A Parable of Peggle

Last updated on: March 24, 2009 at 5:14 pm by Richard Clark

A Parable of Peggle 2009-03-24T17:14:38-06:00 Richard Clark

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“But why is something so simple, so addictive? Why have I wasted hours of my life watching a ball bouncing around? These are two questions I will never be able to answer.” – Console Monster’s Review of Peggle for Xbox Live Arcade

“It’s a simple concept that plays on our ability to perceive a sense of control where there is none. Sure, you can aim your initial shot, but after about the first or second bounce, you are at the mercy of the game’s physics. This magic formula, the fine mix of perceived control and chaos is why we have a very profitable Las Vegas. You’ll obtain various power-ups to help put a little more control back in your hands, but at the end of the day, it’s all about how a little ball is going to bounce off a little peg.” – Giant Bomb’s Review of Peggle for Xbox Live Arcade

It wasn’t too long ago when I was a child in the ways of Peggle. I began the Peggle Adventure with little sense of exactly what I was getting into. It seemed simple and easy. All I had to do was shoot the ball at some red pegs and watch as my brilliant choices were rewarded. Unicorns, rainbows, and an Ode to Joy all reinforced the apparently brilliant decisions I had made and showcased the amazing talents I had displayed. I had no worries of anything bad ever happening to me. Every step of the way, there was constant reinforcement. “Peggle,” I thought, “you are the best parent ever.”

As I grew more mature, I began to notice that things did not always go my way. One time I came dangerously close to failing to complete a level. Do you realize what that might mean? It means I might have to try it again! That’s no fun! That’s mundane, repetitive, boring! It’s frustrating! Why would I want to do a thing like that? And another thing that really got me upset was that I had very little control over the outcome of the whole thing. All I could do was make educated choices, trusting in what I had been told by the in-game guide: that more often than not, it works out okay to do the right thing.

But before I knew it, Peggle became less of an adventure and more a series of challenges that seemed specially crafted to at best test my skill and character and at worse make me want to give up on it all. Time after time I would fail, sometimes because of my own stupid choices, and other times because of what seemed like fate playing a cruel practical joke on me. Just when it seemed like finally, everything was going to turn out right, something would happen that would make me want to give up on it all.

Now that I am old and frail in the land of Peggle, I realize that this is very much a cruel and random game. The only thing other than luck and fate that decided this game was being the right person in the right place. Some locations favored unicorns, while others favored crabs. Some favored rabbits and flowers, but none of these locations were equal opportunity. To be successful you had to “be someone.” To be someone you had to work your way up the ladder.

I reflect on those days with a sense of nostalgia. I remember my first success. I can still hear the Ode to Joy blaring as rainbows filled the sky. I remember being happy with the way things were going. And I remember thinking it was all up to me.

Now I know that there’s little I can do after the first or second bounce. If I make a bad first shot, I’ll take the blame. But after that, all I can do is trust that the ball will bounce in all of the right places. Hard work pays off, but sometimes it doesn’t. Deep thought pays off, but sometimes it doesn’t. When those successes do come, I need those out-of-proportion celebrations. I don’t think I could go on without the Ode to Joy, the rainbows, and the fireworks.

And I don’t think I could go on if I didn’t think that the Designer had my best interest in mind when He made this thing. That would just be meaningless.

“There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.” -Ecclesiastes 8:14

Previous Post

March 24, 2009

OnLive, interviewed.

Next Post

March 24, 2009 Making Fun Of Rich Is So Fun

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz