Question:
Are you addicted to games? Have you ever sweated while playing a game?
Have you ever dreamed about a game? Do you think about games during the
day? Have you ever inadvertently mentioned something purely gaming
related in normal conversation? ("Yah, then I snuck up behind him and
backstabbed him", or "Yeah, that rocket gibbed him all over the wall. It
was hilarious") Do you garner more pleasure playing games than most other
activities? Then you my friend, are a gamer.
And, in my opinion, that is not bad. Why do I say this? Well,
everyone has something that they enjoy above all else. Wilderness treks,
skydiving, sports, reading, or what have you. Gaming is no different.
People who love nature tend to get nature related jobs, and spend most of
their lives outdoors. People who love skydiving/other adrenaline
activities will schedule entire weekends around that one thing. People
who love sports talk about it, watch it, participate in it, etc. Gaming
is no different. You talk about it, you enjoy it, and some people even
get jobs in the gaming industry.
Anyhow, the point of all this is I'm curious about how other
people incorporate gaming into their lives. Total obsession? Occasional
hobby? Absolute loathing? (Well, then you wouldn't be reading this eh?)
Are you one of the total obsession types, but feel that you spend too
much time on games that could be better spent elsewhere? Do you get
pressure from friends and family to stop? Or is it just a pastime, and
you think the total obsession types need professional aid?
I'm one of the total obsession types myself. I play games. All
games, any games, any system, any genre. Action, rpg, simulation,
strategy, arcade, home systems, hybrids, adventure, even full motion bs.
And do I think it's time poorly spent? Not in the least. I am one of
those few fortunate enough to live with a fellow group of gamers, and we
such complete fun when we get together for a gore filled-gib spraying-
rocket blasting-asskicking-insult slinging
Quake/War2/Descent/Doom/Moo/etc match. No more or less fun than any other
activity. And more than some. Movies for example. I loath television, and
it takes a good movie to pull me away from the games ;) I completely
enjoy what I do. Now, I admit, there are plenty of downsides. You tend to
loose those people not into gaming. You speak a completely different
vocabulary, and beyond that, your basic idea of fun changes. Your vision
can get messed up if you aren't careful, and your sleeping schedule can
go all to hell (just bring a gun... demons can bleed). But hey, the
upsides are just too cool.
I can remember numerous occasions after a 26 hour gaming fest
where I'd stumble away from the computer, laughing with my friends, and
jumping at noises ;) (Thump... "AUGH, GRENADE, HIT THE DECK") How many
other activities can you stick 2-32 players together with computers, and
murder each other in good humor? ;) I think the future of gaming is
multiplayer. The internet is becoming "vogue" (eek), and people have
begun to accept it. Gaming is just one step beyond that. I can easily see
people going down to the local cyber cafe for a rousing game of
multiplayer . Anyway, I'm beginning to ramble
excessively, and I wanna go play Dfall and Quake again ;) Hrm. Oh, I
didn't proofread this, so shoot me later. Also, I have a web site devoted
entirely to gaming of all forms, and what it means to be a gamer, but
it's not finished. (Too busy uhh... researching ;))
I rarely read/post, due to the huge traffic, so if I made you
think a bit, or you feel the need to express an opinion to me personally,
feel free to email me. Catch you all later.
Answer:
You really have no idea what "Gaming Addiction" is. I quit my job of 11
years so I could play computer games more, that was over 2 years ago and
I still am unemployed. I will soon run out of money in my savings
account, I don't know what I will do then.
