The Highs and Lows of Filling the Video Game Void

'Every age has its storytelling form, and video gaming is a huge part of our culture. You can ignore or embrace video games and imbue them with the best artistic quality. People are enthralled with video games in the same way as other people love the cinema or theatre'- Andy Serkis

The crushing realisation that the future of the United Kingdom hangs in the balance with this crucial Brexit vote (the result of which will be known once this is published on 20 January) means that we have to find a way to escape these vital but frustrating political shenanigans. There are many ways to do this, such as curling up in a ball and convincing yourself that everything is fine and dandy. Shutting off all news feeds and shunning the people on social media dedicated to announcing their political agenda are all viable options as well. But, in the opinion of this humble blogger, picking up a damn good video game is the most sensible option.

Art

Since October, the daily schedule has had the permanent fixture of 'Play Red Dead Redemption 2' pencilled in to fit around work, exercise and general social obligations. The sheer scale of the game meant progress was slow, not to mention that a distinct lack of holiday days meant extended play sessions were not possible. Yet this was certainly for the best, as one can gain a great appreciation for a game if taken slowly as they have time to explore and discover the intricate details. There's a reason that this masterpiece was granted the award of 'Taking way too many days off work' in the 'Absolute Shambles' 2018 Awards. Ironic since this blogger had a very inadequate amount of holiday to take.

An interesting development has occurred, and that is playing to the conclusion of the main story, epilogue and all. As the end credits rolled over the screen, this gamer stood up and thunderously applauded the journey he had just been taken on. After waiting so long for a sequel, Rockstar had duly delivered something to be proud of. The music kept on playing, cutscenes showed how characters were faring after the climax of this epic tale and a feeling of accomplishment was warming one's heart. That feeling soon turned into one of emptiness; the game was over and life would never be the same.

Good times

With politics being complicated and gripping once more, wrapping up Red Dead Redemption 2 came at an extremely inconvenient time. Suddenly the real world comes back into focus and all the horrible responsibilities of being a functioning member of society are thrown at you once more. Quite a calamity, wouldn't you say? Well, dear reader, there is no reason to be so scared! Here at 'Absolute Shambles', we are dedicated to making stupid lists such as which Christmas advert was the best or the vital questions to ask when starting a new job. Writing a review on this amazing game would just make the pain of finishing even worse, so here is a listicle on possible ways to deal with this depressing twist in your life. Everyone deals with emptiness in their own way, so take these how you will.

I've made a little list (it's on the other side though)

FOOD, I NEED YOU MORE THAN EVER

Ah, sweet sustenance. We can all agree that food is a worthy reward for so many strenuous activities in our lives, such as after a tough workout or a long day at work. When grinding through a video game, a small break in play does prompt a quick snack boost just to keep the body and senses up to scratch. A good binge on our favourite snacks is always welcome, and once the end credits roll a monstrous feast is in order. The term 'comfort food' is more appropriate than ever to fill that sudden void that a video game used to occupy. Takeaway phone lines and online ordering services are taken to breaking point with a flurry of orders coming in from the hungry gamer celebrating the personal triumph of completing a game. Good times.

Cor blimey

However wonderful and delicious this sounds, it's pretty damn unhealthy. Let's all get off our high horses and shun any comments that would prompt any notion of body-shaming. This is no place for such vulgar activity, but eating away the sorrow is a bad move. Food as a pick-me-up or a reward is great as an occasional reward, but when it becomes a primary mechanism to deal with pain then damage will be done to both body and mind. Not only are unnecessary calories piling up, but also the feeling of emptiness is still there despite the 10 tubs of Ben and Jerry's Half-Baked consumed in the space of an hour. Mental health is extremely important, so better alternatives need to be pursued. Sorry for being serious and all that; one has (and still does) had to battle mental/physical strife before.

Tempting...

TUCKED UP TIGHT 

When growing up, bedtime was one of the main enemies we had to face. Its allies of vegetables and homework were fearsome foes indeed, but the command to turn in for the night has now become a joy rather than a chore. Now that we have control over when we go to bed, we feel powerful over when to switch off for the day. It could be an early night in preparation for a 6 o'clock start the next morning, or a late night extravaganza to watch inconveniently-timed American sporting events. Video games will have had a hand at disrupting sleep patterns, so it would only seem fit to catch up on all that sleep. No need to feel guilty for sleeping through an entire weekend and forgetting to attend social events. There will be plenty more to come.

