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Video games: Relaxing Past-Time or Stressful Work?

Dana Centre: eat, drink, talk science I play games to relax. I like to immerse myself in a world where I am the biggest, the most powerful, the most badass and generally the saviour of all the world. The Nerevarine was pretty much my ideal storyline. I play games to escape the mundane rat-race.

Others couldn’t care less about plot. They thrive on challenge, being knocked back again and again but refusing to give up. They derive some sort of sick pleasure from suffering under capricious whims of evil game designers who like to change the rules with no warning, rhyme or reason. In short, they play games like R-Type.

I don’t get it. (Obviously.) The idea of playing something over and over just to memorise the patterns and reach the end of the game bores me to tears. Perhaps there’s something physiological at work there. Perhaps these achievers get the same buzz from reaching the end of a level, that I get from learning something new about a fantasy world.

At the end of this month, the Dana Centre in South Kensington will be hosting In The Game (supported by Nintendo). They’re claiming to show how our bodies react to games by measuring excitement and stress levels. It’s even topped off with live physiological demos! (o_0)

Here are the details:

When?
21 November 2007, 7pm to 9pm

Where:
The Dana Centre
165 Queen’s Gate
South Kensington
London
SW7 5HD

How Much?
Free!

The Upcoming listing says you need to register beforehand. Drop an email to the address given at the Dana Centre’s In The Game page if you’re interested.

Maybe see you there!