I personally have never played a video game on the computer since wolfenstein which was about 10-12 years ago, and even then I wasn't all that fond of it.

I study a lot and work a lot...and well, I just don't see how you guys justify to yourselves spending that much $ on computer parts and ESPECIALLY that much time to play games.

While I do understand everyone needs time to relax, and everyone deserves a hobby and some sort of entertainment... I used "hardcore gamers" as the subject here because that is who I am particularly concerned with.

My questions are basically these:

As stated above, how do you justify to yourself the $ and time spent playing these games?

Does it not cross your mind that your time could be used for more useful/beneficial tasks? If so, why are you still spending so much time gaming?

Finally, if you could somehow turn on a permanent switch would stop any urge you had from playing video games and it would make you use that time to work out (more), eat health(y/ier) or study/read (more) would you turn it on? Why or why not?


I know I'll get a lot of sarcastic remarks here, but I really hope a few of you do answer this seriously as I am very interested in your responses.

Thanks


EDIT:

Basically the reason I posted this question is because I was kind of interested in how games today looked and i did a google image search for BF2, since I seem to see that game name thrown around a lot here and well...I came across this:

http://sh.nu/download/images/dscn3905.jpg

Not to poke fun or anything, but that was just a really sad sight to me.

Your totally right. It's sad how he's wasting such sharp graphic capabilities on a low-res tv. He should really put the tv on his bed, or actually, he should fix the root of the problem and get a monitor that supports high resolutions. Would improve his gaming experience tons.

Good find though.

You were right about one thing.
However, looking the short time you've been posting at this forum, and how often you've done so since then, why'd you waste your time? You could have been doing something more constructive. Why didn't you put that time into helping those who are truely in need (homeless people, orphans, the elderly).
You do realize most people who post here are into computer gaming, so why not just go somewhere else if you're not into it, rather than making generalizations about those who are.
I somewhat agree with you about the amount of cash people pump into a system that'll be outdated in year anyways, but then again, it's not your money so who cares.
Though that pic you found is funny as hell!

Well like i said, everyone deserves their own entertainment and relaxation time.

To me this is actually a learning experience, posting this question. I am not typically exposed to people who game a great deal so I find it socially interesting to hear what people that do play quite a bit of games do have to say.

Further, I post on here because it's a good technical forum where I can help some people out who are working on new systems, while I get information for myself and my own personal computer. The combination justifies my time spent here, to myself that is. You may not think it is justified, just as I may not think it is justified to spend the amount of time you do playing games.

But I have always felt that understanding the perspective of another is the surest way of bettering yourself. When I look at what my friends that don't get good grades do, and why they do it...and when i look at what my friends that do get good grades do and why they do it...I can then decide what sort of sacrifices I want to make for myself to achieve whatever goal I'm setting forth to do.

Now it's back to the books for me lol

THats a quality pic, reminds me of a guy that used to share my flat in halls.

I've pld video games for years now, I see it as a good way to unwind, chill with mates playing games on consoles and i've made some good friends playing for my clan in Counterstrike. I live with people who have simular interests in games and computers as its a general interest that started the friendship.

I also do other things like play 5-a-side footy once a week with work collegues, study Taekwondo, play golf at the weekend. Bar the minority i think that alot of people have simular lives, just with the PC being a major interest. I mean there are people on here who juggle married life and kids with their passion.

in terms of money, there are plent yof hobbies that people spend tonnes of their hard earned cash. I mean i'd class somone spending £2-3-k doing up a Vauxhall Nova as a complete waste of money, cos a) its a shit car b) you could buy a quality 2nd hand sports car for that and it would look great.

I could go on for ever but work calls.

I think one of the reasons for interest in computer games is that games develop continuously in terms of graphics and nowadays physics. People want to upgrade their computers for games because they want to see what kind of new effects have been used in the new generation of games. Then, especially for people who live in isolated or scarcely populated areas multiplayer games could be a way to have some kind of sense of belonging to the international community in this age of globalism.

That guy looks pretty harmless man. He's just chilling, he needs to lose some weight and the goat-ee though!

Still, I don't see how you can blame computer games for that. Yeah, if I didn't play games then I'd probably work out more and shit, but I don't have any problem with the ladies and I'm sure as hell not a fat bastard.

I think it's all relative to your lifestyle, its no different to watching TV (which the average American spends more time doing each day than any other specific task). You can exercise, eat healthily, have a social life / partner AND play video games.

