Video Games
What is it about video games?
Video games. I refer to those on platforms such as Windows PC, Micro Genius, Sega, GameBoy Advanced, PlayStation (1/2/3/4/PSP/Vita), Xbox360, Wii, and arcade games.
My first game was Master of Magic, though my exposure to games went way earlier than that, but yes my first game was Master of Magic. I went through many genres, from strategy (realtime and turn-based) to shooters (first- and third-person), from role-playing to platforming, and many arcade games that involve shooting or driving and a couple of music/rhythm games. I'll make a list of all the games I recall ever playing (outside of my work).
So, what is it about video games?
There are many things about video games. One of them is the ability to gain exposure to different experiences without physically being there.
How does it feel to wield magic and do things we can't do in real life? Master of Magic, Heroes of Might & Magic, Hogwarts Legacy.
How does it feel to travel in time? Time Commando, Assassin's Creed.
How does it feel to be an assassin/spy? Assassin's Creed, Metal Gear Solid, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell.
How does it feel to be a ninja/samurai? Onimusha, Mark of the Ninja.
How does it feel to wield a sword? Tsurugi, Ninja Reflex.
How does it feel to shoot all sorts of weapons? America's Army, Arma, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, Borderlands, Call of Duty, Battlefield.
How does it feel to hold and fire a weapon? Police 911, Time Crisis, Crisis Zone, Ghost Squad.
Well, you get the drift. Drift? Daytona, Need For Speed: Shift.
They are like those learning programs Neo utilised to learn things quickly in The Matrix. A well-built game can be a simulation game that mimicks reality so that players can pick up real skills and knowledge without having to put themselves in danger. Even airline pilots train using elaborate flight simulators before they fly in a real aircraft. Cost of training is always a concern, and you don't have to expend real rounds if all you need is just to practice grouping on your M16 rifle or get familiarised with the weapon's operation and remedy drills.
Personally, I aim for those games that provide realistic experience in whatever genre they're in. An elaborately designed and well-polished game can offer a deeper and richer experience compared to a simpler game that focuses more on game complexity.