Great post, really made me think and I understand. When my family go on holiday, I also have these ideas that this means more leisure time, so I'll pack all the Switch games in the carry case "just in case". The reality is that, while I am doing things for leisure on holiday, I'm still a parent responsible for children who want to have fun. I'm just tired by the end of the day and don't want to do anything after that!
Thank you for sharing this piece. Video games used to be a big part of my travels when I was younger. Packing my hand-held system, such as my GameBoy Color, PSP, PS Vita, or Switch, was always a priority when I went on trips. Now I just pretty much limit it to my trips when I go visit family. I would say that video games do play a part in my increase in love for traveling. The best example of that is probably when I went to Italy 18 years ago. I didn't have any cell phone reception so phone games were out of the question and I just didn't bother taking any video games. I was just able to enjoy and take in everything. Then I played Assassin's Creed 2 the following year and I developed even more of an affinity for Italy and it's history. I even played through WatchDogs 2 when it came out, and it made me wanna travel to San Francisco. I did eventually make it to San Francisco last month and I absolutely loved it. So, I see certain video games as a, sort of, catalyst to rekindle an interest or develop a new one, if that makes sense.
It makes a lot of sense! There's so much joy in visiting real places that inspired game settings, and, conversely, it's an absolute blast to happen to play a game taking place somewhere you've been to before. Assassin's Creed games are awesome for that alone.
And it's also its own special kind of pleasure to play a handheld on the road. You exist a little apart from reality, being in transit, and can focus fully. I love it too.
This was such a delightful read! I always enjoy your writing, but this one specifically resonated with me a lot, because I love both traveling and video games. They are the activities that I probably enjoy the most; they fulfill such different needs for me.
"...I also cannot forget that my body and mind not only drag me down, but are also the whole reason I can fully experience the world." That's a great way to put it into words. Thank you for sharing this thought-provoking post!
You're so kind, Oya, it really means a lot that you enjoy what I write! This essay surprised me, too, I had no idea it would shape up this way when I started. Recognizing similarities between travel and video games was a revelation 😊
I completely reflect with what you wrote. I love to travel and I love to play video games for similar reasons, but what they offer me in return is completely different.
And the sentence "The bigger the mess, the brighter the best parts shine." is so profound and so true. It's important to be reminded that, so thank you!
I'm so glad it resonated! Thank you! When I started thinking about this essay, I really just wanted to share my perspective on travel; video games didn't even enter the thought process. But the more I thought, the more I realized I could connect the two, and that they're similar in some way.
This was very interesting! I regularly bring my Kindle when I travel and find that I never use it. I have audiobooks on my phone and after a day spent exploring, I am not in the mood to read.
I also like your explanation of escapism. Are all these pictures ones you took while traveling?!
I'm that person who used to bring her laptop, her Switch, and her e-reader along in the well-intentioned delusional thinking that since travel is leisure, I'd have time for more than adventuring! You're not alone :D
And yes, all of those are my photos. The essay was personal enough; I thought sharing some personal photos would make it even more so. All are from this trip I just returned from, with the expection of the photo where I'm playing my Switch―that one is from summer 2023.
Thanks for this thoughtful and reflective essay. I hope you write more about your travels as well.
Such a great realisation that on holiday you are still you. 😅 I laughed because I’m on holiday and had to re pack several times thinking I’d start running again (visiting family) but in reality I just need to be able to go for a walk so I packed a winter coat as it will be cold instead of running gear 🥲☺️
There is so much aspiration mixed in with travel anticipation, it's true! It's something I've learned to tame somewhat over the years, but it still pops up every once in a while. Running is such a good example!
This really resonates with me. I'll never trade reality for games, made that deal with myself in my early 20s. Yet... the one year I reckon I gamed the most, was the same one I spent 8 weeks abroad.
There's something really nice about travelling and gaming, because travelling can create a lot of downtime that's easy to fill with a console (when solo).
I also find it wild that you went to modern-day Bohemia, after playing Kingdom Come. How cool!
My bad, the bit about Prague at the end was meant to be a reference to KCDII in general, not to my trip —I went to Barcelona! Although Bohemia is certainly on the list now :D
Great post, really made me think and I understand. When my family go on holiday, I also have these ideas that this means more leisure time, so I'll pack all the Switch games in the carry case "just in case". The reality is that, while I am doing things for leisure on holiday, I'm still a parent responsible for children who want to have fun. I'm just tired by the end of the day and don't want to do anything after that!
