I don’t play a lot of videogames anymore, not because I don’t like them, but because I do. I know myself well enough to know that I get addicted. The last time I played regularly was in the ’90s, post-college and pre-kids. Now, between writing, TV screening and, you know, being a person, I don’t know how I could re-develop that habit without figuring out how to live on two hours’ sleep.
Still, as I’ve written before, I’ve been getting to indulge a little with the Tuned In Jrs. (the temptation to play Lego Star Wars after they’ve gone to bed is strong), and I’ll only get more exposed as they get older. At some point, I’ll have to give in to the temptation to get them, which is to say me, a Wii.
Part of me feels I’m falling asleep on the job as a pop-culture writer by not gaming more. I know that it’s an ever-bigger part of pop-culture; my problem is that—at least the way I’m used to it—it requires too heavy a commitment. Also, I’m not really that interested in shooting games; having grown up on D&D, I’ve always preferred puzzle or role-playing games. It’s hard to imagine ever topping the experience of playing Myst for the first time. (I know I’m dating myself. Hey, Obama said the last game he played was Pong!) But I suspect if I ever got into World of Warcraft, I’d blink and the next ten years of my life would be gone.
So I want to know what Tuned Inlanders are playing now. How much of your time does it take up? How much time has it taken away from more important things, like watching TV? What should I be playing? And what should I keep the Tuned In Jrs. far, far away from?