12 Ways Video Games Warped Our View Of The World

When I was a kid, I couldn't wait for school to end so I could play video games. From the glorious chaos of the arcades to the immersive journeys I took on at home, I was always completely hooked on the different worlds I found myself in.

I still play today, but it's a different feeling than the all-consuming sense of wonder I had back then. When I wasn't playing them, I would sometimes feel my imagination drifting me away to games that didn't exist. This especially flared up when I saw a building or a statue that seemed right at home in Mega Man or Crash Bandicoot.Suddenly, my mind was miles away.

To my surprise, it turns out I wasn't the only one who thought that way. As these 12 photos show, my fellow netizens were just as enraptured as I was and saw some big opportunities for game settings in real life.

COMMENT and let us know where you've been that reminded you of a video game level.

1. I'm sure this scene went through kids' minds a lot back in the early '80s.

With every fire escape or design choice came a new obstacle for Mario to overcome.

2. When a game really draws you in, it's not hard to filter the rest of the world through its lens.

I guess I haven't played enough Skyrim to assign random stats to my clothes, but I'm sure I would have if it came out when I was younger.

3. Of course, it's easy to get confused with how realistic games look nowadays.

At least, that's apparently what happened to this Danish news network when they used footage from Assassin's Creed for a report on real-life Syria.

4. Whenever I see a beat-up car now, this is what I'm going to imagine happened to it.

We never really found out whose car we were beating up during those bonus stages, did we?

It's easy to see this one from a gamer's perspective, but it's hard to understand this next picture.

5. It's like someone actually designed this building like a Tony Hawk game.

Apparently an artist remodeled the front of an abandoned building to droop like this. He didn't say he was inspired by the skate-friendly architecture in those games, but I'd be surprised if it never crossed his mind.

6. Of course, it's hard to have a game without a final boss.

Funnily enough, there is actually a boss in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword that looks a lot like this.

7. The way this photo is laid out makes it look more like a level design than a real place.

That's probably because this Ukrainian steel plant is usually busier. This photo came right after a major protest ended, so this eerie emptiness was left hanging in the air.

8. This real-life game of Angry Birds takes me back to a particular time.

Whenever my friends and I were told to turn the games off and go outside, we pretty much just continued the game in real life like this.

While we're on the subject, this next one should look familiar to anyone who had to play with their younger siblings.

9. This is what happens when you just hit random buttons and hope for the best.

If you can win against an experienced player by doing this, it's usually not the mark of a good fighting game.

10. Of course, sometimes video games can inspire some creative real-life solutions.

Why go with a standard Christmas tree when you can think with portals?

11. However, they can also inspire some truly terrible ideas.

A man in South Carolina (not pictured) found this out the hard way when he decided to play a real-life game of Frogger with his friends. He apparently shouted "go" before running into the street and being hit by an SUV.

This earned him a trip to the hospital. As far as we can tell, he turned out fine, but hopefully that's the last time he tries something like that.

12. This shadow looks like the map hasn't finished loading.

Either that or it's time to adjust your settings.

Don't forget to COMMENT and tell us what crazy adventures your favorite games led you on.