Still Playing Games

I have always taken a strong stance against video games. Not only do they prevent kids from getting their necessary physical activity (well, let's be honest--at this point, they prevent adults from getting exercise as well...and as if I am one to talk at this point anyway), but they also postpone and/or halt the development of social skills. Who grows up playing with machines to an active adult life full of human interaction? Don't lie to yourself--not many. (Please, no offense to you fanatics out there.)

But I must admit, as I sat down today, forced to play Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (why four editions were necessary, however, I just can't figure out), I realized something: though I received above average scores on every standardized test in high school, got into every college I applied to, and graduated with honors, I cannot for the life of me master the art of differentiating between the pass button, the shoot button, and the block/high kick button (two functions in one button?). Granted, I'm not half bad at Scrabble, but apparently literacy will only get a girl so far.

I also cannot seem to get the whole joystick thing. It surely does not help that the computer changes my player every five seconds. Yes, you heard me. The computer will have a little arrow above one man's head one second, and an instant later, I've been mysteriously transformed into the goalie! All the way on the other side of the field! How does this make sense? The only time I've ever seen that was in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (great show, by the way), and that was clearly light years ahead of 2005.

So while I still believe that video games are one of life's dangerous nuisances, they do provide quite the arena for development of hand-eye coordination and an active imagination. I mean, if I can go through life as a fully functioning human and still not be able to score more than one goal with the settings on Level 1, great weather conditions, injuries on the opposing team, and Marc playing on my side, then I feel I may have a problem. I guess this is just one game I never learned to play. Kind of like typing.