I thought the readings this week were rather eye-opening and some what relieving. I love Jesper Juul’s The Art of Failure because of this quote: “Though we may dislike failure as such, failure is an integral element of the overall experience of playing a game, a motivator, something that helps us reconsider our strategies and see the strategic depth in a game, a clear proof that we have improved we finally overcome it.” (9). I love this quote because this what life is, is that we have to accept that we fail. Failure is not a horrible thing, moment, whatever. And that is hard for someone like me to get my head around. And I always viewed failure as this horrible thing, a thing that ruins your life forever. Additionally, failure was this thing that people never forget, and used as to make me feel worse about myself. So reading this article was both a gut punch and eye-opening, because I see that failure is not bad. True failure is just not trying or being puppet and someone is working the strings. I like that distinguishes failure, that it can be either your fault and other factors. And that it comes to responsibility, responsibility and happiness to ones self is better. I think that is what Juul is saying, that people keep playing games, whether sports, video games, or even life, because they need to and they want to. And that it makes them better and they learn their mistakes, even though that sounds cliché, mistakes are good even though we think are bad. Mistakes prove you are human, and in ways I think video games are designed in order for you to succeed. And if games do not have that need to succeed or learn then what is the point? And I am using the word succeed lightly. Succeed to me, is not winning the game, you can win something and not feel successful or full. I mean I have played games where I felt frustrated because I did not learn anything or hated the way I played or others played.

I agreed with Juul’s behavioral analysis  of actions we use to play games are acceptable in the game but not ok in public. I always thought that was fascinating how we act differently when we play games. And I always thought when we play games, and even doing something we enjoy, we are showing who we actually are, good or bad. Additionally, I thought his description of why he loves video games. “I enjoy video games; I Feel that they give me important experiences; I associate them with wide-ranging thoughts about life, the universe and so on. This is valuable to me, and I want to understand and share it.” (23). And I love this because his reason for loving video games, is the same reason for why I love music, films, art, and literature. And I feel bad that I told people who played video games were frustrated by losing that it all was just a game. I realize now that I caused some pain by saying that because I never looked at video games or even games in general in the same vain as my love for music, art, etc. However, I understand that stopping on the heart feeling when someone does not understand your love for something. And I understand now, that video games are the same as music or as literature. It allows for escapism, learning, and connection.