I’m only 20 and you can count me in the “doesn’t get video games” group.
More precisely, I don’t like today’s video games. They’re far too involved. Gimme a quick round of Mario or Tetris over these over-indulgent games that take hours to play. People in my rez sit around for hours playing Warcraft…how is that fun?? Its more work than fun!
Having said that, I’m still an uber-computer geek. I don’t spend any less time on the computer than my gamer friends…its just that I spend it programming or linuxing while they spend it gaming
Please keep in mind that saying “I don’t like video games” is akin to saying “I don’t like books.” There are a lot of games out there; how do you know that there isn’t one that would keep you engrossed for days?
While I’m just a whippersnapper (age 18), I’m a game addict.
Games are closing the gap with the movie industry every year. Anyone here hear of the new Matrix computer game coming out? The Wachowski brothers (I think I spelled that right) directed it and with several of the actors, filmed an hour’s worth of big screen-quality footage for the game alone.
In terms of entertainment, I’ve yet to find any book or movie that comes close to the storyline found in games like Fallout 2 or Baldur’s Gate 2. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic promises to continue that legacy with a stellar storyline, when it’s released this summer, with you taking on the role of a character that makes the choice between the light side and darkside and seeing the story evolve around you based on your choices. Strategy games are great fun too. I’m a big fan of world-conquest strategy games, like Civilization 3, Superpower and Hearts of Iron, games that don’t require quick reflexes, but a solid mind for strategy and planning not only on the battlefield, but with social and economic aspects as well.
I guess the allure of modern gaming (Pong and Tetris don’t excite me) is that more often than not, the main character is YOU. You make the choices and call the shots and aren’t chained to a writer’s/director’s vision of what the protagonist should be. You write the story as you progress, and in many recent well-done games, you really get a feel that you’re in the middle of something serious, not just playing a “game”. Even in games that are largely plotless (like the aforementioned strategy games), you feel like you’re accomplishing something besides a high score.
And I read. A lot. Actually, I used to read a lot more than I do now. I would devour a good-sized novel every week or so, but with book prices skyrocketing (11 bucks Canadian for a paperback! Ack!) and the local library falling behind on the latest novels, I’ve cooled off on reading. That, and the fact I haven’t read a decent novel in some time. I find most books to be either akin to plotless, transparent, cookie-cutter action movies (and I’d rather see fancy explosions and fight scenes than read about them), or sappy, pretentious, cookie-cutter tearjerkers.
I don’t give a damn about athletic sports (except strongman competetions) but i am an avid PC gamer. Counterstrike, Day of Defeat, Team Fortress, Age of Empires & Civilization II are my games of choice.
I can’t really offer any half ass psychology theories on why i like gaming, but games are more interactive than watching tv or reading a book so i don’t see what is wrong with them. Its not like this form of recreation is evil, but all the others are ok.
When it comes to TV, i prefer watching non-fiction documentaries (PBS, Discovery, TLC, History). On gaming, i prefer complex scenarios where i have to use cunning to get what i want & accomplish my goal(s). I tend to believe this is a much better waste of time than reading fiction novels. Its more fun and i get more out of it.
How can reading a fiction novel compare to the mental interactiveness necessary to build a society from the ground up as you do in civilization II? You have to create towns, provide food, scientific development, declare & avoid war, build structures, watch your economy all at the same time.
Video and computer games bore me, but I definitely get the appeal of getting together in real life with your buddies to play D&D. You get to use your imagination, hang out with your pals, and be someone else for a little bit. My frustration is with the extraordinarily detailed rules. I’ve played a few times, but it tends to go something like this:
DM: Okay, the orc approaches you menacingly.
Me: I pick up a chair and hit him over the head.
DM: Okay, now roll the 22-sided die 4 times and…hey, do you want to make that an attack of opportunity. [Picks up rule book, lengthy discussion over rules breaks out]
As you say, to each his/her own, but (and this is just me) I don’t want to be on my deathbed saying, “I’m sure glad we got the bathroom remodeled instead of spending the weekends playing D&D with our friends.”
Maybe I’m being hypersensitive here, and if I am, I apologize, but am I the only one getting a distinct vibe of what childish losers these people who like games are?
The standard justification by anyone who does that kind of name-calling is that these addicted gamers are “out-of-touch with reality” or are gamers coz they’re socially inept. I don’t see it that way. Gamers are, because they find games mentally-engaging and entertaining. I AM surprised that some of them get SO caught up in it and lose track of the fact that it’s just a game.
[sub]P.S. I sent you an email last week about our own D&D website. Did you get it?[/sub]
Seriously, I think the other Dopers are doing a good job of not giving off that vibe, unlike a lot of people in the real world. One of our D&D players has a soon-to-be wife that thinks D&D is one of the dumbest things on the planet, and that we’re all a bunch of anti-social geeks. She won’t let him admit that he plays to all their “proper” friends, and I’ll be really surprised if he can continue to play after they’re married.
Legomancer, I think that was a rather crappy thing to say. I’m sure the same could be thought of anyone with a strong interest in anything.
That’s way over the line, if you ask me. My SO plays bridge once a week with friends, and while I have less than zero interest in bridge, I would never begrudge him the opportunity to do something he finds enjoyable. And I’m certainly not ashamed of it, although I do tease him about his old-lady-game playing. What’s next? Euchre?
And when the same friends got together to play Axis & Allies on a Sunday afternoon…THAT was dorky. But hey…we all have our quirks.
For what it’s worth, I don’t get gaming either, particularly the strategy type games. My 9-year-old son loves them, though – Age of Mythology is his latest obsession. I’ve played with him a couple of times, but truthfully, I’d rather read a book.
I don’t understand how gaming can take over a person’s life.
All right, I’ll admit–I enjoy the occasional role-playing game. I get together with a couple of guys on Thursday nights, and we play. It’s fun, it allows me to be imaginative, and it provides a means of social interaction. However, if for some reason I found out that I could never play another role-playing game ever again…well, it’s no skin off my ass. I’d be bummed, but I’d find something else to do.
I do know people, however, who’ll play massive amounts of video/computer/board-type games, and I have to admit that I just don’t get it. Video and computer games hold next-to-no appeal for me. Ninety-odd percent of the time, they can’t hold my interest. Board-type games are okay, I guess, but I’d rather read or write or watch a movie or surf online. The only appeal I can see is, again, the social interaction.
That being said, I would never tell a friend or a significant other that they couldn’t game. It’s a fairly large part of my SOs life–it’s how we met, even. I might not understand the appeal, but that doesn’t mean that I have any right to inhibit his activities. And, hell, I genuinely enjoy role-playing and board games that involve imagination and social interaction, so I’ll join in. But unless it’s impacting the quality of our relationship (as it was with my ex), it’s none of my damned business.
I wouldn’t call myself an “avid” gamer. I tend to only like strategy games like Simcity or Age of Empires but I can play those for hours. When I was in my early 20s, we used to also drink a few beers and play Playstation every so often. It’s like anything else. You have to balance it with other things.
The problem is (like any other addiction) is when people immerse themselves in the fantasy world more than the real world. I have a couple of buddies who used to play Everquest constantly. We would always be late going out because they would be glued to the damn monitor. We’re in line at a club and these two are talking about +3 broadwswords and whatnot!
Personally, between looking for work, going to the gym, hanging out with my friends or girlfriend, running a city of half a million Sims, trying to discover nuclear power before the Mongols and posting inane message on SDMB, I just don’t have time to devote to games like that.
But hey…we all have our quirks.