Last week, I wrote about my trip to Gameworks.  This week, I wanted to write about the other half of the experience: shared gaming.  I feel the need to get on a soapbox and tell you that gaming, like life, is best when it is shared with someone.  Now I am not suggesting everyone run out and marry their gaming partner, or anything like that.  It’s just that gaming is a lot more fun when it’s shared.

When CigDangle and I were at the arcade, we walked around looking at the machines and then decided on a game and played.  That alone proves that shared gaming is a more involved, because you have to interact with others, make decisions, communicate, set ground rules, etc.  Then, once a game stars, it’s not just you and some far from human A.I.  It is either you and a friend against the A.I., or, better yet, against each other.  For example, CigDangle and I played Star Wars Pod Race, and I have to tell you, it was a lot more fun to be challenged by another then by simply testing your skill against the computer.

One of my favorite after work activities, is to battle my co-workers in a game of Unreal Tournament or Battlefield: 1942.  We would often battle until the wee hours of the morning, and then stumble in to work weary-eyed and tired the next day, only to be revived while reminiscing about the glorious battles we fought just hours before.

I want to tell you a little story that illustrates my point more clearly.  I played a game called Dartball.  Dartball is a game where you stand about 20 feet away from a giant dart board that looks like a baseball field.  The player throws these giant 6 inch darts underhand at the board.  The scoring is just like baseball: singles, triples, strike outs, you get the picture.

I had a really good “season” playing in a Dartball league.  I had one of the top averages and nearly the RBI title too .  At the end of the season, our team made the playoffs.  During the playoffs, I was on a roll, and, to be honest, I was playing above my level.

At the end of season banquet, trophies were handed out.  I was quite ill and I was unable to attend.   Regardless, I was awarded a few trophies for my effort: six, in fact.  I got the trophies a few days later, and while I appreciated the sentiment, it was a bit of a letdown.  I wanted to say to my fellow players, “Look what I did!”

I guess what I am really trying to say is, “Go out and game online, or call a few friends and have a Rock Band party.”  You will all have a great time.  After all, sometimes the sum is greater than the whole of its parts.

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