Being the protagonist

From the last posting, I talked about how my friends - who considered themselves as 'gamers' who would occasionally run an 'all-nighter' at gaming room - became so addicted to the sense of freedom (a rather violent one that is) they get from engaging into the cyberspace, shooting and killing each other, playing FPS games like Counterstrike, by becoming the protagonists.

After an intense round of gunfight, one of my mates suggested that we go out for a break, and for some fresh air, out of the smoke-filled room caused by chain smokers. As we burst outside, we 'gamers' quickly form a group and start a very active discussion - a kind of a 'review' of the last round - ; evaluating each other's performances from many different aspects.

This could include how their characters reacted from certain situations inside the game and how well they have confronted with it. However, interesting thing I spotted was that they all talked as if they were actually inside the game that we were playing - referring themselves and their identities to the protagonists from the game itself.

They would call each other not by their real names but the character's name from the game, chat as if they're actually in the certain situation that is happening from the game and moreover, they sometimes would physically react to what's going on with their characters and the world around them - for example, when their character gets hit, say, on his right arm - he would instantly grab his arm while playing the game and yell out,

"DAMN IT! I'M HIT! I'M HIT!!!"

With some really good facial expressions on top of that.

I could realize that how such immersion was taking place by actually becoming the protagonist - by engaging as the certain character from all aspects: including the first person perspective, physical reaction, adapting the characteristics - initially, becoming the character yourself.

Sean