Why's everyone so obsessed with gaming?

because it is fun
and my coding skills are minimal

 

Gaming to me is a good way of releasing pent up stress or emotions, lets face it I can't drive at 150mph down the street in real life or run over someone without a second thought or come back multiple times after being shot or blown up (BF2 ).

All of this and countless more things are possible because of gaming, to me it is not only entertainment but a way to escape the monotonous reality of life even if for just a moment!

 

i wouldnt want to do programming or stuff like that. I like playing games and having fun cos im a big kid!

 

Nihil humanum mihi alienum est.

[Edit: that dictum means "nothing human is foreign to me". It can be found in latin in multiple variations including Terence's famous
"Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto", "I am human, nothing human is foreign to me."]

That latin dictum above sounds good in theory but why not take advantage of the technology we have to simulate situations that enable us to explore facets of humanity what we would not otherwise be able to explore? What does it mean to be a killer? Not something I'd want to do in real life but if a computer allows me to play that role, why not? What does it mean to be a hero? Again, I'm not a hero in real life but a computer can give me the chance to simulate it. What does it mean to be a soldier in a war? Same thing.

In my view, we largely get out of a game what we put into it. There's a saying that J. Michael Straczynski used to quote: "A book is like a mirror. If an ass peers in, you can't exactly expect an apostle to peer out." I would extend that to games. Games are like a mirror. If an ass peers in, you can't exactly expect an apostle to peer out. Now, I'm sure JMS would agree that not all mirrors are equally good at reflecting and not all books are equally good food for thought. I also admit that not all games are equally good at prompting us to reflect.

Still, if a game is just an escape or a waste of time depends to a significant degree to who plays that darn game. You can play HL2 with the mind set of just blowing monsters away or with more depth. Are the Combines human? If not, at which point did they cease to be human? What does it mean to be human? What about the Vortigaunts? They are clearly not human but they are allies. Does "being human" matter at all then? Do headcrabs have a mind? What goes on in their little minds?

 

Half Life 2 is like reading the book Nineteen Eighty-Four, except with loads of action.

 

Why would I be programming or image editing?

This reminds me of the Apple commercials trying to tell people that the "fun" stuff on the Mac is image editing and all you can do on a PC are spreadsheets.

Seriously, like many others have said the purpose of games is to entertain. It something people do for fun, to pass time.
A computer isn't just used for work you know. You make it sound like gaming is bad, and not everyone is obsessed with it. It's a good in moderation.

 

hahah i game once in a while (like a few hours every month ) and i find it quite fun....but id rather be hanging out/ or chatting with my freinds than anything else and as for programming and image editing......now thats a waste imo

 

I love games... ^_^... every people have not same opinion,
Games is games
Business is business
Work is work
U cant mix all ...


Thank u

 

I play videogames because I grew up with them and it's a kick, just like it's a kick to skate or watch movies. Then again, I'm not really a fan of games that lack either a historical perspective or an intricate and thought-provoking storyline that's past the usual 'bad guys / good guys, kidnapped / rescue free world rainbow six kill the terrorists who are threatening an american foothold in the steaming alien-infested jungles of south america / dimension Q' thing. I'm not gonna fool myself and try to equate the social interaction of a vdieogame, however complex, with the social interaction that one gets from 'real life', and it kind of worries me to see people comparing HL2 to 1984.. on the other hand, people _know_ that books (1984 as an example) are almost always the influences and inspiration for their media counterparts, either directly or indirectly.

The whole programming / image editing / whatever thing is not really relevant.. if I had to choose one 'side', it would obviously be everything non-game related; wikipedia, openoffice, photoshop, music stuff. But jeez, I would probably miss Baldur's Gate!

 

Agree with this guy.

Games are just another way to spend leisure time.

My GF spends her leisure time watching Grey's Anatomy, I play games.
(You take your poison Ill take mine )

Programming seems like a work related activity to me, and therefore you cant compare it.

