I kinda had this assumption when I was a kid too. I figured the minute i became an adult, I would stop enjoying the things I did and start doing 'adult' things like eating brie and sipping chablis. Now, brie is delicious and chablis is highly overrated (I personaly prefer a good Cabernet or cab/merlot blend) but I still like gaming.
Games are fun. That's why I play. period. If you are going to restrict yourself from enjoying the things you would normaly enjoy simply because of how many birthdays you have seen, then you are going to miss out on alot of fun for a silly reason. Be yourself, man. Don't feel like you have to behave in any fashion simply because that is the way you are expected to behave.
I'm 24 and I went through a long period of renouncing my former hobbies in order to become "more mature". Now I've come to the conclusion that it wasn't really necessary. If anything, it was counter productive because I was only emulating what I thought it was to be an adult. I've now learned that as long as you're a compassionate and responsible human being, there's plenty of room for video games and all that other childish crap.
These days I honestly feel that I need the frivolity of a comic book or video game a lot more than I did as a child. As a child, you enjoy such things for what they're worth. As an adult, you enjoy them because you -need- escapism in order to keep you sane.
Gaming is a hobby and adults have been playing games ever since games existed. You have to remember, it is usually adults who make them in the first place.
Just because you may think you have to toss away the fun because maybe that your parents don't play then doesn't mean you have to stop. I bet most adults that don't play, never have really played at all.
It is very shallow thinking to assume that games are made just for kids.
My father is 74 years old and he plays Metal of Honor Allied Assault and has all the expansions. Want to see something cool, watch an old wrinkling man flinch his body everytime he starts shooting at a Nazi on his monitor. There is nothing more funnier. hehehe. I wish I had a picture to show. I think I would get a slide show and use it as my sig hehehe.
You are never too old to game and any gamer that stops playing was never a gamer in the first place. I would rather spend a friday night taking over bases in BF2 or doing a quest with my friends in WoW or EQ2 ANYDAY over going out to dinner, movie, bar, baseball game and etc..
The guy who started this thread is clearly a kid and has no real understanding of what he's even talking about. Wisdom comes with age, and he's in short supply of both.
I'd like to congratualte the forum community, when i first saw this post i was pissed. I was almost insulted.
And i figured that others would flame before me. but im glad their are people out their that are better than me. Cause if im the best we have.....were screwed
Originally posted by Supernerd I figure i will quit playing games once i get older, when im 19 or 20 ;'cause i'll just be into grown up stuff at that age. So for all the old people that play games...... What is your excuse for playing games,do you have kids that play and you help them or what?
............. ............. ............. Are you serious?
I mean we all play games for the same reasons......Story, combat, items....I mean its for shear fun and enjoyment....and lke someone else said.....i doubt you will stop playing games because your so called "Grown up" because some people jsut don't grow up for 1, and 2 if oyu played games for a few years you won't just drop gaming......
Think before you ask a stupid question.
--------------------------------------------- WoW -Rhalon 85 B.E. rogue -Rhalon 81 UD Mage -Doneski 85 Orc death knight
"Everyones life has a beginning and an end, No one can change that."-Hiko "If you wish to taste the ground, then feel free to attack."-Kenshin Himura ---------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Supernerd I figure i will quit playing games once i get older, when im 19 or 20 ;'cause i'll just be into grown up stuff at that age.So for all the old people that play games...... What is your excuse for playing games,do you have kids that play and you help them or what?
grown up stuff.. lol like what sitting on the stoop smokin a stoggie.. Im 20 and still enjoy playing games, thats something that wont die with older age, if you like to game, you like to game. sure when your older you usually dont have as much time to play. but i still make time.
Originally posted by Ferox(SM) when you get married and have a house and mortgage and bills up the wazoo and have to work multiple jobs, you still love to play video games and always wish you could play more :P. It helps to have a wife that likes video games like mine hehe, but I still get the " your on the computer too much !" speech all the time heheh.
