glad I went through the addiction, however, because with reward algorithms improving every generation, the trap they create grows ever more insidious. One more game, they plead. The next time you play a game and hear that inner voice, think of me.
