Non-Fun In Games
It is mainstay opinion to state that gaming is supposed to be fun. By the ancillary definition of games in general, it is meant to be fun. This isn't opinion, its just clear outlined fact.Nowadays that argument is getting more stifled. With the creation of achievements, trophies and the "art house" feel of games, it is harder to grip that argument anymore.
Dave of Modus Pwned relates the idea to an oven. "Suppose that you decide to use an oven solely for the purpose of making a tasty cake. If you commit to using an oven only for this purpose, then-insofar as you are rational-you commit to stop using the oven if it is not serving its purpose. If the oven isn't working properly, then you should stop using the oven. It would be irrational not to change your behavior in such a case. And, of course, the same is true for gaming. Games are meant to be fun. If you’re playing a game and you’re not having fun, then you really ought to stop playing the game."(Compulsion and Games).
That argument is entirely valid and necessary if you commit to the idea that games are nothing more then just vapid time drops. While I do agree to some extent that games should be fun, the nature of fun is intrinsically dangerous.
We forgo many of the insightful and best moments in games simply because they are not fun. If something is difficult and challenging, it is seen as bogging the player down and not committing to the grandiose scheme of "casual fun". The difference of choosing to save the world or someone you love, over choosing if you want your virtual pet to have blue eyes or brown eyes. However those difficult choices in gaming still need to exist whether they are fun or not. For the same reason the horrific moments in prolific movies need to exist. It is part of a larger picture that shows people what the gaming medium is capable of.
Consider all the best moments and lines in gaming. Were they fun? Some were perhaps, others just shared a space in your conscience because it was "revolutionary" at the time. Games carry the capacity to shape and change our experiences in the world. And if at the end of the day, this flies over your head, well then perhaps the simplistic baby fun of Wii Sports Resort appeals to you. Just leave the Fallout 2s, the Knights of the Old Republics and the Braids alone.
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