Gaming can only be fun if you ain't got nothing to do irl

[Naer]

and also you perceive the outside world as nothing to be tended to(or have the belief that the outside word simply doesn't need your help. true story

 

[Veliko]

Shooting Pierre and Hangrid online on CoD >>>>>>>>> mowing the lawn.

 

[Staples]

This is a coming of age sort of realization.
I rarely play video games since I had kids.

 

[lxskllr]

Nonsense. I don't really game anymore, but that's due more to non free software, and shitty drm(yes Steam is shitty drm) than lack of desire. If I could get libre software games, I'd be more inclined to game when I'm not doing other things. It's a hobby like any other, and it beats watching tv(as low a standard as that is).

 

[Viper GTS]

IMO once you're an adult it should just fundamentally bother you that what you're doing has absolutely no real world value. I'm not saying never play them but if they're a major part of your life that should not feel normal or acceptable.

I was never much of a gamer but by early 20s that 'this is stupid and pointless' feeling set in and I've played virtually nothing since. I played through Doom when it was released a couple years back but that's about it. I'd actually like to be able to enjoy playing a bit more than I do - I have hundreds of steam games due to years of buying bundles during sales (finally quit doing this 2-3 years ago). The rare occasions when I have a free evening and an empty house and install something from Steam I last maybe 10-15 minutes before quitting.

The comparison to TV watching is somewhat valid, if both are solo activities. If you're watching TV with other people then I'd rank it above gaming.

Viper GTS

 

[Tormac]

Did my wife pay you to post that?

I really am doing important things! The Turks and the Egyptians have declared a Jihad against Constantinople. Their armies are marching against me and only my control of the Dardanelles keeps them from invading all of Europe. Someone has to coordinate the fleet! At the same time those backstabbing Poles have also declared war against me and are sieging Sofia. This is no time to worry about silly things like laundry or dishes. As the Emperor of the Byzantines it is my duty to make it through at least one more turn of my current Total War campaign. Oh and I will need to go one more turn after that. . .

 

[whm1974]

I would have say to hogwash to the OP. There is nothing wrong with gaming as long as you don't do it to the exclusion of everything else.

 

[nakedfrog]

Everyone needs a leisure activity.

 

[rh71]

This is a coming of age sort of realization.
I rarely play video games since I had kids.

I've played throughout the 10 years they've been around so far. It's a good way to relax - nothing serious. Especially before bed. And no, you can't spend every hour with them.

 

[purbeast0]

Eh, if you're constantly "working" you are going to get burnt out. Everyone needs to have downtime to unwind to get your body ready to get back to being productive.

 

[linkgoron]

Yeah, you should watch TV like a real adult.

 

[Majes]

I've been feeling this lately too...
I'm pretty addicted to the ARPG slot machine model, but I've been feeling the pull to "do something productive". The problem I have is that I'm too mentally wasted at the end of a day teaching to write much and on weekends I have to travel for an hour or two to play spikeball (my other hobby). So I sit on my butt and play games. It's a nice break and it saves me money for the most part.

 

[AdamK47]

I enjoy gaming on my PC more at the end of the day with a job. Not having a job would preoccupy my mind with thoughts of uncertainty. There would be no way for me to really enjoy it.

 

[whm1974]

Yeah, you should watch TV like a real adult.

Why not do both?

 

[DietDrThunder]

My honey do list is long. My want or have to do list is short. I tackle the short list, then if there is time, I'll do an hour or so of gaming. This evening I'll be unclogging a stubborn drain, so no gaming tonight.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I play video games almost every night for at least an hour or two to 1) be able to socialize with friends who aren't local (and also my younger brother) 2) to get better at the game (currently it's fortnite, and it's not to brag or anything, just for me)

 

[SMOGZINN]

and also you perceive the outside world as nothing to be tended to(or have the belief that the outside word simply doesn't need your help. true story

You say in the Off Topic subsection of a Technical forum.

 

[VashHT]

I still play games when I can, you need some time to unwind. Can't play as much as I used to there's just too much other stuff going on but I don't see the point in dropping it completely when I still enjoy it. The real hard part is balancing it with my other hobbies because I have quite a few and much more limited time to split between them now.

 

[IronWing]

The world's old enough to take care of itself and these nazis aren't going to kill themselves.





The assassins in Dishonored are a different story. I had a perfect no-kill game going except for the stupid assassins who kept falling off the roofs.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Nothing you do accomplishes anything in the long run. All we are is dust in the wind. My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings, Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

You might as well do things that you enjoy in your spare time while you're still alive, whether it's watching sports or movies, gardening, listening to music, reading books, cooking, ... or playing video games.

Playing Fallout 4 is no more childish than playing golf or remodeling your home.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

IMO once you're an adult it should just fundamentally bother you that what you're doing has absolutely no real world value. I'm not saying never play them but if they're a major part of your life that should not feel normal or acceptable.

Frankly, you could say that about a lot of our hobbies or even careers.

As long as you aren't doing it to the exclusion of other things, whatever. At least it's generally more social that some other activities.

 

[TXHokie]

This is a coming of age sort of realization.
I rarely play video games since I had kids.

Same here...tho I still have the urge to buy them when there's a Steam sale. I tell myself I'll play it when I have time. Now I'd have to upgrade my computer first, then download and install it before I can play. I guess I never will.

 

[ultimatebob]

Yeah... games can become tedious if you become too serious about it.

For an example, I'm playing this supposedly casual fantasy RPG called Battlehand on my iPad, and I joined a Guild for the team battles they have every weekend. These guys were Super serious about it, to the point where they kept "intel" spreadsheets on each player in the Guild and each player they were battling that weekend. You were also expected to compete in about 50 battles (each one takes about 2 minutes) each weekend, or they would kick you from the guild.

Dude... spending 3 hours updating character spreadsheets every weekend is NOT my idea of a good time. Hell, my real life job is less tedious than this shit. I'll pass, thanks!

The crazy thing is that these guys weren't even in the top 50 of the guild rankings. That means that there are at least 1,000 players out of this game out there that are even more hardcore than these guys. Damn.

 

[DaveSimmons]

That's not my cup of tea but it's not any nuttier than the fantasy sports league people spending hours over their drafts and games.

 

[ultimatebob]

Nonsense. I don't really game anymore, but that's due more to non free software, and shitty drm(yes Steam is shitty drm) than lack of desire. If I could get libre software games, I'd be more inclined to game when I'm not doing other things. It's a hobby like any other, and it beats watching tv(as low a standard as that is).

Dude... compared to the DRM of the past, Steam is awesome. I'm just glad that I no longer need to have the game DVD in the drive to play, or that I'm only allowed to reinstall the game twice before it won't activate anymore.