Spanky BananaPants

For the last year or so, I was avoiding the newer game systems, because when I had a PS1, I never played it. It just didn't pique my interest, and I didn't think I'd play one of the new systems much, so I didn't buy one.

Then, about a week before Christmas, I was doing some Christmas shopping with my brother. We came across the XBOX display, and he made an off-handed comment that I should buy an XBOX along with Halo and the Simpsons Hit & Run. He implied that I should buy it so he could come over to my place and play. I thought, "Well, I like the Simpsons, so what the hell." I went home that day, the proud owner of a new XBOX. But I still figured that I wouldn't play it much. Worst case scenario, I'd just put it in my bedroom as a DVD player.

So, I got home and hooked it up. Popped Simpsons H&R into the tray. I played it for six solid hours. My brother loved the game so much, he went out that night and bought himself an XBOX with the Simpsons, cuz he knew he'd never get to play it at my house.

That night, after deciding that six hours on the XBOX was enough, I sat down to watch some TV. A commercial for PGR2 came on, and it looked cool. So, I went and picked up a copy the next day. Dammit, another addiction. I've logged about fourty hours on it so far, with no end in sight.

Next thing I know, I've stopped buying and viewing DVD's (well, OK. I bought "Freddy Got Fingered" but I don't think that counts as a real DVD). I upgraded the hard drive in my TiVo because I wasn't watching TV anymore. Since I'm not buying movies, I start buying games. To date, I've picked up MechAssault, GTA III & Vice City, Medal of Honor Frontline & Rising Sun, Celebrity Deathmatch, Halo, PGR2, Simpsons H&R and Road Rage, Rainbow Six 3, NHL Rivals 2004, NFL Fever 2004, Links 2004, Crimson Skies, CounterStrike and Voodoo Vince. Of course, I've got the Tetris & Star Wars: Attack of the Clowns that came with the system too.

I even ordered DSL so I could go on XBOX Live. I never cared about having internet access at home before, since I do all my web surfing at work.

Now there's no end in sight.

My brother's situation is similar. His wife keeps yelling at him to "get off the damn XBOX." But he never does.

Am I alone in my plight? Am I the only one so afflicted? Am I doomed to never see the sun again?

Spanky

spfanatic

^ what he said.

Im in the same boat dude. Before getting an x-box last christmas, i only had a sega genesis. My thinking was that this new systems were way overrated and only people with no lives played it. Well, i got my x-box and bought MOH: Frontline and was completely addicted to it. Then i bought Desert storm, then max payne, sega gt/jsrf, splinter cell and halo for starters. i also stopped collecting dvd's and shifted toward games. I havent yet tried x-box live since i'm currently on dial-up but will get dsl or cable soon. But from what i hear from x-box live im also destined to never see the sun again.

This thread should be titled VGA- Video Gamers Anonymous

jrutz

That's why we're all here, Spanky. Welcome to the support group.

Jeremy

Trevor

My problem is that I spend all of my free time finding great deals and buying games, but not enough actually playing them.

Although I did start Xbox D&D Heroes last night and am positive that I'll play it thru within a couple of weeks. Not as good as BGA probably, but these type of games are very addictive for me.

goLUCKY

Gromit

Wait a minute.... You *bought* 'Freddie Got Fingered'???

rabbit77

Heh heh. Look at what my wife says about me in her newlywed journal in another forum:
Then one of her friends responded:
And my wife responded with:
I wouldn't be playing so much if there weren't so many damn_good games out there, I swear! PGR2 is so addicting.

Spanky BananaPants

And therein lies my problem, I suppose. The games are far & above what I grew up on, even over PS1, which I had most recently. It really reminds me of back in the day when I'd go to the arcade and pump quarter after quarter into Space Invaders and Mario. I'd go in early on Saturday morning and play until they kicked my ass out.

In fact, even right now I'm thinking about how I'll get onto PGR2 right when I get home from work. I even have to remind myself to eat, it's that bad.

This thread really does feel like a support group now; all we need is coffee and donuts at the door!

Well, yeah. It was a moment of weakness... Not a bad movie to watch if you're drunk, stoned or (preferrably) both.

