Is gaming really worth it?

[Chevron]

Well you could ask those people what games did hitler play or stalin or attila the hun. People were violent before games.

Also tell them the whole point of games is do to something you can't do in real life. Like reading about the rainforest when you can't go there.

gaming is a stress reliever. Some people do kick boxing to relieve stress. Ask them if kick boxing is ok. Or learning archery or going to a real firing range. You could tell them that if you can't game to destress you will go mad and kill everyone.

With regards to no tangible benefits. You don't get tangible benefits from reading, drinking, partying or playing sport or watching tv or being on mxit.

It's something that's fun that takes your mind off the daily grind.

enjoy it.

 

[Xyber]

It is entertainment. What do you have to show for watching that film or sitting in front of the TV, or reading a book, or playing drums, guitar or anything else for fun. Except for the necessities to stay alive (food, car to get to work, etc.) we spend all our money on entertainment or ways to make more money to spend on entertainment.

What will you have to show for playing guitar? You can almost compare it to your gaming, it is for entertainment. Except if you plan on starting or joining a band and make money out of your your guitar skill, but then you could compare that situation one of those pro-gamers who use their gaming skills to make money.

Well, that is how I justify my gaming. If I where not gaming I would just watch more TV or movies, or read more books , etc. It just should not become a problem where you neglect your work or studies, but that depends on everyone's own situation. If you got a stable job and is happy with your situation and spend enough time with the family, if you got one, then its fine. Game on.

 

[saffakanera]

oh yes and btw, MMO's aren't games. If you feel you are addicted to an MMO seek help, fast, you might not realize it now but those type of "games" can destroy people without them even knowing it. I have yet to meet a "casual" WoW player, dumping more than 5 hours a day on something on a constant basis is not very good. I can easily blow away 8 hours on Rainbow 6 Vegas 2 or Call of duty 4, but that doesn't mean i do it daily.

Being a gamer doesnt necessarily mean playing non stop every day 24 hours a day, a big deal of the fun of gaming for me is reading articles, previews and reviews, that in itself makes the hobby very enjoyable for me.

I get angry at "games" like wow, the gamers who play them get so locked into ONE game they stop enjoying anything else, its just plain scary. I have seen personal friends deteriorate over the years, from being talented students to chair bound dropouts. I have heard from so many girls the reason for leaving boyfriends, WOW.

Im pretty sure you can have a very decent and normal life as a gamer, its not necessary to sacrifice your hobby because its not mainstream enough, I think you have been in the rat race mentality too long mate, a Double Cab bakkie, an M3, or a nice house doesn't make you complete, you need to get that ideology out of your head right now, and stop letting people close to you convince you it is, those are old mindsets that didnt work out well for the people who implemented them, divorce rates, family issues are all rife in the older ones among us.

 

[Devill]

Well i play some games but they hardly take up all my time.

I study, work, play action cricket 2-4 times a week and I hardly game on weekends except for sunday afternoons.

If you love gaming there is nothing wrong with spending most of your time on it

 

[Polygon]

@saffakanera

Thanks for that dude. Makes a lot of sense. Sounds like me a couple months back.

@ everyone else

Thanks! Game on!

 

[Blue]

When I look back at all the hours I have sunk into the various games I have played over he years, I do regret what could've been. You are right in thinking that there is no tangible reward to playing games because at the end of the day you are no better off after you have finished playing a game than when you first started. You gain no skills which will really help you in the real world and most of the friends you make, you will never meet in real life. Your social interactions are not the same as interacting with people at a club, sports game etc because there are a completely different set of standards, etiquette and norms.

I love playing computer games, but I love life more and thats what helped me make the decision to reorientate my life towards a more balanced approach. When I was a gamer, everything seemed boring or lackluster to me in comparison to clocking in a couple more hours. Yet, what I have found after I quit was that I gained a true appreciation for a whole range of activities. While I have currently stopped playing any games, I am still looking forward to games like Starcraft2, diablo3 and fallout3 and I will probably give them a go when they come out, but I will never dedicate my life to any of them.

