alternate worlds inside the computer

As time passes and this class continues on, and life continues on, it coems eto my attention that all the activities and actions we do on the computer are merely attempts to an al;ternate world,. one that we aer fully on our way tocreating.
Since we're reading play money, and it focuses strongly (well, entirely) on video games, and the world of gaming, i figured now would be a good time to think about the people i know that "game."
I know i've said ot before, commenting on people's posts and whatever online, in this class, and probablyeven posted about it in my personal blog, but I'd liek to go over the motives behind people and gaming.
-you want to find out the storyline of the game
-the graphics
-"It's like living a book"
-character immersion
-ineractive reading/watching, isntead of plain old television
- just hobbyf0
-can pay good money if you get good enough (at acertain game)
-like a sport, can have "interaction" with other gamers (this is a newer reason)

So, based on those reasons why people game (people I am friendly with/know personally), it sounds quite appealing. But one has to truly wonder at the inner motives for why these people get so involved in gaming, forreal. I honestly believe it is escapism. Our society sufferse from it, in manyforms, and the immersion of one's life within a game is probably the most obvious place in our moern, technologically advanced world. Involvement with a screen, even if there is a plot, as toryline, a challenge, involvemnt (now even physical involvement: Wii), it is still merely just a new and imporved form of escapism. People used to read or do drugs or drink to escape, or get involved in a group. Now we play xbox and 360 and Wii or gameson our computer- whic hi don't even have a conception of, as i have absolutely no exposure to that, besides my friends talking about them. I know of only one online game that ivolves other real people, and that (i dont even know if it still exists) was a battle-like game of violence.
The world of 'gamers" is extending into the world of "real" people, and it is very interesting to see who is getting drawn into this world, and how it is impacting the rest of society