I have a 15 month old daughter that loves sitting in my lap while I play WoW. Maybe it's because it's like a cartoon to her but she loves it. She doesn't like Battlefield 2 though but I think thats because of all the explosions and loud noise. LOL.
Oh and Ferox I get the same thing from my wife. "You play on the computer too much" or the famous "You need to spend more time with me instead of that damn computer". But see when I get off the computer, my daughter starts crying because she wants daddy to play games. She loves watching.
Originally posted by Ferox(SM) when you get married and have a house and mortgage and bills up the wazoo and have to work multiple jobs, you still love to play video games and always wish you could play more :P. It helps to have a wife that likes video games like mine hehe, but I still get the " your on the computer too much !" speech all the time heheh.
I have a 15 month old daughter that loves sitting in my lap while I play WoW. Maybe it's because it's like a cartoon to her but she loves it. She doesn't like Battlefield 2 though but I think thats because of all the explosions and loud noise. LOL.
Oh and Ferox I get the same thing from my wife. "You play on the computer too much" or the famous "You need to spend more time with me instead of that damn computer". But see when I get off the computer, my daughter starts crying because she wants daddy to play games. She loves watching.
My 13 month old loves WoW...but he thinks that he needs to control the mouse and keyboard...makes for some interesting deaths.
To the OP, all the reasons listed above. I'm 25 with a wife and kid, and my wife and I still love to play games...when the boss lets us
Originally posted by Ferox(SM) when you get married and have a house and mortgage and bills up the wazoo and have to work multiple jobs, you still love to play video games and always wish you could play more :P. It helps to have a wife that likes video games like mine hehe, but I still get the " your on the computer too much !" speech all the time heheh.
I have a 15 month old daughter that loves sitting in my lap while I play WoW. Maybe it's because it's like a cartoon to her but she loves it. She doesn't like Battlefield 2 though but I think thats because of all the explosions and loud noise. LOL.
Oh and Ferox I get the same thing from my wife. "You play on the computer too much" or the famous "You need to spend more time with me instead of that damn computer". But see when I get off the computer, my daughter starts crying because she wants daddy to play games. She loves watching.
ROFL! got to love having your kid as an excuse to play more games hahah!
my guild friend storm has a 3 year old boy that watchs him play stuff too, I cant wait until I can use my kid as an excuse to play more games!
_____________________________________________ "Old UO is now but a dream that will live in the hearts of the faithful for eternity."
Think you have what it takes to take the 'Oath of the legion' and become a true soldier of Rome? Service guarantees citizenship!
Originally posted by En1Gma I dont know if this has been posted yet on this thread.But the average age of a gamer is now 28. Supernerd, you're actually in the minorityAdult gamers outnumber teenage gamers 3:1Sorry man
Too true! I'm 33 years old and love playing games. Have for years. I'm a telecom engineer and it's a very stressful job. When I go home I either spend time with my family or I play games for relaxation away from work.
Originally posted by firemagic "We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
Notice the words "video games" is missing from this quote. Gaming is not even close to what was intended by this quote. Playing involves real life - not vegitating in front of a computer screen.
I've known many a person to screw up their relationships, estrange their families etc from gaming but, then I've known people who involve their family in the gaming.
My view is that we make decisions in life some good some bad (many bad .. many many bad). The online time syncs such as everquest are an escape from the harsh realities of life - the mistakes we've made including relationships and kids.
Is this escape mentally healthy? Who knows - to me it's just another drug - one I personally am tired of using.
Justify it however you want - I see ya trying to convince yourselves with all these wonderful justifications - mine was "it keeps me outta trouble" - hell man, it keeps me out of real life. Vegitate in a chair in front of the computer - sitting with your kid in front of the screen for hours - uh yeah... that's what the kid needs. Not to go outside and play games for real - but, to learn how to be a vegitable.
Way to go wonder parents.. way to freakin' go... pat yourselves on the back - if ya can't in real life I'm sure there is a /patonback command in one of your games...
