It’ll be hard to argue that video games are a staple of our culture. Today, consoles are used for parties, family gatherings, and movie watching. Gaming is no longer a solo activity, it’s an amazing way to get a group of friends to bond. Even though some people swear that online gaming is the way to go, there is nothing like playing with a big group of people in the same house.
When people think about video games, some still think of the stereotypical loner with no friends, social gaming has come far from those ideas. Games like Just Dance, Rock Band,and Wii Sports Resort are often the cause of gatherings instead of reasons not to hang out. Also, with the introduction of motion gaming (e.g. Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 Kinect, Playstation Move) people no longer have to figure out what a certain button does and are allowed to jump right into a game.
Although there are a lot of great games to play alone, playing with real people can brings a sense of fun that can’t be had while playing by yourself. Even the worst game can be enjoyable if played with the right group of people. Think about it this way – a person could have fun singing alone in a car, but it’s even better when you have a bunch of people singing together.
Playing with other people can change a game. If you’re playing by yourself, losing can sometimes feel cheap. The computer always has the advantage and sometimes you have to rely on luck more than skill. If you’re playing with a group of friends, these cheap losses lead to cheap laughs and a good time all around.
Lets not forget that playing a game doesn’t always have to be competitive. When we think of multiplayer games, we assume that someone has to win and someone has to lose. Gaming can be done for the experience alone. Games like Rock Band allow people to experience what it’s like to be a real group. Even though there are some people who complain about the realism, many would admit fun to play with other people.
Even though technology has advanced to the point that you can have a conversation with a group of people from the comfort of your own home, there is still something enjoyable with one on one social interaction. The following is a list of games that give you a reason to get the gang together.
Recommended games:
Multisystem: Rock Band
Xbox 360: Dance Central 2 (Kinect)
Playstation 3: Little Big Planet 2
Wii: Mario Party 8
Words By: Brandon Tanimoto
Image By: Stephen Beadles