To be honest, the real problem isn't FPS games like Half-Life, its things like MMO's. I'm a GM in the longest running UO shard around, and I also play DDO: Stormreach. Or should I say, DDO: Crackreach. That shit is
A D D I C T I V E. It does take some self-control, and I guess it just depends on your personality whether you let your gameplay time be excessive or not!

In short: Games aren't to blame for the kinds of issues you descibe - it's the personality of the gamer that decrees whether they complete other functions in their lives, or allow the gaming to take over. If you're gonna let yourself get fat and unhealthy, and neglect other aspects of your life then thats your fault - not the fault of a PC.

Well I don't know about the rest of the "gamers" around here, but I feel insulted. First off, I think you are appying a huge stereotype. Not all gamers are fat, lazy, useless slobs. We for the most part aren't the uneducated heathens you think we are. Now the real reason that I, and I hope others are insulted is, why the hell should we have to justify our hobby to you? You are someone who apparently has an agenda, or outright doesn't like gamers. You will view us in whatever light you wish, regardless of how any of us respond to this. This site revolves around computer hardware, and presently gaming is what is pushing innovation in this industry, therefore a lot of people that populate these forums are gamers. A good many of them are very intelligent people, save a few trolls.

You come here and make blanket statements about gamers and people who spend tons of money on computer hardware in a forum for hardware fanatics. Why would you care how much anyone spends on anything?, let alone computer hardware? What business is it of yours?

You come off all self righteous about how hard you study. No one asked for you lifes history. I went to school too, and although I wouldn't call school "hard work" I would have to say that is was stressful. I didn't have a lot of time to do anything besides study, but when I did have time, or just needed a stress break, I could lose myself for twenty minutes in a game, and be better off for it. Now I am a father who is doing reasonably well for myself and my family and I still like to game. Sure I would just as soon build computers and tweak them, but gaming is still one of my favorite pastimes.

You say you come here to help people with their problems (I assume computer problems), well help them, don't judge them. If you come here to stir up and piss off the people in these forums, go somewhere else.

My mother had a saying when I was a kid (yes it was a long time ago) "you shouldn't speak, you let you ignorance hang out", this thread proves that saying.

I personally play video games on average 10+ hours a week. I find it more mentally stimulating than sitting in front of the Idiot Box(TV) and watching what someone else thinks I will enjoy. At least with most games that I play, your own actions and skill and choices determine what happens in the game.

Besides, what other activities can you enjoy on a weeknight after nightfall other than TV that will not leave you tired or hung over the next morning?

Well that is 1 type of game, a 1st person shooter. Maybe that is not your forte, maybe you are more into RTS or RPG type of games that are more mentally challenging? Maybe you should experiment with a few different types of games before Stereotyping us to that dude playing on his bed...

As for other types of expensive hobbies? I can name a few... Golf you have to pay for clubs, hundreds if not thousands of dollars, greens fees, memberships and all that sh*t. Now some may think that golf is better because it is a "sport", but I work with plenty of fat people who play golf alot...
Hunting is another Expensive hobby... Guns, sights, ammo, cammo, and all the other "necessary" gear adds up to thousands as well. At least I never killed anyone or anything by playing video games....


JonC

"Finally, if you could somehow turn on a permanent switch would stop any urge you had from playing video games and it would make you use that time to work out (more), eat health(y/ier) or study/read (more) would you turn it on? Why or why not?"

I'll admit some of those damn games are addicting. Especially those MMORPG's. I got sucked in to the world of Everquest for about 2 years. However, that is how I enjoyed my downtime. I still managed to workout, practice ju-jitsu, have time for friends, wife and hold down a full-time job. Even now, I still do the same except that Everquest has been replaced with other less time consuming games. It's about responsibility to yourself to make sure you balance your time. Some people are not as effective as others doing it.

Hell, add modding your car to that list: $4,000 supercharger, $3000 upgraded suspension, $6,00 upgraded engine and the list goes on. $20,000 to get a 10 second 1/4 mile....Priceless! Priceless to those who care. Same with computers. Maybe my stock computer gets 100 fps while Joecomputer spent an extra $3k to get 140fps. Not worth it to me but as long as Joe himself is happy....

I do understand the cash money some games pour into their machines. I am looking for a cash upgrade myself but something that will give me a sig. boost not a total overhaul in my graphics. I do also have a job and I go to school and (whenever she is available) I do have a girlfriends. So gamers do have lives outside the games but they just a little bit more time in their games.

don't have time for a long response--i will later though--but for the quick one let me just say i don't have a stereotype, i have what i perceive to be a hobby that quickly becomes an addiction that can take away from a large number of more valuable things one could do with his/her time.