The Bottom Line

On April 22, 1970, the first ever Earth day was held. So what exactly does a day dedicated to environmental activism have to do with video games? It isn't necessarily the games, but the people who play them that have a connection to the 22nd. Therefore, I have some suggestions for those gamers who are really interested in playing

First, truly make an attempt to stop playing RPGs. If you absolutely cannot afford to not play an RPG for one day, at least make an attempt to play outside. The Dungeons and Dragons experience can be just as exciting outside of your mother's basement. If you are prone to outside skin irritations such as "grass itch" then I recommend getting a nice anti-itch cream with +5 to vitality.

Another way for the gamer to truly embrace the outdoors on Earth Day is to invest in handheld gaming systems. Why be stuck in front of your television or your computer monitor when you can walk outside and sit under a tree while playing your favorite Nintendo DS, PSP, or GameBoy game? You don't have to actually give up gaming for a day, but at least make an attempt to show people that you can survive outside of a virtual realm.

Last but not least, if you absolutely can not go outside on a beautiful April day, I have some game choices that may help clear your troubled conscience. The first game is the forever popular Harvest Moon series. I mean, how can you hate a game that lets you be a farmer? Never before have gamers been so mesmerized by a farming simulation! Get out there and show the world that you don't need genetically engineered crops to make a living.

Then again, let's say you're the kind of gamer who wants to take a stand against the evil polluters of our planet. If that is the case then you should probably attempt to find a copy of Captain Planet for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Join the Planeteers as you battle your way through five thrilling levels "because saving our planet is the thing to do!" You could always cheat and watch the episodes your mother taped for you when you were a kid, but a true gamer would take virtual action!

My final recommendation is to find an environmentally aware SimCity spin-off. You could take a more direct approach and get SimEarth in which you control the development of Earth. Keep it clean and safe all the way until the Sun becomes a red giant and destroys all life as we know it. If the idea of protecting the planet up until its inevitable destruction is too dramatic for you, then maybe you could try saving the rain forest in SimIsle, providing a nice clean park for people in SimPark, or just taking out your trash in The Sims. I wonder if Maxis donates money to the Green Party.

Okay, so gamers don't always make for the best environmentalists. It isn't our fault that we are just too preoccupied sometimes. Be that as it may, we should still do our part in preserving our environment because the rest of the world is too noobish to do it without us. GG.

Article Tools