Gaming

I’ve been playing video games since I was a child. The first game I remember was Tekken 5 on the PlayStation 2. I don’t recall exactly what was happening on the screen, but I clearly remember how fascinating it felt to control something with a controller. Later on, I developed a strong interest in cars and eventually got a racing game. I didn’t really understand much of it, and I always came in last. I often wondered why I kept losing, but back then, I couldn’t find an answer.

The first real game where things started to improve—and where I truly began to understand how games worked—was Pokémon Platinum on the Nintendo DS. To this day, it remains one of my all-time favorite games. It was also the first time I actively used my analytical skills to build a team that I felt was the best possible for me. I became so enthusiastic about the series that I bought the following Pokémon games as well—and unfortunately, I eventually became addicted.

I began neglecting almost everything, and my grades dropped significantly. I never had to repeat a year, but I came close more than once. I had to decide whether to quit gaming altogether. While I didn’t stop completely, I drastically cut back. What used to be every free second became just two hours a week. That was a significant improvement. During that time, I only played on the PlayStation 2—and only the racing game where I always used to come in last.

After some time, I gradually started playing more again—especially after discovering online games. The first one was Minecraft, an incredibly creative game where the only limit is your own imagination. Just like the Pokémon games, Minecraft remains one of my absolute favorites. Together with friends, we tackled one challenge after another. It was also the first time I came into contact with servers. Since we didn’t have the money to rent one, I took it upon myself to set up the servers for our projects. Over the years, we accomplished a lot in the game, and no two worlds were ever the same. But eventually, it started to feel repetitive, and we looked for something new. That new game was Overwatch, now known as Overwatch 2.

Overwatch accompanied my friends and me for a long time. It’s a strategic shooter, and I hadn’t realized just how much there is to consider in a competitive game. I learned slowly. At first, I only played healers, supporting my teammates because my aim wasn’t very good. Over time, however, I discovered my passion for playing tanks. The problem with healers, for me, was their low health. Tanks, on the other hand, can take a lot more damage. Plus, there are tank heroes who don’t require precise aiming—you just need to stay close to the enemy to be a threat. This is where my analytical thinking came into play again: I had to analyze every situation, which never repeated itself in exactly the same way, and carefully plan my approach to the opponents. That required a lot of practice—it’s not as easy as it looks. That’s why Overwatch is also one of my all-time favorite games.

After Overwatch started to fade into the background, I bought a Nintendo Switch. The first game I got was Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. I’m not exactly sure why I wanted that game so badly, but I felt a strong pull toward it. When I finally played it, I wasn’t very good at first. But I practiced diligently and quickly improved. Eventually, I even took part in a tournament and became the fourth-best Mario Kart player in Switzerland in 2020. I wanted to keep training to reach first place—but fate had other plans. Due to COVID, all Mario Kart tournaments were cancelled. On top of that, no one wanted to race against me anymore because I always won. Still, this game remains one of my absolute favorites.

Now to my absolute favorite game: Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi. Complicated name, I know. I’ve played this series on and off for years. The fact that it’s a Dragon Ball game was reason enough for me to dive into it, since I grew up with the series. It holds a special place in my heart. I didn’t become good at it as quickly as I did with Mario Kart, but through regular play, I gradually improved. I kept playing until my PlayStation 2 broke. But now, almost 20 years after the third game, the fourth installment is finally coming: Dragon Ball Sparking Zero. This game might have the potential to become one of the most important things in my life. I just hope it won’t be a disappointment.

Looking back, many of the games I played helped me develop important skills. I probably chose them—perhaps subconsciously—because they either allowed me to apply my existing abilities or challenged me to improve them.