#but even the rote memorization of layouts of maps and mechanics of bosses or areas and enemies could be considered skill

[kyriathanatos]

Been thinking about the idea that playing a game extends outside of the game itself recently.

When I get on forums dedicated to the game, explain its mechanics to others using videos or pictures, engage with discussion and community around the game, devising strategies or learning more in depth means by reading wikis and such, could it still be said that I am actively” playing” the game?

To go off of the wonderful folding ideas video about WoW, I am at the very minimum certainly generating patatext for it that affects myself and the play of the game, either through myself or others.

It’s just kinda interesting to think about. There are a lot of games I feel like I have spent hours in, hundreds or even thousands, only to find I had spent maybe only a hundred in total but consumed or created this paratext for.

A good example of this for me is Dark Souls. I know that game like the back of my hand and have played it to completion at least 8 times. Yet, I only have just at 100 hours in it. But it feels like I have more, as I’ve easily watched quadruple that amount of hours in Dark Souls content on YouTube, as well as even more in discussions about the game and the genre. So do I only have my stated 100 hours in dark souls, or do I have much, much more through this “play” without physical play