“Games helped us survive through the hardest times, gaming kept us alive through the darkest nights.”
We all have a hobby or interest that provides escapism for us in times of sadness. It might be reading a book, listening to music or taking a trip to the theatre. But rapper and creator Dan Bull is expressing his love for gaming in his recent video, in association with the Gamers Without Borders tournament.
Dan has taken gaming to a whole new level, so let’s dive in and see how it has changed and saved individuals “though the hardest times”.
Here’s something for you to try: how many games you can spot throughout the video? We can “keep score”, just in case.
We are welcomed with pixelated characters and settings from one of the most popular games in the world, Minecraft. We then explore a variety of gaming types like virtual reality, gameboys and classic screenplay.
Dan shows us the escapism gaming gives, and viewers escape with him in this video. We see Dan at the forefront surrounded by luminous lighting, whilst performing his rap with overlays of footage from a variety of games . If you’re a regular gamer or “newbie”, you will most likely recognise one of these worlds or characters! (We aren’t “playing mind games”, promise.)
Lyrically, Dan shows how gaming has changed his life, explaining how it creates opportunities and how he now wants to give enthusiasts “who haven’t spoken up” a voice. Recently there has been hesitation towards the fascination with gaming and its potential, but this video can enable us all to reflect on how this interest has brought people together, built skills and created a virtual world of unity.
The video then concludes with a voiceover from Dan, encouraging viewers to take a look at the Gamers Against Borders website, who are “bringing together gamers against Covid-19” with activities and projects raising money for related charities.
At TenEighty HQ, we have great adoration for Dan’s optimism, and how he is “taking control” in offering a voice for gamers and the community. The song shows great depth into the fictitious escapes gaming provides, and how if you’re out and about or stuck at home, you can escape reality with a gaming fix.
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