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Why I love my gaming notebooks
PC Gamer’s Philippa Warr argues that handwritten notebooks enrich certain videogames by giving digital play a tactile, personal dimension. Rather than being necessary tools, the notes emerge naturally while solving mysteries, following events or recording matches, preserving the player’s curiosity, concentration and excitement in a physical form.
Warr describes using notebooks for the investigative games Her Story and Return of the Obra Dinn, where keywords, names and connections help manage complex information. She also records esports matches in Dota, League of Legends and Smite, noting player selections, major moments and sketches; although the pages may later be difficult to interpret, she values them as records of the time and thought invested in playing.
In short
- Handwritten notes make digital games feel more tangible.
- Notebooks aid mystery-solving and esports match tracking.
- Their personal, imperfect records are part of the appeal.
Explained simply
Some videogames ask players to piece together clues, follow a complicated story or keep track of events as they happen. In games such as Her Story and Return of the Obra Dinn, players investigate what happened by examining fragments of information and working out how they connect.
Philippa Warr writes about using a paper notebook alongside these games and competitive matches in Dota, League of Legends and Smite. Her notes include names, clues, player choices and sketches, helping her keep track of what she notices and giving her a physical record of playing.
The notebooks are not required to play, and their pages may be hard to understand later. Warr’s point is that writing by hand can make the experience feel more personal and preserve the attention and excitement she brought to it.