I for one am glad to be unplugged...
These are the opinions of one person - nothing more
Originally posted by firemagic "We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
Notice the words "video games" is missing from this quote. Gaming is not even close to what was intended by this quote. Playing involves real life - not vegitating in front of a computer screen.
I've known many a person to screw up their relationships, estrange their families etc from gaming but, then I've known people who involve their family in the gaming.
My view is that we make decisions in life some good some bad (many bad .. many many bad). The online time syncs such as everquest are an escape from the harsh realities of life - the mistakes we've made including relationships and kids.
Is this escape mentally healthy? Who knows - to me it's just another drug - one I personally am tired of using.
Justify it however you want - I see ya trying to convince yourselves with all these wonderful justifications - mine was "it keeps me outta trouble" - hell man, it keeps me out of real life. Vegitate in a chair in front of the computer - sitting with your kid in front of the screen for hours - uh yeah... that's what the kid needs. Not to go outside and play games for real - but, to learn how to be a vegitable.
Way to go wonder parents.. way to freakin' go... pat yourselves on the back - if ya can't in real life I'm sure there is a /patonback command in one of your games...
I for one am glad to be unplugged...
These are the opinions of one person - nothing more
Video games have been an escape for me , yes, but they have mainly been a place for my imagination to fly and for me to have entertainment.
I dont watch much tv, I work at night, but I still have never been a sit com/prime time person, I have history channel and cartoon network going while I play at night.
So im not a tv veg, but I am a veg in the sense that I dont work out much, although one of my summer jobs is being out in the heat moving heavy stones and doing real landscaping, not like mowing lawns.
I have never put video games over reality... although I always want video games to be a PART of my reality... who i am online, all the friends Ive made, the people I talk to, including all you guys on mmrogp.com, are part of my life.
Perhaps the only time where I used video games as a true escape was in High School, which was the worst four years of my life, I remember just trying to survive each day and going home at night to play some warcraft or command and conquer (originals) with my buddies on dial up connection, back in the day where you actually had to DIAL the persons phone to connect to his game server to play. There were times I thought about suicide and all that, but I never felt like I wanted to end it, and after high school I became more self confident and never cared what people thought, to this day even though I'm older and larger, I still love life and myself and friends and to have fun.
In college I partied and danced on tables with sorority chicks and drank my ass off... and played a lot of video games :P. I think you can do both. Now that I'm married though It's all about the work and family, but I still want a good 25% of my life to be about the internet and online.
I want to go around the world and see places, and have grand adventures, but I also want to log into video games with my online friends and experience thing's in my imagination I never will in real life... Like riding with theoden in the last charge at helms deep, or trampleing barbarians in Roma Victor with my friends.
video games are the new media my friends... first there was the written word.. then radio... then tv... video games and the internet, and computers in general are the next stage.
You should still go out and throw the ball around and go to parties and drink your ass off and have fun... but a t-shit I have sums it all up.
a white shirt with an 8 bit nintendo pad on it and under it says " know your roots".
VIDEO GAMES FOREVER BABY!
_____________________________________________ "Old UO is now but a dream that will live in the hearts of the faithful for eternity."
Think you have what it takes to take the 'Oath of the legion' and become a true soldier of Rome? Service guarantees citizenship!
