A world unto itself

By: Nick Simberg | October 27th, 2009

No matter how networked our games and gamers will become with the ever-increasing popularity of Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, every game will continue to be separate from each other – there will never be one all-powerful uber-game, no matter how hard WoW may try.

Each game contains – and is – its own separate universe.  There are ups and down, spectacular features as well as flaws.  Even similar games have their own identity.  Even clones of more popular titles…

You can’t take a step to the right in Halo 3 and then find yourself magically in Halo Wars.  Whereas human cities merge and mesh in ways that keep you from telling where one ends and the other begins, games are segmented.  Fractured.  Individuals.

Like humans.

When I was a mere blogger, I was in my own little world.  True, every word I wrote could be read by people across the Internet, but it never really felt that way, even if an occasional comment was left.  I had my deep, black background and my neon green text.  It was mine.  Occasionally, the outside world would peek its head in to let me know it was listening, but, in general, I felt left to my own devices, my own thoughts, and my own desires.

If there was a news story I wanted to comment on, I did.  If there was a funny video I found, I posted it.  When I wanted to delve into my vast backlog of classic games for a nostalgic moment, that was okay too.  Anything and everything was fair game.  I was my own world.

Now, things are different.  I am no longer an isolated incident, saying whatever I want with no regard for how the universe might react.  I am part of a bigger world – Gamer Limit.  With thousands upon thousands of readers, I have an audience.  It forces me to not only improve my writing, but also to write for them, no longer just for myself.  When I find an interesting news story, I can share it, but in a more informative manner.  No longer allowed are the meandering thoughts of a carefree wild alpaca.  Now, focus is required.

This isn’t a bad thing, just… different.  Better?  If I expect to get an eventual career in this field, then yes, it’s better.  If I want to write whatever I want with no regard for readership, my blog will never become anything more than a hobby.  I am my own world, but Gamer Limit is a spiral galaxy in which I have as much gravity as the next solar body.

Working as a cohesive unit, the galaxy will grow, absorbing lesser universes’ power as it expands to a greater mass with every published article.  Eventually, hopefully, I will be an inhabitable world supporting my own biospheres, life cycles, and food chains.  Until then, I am content to merely do my part, and watch the stars.