~~ PAL ~~

Yes, otherwise you literally feel more stupid after having watched this trainwreck of a film...

I need to join a support group for this...

young

i can quit whenever i want... but, i CHOOSE not to...

--
rabbit's quotes are dead on; seems like our generations' addiction (for men) are video games.

Spiderbite

Unfortunately that statement exactly describes me as well.

Spanky, if you think that your Xbox is addictive now, just wait until you get LIVE. You will never see grass again (or at least want to).

Spanky BananaPants

Actually, I hooked it up two nights ago, but haven't had a chance to play online yet. I'm actually giddy to go home and play online tonight.

Joshic

Video games almost screwed up my life. It's a long and sad story. If it wasn't Friday afternoon, I'd stick around and share my story. But I gotta go home and play my games now.

blakwngbrd

My fiancee and I have a related problem...we're BOTH addicted to video games (we both work in the industry, too), so the issue for us is the fact that all three consoles are in the living room on the same TV. We finally moved the PS2 to the bedroom so that we can play at the same time...which was fine until I got hooked on Culdcept before he beat FFX-2 (both are PS2 games). We actually tossed around the idea of buying a second PS2, though we weren't entirely serious and didn't wind up doing it.

nickdawgy

Just do what I do. Play a game until it gets boring and sell it. I just unloaded Rainbow Six 3, Links 2004, Crimson Skies, and Medal of Honor: Rising Sun.

Of course the only problem now is that I have new games to control me.

When is the support meeting?

illennium

I feel mildly addicted to finding good deals on games (and only on games I want anyway), but I only spend about 2-3 hours a week playing them. My real addiction is music.

DaveNinja

I'm also more addicted to buying games that are cheap. I bought D&D:heroes and hopefully i can get my wife into playing it (she liked gauntlet on the N64) so i can have more game time. Usually when i have a little time i just end up playing GTA:VC. i got xbox live but havent played much on it, i want to play Inside Pitch and mechassult. I have to learn how to play Ghost Recon before going online. I havent even really started Halo. My main current hobbie is fixing arcade games, so i end up spending my big chunks of free time working on fix sinistar, millipede, stargate or ms pacman. My wife does like to play the new Mario Kart, so i can play that fairly often and hopefully start on D&D heroes tonight.

ps. am i a loser?

sniper308

You need to pick up KOTOR. Then you'll have to buy some Depends because you'll not only be forgetting to eat, but you won't want to take the time to hit the bathroom either

khai

How's Attack of the Clowns?

nick-tdi

If you don't want to fuel your addiction any more don't buy or play Rainbow Six online. You'll play for hours to just get a few more kills and it will end up being like 5 in the mourning. I've put almost 100 hours into this game and will easily triple that. Wonderful game, but highly addictive and a blast and challenge online.

karnblack

I'm lucky too...my girlfriend loves video games. We have a PS2 (hers), a Gamecube (mine), 2 Xboxes (we ended up getting another Xbox when we were both hooked on Morrowind), 2 GBA SPs, and 2 PCs. Currently she's hooked on Horizons (a MMORPG) on PC and I'm playing Star Wars: Galaxies on PC and Prince of Persia on Xbox. I still buy DVDs, but have little time to watch anything except an episode of STS9 while eating dinner. I also got back into Magic: The Gathering (the card game) due to my girlfriend, so I also try to keep up with that. Plus there are so many other things I want to do. If I only didn't have to sleep.

blakwngbrd

Maybe it's the SoCal air that churns out us female gamers? It looks like we're neighbors - I live just on the other side of Buena Park from Anaheim. Though we're moving to Irvine next month. In any case, it sounds like we're in the same (great!) situation

Lastblade

Dear Spanky,

I have seen many letters like yours on the internet regarding online gaming addiction.

If you need a divorce lawyer, give me a call. I am one and would like to help you get the most out of your assets before she builds a strong case against you and leave you nothing but your xbox and internet connection.

Gromit

Another thing I don't get.... I have all these great games, but instead of playing, I spend a lot of time on the internet reading about games. Why am I here?

mrmagoo

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Originally posted by Spanky BananaPants


Of course, I've got the Tetris & Star Wars: Attack of the Clowns that came with the system too.