Do you ever feel that the impact of our favorite games has almost the impact of religion?
Recently, I went on a blind triple-date. Everyone was Mormon. So very, very Mormon. My guy was confused at my feminism (forbid I tell him I was an atheist, geesh). The girls found they didn't have much to say, and took to making dough for the pizza. The other girl's date, somehow got onto the subject of games. I think I may have mentioned Pokemon-- the bag I brought had Pikachu on it, and let me say it was frugging adorable. Then Final Fantasy came up. I showed them the little Cloud keychain I had attached to my car keys. That's all well and good, but it was mostly "guy-talk" that I was trying to relate to, and naturally the other girls did not even try. Then, somehow, he brought up Chrono Trigger. CHRONO TRIGGER! That was my CHILDHOOD! I adored that game... And somehow, although that wasn't MY date, and naturally I knew it didn't matter, and we'd likely never see each other again and I didn't mind, I felt more comfortable. Less like a freak who really shouldn't be there. Really shouldn't be in a house where they bless pizza. Ouch. I felt so disconnected because of religion, but we did have something in common. Something. Something other than sports or favorite color or something that could not be less important to me.
So, have video games ever been important enough to help you connect to someone else? Are they part of your daily life, have you met people playing video games who you're embarrassed to say are some of your best friends? Kind of an odd subject... but... I'm an odd person I guess.