 

Haha - mine too. She watches McDreamy while I kill wolves in the LoTRO old forrest...

Petrov.

 

People game for the folllowing reasons:

1) They are not impressed with their mundane lives.

2) They are constantly PO'd, using it as an outlet of frustration.

3) They have nothing worthwhile to do.

4) All of the above.

So in a manner of speaking, yes, I agree with you. People are better off programming and image editing. That should only be the case if it's beneficial for their chosen profession however. For example, what good is programming for an English teacher? Absolutely nothing.

 

The same could be said about pretty much every form of non-productive entertainment ever. The fact is, we play games to be entertained. Entertainment is a vital part of living. I game. I game a lot actually. Does this mean I have a mundane life? I don't think so. I'm only 23 and I've spent 4 awesome years in the United States Marine Corps. I've traveled all over the country as a contractor for the Navy. I live in an area with some of the best skiing (and outdoor recreation in general) in the country, and I take advantage of that a lot. I work and play with some truly amazing people. So no, I don't think I have a mundane life. Am I "PO'd constantly"? Would you be with all those things? No, I'm not. Do I have other worthwhile things to do? Sure. I'm in the early stages of learning a new job. I'm looking for a new place to live, and having just moved to the area, I need to jump-start my social life all over again.

You know what, though? Sometimes I need to stop, sit in front of a computer, and simply enjoy myself. I don't have to be doing something productive %100 of the time. Some people feel that way, I do not. In fact, if I go at it all the time, I tend to burn out after a while. Most people do. So really, entertainment is an absolute necessity for most people. The form that entertainment comes in is completely up to the person. Some people watch TV. Some people read books. Some people work on their car. Some people go for a run.

I play computer games.

 

Hey Kenny, Welcome to the forum! You must have snuck in when I was bugging Ron about the Robson Technology

Very cool to see another friendly PowerNotebooks.com representative helping out and contributing on the forums!

Anyways, I agree with you, it's an outlet to keep life from becoming to autonomous. There have actually been many major studies showing that older folks whom play games (even non computer games) tend to keep their minds sharper then those whom don't. Games are interesting because they can be designed in a way to challenge both the creative and pragmatic side of your brain.

Just to toss in some fun.. how about working on your car while using your wireless connection to get help with your repairs from under the hood? All at the same time while having the Chilton's repair manual beside you! Just need to toss in a portable TV and I hit all your outlets at once!

 

You jest, but you would be surprised at how many times I've actually done that

Thanks for the warm welcome.

 

Actually I was thinking of my experience last year restoring a 1987 Toyota Van LE, where I had my notebook for help from some forum volunteers, as well as some assembly information PDF's on one side of me, and my chilton's on the other.

 

Ok, I can do you one better.

I was working on my car a few years ago. I had both my Chilton's and a friends laptop ( I only had a desktop at the time). I was using the laptop to read some instructions I pulled from the web. I then had to run up a flight of stairs every 15 minutes to check my desktop computer. I had to make sure my corporation in Eve-Online wasn't leaving for a raid without me. (For those that don't know, Eve is an MMO with some intense PVP elements, and guilds in it are called corporations.)

So yes, I've ran, read, played games, and worked on my car all at the same time. Now that I think about it, my roomate was watching TV while I was doing this, and I would stop for a second and watch it before running back outside. Multi-tasking is fun!

You know, I really didn't pick all those forms of entertainment just on the off chance I could say this, that's kind of weird.

 

"Hey PC, can't you play games in Windows? That's really cool!"

"Well, Mac, games are a waste of time when I could be doing databases or spreadsheets."

Sorry. This just reminded me of those commercials I hate.

 

To me gaming is something like a hobby. It's a way to relax and kill some time. It's ok to play games as long as it doesn't become and obsession. Personally I prefer playing sports - like tennis for eg.

