A Gamer at HeartThe term "gamer" can mean a lot of things. To some, a gamer is a one who foregos personal interactions and the conventions of acceptable social behavior in order to spend his time playing video games. Definitately a more negative conotation of the term. To others, though, a gamer is a guru of digital media -- one who is intimately aquainted with the lore of videos games; a master of a game's history, websites, books, fan fiction and community.

No matter what your personal definition of a gamer is, there is no doubt that they are a unique breed.

I have to admit that although I enjoy video games quite a lot I don't consider myself "a gamer".

Honestly, I just d...

A Gamer at HeartThe term "gamer" can mean a lot of things. To some, a gamer is a one who foregos personal interactions and the conventions of acceptable social behavior in order to spend his time playing video games. Definitately a more negative conotation of the term. To others, though, a gamer is a guru of digital media -- one who is intimately aquainted with the lore of videos games; a master of a game's history, websites, books, fan fiction and community.

No matter what your personal definition of a gamer is, there is no doubt that they are a unique breed.

I have to admit that although I enjoy video games quite a lot I don't consider myself "a gamer".

Honestly, I just don't have the resources needed to engage in the life style of a true gamer. I am currently an Architecture student. Architecture is a very demanding study. We are essentially overloaded with work in order to force us to think creatively. I spend at least 50 hours a week in studio working on design projects, including many all-nighters, and that aside from my other classes and studying. In addition, being a student is very expensive. Not only does my school charge an arm and a leg and a spleen for admition, but I also have to purchase drafting and modeling materials on a consistent basis.

Essentially, between a time-consuming study path, an expensive education and a need to work during the summer in order to make ends meet, there is little time or money left for me to indulge in video games *sad face*

Yet at the same time I love video games. Aside from the fact that I spend little time actually playing games, I am pretty much like any other gamer. I like to have game nights with my friends and stay up until sunrise getting my virtual arse kicked and eating junk food. I keep up with game news as much as I can. I get absolutely GIDDY when a new game comes out in my favorite series. I like to read the back-story books that come out for games and I, admittedly, have quite a few video game soundtracks on my iPod.

Essentially, I consider myself a "gamer-at-heart". I have to put building a career and a future over satisfying my desire to have fun and play video games. However, I know that if I did have the time and the money, I would be spending it on gaming for sure.

Being a gamer-at-heart, I really appreciate communities like that of Rooster Teeth. Listening to the RT podcasts, for example, affords me an opportunity to live the life a gamer vicariously through the experiences of others. I hear the latest news on the games I like, I learn about the history of games, I hear their funny stories about games they've played, etc. Even though I am in no way physically connected to them, I can share in their experiences and in a way derive enjoyment and pleasure from some one else's life.

So thanks Rooster Teeth. =)