TL;DR Read only if you still play video games and you would like to quit.

Summary

This is a post about an indie computer game, which (perhaps unintentionally) shows what the core concept of video games really is - and thus allows you to feel what is the reality of gaming.

Body

"Clock Simulator".

The game is called "Clock Simulator" and is based on one premise: you are the clock. You are the clock and you need to push the button of the controller - or to tap the screen - or your Apple TV remote - every single second. If you are accurate, you get virtual points. If you are inaccurate, you loose virtual points. You can get this game for free, and I am no way affiliated with the authors.

This is an epitome of all the video games. Mindless pressing of buttons in order to get on-screen virtual points and sedate yourself (the game has peaceful, ambient music and sound effects). As a bonus, you are pressing the button every single second or so - so you are literally wasting your time.

Wasting every single second of your most precious, most valuable resource - in order to get... nothing, except some neurotransmitter release in your brain. Stimulation, not relaxation. You wasted another exact second of your life - you get a point.

I played it today for a moment. The idea is brilliant, not because this is a good game never seen before - but because this is an epitome of all the computer games in the world ever invented.

Just like the porn - when you watch porn you're literally fapping to a fantasy of a 60-year old dude, who wrote screenplay - with this game, you need to push a button every single second and you get some points.

Lessons learned

  • video games - an activity of mindless pushing of a button in order to get some neurotransmitter release - get even more ridiculous when you actually play a game that is based only on this idea,

Dear commenters

I beg you to refrain "I am an alpha and video games is my favorite leisure activity because as an alpha I can do whatever I want so fuck you". If you are okay with video games, I'm more than happy for you. This post is for guys who struggle, who want to quit. My idea is, that giving that "Clock Simulator" game some time (pun unintended) and experiencing what shitty behavior games really are can help some people to quit them.