Upgrading myself to Cyborg...

In the article "As We Become Machines" by Martti Lahti, she dicusses how we, as gamers, are slowly evolving into half human, half machine entities. This is due inpart by our obsession to become something other than what we are in reality. Though the experience differs in reguards to how a game is played, the end result is the temporary fulfillment of discarding one's physical body in favor of a digitized one. In respect to PC and counsel forms of gaming, the player has the choice of solitary play or play in numbers with friends, but the experience is most likely restricted to the home. Though the experience is rich in mental and physical stimuli, one does not usually have the option of attaining this euphoric experience outside the home due to interference from unwanted, outside stimuli, noise, social encounters.

The arcade is a different senario. Like a collusium where gladiators come to prove their worth in a sea of fierce digitized combat against each other or a previous champion who has left his mark on the scoreboard, the arcade is a sanctuary for those who wish to share, learn, and impress others with their skill. Purely a social gathering ground, the illusion is lessened by the intereaction with numerous others, the blending of multiple sounds and music, and the contant diappearance of money from one's wallet.

The portable video game experience is the closest simulation one can recieve outside the home of the virual space. Though images are displayed in less grandure (ie. a small screen, and down graded preformance) the portable system is used by those who wish to entertain themselves in that which they are most familiar with, from taking care of a virual pet "Tomagotchi" in a quarter sized system able to be carried in one's pocket, to "World of Warcraft" running in full on one's high priced labtop.

The devices used to interact with a system are the future of the interactive experience. To fully submerse one's self in a virtual environment is the ultimate goal of the gaming experience. With new an inovative ways of doing this such as dance pads, styluses, Sony's "eyetoy" and virual reality (even gaming "spaces" such as the "Battletech" pods) we become ever closer to the point where we will be able to leave our physical beings and completely and utterly become someone else.