Oblivion and the real world

I think the best video games are the ones that holld your attention after the box is off.  That is the underlayment of many of the great games I've played and of some of the best franchises (Halo, Zelda, FF, SW:KOTOR).  When a game engages you enough that you think about it later, it shows that more than entertainment was taking place, an impression was made. 

I had a moment like this recently with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.  I bought a house (the shack in the Imperial City) and, much like my first real house, I learned that buying the house is just the beginning and I still had to buy everything that goes in the house.  And much like my real house, I discovered that I once I had about half the stuff, I ran out of money.

Another astounding thing about video games is that they give us a chance to do things we wouldn't or couldn't do in real life.  This has been lamented as a cause for school violence by morons such as the infamous Jack Thompson and, on the other side of the fence, credited with lowering the crime rate by some.  In my case, I'd never break into someone's house and rob them in order to pay for a new couch (even though I really need a new couch ), but in this game I can run around robbing my neighbors (and complete strangers) blind.   It's fun and challenging.  Luckily, even if I'm discovered, I can still grab a bunch of stuff on my way out, fence it and send a bribe through the Theive's Guild without much of a problem.  This game is almost a year old (even if it is new to me) and it is still amazing how many choices you have.  Freedom is cool. And that's why I game.