That's very true. Travelling with children, no matter how chill, is a different beast entirely!
Thank you for sharing this piece. Video games used to be a big part of my travels when I was younger. Packing my hand-held system, such as my GameBoy Color, PSP, PS Vita, or Switch, was always a priority when I went on trips. Now I just pretty much limit it to my trips when I go visit family. I would say that video games do play a part in my increase in love for traveling. The best example of that is probably when I went to Italy 18 years ago. I didn't have any cell phone reception so phone games were out of the question and I just didn't bother taking any video games. I was just able to enjoy and take in everything. Then I played Assassin's Creed 2 the following year and I developed even more of an affinity for Italy and it's history. I even played through WatchDogs 2 when it came out, and it made me wanna travel to San Francisco. I did eventually make it to San Francisco last month and I absolutely loved it. So, I see certain video games as a, sort of, catalyst to rekindle an interest or develop a new one, if that makes sense.
It makes a lot of sense! There's so much joy in visiting real places that inspired game settings, and, conversely, it's an absolute blast to happen to play a game taking place somewhere you've been to before. Assassin's Creed games are awesome for that alone.
And it's also its own special kind of pleasure to play a handheld on the road. You exist a little apart from reality, being in transit, and can focus fully. I love it too.
This was such a delightful read! I always enjoy your writing, but this one specifically resonated with me a lot, because I love both traveling and video games. They are the activities that I probably enjoy the most; they fulfill such different needs for me.
"...I also cannot forget that my body and mind not only drag me down, but are also the whole reason I can fully experience the world." That's a great way to put it into words. Thank you for sharing this thought-provoking post!
You're so kind, Oya, it really means a lot that you enjoy what I write! This essay surprised me, too, I had no idea it would shape up this way when I started. Recognizing similarities between travel and video games was a revelation 😊
I completely reflect with what you wrote. I love to travel and I love to play video games for similar reasons, but what they offer me in return is completely different.
And the sentence "The bigger the mess, the brighter the best parts shine." is so profound and so true. It's important to be reminded that, so thank you!
I'm so glad it resonated! Thank you! When I started thinking about this essay, I really just wanted to share my perspective on travel; video games didn't even enter the thought process. But the more I thought, the more I realized I could connect the two, and that they're similar in some way.
This was very interesting! I regularly bring my Kindle when I travel and find that I never use it. I have audiobooks on my phone and after a day spent exploring, I am not in the mood to read.
I also like your explanation of escapism. Are all these pictures ones you took while traveling?!
I'm that person who used to bring her laptop, her Switch, and her e-reader along in the well-intentioned delusional thinking that since travel is leisure, I'd have time for more than adventuring! You're not alone :D
And yes, all of those are my photos. The essay was personal enough; I thought sharing some personal photos would make it even more so. All are from this trip I just returned from, with the expection of the photo where I'm playing my Switch―that one is from summer 2023.
Thanks for this thoughtful and reflective essay. I hope you write more about your travels as well.
Such a great realisation that on holiday you are still you. 😅 I laughed because I’m on holiday and had to re pack several times thinking I’d start running again (visiting family) but in reality I just need to be able to go for a walk so I packed a winter coat as it will be cold instead of running gear 🥲☺️
More please! 💚
Thank you so much 💛
There is so much aspiration mixed in with travel anticipation, it's true! It's something I've learned to tame somewhat over the years, but it still pops up every once in a while. Running is such a good example!
Welcome back! Missed your musings!
This really resonates with me. I'll never trade reality for games, made that deal with myself in my early 20s. Yet... the one year I reckon I gamed the most, was the same one I spent 8 weeks abroad.
There's something really nice about travelling and gaming, because travelling can create a lot of downtime that's easy to fill with a console (when solo).
I also find it wild that you went to modern-day Bohemia, after playing Kingdom Come. How cool!
My bad, the bit about Prague at the end was meant to be a reference to KCDII in general, not to my trip —I went to Barcelona! Although Bohemia is certainly on the list now :D
Thank you!
Beautiful blog post!
Thank you so much!