Well, due to a technical error last week I wasn't able to go into the idea of Oblivion as much as I wanted to. So, to continue.

Why do people play computer and video games? The main market seems to be for entertainment, but where did that idea come from? I have always found it ironic that people who say that books are boring compared to real life play computer games as much as book-a-holics read. Yes, they can be a method of escapism, a way to lose onself in a game and pretend it's real. But they're more than that. As I mentioned last time, my friend uses Oblivion as inspiration for stories. When I play The Return on the King (badly) I do so because it's a way to interact with my favorite book. Avators has pointed out that interactive computer games like Oblivion give the player the power to explore. There is no pressure of being made to keep to a limited game objective. While the game does have a main plot for anyone who wants to play, there is also the option of finding a profession(s) and simply living. The freedom of this choice, combined with the great graphics seem to be the main attraction of that game. I admit, I have never seen the appeal to shoot-em-up games and don't have the knowledge to comment on those. However, it seems clear to me that digital games serve whatever purpose the user wants them to, much as books do, or television. The ecclectic subjects and worlds allow for anyone to find something they can enjoy. In the end, is it really quantity that matters?