I’ve been looking for a new game to play after some amazing experiences that made me wonder what else is out there that I haven’t yet tried, and while many of the new titles out there tickle my fancy and make me feel a burning sensation in my pockets, right where I keep my Benjamins, begging me to relieve it by spending, I made a decision that’s very unlike me, and instead of going for the new, I decided instead to go back to games I haven’t yet finished either because I couldn’t get into them at the time, or because of reasons only known now to Father Time.
I looked through the shoe box where I keep my modest collection of almost mint-condition games and I spotted one that I bought with great anticipation, but never got past the tutorial section in. The game is Monster Hunter World, and I remember that back when I first tried it, I thought it was too complex in its mechanics, so I stopped playing it in favor of something more high-octane and flashier.
I made a terrible mistake.
I remember reaching a section where I had to hunt a monster called Pukei-Pukei almost at the beginning of the adventure, and given my nonexistent comprehension of the game, I called it quits after that specific section. Little did I know I wasn’t playing the game the right way at the time…
But that’s the thing, isn’t it? If I weren’t so quick to Lemon Law the games I play (or the media I watch in general) I would’ve discovered earlier what a great game Monster Hunter World truly is.
If only I had given it a chance before, I could’ve already been enjoying that game’s experiences for years.
What changed, though? Why was I able to get into it now?
It is a matter of dedication. Plain and simple, of taking the time to do a task and not stop until it is completed. It is a simple concept, but in our time of constant distractions, it is something that’s also proven increasingly difficult for me to accomplish.
That’s why I decided to play the game, but actually play it. I wouldn’t skip cutscenes or dialogues, and I would talk to every single NPC available in the world, which is how I discovered you can upgrade weapons and create armor pretty much immediately in this game if you let your looter side come out and play a little.
I had only completed two of the main quests, and I had already gone from having a Leather armor that barely protected me, to having an enhanced Bone armor that gave me 10 points of protection per piece, as well as a matching bone weapon that greatly increased my damage input. What a great start.
That’s when I noticed that I was not only advancing in the game (although for you seasoned players out there, I know I sound like a hatchling bragging about busting through my nested shell), but I was also doing something else – I was enjoying the experience. All it took was me dedicating two simple elements to it: My time, and my undivided attention.
That was all. I wasn’t playing thinking I wanted to face off against a monster I saw on YouTube, or going through the motions until I unlocked the armor that I thought looked the coolest. I was simply observing the game, noting what it offered and taking advantage of it while I learned its theme and mechanics, and once I did, I started hunting Great Jagras with ease in the early stages of the game, familiarizing myself with weapons, food, upgrades, and research mechanics, making sure I absorbed every little thing that the game set on a silver platter for me to take advantage of.
The result was overwhelming: I stopped my session in the witching hour, realizing I had been playing for longer than I expected. I even went through that thing where I wanted a snack, and as I went to get it, I remembered I had skipped dinner because I had been so engrossed in the gameplay.
It was totally worth it.
Dedicating time to a task, not looking for a specific outcome, but only doing it for the sake of doing it. That’s what unlocked the door to that world of entertainment possibilities, and it is such a simple concept that I don’t know how I missed it before. I’ve heard schools of gurus telling me to “live in the moment” to appreciate the “now;” and while that sounds like a cool concept, I had never thought about how it would apply, really apply, to something in my life.
I am enjoying this game that I shunned in the past, and it was the easiest thing to do it. I am even reminded of a quote from The Merovingian in Matrix: Reloaded: “Yes, of course. Who has time? Who has time? But then if we never ‘take’ time, how can we have time?” It is not only about having time to do something, but truly investing in the activity, squeezing every single drop of it and savoring what comes out of the experience. Everything from joy to sorrow to disgust, every single emotion elicited and acknowledged until they dry up and becomes a fragrant and flavorful memory that constitutes the spice of life.
Author: James Stark, AAA’s in-house video game journalist.
Thank you for supporting Adult All Access! Don’t forget to follow us on social media, @AdultAllAccess.
Would you like to be featured on AdultAllAccess.biz or in one of our publications?
Email Nel@AdultAllAccess.biz to be interviewed, featured in a publication, to discuss sponsorship and collaborative projects, or for press releases. Email our support team Support@AdultAllAccess.biz with general inquires, questions, or comments.
We are an organization created and run by sex workers, for the folks in the adult entertainment industry and those who support us. We are seeking talent/adult entertainers, writers, videographers, etc. – if you have applicable skills, reach out to find out how you can get more involved with us!
