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As an extremely overgrown adolescent who is staring down his mid-thirties with as much false bravado as I can muster, I have to admit to being someone who can at times fluctuate between an "oh-my-god-i-just-heard-about- people-like-that-on-the-news" game junkie to someone who can be rather unmotivated by the whole gaming experience. And no, just for clarification's sake, it has nothing to do with whether or not I've had my medication recently.

With the amount of media attention the gaming industry has received lately, particularly with this state or that attempting to criminalize the sale of 'M' rated games to minors, I've found myself truly considering why I play. What is it about that pretty little green and white box in my entertainment system that I find so much darn fun that I can at times become totally lost within it?

After some very careful consideration, and some equally well spent time in a world where chainsaws are attached to machine guns, I finally came to the following conclusion: as an "older" gamer, video games have wound their way into the daily fabric of my life to such an extent that they've actually become as much a part of my existence as anything else I do on a daily basis. Even though the logic may not be an exact fit to the metaphor, one could almost liken the impact of video games into my world to the effect of buying a dog or having a baby. It creates a change in the individual's life that permeates almost every aspect.

I'll give you an example, but be gentle in your criticism as I'm not sure yet whether or not it's one I should be proud or ashamed of. I've rediscovered my competitive side after a multiple year hiatus and it has come in the forms of my Achievement score and my soon to be brother-in-law. Granted I didn't have the benefit of a brother growing up, but I have had plenty of male friends along the way and I know testosterone-fueled competitiveness when it rears it's head. His father has made the joke at both of our expenses on several occasions that for most guys it's more about who has the best lawn mower or who's car is faster but with us it's all about who blew the most people up online or who's wrecked the most cars or splattered the most bugs this week. Unfortunately for the women in our lives who very kindly put up with us, he's not wrong.

Aside from the y-chromosome addled friendships gaming is forging for me, I also realized that gaming has become an integral part of what I do to relax. I still walk the dog, go to

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