Originally posted by Mentat Originally posted by firemagic "We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw Notice the words "video games" is missing from this quote. Gaming is not even close to what was intended by this quote. Playing involves real life - not vegitating in front of a computer screen. I've known many a person to screw up their relationships, estrange their families etc from gaming but, then I've known people who involve their family in the gaming. My view is that we make decisions in life some good some bad (many bad .. many many bad). The online time syncs such as everquest are an escape from the harsh realities of life - the mistakes we've made including relationships and kids. Is this escape mentally healthy? Who knows - to me it's just another drug - one I personally am tired of using. Justify it however you want - I see ya trying to convince yourselves with all these wonderful justifications - mine was "it keeps me outta trouble" - hell man, it keeps me out of real life. Vegitate in a chair in front of the computer - sitting with your kid in front of the screen for hours - uh yeah... that's what the kid needs. Not to go outside and play games for real - but, to learn how to be a vegitable. Way to go wonder parents.. way to freakin' go... pat yourselves on the back - if ya can't in real life I'm sure there is a /patonback command in one of your games... I for one am glad to be unplugged... These are the opinions of one person - nothing more
Ok would you say the same thing if a child was watching their favorite cartoons on the cartoon network on TV? Ok what's the difference between my daughter watching Dora the Explorer or some other cartoon on TV and watching daddy play a game on the computer. We still go outside and play on the swing or play in the pool or play ball. You think because I sit her on my lap while I play an online game that I'm turning her into a "vegetable"??
Maybe you need to wake up and smell what you are shoveling?? Maybe you were picked on as a kid? Maybe you need to actually have kids yourself and see what it is like being a father? Maybe you need to grow up some and think before you open your mouth and say something ridiculous again?
Notice the words "video games" is missing from this quote. Gaming is not even close to what was intended by this quote. Playing involves real life - not vegitating in front of a computer screen.
And herein lies the problem. The internet is also real life as well, its just a different medium of expressing it. The key is moderation and balance. One can also "escape", as you put it, by reading novels or poetry or being absorbed in a creative project, or potting plants in their garden or what not. Everyone has stress-reducers in their lives. The key is achieving moderation and balance with them. I categorically disgagree that is is healthier to pot plants in the garden than it is to play a video game for the same period of time ... but doing either for 15 hours a day is a problem no matter what. The bias towards non-computer interaction is just that .. a bias.
I've known many a person to screw up their relationships, estrange their families etc from gaming
And people will find every manner of reasons of subverting their relationships, be it oeverwork, drinking and drugs, affairs, emotional neglect and the like. It comes down, again, to moderation and balance, not the choice of using video games as a stress reducer.
The online time syncs such as everquest are an escape from the harsh realities of life - the mistakes we've made including relationships and kids.
Again, I don't agree that they are inherently bad, but if they are played too much well then yes that is bad but it isn't an issue with video games its an issue with someone not having a good balance and moderation in their life. Again, if they were out in the garden potting plants 10 hours a day that would be a problem too. We all need escapes from life from time to time, that is not an issue ... again the key is making sure that the escapes you choose to use are used in a moderated and balanced way and fit in with your life rather than urusrping it. That takes personal responsibility, but its the same responsibility to make sure than anything else doesnt usurp your life, like work, food, alcohol, sex and other pleasurable activities.
it keeps me out of real life
Again, it is real life, its just a game played in a different medium in real life. It's just as real as a tabletop roleplaying game, it is just played via a computer program.
I figure i will quit playing games once i get older, when im 19 or 20 ;'cause i'll just be into grown up stuff at that age.
The only problem with that is there is no clear point at which someone becomes "grown up". The 80 year old walking down the street with a cane is still the same being he was 70 years ago (not necessarily the same person). I'd have to say that the only real change I felt was in my mid teens (15-17). That aside, I really don't care if I'm "grown up". I'm still 8 years old at times, and sometimes I'm 30. I don't believe I'll ever view myself as a grown-up - just a little closer to death.
"Put your foot where your mouth is." - Wisdom from my grandfather "Paper or plastic? ... because I'm afraid I'll have to suffocate you unless you put this bag on your head..." - Ethnitrek AC1: Wierding from Harvestgain
I'll be 53 years old in a few days and I've been playing games all my life and "video" games since Pong. My brother and I were always competitive in games, from chess to scrabble to trivial pursuit to Super Mario Brothers. Although our game interests have diverged over the years (he prefers online chess while I prefer mmos), I've since gotten his oldest son into mmos and he's played DAOC with me for the past 3 years. When you live half a continent apart, it's a good way to keep in touch!
