By Linette Marte

I’m considered a wildcard in my Bronx family: unpredictable and the odd one out, for better or worse. One thing that truly enhanced that role was my deep passion for all things video games. Games shaped many aspects of my life, including this very essay that I’m writing right now, in my bed on a cold night.

When I was younger, I fell in love with video games, and it all started with Pokémon, right when the X and Y games were about to get released. I saw cool, incredible creatures in the commercials on my TV screen, and I knew I had to get these games. I begged my mom for a 3DS and both games. She was a bit hesitant, but eventually gave in, and that’s where my love for gaming truly began. Soon, I would play any game as long as it had something I liked, everything from Nintendogs to Monster Hunter. I didn’t discriminate.

Of course, this passion didn’t come without judgement from others, especially my mom. Playing video games made me look more “masculine” in her eyes. Honestly, I didn’t mind much. But to my family, it was important that I represented myself clearly as a girl. Video games didn’t help with that image, as they were often seen as a more male-centered form of media. What I thought was fun and exciting was viewed as weird and unfeminine by others. There was even a time where I was called old-school for liking Pokémon! Despite all of this negativity, I’m glad my younger self was able to push past it and continue the desire I still have today. In addition, according to Jill Williford in the article “What We Know About Girls Who Play Video Games,” 46 percent of players worldwide are female, meaning I’m not alone in being a girl who plays video games.

As I grew older, my love for gaming never faded, but I had less and less time to truly enjoy the experience. With harder school classes and increasing pressure from my parents to get high grades, gaming had to take a backseat in my life. Thankfully, later on my mom realized how important video games were to me, and she laid off her strictness a bit. But there were times when I would go weeks without playing any games, and I would feel awful about it. After all, the worlds in video games are like my second home. I was transported to a new world each time, and grew so attached to them. 

Thankfully, that didn’t last long. As I moved on into the later years of middle school, I met several people, including a teacher who would once again spark my passion for gaming. 

Mr. Scaringi, my teacher from middle school CMSP 327, was a huge Pokémon fan, something that I never saw in anyone before. I thought I was the only person who had an interest in gaming, but it turns out I wasn’t alone. We would talk during lunch about the different games coming out, our favorite Pokémon, our favorite games, and more! It was an entirely new experience for me, and it helped me realize that video games really can bring people together, regardless of age and gender.

From that point on, it was full speed ahead for my gaming hobby. I was playing so many genres of games I haven’t tried before, like farming with Stardew Valley and scares with indie horror with Bendy and the Ink Machine. I stopped caring about how I would be perceived. If people weren’t a fan of what I played or who I was, they didn’t have to interact because I was doing one of the things I enjoyed most in life. 

I still balanced video gaming with my school life and social life. I didn’t let my grades slip too far, and I always managed to find a way to play almost daily. Whether it be by finishing my work in school, or sweeping the house for the fifth time in a week so my mom could finally be pleased, I’ll always end up back at my PC with my gaming chair and headphones, hacking away at whatever new game I found. 

This of course brought many video game characters that I obsess over. For example, I love “The Snatcher” from the 3D platformer, A Hat in Time. I’ve always had a fondness for “evil” or misunderstood characters who actually have a backstory that supports their motives. Another character I enjoy is Jimmy Hall from the survival horror game, At Dead of Night. Learning about him and how he was actually being controlled the whole game was very interesting. The game itself was also unique with how you actually play and move around. It’s uncommon to see a live-action graphics game, and that’s why I like it so much!

Last month, I found out about an awards show from my friend Khloe Wilkerson, who you may recognize as a Critics Circle intern and a presenter at the New York Game Awards. She was able to invite a plus one to the show, so I immediately agreed. At first, I thought it would just be a simple event. I’d make a good impression, and keep it casual. But when she mentioned that her boss and other big names would be there, I realized this was a much bigger deal. 

I dressed up my best, and we met up beforehand. Coincidentally, we ended up wearing matching outfits. When we first walked into the venue, it was packed with people. To my surprise, the event was Pokémon-themed, so you best believe I was ecstatic. I followed Khloe around the entire time, hyping her up for the speech she eventually gave during the ceremony. After a while, I finally met her mentor, New York Game Awards founder Harold Goldberg. 

The experience was unforgettable. Khloe’s colleagues were incredibly welcoming to everyone and supportive, making the night even better. Eventually, we took our seats, and the show went on with Awards winners and musicians until it came to an end. It was such an honor meeting so many impactful people, like former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé. I’m so grateful that I stepped outside of my comfort zone, because now I’ve met so many wonderful human beings. Video games as a whole have allowed me to end up in this position, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Writer Linette Marte is a Bronx native who attends the Jonas Bronck Academy

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