IF you've shopped, been on social media or opened your eyes lately, you won't have missed the launch of a certain football video game.

Even if you've been that lucky, an over-excited eight to 38-year-old has probably begged you for a copy. There could even be an older version in your house somewhere – perhaps with Paolo Di Canio on the box.

It is strange though how this digital world slowly seeps into our reality.

Just look at the Town player's Twitter timelines - they play it before and after training, like the rest of us going home after the nine-to-five and blasting through The Adventures of Captain Bic and the Soul-Sucking Paperwork 2.

But how much do they believe what they play?

This week Jordan Turnbull tweeted a picture of his own in-game ratings.

Manchester United's Darren Fletcher even complained of his kids saying he isn't the player he used to be, because of his declining ranking in the game.

Well, would you start to question yourself if some number-cruncher made you tackle like a blancmange and gave you hair three months out of date?

Except that we all rate and rank players constantly.

We make snap judgements and have our heads turned by the wrong details – such as Jon Obika's previous goal record - because we can't watch every player on the pitch.

We all look for the easy story. For example, this week Nathan Byrne has been lauded because he scored but, in reality, his best performances have been elsewhere.

At the moment, how Swindon's play looks more like a beautiful video game – all pinged passes and high scores.

But our eyes tell us there is no way that the players who pull off Cruyff turns in the midfield or double dragbacks by the corner flag should be rated at 55 out of 100.

They can do anything with a ball you can, with a pixel-high Lionel Messi and your right thumb.

Skill, speed, goals: It's all in this game, and so far this season, real football has been better than any fantasy.