People who play videogames aren't escaping reality, they're simulating having meaningful participation in a society. If anything, gamers crave reality. An example of escaping reality is wearing noise cancelling headphones on the train so no one talks to you. Gamers are trying to simulate a reality where the work they do has tangible meaning. You do this dungeon and you get a new item, which you can use to do new dungeons. In reality, you do a job, and you get a paycheck, which you can only use to continue doing that same job. There are obviously meaningful jobs out there, but many, many people are being denied them, relegated to alienated labor. They are being denied access to community, relegating them to lonliness. The labor in videogames isn't alienating since it's meant to achieve a purpose and meant to advance you and grow your character. Jobs and a lot of what "society" these days has to offer just.... don't do that. It's all about PARTICIPATION.
undoubtedly playing video games offer some simulacrum of realization in lieu of actual real life accomplishments which have been deprived due to labor alienation, but i don't see myself as a meaningful member of society if i'm playing, say, cruelty squad.
OP is referring to simulation of having meaningful participation, i.e. meaningful only in the context of the "society" that exists within the simulation, i.e. your in-game actions are able to effect change within the game world (and that this is attractive as a substitute for your inability to do so in the real world)
you're not a meaningful participant in cruelty squad? pardon me but I have a wall full of chunkopops and feet full of gunkboosters, my life is going great
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