Why Do We Like Games and Puzzles?

In one of my recent Super Mario Advance 4 videos, I talked about why we play (or watch) video games. As part of that discussion, I mentioned a great answer from the first issue of Games magazine. Allen D. Bragdon, the magazine's first editor-in-chief, had this to say in his Editor's Message about the role of the new magazine:

We think most people get a big kick out of coming up with the solution to a problem--whatever their age, education, income, or fighting weight. It's a satisfying feeling to put one's own resources to work on an honest challenge and master it. Yet so often it seems that trying to play the kind of games we must get into as part of practical, day-to-day living isn't as satisfying as it should be; often the subjects are dull, or the stakes too high, or the rules unclear; sometimes too many pieces are missing, or there is no clear winning answer. A world this complex just doesn't seem to allow people many chances to work things out all by themselves for the sheer satisfaction of doing it right.

You won't find GAMES adding to your worries about real or imaginary problems. There are plenty of people around to do that....Nor do we think there's much to be gained by our trying to add even more rules to the living game....

So we have collected and devised some puzzles and facts and games and contests and pictures and tests that we think do have some satisfying, constructive fun in them--little bite-sized escapes from the serious business of the life-sized world. We invite you and your family to come play these with and against us, to test your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and keep your mind from bagging at the knees. (Games, September/October 1977)

I'd like to think that the Scotty Euclid channel is trying to do the same thing in a 21st-century way. There is a satisfying feeling playing (or watching someone play) an honest video game challenge and mastering it. Sometimes, we need a place to escape our day-to-day problems and come together to watch video games old and new. I hope to produce videos based on puzzles, facts, games, and tests for you all to have little bite-sized escapes from the serious business of the life-sized world. All are welcome to play along and contribute to our community.