Some people enjoy their free time by playing or watching sports, reading, crafting, listening to music or watching TV, hanging out with friends, etc. Some people enjoy their free time by playing online or offline computer/video games. I don't play console games anymore because they seemed to get stuck in racing/fighting mode. Computer games are much more evolved and involved. It was the difference between computer games and video games that caused me to buy my first computer - a Commodore 64. I did my time in the "twisty little passages" of the adventure games of that era. If you're interested in trying some of these games, try this site: http://www.msadams.com/index.htm. You can play them online.
I was quite satisfied with my Commodore computer until we got IBM's at work in the mid 70's. The speed difference convinced me that I MUST have an IBM. So, I got one. It was still the era of CGA graphics - 4 colors - pink, blue, gray and white (if I remember correctly). You can just imagine what graphics were like! My first modem was 2.4k baud and that was the fastest you could connect to most services. It seemed like lightning speed at the time after working with 1.2k baud at work, but compared to the 56k baud of today, it was a snail's pace. Of course, web pages and games were still mostly text at the time.
I guess what I'm trying to get at is that if computer games have intrigued me since the invention of the desk top, why would they not interest me now? Most people give up their joys when they are no longer able to indulge them, not because they lose interest. I don't think I'd last very long in a game of hopscotch or double-dutch and my knees wouldn't take a game of skellies or marbles. But, my fingers and eyes still work so playing computer games is still an enjoyable option!
So, yes, you might grow up and take on adult responsibilities. That doesn't mean you have to give up your childhood loves. They may evolve and change over time but that can make them more exciting and interesting to you.
Comments
I kinda had this assumption when I was a kid too. I figured the minute i became an adult, I would stop enjoying the things I did and start doing 'adult' things like eating brie and sipping chablis. Now, brie is delicious and chablis is highly overrated (I personaly prefer a good Cabernet or cab/merlot blend) but I still like gaming.
Games are fun. That's why I play. period. If you are going to restrict yourself from enjoying the things you would normaly enjoy simply because of how many birthdays you have seen, then you are going to miss out on alot of fun for a silly reason. Be yourself, man. Don't feel like you have to behave in any fashion simply because that is the way you are expected to behave.
I'm 24 and I went through a long period of renouncing my former hobbies in order to become "more mature". Now I've come to the conclusion that it wasn't really necessary. If anything, it was counter productive because I was only emulating what I thought it was to be an adult. I've now learned that as long as you're a compassionate and responsible human being, there's plenty of room for video games and all that other childish crap.
These days I honestly feel that I need the frivolity of a comic book or video game a lot more than I did as a child. As a child, you enjoy such things for what they're worth. As an adult, you enjoy them because you -need- escapism in order to keep you sane.
I'm 40 years old and I have been playing PC games since Rogue....
http://home.wanadoo.nl/loche/rogue/
Gaming is a hobby and adults have been playing games ever since games existed. You have to remember, it is usually adults who make them in the first place.
Just because you may think you have to toss away the fun because maybe that your parents don't play then doesn't mean you have to stop. I bet most adults that don't play, never have really played at all.
It is very shallow thinking to assume that games are made just for kids.
My father is 74 years old and he plays Metal of Honor Allied Assault and has all the expansions. Want to see something cool, watch an old wrinkling man flinch his body everytime he starts shooting at a Nazi on his monitor. There is nothing more funnier. hehehe. I wish I had a picture to show. I think I would get a slide show and use it as my sig hehehe.
You are never too old to game and any gamer that stops playing was never a gamer in the first place. I would rather spend a friday night taking over bases in BF2 or doing a quest with my friends in WoW or EQ2 ANYDAY over going out to dinner, movie, bar, baseball game and etc..
The guy who started this thread is clearly a kid and has no real understanding of what he's even talking about. Wisdom comes with age, and he's in short supply of both.
I'd like to congratualte the forum community, when i first saw this post i was pissed. I was almost insulted.
And i figured that others would flame before me. but im glad their are people out their that are better than me. Cause if im the best we have.....were screwed
I never understood the view that video games are a kids thing. I've been playing computer games since I was a little kid when I first got my NES.
