The New Toy Theory

Since I was in high school, I have observed a phenomenon I call the New Toy Theory. The simplest example is a child who gets a new toy for Christmas. He will be the happiest ever when he unwraps the present, and it turns out to be something he really wanted. He will play with it all day and probably a few days after that. Sooner or later, his attention wanes to the point where he no longer plays with the toy. He’s moved on to the next shiny new object. My theory suggests that all things eventually succumb to the New Toy Theory.

I’m challenging my own theory with VR ping pong. I’ve been consistently playing VR ping pong since March of 2022, and there are no signs of slowing down. I may take a break for a few days here and there, but I consistently return to the game. In fact, it’s the only game I play on the Meta Quest. I’ve made some friends with whom I play regularly, and when they’re not around, I can usually find some opponents who are similarly matched with my skill level.

All things may succumb to the New Toy Theory, but VR ping pong has outlasted most of my gaming endeavors.