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Andrey “Rarst” Savchenko —  — Thoughts — blog, comparison

Is blogging new gaming?

I remember reading an article years ago. Not even online – onpaper. :) It discussed why people play computer games and main idea was that gaming is to feel that you matter .

Sounds like blogging a bit? Or not? Read on.

Looking to matter

Gaming allows person to escape for some time in realm with lower demands and higher stakes. Doesn’t really matter is it saving the world or simulating pie-making. Complex real world ladder of achievements is replaced with simple ladder of game setting.

Why do you think lots of bloggers focus on such things as subscriber count or number of daily visitors? They are keeping a score. It’s no fun to play game if you don’t see progress.

Choosing a genre

Gaming is very variable. Different games cater to different people of different interest and different skills. You can both look for rare gems or stick to mainstream.

Similar to bloggers who can both create something unique around them or let a trends choose their topics.

Picking a scale

You can sit and torture tetris in your basement. Or you can become cyber sport professional and make money with something that rest of the world only wastes money at.

So are bloggers constantly dreaming about doing something easy and fun while stuck in their basements. Very very few rise to professional level.

Important difference

So is blogging similarly to gaming equals killing time and escaping real world? There is one critical difference to prevent that. While gaming is egocentric - blogging can be valuable to others.

No matter what and how you play you still do good only to yourself . But in blogging you can do lots of good to others . So next time you visit new blog, next time you write new post – stop for a second and think. Is it real blogging you are looking at or merely playing a big complex game?

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9 Comments

  • Margaret #

    Well, there's a bit of difference. With gaming -- video games in particular, your success or failure is pretty private for the most part. With blogging, your success is patently obvious to anyone looking at your blog whether you post your reader count or not. Having comments and the type of comments that invite more conversation is a rather apparent marker of how "popular" (successful) your blog is. Yeah, you could post photos of your adsense checks, too. ê¿ê

  • Rarst #

    @Margaret Yep, blogging is way more public than most of gaming. But so are massive multiplayer online games for example. :) Obviously not saying they are same but I think some reasoning between what makes people play and blog overlap. Both are wide field, both create feeling of achievement.

  • Ben Tremblay #

    I agree with Margaret. In a game you can just start a new character and it's done, new life. When blogging, you don't get a second chance, especially if you go with video blogging! ;) But I agree, it does create a feeling of achievement and alo makes your head bigger by feeling you're different and making a difference! hehe

  • Rarst #

    @Ben Huh? Except video blogging how is it hard to start blogging from zero? Online identites are virtual - change nickanme and email and you are new character playing new game. :) In fact some people can have few online identites for different blogs at the same time easily.

  • Whibbly #

    Very true! Blogging is just like another game. For instance, I've discovered yet another player of the same team (read niche) :) in fact, after a long time our group has found a good blog under same niche. Keep updating..

  • Rarst #

    @Whibbly Not sure if niches equal teams. :) Welcome to blog and thanks for your comment.

  • David #

    Fascinating post. I'd say the blogging game is a lot more subjective than gaming. But sure, you get drawn into that game of watching your stats. Although there's less competition I'd say, but then that'll depend on one's genre.

  • Rarst #

    @David It is certainly less defined. :) But there are lot of susupicious similarities and it is hard to say - were they always there or blogging was just shaped by earlier trends.

  • areyougame? #

    It's a very interesting article. makes you wonder if somehow they can be related. For me,gaming is relaxing though you've got to think of a plan. In blogging, you think of what to say but it is what you usually want your readers to know.