Tristan is currently a Freshman at Harvard University. Tristan was one of my good friends in middle/high school, where we viewed video games as an extension of the competitiveness that existed between us in a lot of things (tennis, ping pong, school, chess, etc). I was able to reach him through Facetime, and typical of Tristan, was very formal and professional in his responses.
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How instrumental were video games in our friendship? The times we hung out were mostly spent playing video games? Video games were played fairly frequently when we spent time together outside of school. There were other interests we had that trumped our enjoyment from playing video games, but it was definitely something we both could have fun doing together. At different levels and time intervals, video games were incorporated into the moments we spent together, but by no means did they dominate or serve as the foundation of our friendship.
Would you say our love for video games was the defining factor in our friendship? I don’t believe our love of video games was a defining factor of our friendship, but only a supplemental activity we both enjoyed. Just as we played tennis, ping pong and chess together, video games allowed us to have a friendly form of entertainment and competition. It gave us something to do, something to talk about, and something else in common.
Do you believe video games in general are a great social bonder?
I think if played in the correct manner video games can bring individuals closer together. There are ways video games can be used for isolation and to shut out the rest of the world. When playing cooperatively with other people and maintaining face-to-face interactions, video games can enhance a relationship. Just as with many activities, how one participates can drastically change the benefits he receives. With video games you have to find the right balance and ensure the screen does not take precedence over reality.
Do preferences for certain types of games or certain systems allow for different kinds of friendships?
I would phrase it as the multitude of systems and games cater to different types of people. Due to the wide variety of options, people from different walks of life with different interests are able to find a game that relates to their daily activity or something they enjoy. From basketball to Pokémon to war, there are many games to choose from, which allows nearly everyone to find something of interest. Depending on one’s mood and preferences, there will always be a game to play.
When other interests came along, and video games were no longer the defining factor of our hangouts, did your friendship struggle?
As time passes your interests change along with your responsibilities. I wouldn’t say our friendship struggled, but rather it transformed. The time we no longer spent play video games was now devoted to other common activities like those mentioned earlier. I don’t think the lack of playing video games pushed us further apart, but instead altered how were valued the other times we spent together.
I thanked Tristan for taking his time, and I promised him that next time we met up, I was going to beat him in FIFA. He laughs and informs me that he looks forward to the day I manage to even score against him.
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How instrumental were video games in our friendship? The times we hung out were mostly spent playing video games? Video games were played fairly frequently when we spent time together outside of school. There were other interests we had that trumped our enjoyment from playing video games, but it was definitely something we both could have fun doing together. At different levels and time intervals, video games were incorporated into the moments we spent together, but by no means did they dominate or serve as the foundation of our friendship.
Would you say our love for video games was the defining factor in our friendship? I don’t believe our love of video games was a defining factor of our friendship, but only a supplemental activity we both enjoyed. Just as we played tennis, ping pong and chess together, video games allowed us to have a friendly form of entertainment and competition. It gave us something to do, something to talk about, and something else in common.
Do you believe video games in general are a great social bonder?
I think if played in the correct manner video games can bring individuals closer together. There are ways video games can be used for isolation and to shut out the rest of the world. When playing cooperatively with other people and maintaining face-to-face interactions, video games can enhance a relationship. Just as with many activities, how one participates can drastically change the benefits he receives. With video games you have to find the right balance and ensure the screen does not take precedence over reality.
Do preferences for certain types of games or certain systems allow for different kinds of friendships?
I would phrase it as the multitude of systems and games cater to different types of people. Due to the wide variety of options, people from different walks of life with different interests are able to find a game that relates to their daily activity or something they enjoy. From basketball to Pokémon to war, there are many games to choose from, which allows nearly everyone to find something of interest. Depending on one’s mood and preferences, there will always be a game to play.
When other interests came along, and video games were no longer the defining factor of our hangouts, did your friendship struggle?
As time passes your interests change along with your responsibilities. I wouldn’t say our friendship struggled, but rather it transformed. The time we no longer spent play video games was now devoted to other common activities like those mentioned earlier. I don’t think the lack of playing video games pushed us further apart, but instead altered how were valued the other times we spent together.
I thanked Tristan for taking his time, and I promised him that next time we met up, I was going to beat him in FIFA. He laughs and informs me that he looks forward to the day I manage to even score against him.