Brontosaurus vs. 2,000 Men

As the days of my freshman year of college quickly dwindle down, I can't help but think about how much I'm going to miss my friends. Sure, they're ridiculous, and yes, they frustrate me more than normal because of the inordinate amount of time we spend with each other, but really, I can't imagine being around better people. 

More than anything else, playing games with them will remain prominent in my memory. Sadly, most of them are ruthless strategy savants, out to make me feel terrible about my gaming skill, but luckily, there are games at which I destroy and thus retain my status as acceptable girl. A few months ago, we were playing games at a bubble tea shop when we stared to play Guesstures. I had  never played before, but have always loved charades, so I was delighted by its fast-paced and hilarious gameplay. I'll never forget flailing my arms around for a brief moment, sure that no one would guess my impossible noun, only to have my friend Ben shout triumphantly "AIR!" Never was a high five of more epic proportions exchanged. For me, it wasn't the actual game that was fun, but making my friends laugh, and spending time with them in a non-competitive atmosphere. Sometimes it gets a little wearing to be around my friends, because it seems that everything turns in to a competition. Even during dinner, we'll be having a pleasant conversation, and someone will introduce a topic that creates an argument explosion. "Okay guys: 2,000 naked men vs. a brontosaurus. Who wins?!" Suddenly we're tripping over each other's sentences: "But brontosauruses are peaceful! I don't want to kill them!" "Oh definitely humans, we out number the brontosaurus by far!" "DUDE. IT'S A DINOSAUR. IT WINS." And while I must admit that I always find these conversations to be hilarious and occasionally, informative, I often tire of the fact that conversations have even become games. 

So why, then, do I like to play games like Guesstures with my friends? My friends let their guards down in casual games. Their battle masks come off and they are nothing but genuinely kind, and rather than try and destroy each other, they help each other towards the common goal of making the game experience as fun as possible. Casual games, lately, have become my favorite way to let off steam. As much as I enjoy the hardcore strategy game, I'm realizing more and more that the most important aspect of gameplay to me is relaxation.