<p>Wow. You are all over the place here. A few of your thoughts are confusing to me such as, “movies are just too one-sided, as in it’s essentially only MY creative output” but you also say you like making video games. So, you make both?</p>
<p>Let me try to figure this out…basically you are tring to weigh the options between two careers:</p>
<p>Film…
- Limited audience because most people do not watch documentaries.
- Impact only lasts a few weeks.
- You love movie-making, especially because the process and work environment are active and stimulating.
- Movies are no longer as relevant because they are “old”.
- Films are stuck because they only tell stories and documentary formats.</p>
<p>Video games…
- Interactive - people participate in the outcome
- Interactive games are better equipped to solve problems.
- Interactive games are newer, more relevant, and can have long-lasting impact.</p>
<p>Whew! Hmmm…where do I begin? </p>
<p>Your thoughts - and I do not agree with all of them - are your own, so I am not going to change your mind - nor do I want to - but it sounds like you are trying very hard to convince yourself not to go into film making. You certainly feel much more strongly - passionately - about video games. </p>
<p>I don’t know much about the process of designing and creating a game, but I cannot imagine it is only a desk job where you are stuck in a cubicle. I imagine there would be many discussions between many people. For World of Warcraft for example you have people involved in lore - story telling, mechanics, economy, social theory, programming, world design, character development, interaction, etc. So, the process might be at least intellectually stimulating - especially if you are passionate about the outcome.</p>
<p>Are you active otherwise? Your entire life need not be tied to a desk. Hopefully you can be more physically active outside of the work environment. For example, I used to play Ultimate Frisbee after work twice a week, + weekend activities. </p>
<p>The advantage of film is that it still reaches a broader audience, whether at the theater or in the home. While you say video games are new, “story telling” has been a tradition that has lasted for centuries from the spoken word, to the printed word, to the movie screen and television. Not all people want to participate in the event. Many people like immersing themselves passively. </p>
<p>Films can have a long-lasting effect upon people. In my case, Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” or “Crash” by Paul Haggis, for example. Micheal Moore’s films have also reached a broad audience. Some people thought “Borat” opened eyes. And I cannot forget “Platoon” either which cause me to take a deeper interest in the Vietnam War. As a result I have watched many documentaries - such as “Hearts and Minds” and “The Fog of War” in order to learn more about this country’s history. </p>
<p>I can’t really say that video games have changed my mind about anything, from Myst to World of Warcraft. For a while I was curious about what I might gain from deep immersion in an MMORPG and bring back to real life, but in the end I concluded that it was very little - although I did enjoy the game for entertainment. I did like the physical aspects of playing tennis on the Wii, but it also seems sad to me that I wasn’t outside playing real tennis to stay in shape. It was fun, but also a poor substitute. I doubt I burned a fraction of the calories on the Wii. Outside of a few titles on the Wii, most games involve sitting in a chair. </p>
<p>My knee jerk reaction is that it sound like your heart is in making interactive games. Go for it. Your passion will keep you active, motivated, and help you achieve your goals.</p>