Wander & Wonder

I’ve always approached video games with a bit of skepticism. Don’t get me wrong, I cherished my Nintendo Game Boy, DS, and Wii, and I was a huge fan of Barbie: Explorer. But while I enjoyed these classics, I never quite understood those who embraced video games as a central part of their lives. Then I met Tony, a devoted gamer. Initially, I dismissed gaming as a waste of time or a mere distraction from real life. Over time, however, I began to see that these digital worlds offer much more depth than I ever imagined. Today, I’m excited to share Tony’s insider perspective on the unique benefits video games bring to the table.

1. What was your first memorable gaming experience, and how did it shape your view of video games?

” My first memorable gaming experience was in grade 7, when I had just started high school. I had made a couple of new friends and one of these friends told me to try an amazing online game called Metin2. In this game, started at level 0 and the goal was to get to the top level by gaining experience, killing monsters, dueling others, farming, etc. You could trade items with other players or sell them to upgrade for other advatages. It took a long time to get good, so you really had to work hard. You could also form a guild, which was a group of friends who would team up against other teams. What started as us three quickly doubled. The most memorable moment was when we had game night/sleepovers at my house on Friday nights. Having this game also made me look forward to school because I knew that we could talk about our game strategies together in-person. This experience shaped my view of video games because it taught me that I could create valuable relationships with others. We didn’t just talk about our game, the game was the spark that made us open up to each other about sports, girls, which teachers we liked or didn’t…really anything that was happening in our lives! This was the first game that I took seriously and made long-lasting friends from. “

2. Can you share a moment when a game helped you deal with real-life challenges?

” When I was struggling in school or in my odd side-jobs (Valet Parking, Pharmaprix floor clerk, car-windshield-washer-seller), I knew that I had gaming to look forward to. I remember one time in university when I had a late night exam that was a lot harder than I had expected. After the exam, it was already pitch dark and as I made my way back home, I felt quite down. Being able to sit down, open up my computer, and unwind really helped me feel better and be able to reset for the next day. It also prevented me from overthinking and defining myself by exams or grades. The games I played often involved developing strategy, leading a team of friends or other online players, bringing out my competitive edge, and unlocking new milestones. All of these things gave me a sense of pride and accomplishment.”

3. What are some common misconceptions about gamers that you’d like to clear up?

” The most common misconception is that gamers have no other hobbies, no real friends, not physically in shape, and overall not successful in life. Of course, this might be true for some people, but this could be true for any passtime that is taken to the extreme. Balance is key. The other main misconception is the idea that gaming is a waste of time and is not productive. Video games really stimulate your brain and serve as a way to recharge your energy after a tiring day. I really believe that gaming develops your reflexes, critical thinking, and decision making. A lot of the games I play involve learning about different countries or historical periods. In fact, I even learned English by playing video games, as I had always gone to school in French and spoken Romanian with my parents. I even sharpened my Romanian writing skills by chatting in online games with my cousin and his friends who lived in Romania! “

4. How do you balance your passion for gaming with other responsibilities and interests?

” I balance all of my responsibilities and interests in order of priorities. Obviously, my job brings money to the table, martial arts and going to the gym are my ways of staying healthy and in shape, and of course, spending time with my girlfriend and our dog is my most important priority. That being said, I do see gaming as a responsibility. Firstly, it is my way to de-stress after a long day, and as I mentioned before, it motivates me to get through whatever daily challenges I encounter. Secondly, I try to incorporate my friends or my partner in my gaming whenever I can. I still regularly play with my high school and cegep friends, which I am really grateful for, especially given that we all live in different places and have different schedules. Now that I have my own YouTube channel, where I stream and comment on different video games, gaming has definitely become even more of a responsibiliy.”

5. Is there a game that taught you valuable life skills?

” One game that comes to mind is Rainbow Six Seige, which involves 5 attackers vs 5 defenders. You have one life (so you really can’t die) and every character has a special ability that they can do. For example, one player can destroy electronics, one can overcome barricades, one can put traps on doors, etc. My favorite character was called Termite, whose unique ability was to destroy obstacles with a special bomb. Because this game does not have multiple lives and the outcome is fully dependent on how the entire team performs, all team members really have to be in sync. This game taught me to communicate openely in stressful situations. This included being honest about mistakes I made along the way. For instance, if I was overambitious and went too far ahead without backup, I needed to tell my team right away that I was outnumbered by the other team so that they could come to my rescue. This game also taught me that people are quite stubborn, including myself. Often times, there was at least one person in the group who wanted to do what they thought was best, regardless if the rest of the team was in agreement. Whenever this happened, I tried to adapt to what the person was set on doing rather than starting an argument, which would make us lose sight of our goal of survival. “

BONUS: What are your top 5 game recommendations?

#5 Call of Duty Zombies: survival, problem-solving, teamwork

#4 FIFA: competitive, fast-paced, quick-play

#3 Age of Empires: strategic, nation-building, conquests

# 2 Dota 2: complex, battle arena, never-ending learning

#1 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: a true masterpiece…what more can I say!

I hope you enjoyed this little “interview”. I found it really enjoyable to ask Tony more about one of his favorite hobbies, and I feel like I have better insight now. And to second what Tony said, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a true masterpiece. From the music, to the characters, to the storyline…it is truly the best game of all time. I guess I am more of a gamer than I thought I was!