Interview Excerpt - Being a Member of the Gaming Community

The following is an excerpt from an interview performed by Ashton Larkin and Brodie Ford on me, Charlie Luo. I am currently a freshman at NC State University, and I identify myself as a member of the gaming community. I enjoy gaming as a pastime, and I like the challenge of finding the best approach to a game. The following discussions are about my views on being a member of this group.

“Do you think that the term “gamer” pretty much applies to video games, or are there other things that it can apply to?”

"Umm, I feel like right now it’s mainly video games, because I do know people that play board games and card games a lot, and they’re not really accepted as much as video game fans, but this might change."

“So umm, sorry to interrupt you, but by video games, do you mean kinda like online, or like PS3, PS4?”

"Yeah basically, all of those"

“Do you have a preference on what type of gaming you prefer, or do you think that there is some type that is better than the others? I guess what I’m trying to say is that overall, from the people I’ve experienced with it kinda seems like when they say video games they just mean xbox, or playstation, but when I actually talk to people who really play games or are into it and not just, don’t do it for casually, it sounds like computer gaming is the best type of gaming. What are your thoughts on it?”

"Yeah, hmm I guess it really depends on the person and preference, I know some people who would never play games on the computer at all. I’d really prefer online gaming because it really gives you a better, I guess, interaction with other players, and there’s a very nice variety. I want to say that online gaming is the best, but it really just comes down to preference."

“Do you like, more of like, the ‘shooting’, like umm, Modern Warfre or Halo, or is it more like, World of Warcraft?”

"I’ve actually never been able to get into shooters, I can’t really see the appeal to them but I do know lots of people like them. I’m more into games like World of Warcraft or things like turn-based strategy games.”

“Do you think that the time commitment is worth like, what you get back playing games?”

"Yeah, playing games, it’s a fun pastime but it also keeps your mind active, like, strategy games – you’re constantly thinking about what you’re doing. It’s not really about what you’re getting back, it’s mainly about how you’re spending your time and doing stuff you like doing, but if we’re really talking about investments and stuff, then you get some pretty valuable stuff back, mainly just keeping your mind active but also thinking analytically, umm, maximizing efficiency, and just figuring out stuff like ‘why something is’; things that let you ‘play the game’ to always beat it."