Always make time for culture though

But just like with over-eating, there is a limit to how much sleep you can get. We all need different amounts of sleep depending on age and activeness, but sleeping for an entire weekend seems like a bit too much. The medical term for extensive sleeping is hypersomnia, opposite to insomnia and lack of sleep, and will just increase the chance of becoming depressed. Again, mental health raises its ugly head to plague us all, with physical threats also becoming more prominent. It would be too dramatic to say that an early death is on hand if you sleep too much now that you've finished a video game, or that fertility issues may arise because Red Dead Redemption 2 time has now become sleep time. Nonetheless, too much sleep would not be good for our bodies, so just make sure you get appropriate sleep. A handy P.S.A. from 'Absolute Shambles'.

Wish I could a better one than this glorious specimen

GETTING THROUGH THE EXTENSIVE NETFLIX WATCH LIST

Now that the video game binge has been completed, it's time to move on to another binge that requires a screen; television. Isn't it wonderful that we can turn on our laptops, hop onto Netflix and dive into the treasure trove of streaming? Why, yes it is! A small monthly subscription allows a user to watch to their heart's content, and having a TV licence means services like BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub can also be used (although you can just enter a postcode and you're in). "Social surrogacy" can fight loneliness now that Arthur Morgan and John Marston are no longer gracing the screens of gamers, as new TV heroes step into their shoes. Whether you're making your way through Game of Thrones or watching in amazement at the talent displayed in The Great British Bake Off, TV can be a real saviour to fill the emotional gap.

Or do your own, whatever floats your boat

Yet those warnings from our parents about watching too much TV starts to ring in our eyes once more. Looking back, the possibilities of 'having your eyes turned square' was probably code for becoming anti-social and increasing the risk of obesity and other problems to the cardiovascular system. We all seem to develop an emotional attachment to characters, and binging shows means that we see more of our favourite characters and get an emotional high upon seeing them. It becomes a reliance to watch more in order to get a quick burst of happiness, which is certainly not healthy. Indeed, if that character passes on or we finish a show, we then need to find a new source of happiness. Thus, we are now stuck in a vicious cycle of finding "fake" happiness, this time caused by TV. The loving nature of human beings certainly causes more harm than good clearly.

Stick to hugs for emotional engagement

NEW GAME, NEW ME

Before completely disregarding that swanky bit of kit supplied by the likes of Sony or Microsoft, it is wise to remember that there are so many other games out there. It's much like whole 'plenty more fish in the sea' line your friends and family dish out when your significant other breaks up with you. The time has come to go out into the world and dabble into the new possibilities at your fingertips. There could have been another game lying on the side and waiting patiently for you to finish spending time with that other game. It's something new to look forward to after hearing and reading about how this is a game not to be missed. Suddenly, you can't remember the name of that other game and you've moved on with your life. Life has returned to a stabilised state.

Peace at last

To return to the comparison with somebody's love life after a break-up, moving on to a new game to fill the emotional void is very similar. In a way, it's like having a one night stand just to feel some sort of connection. It's great in the short term, but doesn't fix the overall problem that there is now a significant gap in your life that can't be made whole with meaningless flings. Playing a new game is fine but you will always be making judgements based on that old game. The graphics are never as good or the characters are not as exciting as the previous batch. Now the task of moving on becomes more troublesome with these new games unable to meet the standards of before. Then there's the inevitability that once this game is done (if you've overcome your prejudices created by that previous game), a new void has opened up. Much like with TV, the cynical cycle has entrapped us once more.

Accurate

NOTHING LIKE NOSTALGIA

You are more than welcome to pick up a brand new game and prove to everyone that you've moved on, but there is another option. The game that has now been completed could have just been but one title in an entire franchise that stretches back years. Suddenly, a whole new realm of opportunities opens up before you. It's always worth going back to a previous title and reminding yourself why you fell in love with that series in the first place. Nostalgia is a wonderful thing and truly captures that feeling of childish glee as you step back in time. Memories flood back of coming home from school, jumping onto the sofa and loading up Red Dead Redemption as the smell of fish fingers fills the room. Ah, delicious memories triggered by cheap processed foods- good times.

