Articles http://www.justadventure.com/

by Cindy Kyser March 12, 2002
An Adventurer Looks at 40....

I did something unusual (for me) last weekend. Instead of waiting to rent the video, I went back to the theater and paid to see a movie I'd already seen. Lord of the Rings drew me in like no other film has. And, the second time through, I was just as emotionally involved. I cringed at the menace of the Ring Wraiths; I wept in earnest at the fall of Gandalf; and I gazed in awe at the majestic Pillars of Argonath.

I don't love this movie because I grew up with J.R.R. Tolkien. Or, because I ate peyote and dreamed of Middle Earth in my formative years. I love this movie because I am an escapist at heart and real life has never been enough for me. I'm too late to explore lands unknown or find the ultimate treasure. And, I live in a world that is often routine and chaotic. A world where the good guys don't always win and where magic and mystery are distinctly absent. In short, I live in a world without wizards or unicorns. Don't get me wrong. I am not unhappy. On the contrary -- I take great joy in the wonder of my children, in the unconditional love of my dogs, and in the tremendous blessings that this lifetime has bestowed upon me. But, on a very core level, something is missing. Like Mark Ross, I long for experiences that simply aren't available to me in this incarnation.

So, I turn to vicarious adventures. I blaze new trails through books such as King Solomon's Mines or Journey to the Center of the Earth. I return to mystical times with movies like Excalibur or Lord of the Rings. And, I lose myself completely in fantastic worlds when I play games like Asheron's Call, Omikron, and Outcast. At the end of an ordinary day, I put my children to bed, turn down the lights, turn up the sound, and load up a game. I voyage to places unknown where I am a wizard, a warrior, a detective, or an archaeologist. I traverse the past, the present, and the future and I am in absolute control of my own destiny. I am a hero who can make an immediate difference through intellect, practice, and luck. And, when I make a mistake, I get a second chance (if the game designer has not messed with the save system). While others sleep, I save the world.

This is not to discount the value of adventuring in real life. However, I only get four weeks of time off each year. Since I have yet to win the lottery and was not born with the surname of "Kennedy," I am destined to be a working stiff. I celebrate my time off and use vacation for the best adventures I can afford. But, what's a person to do with the rest of the year? For me, the answer is gaming. It provides a virtual vacation... an act of ongoing recreation... a hobby that permits me to slip beyond my own reality and responsibilities without leaving the house. When I play a game, I transition from the roles that I have chosen in real life (provider, parent, employee) to those of a true adventurer.

I should point out that we adventure gamers are not unique. We are simply using new technology to follow in the footsteps of many who have gone before. One only has to look at literature through the ages to see that the heroic quest is a core part of our heritage. Since we first drew pictures of successful hunts on cave walls, we have reiterated our need to see good triumph over evil... to affirm that courage and a pure heart can empower the most unlikely among us... and to believe that, through action, we can change the story of mankind. Moses led his people out of Egypt. Jason retrieved the Golden Fleece. Sherlock Holmes solved the Curse of the Baskervilles. Paul Atriedes overcame the Harkonnens. And, Gabriel Knight defeated Van Glover. Although the circumstances change over time, the themes of heroes and myth remain the same.

Thus, I am baffled by those I meet who state that they "...just don't understand that fantasy stuff" or those who note that "...computer games seem like such a waste of time." I remain clueless as to how my peers at work can settle for the nightly reading of business literature while refusing to unlock the wonderful imagination that is an essential element in our humanity. For them, it is enough to dress for success and win through intimidation. For me, I think not!

I challenge each of you to take a mental vacation to Neverland and to spend time with the Lost Boys... to step back into the mysteries of childhood and remember when dragons and wizards were part of our daily existence... to refuse to believe that being an adult is synonymous with leaving your imagination and sense of fun behind. I dare you to be brave and to experience an adventure game, even when your friends at work think you are a bit daft. Sure, Leo Durocher is known for his assessment that "Nice guys finish last." I would disagree. Nice guys (or girls) should not settle for last place. They should play computer games and save the world!