 

Well, some of you gamers may have a disorder

"A new report urges the American Medical Association to, among other things, formally recognize game addiction as a genuine diagnosed disorder"

http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/06/doctor_urges_am.html

 

If you haven't already, check out Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell games. Hours and hours of stealthy enjoyment!

 

It's a form of entertainment, to kill time. It's an alternative to watching movies or listening to music, or watching T.V.

 

Games are the ultimate form of entertainment.

You like books? Many games have stories that not only engage the reader, but involve them as protagonist. Some people like mystery stories. What if you not only got to read about whodunit, but also actively figure it out?

You like puzzles? There are plenty of games out there that require logic, deduction, and reasoning to solve puzzles ranging from simple guessing games, to more complex problems requiring smarts and determination (or at least a good strategy guide) to figure out.

Enjoy movies and TV? Games are visual-based entertainment that also involves the watcher in the story. They range from "stories on rails" that act as interactive movies to fully interactive stories that you tell as you play.

How about music? Many games have exciting scores encompassing all musical styles from classical to hard rock. And if you REALLY like music, games like Guitar Hero and other play-/sing-along games are highly music-centric.

If sports are your thing, then games can give you that, too. Some are management-style for the stats-lovers out there. Others are action-oriented for those who like to watch hard-hitting play. Play football with your buddies even if it's 30 below outside and you live in different parts of the world.

Some people want to be active and don't want to sit around all day mashing buttongs. They might enjoy games like Dance Dance Revolution, or the Playstation's Eye-Toy games. And even though alot of activity isn't required to play Wii games, those who really want to get into them can find themselves really working up a sweat after a little while.

Other people are concerned that they won't get enough social interaction from games. But MMO games come in all shapes and sizes so that even if World of Warcraft isn't your cup of tea, you can still socialize online with people from around the world. Second Life, text-based MUDs (Federation II is my favorite), and other non-fantasy-based games can appeal to wide ranges of people.

Games can entertain, challenge, enlighten, frustrate, uplift, and even educate us. Far from being a waste of time, games can offer you the biggest "bang for your buck" as far as sheer amount of entertainment per minute over any other form of entertainment out there.

Just remember that moderation in all things is key. Games get a bad reputation not because they are a waste of time. Everyone devotes time to being entertained, and if you can get more entertainment in a two hour period by playing a game vs. watching a movie, it's definitely not a waste of those two hours. It's when people overcommit themselves to their entertainment time vs. their other obligations that games tend to become a problem.

So, is gaming a good use of my time? Absolutely. Is it a good use of time that I should be spending working or taking care of other life obligations? Probably not. Which is one more good point for games. Used sparingly, they can be a good motivational tool for accomplishing your regular daily tasks rather than procrastinating.

Game on!

 

Edit: ^ Very nice first post

Agreed.

And not to mention it's by far more interactive than listening to music ( in normal cases ) or watching T.V.

Not to mention, it allows people to do things in an alternative reality by which we've never would have done in real life. Eg. Grand Theft Auto, where you are advocated to perform arson, murder, and Grand Theft.
Not that I support such violence in real life, but as long as it's kept in-game, there's nothing wrong with it.

It's a real stress reliever at times.

 

Of course it is... so is my grandmothers gardening she does in every moment of her free time...

This is just another market that stupid parents will get suckered into and pay good money to "fix", because they will spread propeganda that states your kid will be stunted emotionally and be unable to function in the real world yadda yadda.. I've heard all this before.. basically replace "gaming" with anything anyone actually likes to do, and you just created a case that money can be made from. *sigh*

 

I'll meet your play with my own 'one-up'! I had a room mate bringing me soda and snacks, as well as calling around for parts! (Well, pull-a-part lot's with my van that I could strip)

 

I totally agree. My mastery of foreign languages is all thanks to FPS...for instance, Call of Duty taught me conversational German ("GRENANDAH!!!"), and thanks to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. I now know enough Russian to yell at people ("Shakey-Brakey!").