As a kid, I loved pretending to live in other people's empty houses. Everything was already in place: the foundation, the furniture, and maybe a treasure chest or two. All it needed was for someone to come along and make it into a home. Saving the world from a cosmic evil or a giant space parasite can take its toll on a child. When that burden became too heavy, I would zip to the nearest town and find someplace quiet to hole up for a few days. Oh, and don't worry - this all took place inside the imaginative realm of video games.
Reflecting on it now, I think the fun I got out of doing imaginary chores with my virtual characters stemmed from the same place as pillow forts or tree houses. It's the fantasy of independence, the act of pretending you're old enough to do what you want, when you want, especially if that means eating a whole tub of ice cream and staying up past 11 PM. Within the realm of video games, I had complete control over the lives of my little avatars, so it felt natural to have them act out my own day-to-day fantasies. Because that's what we all want as kids: to be older, and to have more control over our own lives.
