jeffdsmith

With all the distractions available (TV, Books, Movies, Sports, Etc.) why do you play games?
With all the better things to do with you time (Chairty, learning, home improvement, exercise, etc.) why do you play games?

Chris_D

Hmm I do also do exercise and home improvement.

I find 99% of broadcast tv to be garbage. Usually the stuff I watch on my tv is always dvds which I preselect to my tastes and occasional downloads from the net.

Books, I just can't be bothered reading new authors these days and I haven't had a good library near me for a while. So I just buy the occasional book from my favourite authors.

Games, well I don't spend heaps of times playing games but... Firstly the DS is a pretty damn convenient way to pass time on the train. Also I like mentally engaging games, usually strategy games. Apart from that I enjoy an rpg with good characters and story. So yeah really just another way to spend my free time. I do enjoy a bit of multiplayer when I can but that doesn't happen so much these days.

jeffdsmith

What are you doing over in Japan?

Giantrobo

I don't have friends so I play games. I love XBOX live for this reason.

Josh H

To relax and escape from the world for a while. Especially in a game like metroid or zelda with a lot to explore.

But I don't game much, just too busy with work and my Ph D studies, and other hobbies like excercise, sports and movies have long since passed gaming for me in my spare time.

Still usually play at least a couple hours a week, and much more than that when something like Zelda comes out.

Chris_D

Ha nothing that exciting. Just the english teaching gig, really an excuse to quit my old boring job and get some new experiences. Definitely loving it over here. Missing regular internet (too cheap to pay for it), but there's quite a few wireless hotspots around the place.

So jeff you have to answer your own q, why do you play games .

edstein

24, Lost and, Prison Break are the only shows on TV I watch. The rest of the evening is usually gaming of some sort. Either Xbox live or poker with friends. Soon we will have both through the arcade.

RichC2

It's entertaining, improves eye-hand coordination, provides a sense of accomplishment, and can occasionally tell a very involving story. Outside of all that, it's just fun.

And I'm at a point in my life where I'm taking a break from learning (just finished college), don't own a home, can't exercise (though hopefully this will be done with in the next 30 days), and enjoy spending what little time I have free enjoying myself.

That pretty much sums it up.

jeffdsmith

That's awesome. I have a Japanese buddy who is getting his Phd in English so he can return home and teach.
Mainly to "escape". I read a lot more then I play games, but games provide engulfing opportunities, like books, to get away and be somewhere or someone else. Not that I'm not happy with myself, I just have an active imagination. I enjoy challeneges and games that make you think as well. Either way, I game to get away from it all, something TV fails to provide for me.

My reason for the post was just to see others thoughts, and maybe create some self reflection for some on why they are a gamer.

Breakfast with Girls

I do several of those. Gaming is only one hobby of mine.

Leechboy

Videogames slowly dull the pain that is my life.

eau

Escape! Where else you can kick ass,,,, racing (without crashing or getting a ticket), dog fighting, ...?

SteelgearX

Yeah, I guess most of us agree that it is an escape for us. Like a good book, a good game will put you in a far away place free to explore new worlds for yourself. Although I like reading and love movies, game experiences are so much better for me because I'm there. Books and movies always take you down the same path... you know who's getting shot, where, how, and when. As the protagonist in a game, I "direct" each scene as I see fit. Online can be even more rewarding sometimes as it lets you have incredible moments with real people as opposed to scripted A.I.

It's funny that you ask this, as lately I've been thinking a lot about how people tend to perceive a grown person that plays games a lot. People will occasionally ask, "Is that what you do all day? Play games?". Strange how it's more socially acceptable to come home from work and vegetate in front of the tv, than it is to play something that requires some thought and skill. Think about it. Any idiot can sit in front of a tv and watch it. Give just anyone a controller and watch them fumble and get frustrated with "so many buttons".

Anyhow, in general, it's just more fun than watching tv.

Chris_D

I do like Survivor still, and the Biggest Loser (australian edition and earlier series) was kind of fun. That's about it for me as far as tv goes.

Like others have said I do enjoy the increased interactivity of games also!

tbird2340

I don't do it for the escape factor.. I do it for the FUN factor! The 360 is off the hook and the graphics and games make me want to play 24/7.. Being I have a wife & new baby I can't play 24/7 and I'm pretty much limited to after 10:00 PM so that makes the drive to play even more!!

PixyJunket

Because TV sucks?

Giantrobo

Now that my XBOX is giving up the ghost I realize how much I miss playing.

jeffdsmith

Sounds like you are trying to escape to me.

tbird2340

^

What do you mean Giant? Giving up the ghost?

The Bus

What else am I supposed to do at 9pm on a Tuesday?

Exercise?

Home improvement?

j123vt_99

to get chicks, duh

Giantrobo

I bought it like a year after the launch and although the cd drive had been acting up for some time it still worked. Now it's like it won't "Boot up" and go past the Title Screen. That means I can't play anything unles I wait like 10 minutes for it to laod all the time. I think the drive has crapped out and it's causing issues all over the system. I don't know what to do because I'm not sure if I should by a new one or get a 360 when I get some money.

"Giving up the ghost" means something is on it's deathbed. "Gave up the Ghost" means it's dead.

matome

I play games for enjoyment and aggression relief . I abhor television programming nowadays (I don't have/want cable). If I had to choose between video games and DVD's though, the games would go right in the garbage.

Giantrobo

3 years ago when I got laid off from a gig I know that coming home and killing aliens on HALO probably kept me from going back to the job and Killing my old boss and a few other fuckers who pissed me off.

I'm kinda serious....

tbird2340

Mental note.. Don't kill / beat Giantrobo in ANY games..