I’ve put off buying a PS3 for various reasons: the initial price point, unexciting games, constant upgrading that leave buyers standing in the dust after only a few months after purchase, a lack of backwards compatibility in the newer models , and so on and so forth. That reticence had begun to fade after it was announced that compatability with the PSP 2000 would allow the playing of PS3 games over a large distance (eg. if your in Europe and your PS3 is in the states with a game in the tray, you can play that game on your PSP). Being a pretty hardcore gamer, this feature is one of THE coolest things EVER and brings portable gaming to a new level. Also, games are finally emerging that I actually want (Heavenly Sword and Ratchet & Clank are some examples).

So as I sit at my local watering hole splitting a pitcher with my lovely girlfriend (a self-proclaimed bookworm), as the above mentioned is being discussed with a cohort of mine. The second the words ‘I’m getting a PS3′ leave my lips you could actually hear her eyes rolling. This is soon followed by ‘why the fuck do you need that? It’s such a waste of money!’. Now I love my girlfriend, and, cost of goods not withstanding, I understand that she doesn’t understand-she tries to and I appreciate that. But she doesn’t, and maybe never will. And I’m OK with that. Kinda.

But being that there is alcohol involved I of course try to compare my love of gaming to her love of reading. This is of course shot down on intellectual grounds. She believes that books expand your mind and add to your intellect while videogames….well, don’t. Due once again to the alcohol consumption, I’ll save you the details of the conversation (there are slurred/ garbled words and vowels added throughout that simply don’t belong- I’m not sure if I can even accurately recreate the dialog anyways). But one question that had lingered from this exchange was is there really that much of a difference?

I will admit that books have a higher level of quality as to the story (RPGs have the closest comparison-which can get pretty deep). I will not admit however, that just because the two mediums are different from one another, that what is gained by the user/ reader is itself so radically different.

Books are mostly composed of a set story that the reader is made to follow through, during which they are sometimes given hints as to future directions of said story. Videogames are mostly a set story line that users are meant to play through in a similar manner. The only real difference is that the reader reads the details of the story and continues until the conclusion. While the user simply spends more time on the details as they are playing through the story. This can and does shorten the length of the story per sequel, granted. But at the conclusion, both the user and the reader leave with the story nestled in their minds.

Now the argument can be made that books have been known to greatly influence a persons life, leaving their outlooks on the world changed for better or worse. That is an aspect of books that everyone can appreciate. I will say that this is an aspect that videogames are not known for. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t occur. It just means that its a rare thing. But to think that it never happens belittles the progress that videogames have made in the last twenty years from being perceived as (and indeed being) childs toys to being an artistically and informationally relevent medium. I’m not saying that there are videogames that make you think like you would if you just got finished reading Charles Dickens.

But there will be.

And I have to say that I really enjoy watching this evolution occur.

Oh and for those people that think that all videogames are mindless shooting, blood and fighting. I give you the comparison of self-help books and do-it-yourself books. Because both these things cut to the chase and get right down to the nitty-gritty. So nyah!