I decide to fight the rumors and play. I knew I was not a habitual game player, so the fear of an addictive game sounded silly to me. After all, if one wants to stop playing, that's all that is needed to stop; the desire. It may have been two months ago, that my quick decision to start playing was made.
I have been stuck on Level 110 for over thirty days. What I mean by "stuck" is unable to proceed. Unable to go forward. Unable to beat this damn level. Now, I hope I don't come across as an angry person. I am far from that. What I am..is..extremely frustrated.
This game, known to so many, as Candy Crush has invaded my sleep. Instead of sheep, I count candy drops. I count reds and yellows and greens. They fly across my sleepless mind and keep me awake. Tossing and turning, I know that if I try just one more time, I will beat that anathema of a game. Certainly, man can outsmart a silly video game!! I cannot sleep.
I get up and head for the kitchen. My mouth needs something sweet. I open the cabinet and raid my grandchildren's supply of M&M's. I sit with my laptop at the kitchen table. Glancing at the clock, I realize, its insane to play at 3:40 am. But I must. There is a driving force, maniacally directing me to the Candy Crush Saga.
It might be its creepy music. I have tried turning off the music..thinking that the weird chords were keeping me from playing well. Then, I turn the sound back on..because I hate it, and yet, I find it irresistable. The candies that fold and disappear excite me. The tiny bombs make my adrenalin rise. Five, four, three, two, one...You have failed. I shake my head. I try again. The game knows that I will try again. It knows, I tell you. It has a mind of its own!
It draws me. It defeats me, each time and yet, I refuse to be manipulated by its suggestions of "buy another life," or "buy teeth or hands that wipe away several rows and make it possible for you to win!!!!!!!!!" I will NOT buy anything.
I continue, like a starving child, who has given up candy for Lent, hoping to devour the rows of black licorice, green hard candies, and strawberry jellies. But I am not alone in my quest. I see that my friends have been STUCK for days, also. Their scores appear on my screen. This makes me crazier. I need to succeed. I need to taste VICTORY!!
What am I doing? I question myself. Looking at the clock, I try to decide whether I should return to bed or just wait for the sun to rise in half an hour? I am not addicted. I am now one with the game. The multi-colored candies have swallowed me up and I am "SWEET". Geeze..I love this game. I hate this game. I have become the game. Peace.
