Games as a Source of Optimism
A personal account of how playing a game helped a parent overcome their anxieties and find a new perspective on the world.
The author of this article shares a deeply personal story of how playing a game helped them overcome their anxieties as a parent. The author describes the overwhelming feeling of becoming a parent, with all the new worries and responsibilities that come with it. They recall being anxious about their child's safety, from everyday objects like cutlery to more abstract concerns like medieval brigands.
However, as the author's child grew older, their anxieties shifted from physical harm to more emotional concerns. They wanted to protect their child from sadness and frustration, and worried about the impact of small setbacks on their child's life. The author admits that they were even anxious about their child's toys breaking, and would hover over them when they played with Lego or dolls.
It was a game, Grow Home, that helped the author overcome these anxieties. The game is about a little robot who must climb a beanstalk to reach its spaceship, and the author identifies with the robot's desire for safety and exploration. The game's design allows players to experiment with the boundaries of parenthood, and the author sees it as a way to balance keeping someone safe with letting them indulge their curiosity.
One feature of the game that stood out to the author was the "Magic Beach," a cove where lost items would wash up after being dropped in the ocean. This feature allowed the author to play the game with their child without worrying about losing progress, and it became a symbol of the game's ability to simulate safety.
The author reflects on the wider message of the game, which is that games often simulate safety and allow players to experience life at its richest without the dangers and uncertainties of the real world. They see this as a vital and life-changing part of what games do, and one that can be particularly important for parents who are struggling with anxieties.
| Feature | Description | | --- | --- | | Magic Beach | A cove where lost items wash up after being dropped in the ocean | | Grow Home | A platforming game about a little robot who must climb a beanstalk to reach its spaceship |
The author's story is a powerful reminder of the impact that games can have on our lives, and the ways in which they can help us overcome our anxieties and find new perspectives on the world.
## The Power of Games to Simulate Safety
Games often get a bad rap for being too violent or too focused on danger. However, the author of this article suggests that games can also be a source of optimism and safety. By simulating a world where players can experience life at its richest without the dangers and uncertainties of the real world, games can provide a much-needed respite from the stresses and anxieties of everyday life.
## The Magic Beach: A Symbol of Safety
The Magic Beach in Grow Home is a powerful symbol of the game's ability to simulate safety. By allowing players to recover lost items, the game provides a sense of security and stability that can be hard to find in the real world. The author reflects on the ways in which this feature helped them overcome their anxieties and play the game with their child, and suggests that it is a vital part of what games do.
## The Wider Message of Games
The author's story is not just about one game or one feature, but about the wider message of games. They suggest that games can provide a sense of safety and security that can be hard to find in the real world, and that this can be particularly important for parents who are struggling with anxieties. By simulating a world where players can experience life at its richest without the dangers and uncertainties of the real world, games can provide a much-needed respite from the stresses and anxieties of everyday life.