 

[Peder]

well games are also a distraction from reality, i was listening to 702 this morning and they said that hollywood chiwouwa or something like that is number one and more realistic movies aren't and the only explanation they have is that it must be a distraction from reality...

 

[Jase]

oh yes and btw, MMO's aren't games. If you feel you are addicted to an MMO seek help, fast, you might not realize it now but those type of "games" can destroy people without them even knowing it. I have yet to meet a "casual" WoW player, dumping more than 5 hours a day on something on a constant basis is not very good. I can easily blow away 8 hours on Rainbow 6 Vegas 2 or Call of duty 4, but that doesn't mean i do it daily.

Being a gamer doesnt necessarily mean playing non stop every day 24 hours a day, a big deal of the fun of gaming for me is reading articles, previews and reviews, that in itself makes the hobby very enjoyable for me.

I get angry at "games" like wow, the gamers who play them get so locked into ONE game they stop enjoying anything else, its just plain scary. I have seen personal friends deteriorate over the years, from being talented students to chair bound dropouts. I have heard from so many girls the reason for leaving boyfriends, WOW.

Im pretty sure you can have a very decent and normal life as a gamer, its not necessary to sacrifice your hobby because its not mainstream enough, I think you have been in the rat race mentality too long mate, a Double Cab bakkie, an M3, or a nice house doesn't make you complete, you need to get that ideology out of your head right now, and stop letting people close to you convince you it is, those are old mindsets that didnt work out well for the people who implemented them, divorce rates, family issues are all rife in the older ones among us.

Damn, after 11yrs of MMO's, you now go and tell me I am stuffed.... anyways bbl, gotta get back to Spore.

 

[slayerza]

I like playing games, but are a casual gamer. However I love robotics and dump some major time into it. Sure I have something to show for it, but only technical people appreciate it and in some ways it is no different to gaming.

I agree that most of life besides survival and procreation is entertainment, and if you like gaming go for it. What about people who smoke / drink / do drugs etc to escape what to they have to show for it?

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

I like playing games, but are a casual gamer. However I love robotics and dump some major time into it. Sure I have something to show for it, but only technical people appreciate it and in some ways it is no different to gaming.

I agree that most of life besides survival and procreation is entertainment, and if you like gaming go for it. What about people who smoke / drink / do drugs etc to escape what to they have to show for it?

some wicked stories to tell people

 

[Raevinn]

Games are fun, but ur wasting ur time. If you do something else like playing a guitar it developes your mind and skills. U cant show off to friends how good u are at some game, whereas if you can play guitar u could actually show ur friends and socialise etc. I used to be a heavy addict, and got some of my friends into it. They still sit countless hours infront of their screens playing dota/wow and it really isnt worth it, u start neglecting everyone and it sort of puts u in this trance that u only feel when ur playing the game. I spoke to this psycologist and he said its a way for people to get out when they don't want to face reality.

 

[scotty777]

Games are fun, but ur wasting ur time. If you do something else like playing a guitar it developes your mind and skills. U cant show off to friends how good u are at some game, whereas if you can play guitar u could actually show ur friends and socialise etc. I used to be a heavy addict, and got some of my friends into it. They still sit countless hours infront of their screens playing dota/wow and it really isnt worth it, u start neglecting everyone and it sort of puts u in this trance that u only feel when ur playing the game. I spoke to this psycologist and he said its a way for people to get out when they don't want to face reality.

I don't know man, I don't agree with that, but I don't wanna disagree...

You see, I suppose every one is different... but with pc, you do develop your reaction times(racing games, FPS etc) and you get offered an intellectual manner of entertainment... you gotta use strategy, skills, your brain etc to do well in computer games(such as dota).

I found that computer games are being stereotyped harshly because people have this general idea of "gamers" as a bunch of nerdy, girl repelling guys with no real friends other then the ones online. However, when I go to lan's (once a month) I have a great joll, we get to show off the new games we got and just have a small party and have a little time with our mates not caring about much...

but yes, when your life becomes consumed by pc games then it's a problem, so if you manage your pc playing well, then all is good...
It's like alcohol, it's great when you have some now and then, it's not so great when you drink all day...

