As a videogame advocate I’ve taken some positions with GamerDad for no better reasons than logic, gut feeling, and intuition. I’ve been playing violent games for 30 years, I’ve been associating with the “hardcore” for over 15, and I’ve covered the industry for 10. I know games themselves aren’t “addictive” because if you show me an addict, I’ll show you someone who has far greater problems then videogames. I know violence in games doesn’t desensitize gamers toward real violence because I’ve played these games and because I know gamers. They’re among the most gentle and kind people I know.

I support, publicly and privately, charities like Child’s Play and GetWellGamers because I believe that games can distract from pain, anxiety, and worse. I know violent games are cathartic. Well, I don’t have to “believe” that any longer. As a quadruple bypass survivor, I’m living it.

As mentioned, about a month ago I survived open heart surgery. I’ve only hinted that videogames were part of my recuperation. I don’t mean community – the GamerDad/GameSanity and several other communities poured out their hearts to us. I mean the games themselves. See, the hospital is a maze of inconvenience and discomfort. They wake you up at the worst times, they poke and prod you at all hours, taking blood, measuring urine output, and constantly asking about your stool. Some nurses are angels, others seem to abuse their position of power. They scoff that you’re nervous about the procedure your doctor just ordered. They brush aside your anxiety and fear over that needle passing between your ribs to drain some sort of water pocket in your lung’s lining.

But when I’d fire up the DS and let myself get into the excellent remake of Sim City for the system, when I force the Meteos upward spectacularly, when I tap out a few headshots in Touch the Dead, or when I’d tackle a difficult operation in Trauma Center, I was in control. The anxiety fades, perspective swims upstream against pain killers and, for a time, induces calmness. I felt more in control.

I’ve been home for three weeks now. Just home. I can’t do anything. The dog is too strong for me to walk – see, basically my ribcage was sawed in half at the sternum and now those veins, arteries, tissues, bone, and flesh are all healing, itching, and feeling numb at the same time. I can’t move furniture, I can’t help with the kids or groceries. All I can do is walk, nap, heal, take pain killers, watch TV.

For an active person like me it’s a depressing, muddled, dark, and painful state of affairs. It’s frustrating. A place where bad thoughts creep in, feel welcome, and make themselves at home. I’m 36, why did this happen?

Ah, but when I go downstairs to my office and fire up BioShock, Halo 3, or Xbox Live Arcade, I have no weight restrictions, no special orders, and I’m able to run, gun, survive, and accomplish something. Upstairs when the wife and kids are asleep I can tackle Metroid Prime 2 or even Fishing Master. I can DO again. It’s a semblance of control, but when you feel you’re going nuts watching other more able bodied people do things you can’t do, it feels good.

It feels healthy.

I don’t have to take it on faith any longer. There are kids suffering from terrible diseases, chronic pain and suffering, but the worst enemy they face is probably boredom. You can help. This Holiday season send some money, games, or whatever you can to help Get Well Gamers and the Child’s Play Charity.

Gaming helped this “kid at heart” to feel better during what is clearly the worst time in his short life, and it made a GamerDad believe whole-heartedly in gaming as therapy and recuperation. Need a second opinion? Ask Dr. Mario.

Opening photo an actual patient helped by Get Well Gamers! Green logo is from Child’s Play Charities.

Tags: Misc