U4GM - Heideggerian Being-Toward-POE2-Currency
In the contemporary digital age, gaming currencies have become an essential component of the immersive experiences offered by modern video games. One such currency is the POE2 currency, central to the popular action RPG Path of Exile 2 (POE2). While many discussions around in-game currencies revolve around their economic role or gameplay mechanics, an intriguing philosophical lens to approach this phenomenon is through Martin Heidegger’s concept of “Being-Toward-Death” and how it might relate to the existence of POE2 currency in the player’s world.
Heidegger’s philosophy, particularly his ideas in Being and Time, explores the fundamental concept of "Being" and how human beings (Dasein) are always "Being-toward" something—whether it is toward others, the world, or, most poignantly, death. This framework of understanding existence can be re-imagined in the context of the digital environment in which POE2 currency operates. The virtual currency becomes an integral element that structures the player’s interactions with the game world, much like the way death structures human existence in Heidegger's framework.
In POE2, currency is not just an abstract medium for trading; it is an extension of the player’s being. The acquisition, exchange, and use of POE2 currency can be seen as a "Being-Toward" that shapes the player's interaction with the game world, just as Heidegger suggests that humans are always anticipating and being shaped by their inevitable end. Each coin or trade in Path of Exile 2 becomes an act of navigating toward something that will eventually shape the outcome of the player’s journey, whether through acquiring powerful items or making strategic decisions that alter their fate.
The Path of Exile 2 currency thus embodies a microcosm of the Heideggerian concept. Players may engage in a form of "Being-Toward" through their constant interaction with the currency system, as their decisions and actions in acquiring or spending POE2 currency reflect an existential navigation of value and meaning within the game world. Much like how humans are always projecting themselves toward their future, players of Path of Exile 2 are forever moving through the game toward new objectives, outcomes, and experiences.
Additionally, POE2 currency takes on a dynamic quality that can be perceived as a symbolic manifestation of the human tendency to anticipate and plan for what is ahead. Heidegger argues that people are defined by their possibilities, and for players of Path of Exile 2, the currency is directly linked to those possibilities. Every transaction, every barter, is an extension of the player’s own potentiality—each trade with the in-game market reflecting an action toward some future end or desired effect.
Moreover, just as Heidegger’s concept of Being-Toward-Death calls for an authentic confrontation with our finitude, players of Path of Exile 2 must similarly confront the temporal nature of their currency. The value of POE2 currency fluctuates, often linked to in-game events, market dynamics, or seasonal changes. Players must remain attuned to these shifts, much like how humans must stay aware of the passage of time and the impending reality of death.
In conclusion, by applying Heidegger’s philosophy to the virtual realm of Path of Exile 2 and its currency system, we gain a deeper understanding of how in-game currency is not merely a transactional tool but a significant element shaping the player’s existential journey within the game world. POE2 currency, like all things, is not static; it reflects a Being-Toward in which players are constantly engaged in a dynamic relationship with the ever-changing landscape of the game’s economy. This connection, although digital, mirrors the human experience of Being-toward—a perpetual navigation of choices, values, and potential outcomes within a finite system.