Mr Marston, nice to see you again

But even nostalgia has its negatives. First of all, that feeling of dreaming of times gone by is artificial and just covers up the cracks of the problems being faced in the present. It's a 'put some tape on the bumper, it'll be fine for now' sort of job, in that a quick fix is an adequate solution as it requires minimal effort and allows you to believe that everything is all sunshine and roses. In addition to this, enveloping yourself in the past halts vital progress in the present i.e. changing for the better. To be oblivious to the problems of the present opens up the possibility of being hit hard by a more substantial issue that dwarfs a faulty bumper. To go back to the whole relationship scene, it's like having a bad breakup and getting back together with an ex. You forget all the reasons you split up before since it's all new and exciting, but then the old problems come back to haunt you. It can only end in tears.

Memories

WAIT, THERE'S MORE?!

The magnificent thing about the majority of games nowadays is that the main story isn't the end. It would be rude to ask why this wasn't the first thought you had, so we won't go down that route. Side quests and challenges have become more of a fixed feature in the last decade or so, and even a simple first-person shooter has collectibles to give players a chance to play again. The whopping size of maps means there are endless adventures to be had, whether they work towards total completion or just to fuck about with the NPCs. That desire to achieve 100% completion keeps players enthralled if they are desperate for achievements and the right to brag to their peers of their mastery over a video game. Hearing the ping confirming that total completion has been accomplished is such a sweet sound. Whenever you return to your achievements page, that little trophy will remind you and whoever gazes upon that you're a demigod.

Just like Thor

'Grinding', however, traps a player in the game they struggled so hard to complete and throws up a new challenge. Going for that precious 100% completion actually becomes quite a boring task and takes the fun out of stumbling upon a random encounter or collectible on your journeys across the map. Adventures are no longer ones of exploration but instead towards a certain spot in the hopes that a prompt guides you towards an item that contributes to overall completion. You're still stuck in this video game instead of broadening your horizons and making your way through the extensive list of games building up over the last few months. Some have the mental strength to grind away, but some want results now. Impatience is a harmful vice.

I haven't got all bloody day

IT'S TIME TO BECOME AN ADULT

With the temporary escape of this video game now no longer available, the real world bursts into your sacred gaming chamber, demanding you to put on some proper clothes and fulfil your adult responsibilities. You come to your senses and realise that this piece of plastic has controlled your life for the past few weeks and has made you forget to complete tasks such as food shopping or doing taxes. There was a reason why angry men in suits had been banging on the front door and threatening to evict you, and now you know why! After showering away the grime that had built up around your body and shaving away the scraggly beard, it's time to move on and be an adult. With a fresh outlook on life and a new purpose on your mind, you are ready to seize the day and adult.

Amazing what smart clothes can do

Nonsense! Why the hell would you wholly commit yourself to being an adult? It's a horribly painful process and should be banned, to be honest. Let's all go to Parliament and tell them to forget about the Brexit dealings, instead focusing on ridding Great Britain of the plague that is 'being an adult'. Enough of this revolutionary talk. Video games provide a vital piece of escapism that makes us all forget about being an adult for a moment, giving us a chance to gain a sense of achievement outside of making it through a working day or managing to successfully operate a washing machine. Also, they're fun, which sounds like an obvious statement but it's one that should still be mentioned. They may eventually distract us from pressing adult matters, but we should never pass up on the opportunity to have some fun.

Never did me any harm

That horrendous trauma of finishing a video game and now facing the daunting task of filling the void is one that nobody should go through. There are plenty of things you can do to move on, such as indulging in TV or devouring an entire chicken in one sitting (from personal experience, it's possible and certainly not a decision you will regret), but each one has their negative connotations. Whatever we do to alleviate the pain, the fact remains that all good things must come to an end. One could engage in some grinding to find illusive collectibles, yet boredom is a very real possibility. Consequences to our mental and physical states are under threat by pursuing some of these options, even though they all sound so good. Perhaps video games really are a threat to society... naaahhhh, that's a load of bollocks. Video games are, and shall always remain, awesome.

Thanks Brian

Ben G 😁 xo