Fighting Games are our gateway to the Ideal World.

Fighting games have gained popularity in recent years due to their unique ability to develop the mind and the body. The fast-paced and strategic nature of these games not only improves players' reflexes and adaptation but also enhances their problem-solving skills and self-expression.

Fighting games, with their reliance on hardware as a spiritual "totem," provide a gateway to an ideal world of forms that can bring us closer to perfection. The unique features of fighting games, and their relationship with hardware make them one of the most interesting and exciting sports.

Plato's Allegory of the Cave provides a theoretical framework for understanding how the shadow game works. According to the allegory, people in a cave only see the shadows of objects on the wall, not the objects themselves. Similarly, the characters in fighting games are just shadows of an ideal world that we cannot see, and the game's hardware serves as a totem that transports players to this world. This "ideal world" is a place where forms exist in their purest state, and fighting games give players the ability to experience and control these forms in real time.

The Shadow Game:

The Shadow Game is a concept that refers to the battle of minds that occurs in fighting games. Unlike traditional physical sports, the Shadow Game is not about the physical body but instead focuses on the interaction between the mind, hardware, and the game's characters. The movement of the game characters is controlled by the players' inputs on the controller, and the interaction between the players and the game's environment is dynamic and constantly changing. The Shadow Game is an ever-occurring motion that is visible to both players and spectators, unlike board games or card games, where the Shadow Game is static and not visible to others.

The Spiritual Totem:

The hardware in fighting games serves as a spiritual totem that transports players to the ideal world of forms. In the same way that a totem connects a person to the spiritual realm, hardware connects players to the digital realm of the game. The hardware is seamlessly linked to the player's mind, and their inputs are processed in real-time, which results in the movement of the game characters on the screen. This link between the player's mind and the hardware is what makes fighting games unique and allows players to experience the Shadow Game.

Fighting games offer a unique and exciting way to experience the battle of minds, where players can engage in the Shadow Game and interact with the ideal world of forms. These games develop the mind and body and improve problem-solving skills, self-expression, realization, and reflexes.

Through the lens of Plato's Allegory of the Cave, fighting games serve as a spiritual totem that connects players to the ideal world of forms, and the hardware serves as a gateway to this world. The Shadow Game is an ever-occurring motion that is visible to both players and spectators, making it a unique and exciting form of game.

Rather than being viewed as a waste of time, fighting games should be appreciated for their ability to bring us closer to perfection.