What is Gaming??

I often find myself having to ask this question, whether it be due to a need to explain my passion to the non-believers, in my disgust at its mistreatment in the media, or as a means to determine its future.

Gaming can be viewed as many things - a hobby, a toy, a sport, an art form(!) or just an entertainment fad that will eventually dissipate.

The word "hobby" throws images into my mind of stamp albums, pruning shears and ships in bottles. Gaming is a pass time-yes, but I cant help feelits more than that also - the revenue generated by the industry alone gives it much greater gravity than most other "leisure activities".

A sport perhaps? Games tournaments mightn't make it into the tabloids but with the event of online gaming it has become a serious pursuit. There have been Quake Tournaments with tens of thousands of dollars up for grabs! But for me games aren't just about competition, we dont lust to conquer a game so we can say we have done, but to enjoy the creativity and talent put into the game.

So is a game a form of expression then (ie art)? Art is the communication of an emotion, the emotions experienced whilst holding your joypad are mainly subjective ones which dont call for us to reflect or empathise with the thought put into the game.

Perhaps I'm looking too deep into it all and definitions are pointless, but if the next generation of gamers are as passionate as the first and it cant be labelled a fad then gaming may find its place in society and wont have to be pigeon holed by existing terminology.