Even though I’m pretty anti-video games, I think that studying video games is actually a very fascinating way to understand humanity. For example, when you think about the initial grand theft auto and World of Warcraft, what is it that people love the most? The open world concept. That you could go anywhere, do anything, and unlock any and every single door.

And what is it that we want from crypto technologies? We also like the idea of getting rid of borders, and restrictions. Even notions of “decentralized finance“, is more about having open borders when it comes to the movement of money or resources.

Is real life open world?

So the trillion dollar question is this: is embodied reality, what we often refer as “the real world“, truly open world?

Having a car is Useful

So the first thought is this: having a car is useful to some extent. Why? You could traverse further distances and go to more places than just walking alone. but the question is where do you want to go, and why?

Many people desire to go to natural places, whether it be national parks, green spaces, or places where you can go hiking or camping. and why is it that we like natural environment? I think we like to hike because it stimulates our nerves and muscles, which bring us physiological joy, also seeing much verdant green areas is visually refreshing to us, and is a good visual detox from the city.

What is the point for us humans to permanently live outdoors, in wild forest areas? I think not. I like the idea that we could barbell it: spend some of our time in the extremely urban city, where we get joy from other human beings and society, and sometimes going to the forest the green areas, in order to recharge ourselves.

In simple words, the best life is the life in which you get both nature and the city.

I think a lot of people just want to buy a lot of stuff

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The mall is an interesting place to meet, because in theory, you can enter any single store you want. It does not cost money to enter a store, no matter how luxurious or expensive it is. The only thing that might hold people back is intimidation.

That is one reason I like going to the mall, because I like to look at all the new products, product design, and I like to look at all the people. If you live in Southern California, there is a greater density of people at the mall than outdoors. so if you want to do street photography, or go people watching, the mall is actually quite good.

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Perhaps we just want more movement and novelty

Another thing about video games is that we like exploration. We like going to new levels, because everything is new and unexpected. Perhaps this is also why we love traveling, because we like being exposed to new informed things and places. Thus perhaps there is an innate desire for us to seek the new, the unexpected, and the unexplored. And this is perhaps only possible with an open world concept.

I would never buy an RV, or one of those strange hippie mobile tiny homes

One of the new trends is for people who desire to live off the grid, and buy one of those tiny homes, which are portable and movable, or getting RVs, and getting rid of their house. while I never personally desire to own my own home, having to own another new some thing is also a ball and chain. Because I love traveling so much and living nomadically, what do I do with my RV if I suddenly want to travel to Cambodia or Vietnam?

Ironically this is the great seduction of consumerism: you think you could purchase your freedom.