It’s there as a pacifier for those that don’t want to do the small-talk thing. We have used it this way for family get-togethers, which are mercifully rare at our house. When stuck at someone else’s house I don’t want to be at I will park myself in front of the game (I do not really care what game is even on). In the absence of the TV showing the game, the other strategy I use is to busy myself doing the dishes and pots and pans all night long, and staying in the kitchen.
When I was living in Chicago I was a member of a group of SF/Star Trek fans (actually I’m still a member, but obviously I don’t get together with them that often anymore). We had monthly meetings and the occasional game nights and pot-luck dinners. After one of the dinners somebody noticed that all of the guys had gathered in one room and all of the gals in another. One of us guys jokingly said, “Brandy and cigars, gentlemen?” and this became a running joke, as it seemed to happen on a regular basis.