by Travis Deal

Created on: April 25, 2010

My decision to choose video games over board games was, at first, difficult. In the past, I have very much enjoyed playing both and I believe that there is a place in this world for both. Though, before I get into why I chose video games over board games, I'd like to mention what I believe to be the central argument for one or the other, and that is games as a social experience. For most of us, when we think of playing a game we think of it as an event to be shared with multiple people. After all, even chess is more fun to play with at least two people. It is a phenomenon that is built into our very core since Humans, from our very earliest days as a species, discovered that doing things in groups was just more beneficial both for survival and for social interaction. I challenge anyone to think of the word "game" and not either name or create a mental image of an activity involving multiple people. So, at the very core of the argument, it would seem board games have the easy victory. They are games which are designed specifically for the purpose of bringing together groups of people to engage in a social activity. The fact that they also happen to be fun is probably just a happy coincidence. For generations, board games have cornered the market  on group entertainment, and if this were anytime before, let's say, 2005 I would be writing a completely different article. Let me explain.

My original motivation for writing this article, as well as my vote, was that video games provide a greater entertainment experience than board games. I say this not just because I am an avid gamer and a supporter of the industry, but because, as someone who has had the pleasure of playing both board and video games, I believe it to be true. From the very first time that little white ball bounced across the television screen by way of what could only be thought of as magic way, way back in the late 70's and early 80's, people have been fascinated by video games. Suddenly, there was a new way to interact with media that was not only entertaining but revolutionary in its progression of technology. But, that argument alone would not be enough to sway the pendulum to the side of the virtual. At that time, even though video games were the newest and most exciting innovation in digital entertainment, they were still simple, objective based games. Eventually, though, game developers and game consumers would demand more. It wasn't enough that the frog needed to get to the

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