 

[stefan9]

Games are fun, but ur wasting ur time. If you do something else like playing a guitar it developes your mind and skills. U cant show off to friends how good u are at some game, whereas if you can play guitar u could actually show ur friends and socialise etc. I used to be a heavy addict, and got some of my friends into it. They still sit countless hours infront of their screens playing dota/wow and it really isnt worth it, u start neglecting everyone and it sort of puts u in this trance that u only feel when ur playing the game. I spoke to this psycologist and he said its a way for people to get out when they don't want to face reality.

Of course you can show your friends how good you are at a game. You just fire up the game and show them how to beat that level which each and everyone has struggled for each with but you figured out the secret to.

Many games develop strategic thinking,puzzle solving skills as well as fast reactions.

 

[TheBossMan]

Games are fun, but ur wasting ur time. If you do something else like playing a guitar it developes your mind and skills. U cant show off to friends how good u are at some game,

Guess u mostly sucked at online gaming.. U can show ppl how good u are at a game if they duel you and u kick their butt solidly

and socialise etc. I used to be a heavy addict,

Socialise.. Hey wait how many friends did I make while playing games.. Used to only have 2 -3 friends before I started to go to our local LAN's.. Now I have a big list of ppl I know or some of them even became good friends..

So yeah u can meet people or make friends while gaming.. MMO ppl u meet don't allways count, because I don't ever see them only chat in-game to them..

 

[Jase]

Guess u mostly sucked at online gaming.. U can show ppl how good u are at a game if they duel you and u kick their butt solidly



Socialise.. Hey wait how many friends did I make while playing games.. Used to only have 2 -3 friends before I started to go to our local LAN's.. Now I have a big list of ppl I know or some of them even became good friends..

So yeah u can meet people or make friends while gaming.. MMO ppl u meet don't allways count, because I don't ever see them only chat in-game to them..

+1

Well put. This raises another question in todays social world (and going OT a bit).

I am really curious. How do people meet people nowdays? I ask this as I am not a youngster anymore and I play way to much online games to socialise (/sarcasm off)

 

[Rainy]

mwahahahha

 

[scotty777]

Gaming and nothing to show for it? Bull.Gaming can be learning as well.I have learnt about Weponary , Aircraft etc , I have learnt the history of nations and famous people etc etc etc.

yes, but gaming also teaches you to think on the fly, allow you to have a interactive and intelligent method of entertainment...

It also lets you decide how to play... with gaming becoming such a massive media force now, i think people can't just say it's for the nerds, it's becoming a method of entertainment which can appeal to anyone

 

[hoegh]

imo its not a waste a time, you develop skills and forward thinking, it also keeps the brain sharp, I game instead of watching tv. The key is balance, I have set times for doing certain things and only once the most important things have been done do I engage my leisure activity of choice, that being gaming.

 

[BinaryJack]

Gaming is a hobby like reading, playing piano, playing tennis, building model airplanes etc etc etc.
It's only ignorance that sees it as anything less than that.

 

[Kerrrang!]

As with anything in life, balance is key. I've got a wife, kid and juggling family, work, friends and hobbies (gaming, reading, playing guitar, drums etc) can get real challenging. I spend minimum time watching TV cause it's a) boring as hell, b) non-interactive. There are prob millions more "addicted" to TV, with hours upon hours of channel surfing. Ive also met some cool peeps at LANs, certainly a lot more than watching TV, or even going out clubbing/pub night (when i was still a single man).
Too much of a good thing is bad, no matter what the "vice" or hobby is. I don't get to game as much as i want to, yet i can still make time to finish most of the games i buy.
In the end, you should know. If you think it's hurting your personal/family life, it probably is. I personally don't see the difference though between having gaming as a hobby, or say action cricket, or painting, or stamp collecting.