passion for gaming

By Ben R

Turning on my controller, sitting down in my chair, turning on my headset, putting it on, joining the party with my friends, loading the game. This is what I have done for almost 15 years, day in and day out. To break this cycle would be a crime.

If it weren’t for video games coming into my life, I wouldn’t be as happy as I am and it wouldn’t let me connect with my friends.

Even though living in different states makes it so I can’t see my other friends, gaming has made our bonds stronger. Getting to play games with them makes us stay connected and it makes me still so happy I can enjoy my free time with them.

Some of those games are called Overwatch 2, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege and the new Modern Warfare 2 where I play competitively and chill (competitively is where you play very seriously and just play to win; also, if you need to ask questions or ask ranks, just ask).

Other games I play consist of Pokemon, Magic The Gathering, and Minecraft.

Playing diverse games has made my mind improve. Like, FPS games make my reaction speed faster, Sandbox games have made me more creative, and Overwatch where my strategy and game sense has improved.

But some of the games have made me more toxic, like mocking younger and older people, calling them bad and names that I shouldn’t, and I’m working on being more chill and just all around a better person to be around while playing games.

It’s okay to be friendly with teasing and still having a good time, but sometimes I just get too competitive.

But still, I’m learning how to control my own toxicity and all around being a better person online. I want to be seen the same way I am in real life. And I want to be treated the same in game and out of game.

For the Warrior Times, this is Ben Rios.