Joanna Smith

SLM 521

Elective – Online Games

No wonder these games are so addictive! I found myself staring blankly at the screen, engrossed by a glorified game of Tetris. Childhood memories come flooding back….

Not much of a card shark myself, I elected to peruse the games on Yahoo and found myself inclined to play the more subdued games which require more luck than skill. I ended up playing Diamond Mine because my fiance (an online game hound who has been contemplated leaving me for an online Texas Hold ‘Em tournament) suggested that I try it. Three hours and four beers later, here I am, a bit blurry, a bit numb, and anxious to get back online.

Diamond Mine is a Tetris-like game in which one must move images in order to line up at least three in a row either vertically or horizontally. Yellow triangles, red and green squares, diamonds, and white circles flood the screen and one can only make moves that will actually create a line of three. There is no shifting of images just to scoot them across the screen. As soon as three images are lined up, they disappear, points are awarded and the column of shapes drops down. Simple, yet so appealing. I like the idea that I play against myself and not another faceless, lifeless person who prefers the touch of a mouse to the cuddle of his significant other.

Being the fiance of an avid online gamer, I can absolutely see the addictive behavior. My significant other is completely engrossed with all versions of poker. He will sit for hours playing against other anonymous addicts. While this is all fun and games, he and I both know that some of the more dangerous sites allow for the gambling of real money. Our friend is a "member" of one of these sites and has sent his credit card number to a game master who charges and deposits money into his account. I do not trust this, nor does my fiance, thankfully! A trip to Atlantic City or Vegas is one thing; a gambling mecca in the living room is a whole other ballgame.