Life lessons, learned via video games.

Have you ever played a game, and felt that it taught you an important lesson? Maybe... but I'm betting you've never thought about it that way. Well in this post I call attention to some quotes that stick out to me as good lessons learned via Video Games!

“Thank you, Mario! -- But our Princess is in another castle!” Toad, Super Mario Bros.

Growing up there tends to be this transition from Disney movies to video games. For a lot of us, video games started with Super Mario Bros, which was exciting because this time we get to save the Princess ourselves!

Our first quote, however, goes against everything Disney has been brainwashing us to believe. In the Disney world, you sing some songs, and then BAM!! The princess wins! It’s happy, and heartwarming…

With Mario’s struggle we experience reality… From your place in the eternal friend zone, you have to avoid crazy Goombas while finding the pipes without piranhas waiting to snack you up! Through Mario we learn that not every ending is sunshine and roses! We've worked hard, avoiding the ball in chains and dealing with Bowser, only to be told that there is more work to be done! When you finally get to the Princess, if you managed to, then you truly understand the values of hard work and perseverance!

"You have died of dysentery” (Oregon Trail)

Oregon Trail taught us many things. The most important thing we learned was to start off with a decent amount of rations, bullets and some extra clothes to trade the Indians! Oh, and not to go at a grueling pace when there’s a blizzard. Some of you may think: “Duh! that’s common sense”, but it’s time to face the facts! We've all seen the headstones! There’s always a Banker trying to head west. Typically, broke down on the side of the trail, because they were too tight to buy adequate wagon wheels and you know they aren't skilled enough to fix it themselves! They’re stuck there, eating contaminated rations until their insides turn out… that’s dysentery. That’s how it gets ya! You only die of dysentery if you’re being a fool, and that’s what we've learned here! Don’t be a greedy, unreasonable fool and you won’t die of dysentery.

“We stand upon the precipice of change. The world fears the inevitable plummet into the abyss. Watch for that moment… and when it comes, do not hesitate to leap. It is only when you fall that you learn whether you can fly.” Flemeth, Dragon Age 2

First I have to point out that Flemeth, aka Asha’bellanar, is a true bad ass. Just putting that out there. This quote is important because our world is always on the precipice of change. A lot of people ( I’m not pointing fingers!) DO fear the inevitable, be it a plummet into the abyss, or that dish in the back of your fridge with the questionable contents.

Uncomfortable situations aren’t fun, so some of us put them off as long as possible. Then, while we’re putting it off, we’re worrying about what will happen when it catches up to us. Here, our friendly Witch of the Wilds is telling us is to face those fears head on! Stop living in fear and jump into the fray with a proactive attitude. Chances are you’ll fly, because most people do… or you throw away the dish, and hope no one notices it in the trashcan.

That’s how the Witch of the Wilds lives her life. Of course, she’s a dragon so when she jumps into the fray she can either turn her enemies into a crispy snack, or fly away… Regardless, don’t wait for the feared meeting/object/person come to you! Meet it head on, and rise above!

“Nothing is true, everything is permitted.” - The Assassin’s Creed Maxim

Originally this quote was taken from Alamut, a novel written in 1938 by Vladimir Bartol. The novel was about a prophet who attempts to take over a region with the help of a handful of elite assassins, sound familiar? Much like the game, the maxim of the book was: “Nothing is an absolute reality, all is permitted.”

Here’s the quick sitch: After being lied to, assassin Ibn Tahir is given the truth of the story: His mentor, Hassan has convinced people to give up their lives, because he has the power to make sure they have a beautiful afterlife in heaven. The reality is that Hassan doesn't have that power, he’s just using it to control people so he can get revenge on a dude that pissed him off back in the day. So, Ibn rages out and goes back to Alamut to kill Hassan.

Hassan tells Ibn Tahir that he has always lived by the maxim: nothing is true, everything is permitted. Then he sends Ibn Tahir out into the world a little wiser. He wants Ibn Tahir to know that no matter who he is talking to, be it a high ranking political person, law enforcement, whatever: There’s a possibility they aren't as good/bad as they claim to be. Question everything, because nothing is true! Where he says everything is permitted, everything is! Freedom with a caveat: what is YOUR limit. What can you do and still sleep at night?

In Assassins Creed: Revelations, Ezio tells us that the maxim is an observation. To him, the maxim’s statement “Nothing is true” means society is fragile and he believes we must be shepherds of our civilization, watching after it to help it survive. When the maxim says “everything is permitted” it means that we’re in control of our actions, and have to live with them… good or bad.

The book and the game both teach a similar lesson, and I guess that lesson could have a different meaning, depending on how you understand it. For me, it simply means: Be cautious, and live honorably.

I have a feeling that this will be a reoccurring theme on my blog, as I imagine there will be many more quotes I will remember after this is posted. What’s your favorite game quote? I’m interested, so let me know!