I'm 19 now, and I don't imagine I will ever stop playing them. What is so immature about playing computer games?
Would you rather play golf??
[we need a worldwide genocide/ a planetary suicide/ and when the whole damned world is dead/ there''s your f***ing peace]
"We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
.............
.............
.............
Are you serious?
I mean we all play games for the same reasons......Story, combat, items....I mean its for shear fun and enjoyment....and lke someone else said.....i doubt you will stop playing games because your so called "Grown up" because some people jsut don't grow up for 1, and 2 if oyu played games for a few years you won't just drop gaming......
Think before you ask a stupid question.
---------------------------------------------
WoW
-Rhalon 85 B.E. rogue
-Rhalon 81 UD Mage
-Doneski 85 Orc death knight
"Everyones life has a beginning and an end, No one can change that."-Hiko
"If you wish to taste the ground, then feel free to attack."-Kenshin Himura
---------------------------------------------
I'm 26 and i play games because im a addict.
Now move along... nothing to see here
"This is not a game to be tossed aside lightly.
It should be thrown with great force"
For the same reasons people under 18 play them.
Chris Mattern
Gaming actually fits better for adults and kids should be doing more healthy kid thingies.
I'm still going to be playing video games when i'm over 18 because you're never too old for video games.
My grandfather plays video games. He has a gc and a ps2.
grown up stuff.. lol like what sitting on the stoop smokin a stoggie.. Im 20 and still enjoy playing games, thats something that wont die with older age, if you like to game, you like to game. sure when your older you usually dont have as much time to play. but i still make time.
I have a 15 month old daughter that loves sitting in my lap while I play WoW. Maybe it's because it's like a cartoon to her but she loves it. She doesn't like Battlefield 2 though but I think thats because of all the explosions and loud noise. LOL.
Oh and Ferox I get the same thing from my wife. "You play on the computer too much" or the famous "You need to spend more time with me instead of that damn computer". But see when I get off the computer, my daughter starts crying because she wants daddy to play games.
She loves watching. 
I have a 15 month old daughter that loves sitting in my lap while I play WoW. Maybe it's because it's like a cartoon to her but she loves it. She doesn't like Battlefield 2 though but I think thats because of all the explosions and loud noise. LOL.
Oh and Ferox I get the same thing from my wife. "You play on the computer too much" or the famous "You need to spend more time with me instead of that damn computer". But see when I get off the computer, my daughter starts crying because she wants daddy to play games.
She loves watching. 
My 13 month old loves WoW...but he thinks that he needs to control the mouse and keyboard...makes for some interesting deaths.
To the OP, all the reasons listed above. I'm 25 with a wife and kid, and my wife and I still love to play games...when the boss lets us
I have a 15 month old daughter that loves sitting in my lap while I play WoW. Maybe it's because it's like a cartoon to her but she loves it. She doesn't like Battlefield 2 though but I think thats because of all the explosions and loud noise. LOL.
Oh and Ferox I get the same thing from my wife. "You play on the computer too much" or the famous "You need to spend more time with me instead of that damn computer". But see when I get off the computer, my daughter starts crying because she wants daddy to play games.
She loves watching. 
ROFL! got to love having your kid as an excuse to play more games hahah!
my guild friend storm has a 3 year old boy that watchs him play stuff too, I cant wait until I can use my kid as an excuse to play more games!
_____________________________________________
"Old UO is now but a dream that will live in the hearts of the faithful for eternity."
Think you have what it takes to take the 'Oath of the legion' and become a true soldier of Rome?
Service guarantees citizenship!
I dont know if this has been posted yet on this thread.
But the average age of a gamer is now 28.
Supernerd, you're actually in the minority
Adult gamers outnumber teenage gamers 3:1
Sorry man
People who have to create conspiracy and hate threads to further a cause lacks in intellectual comprehension of diversity.
Too true! I'm 33 years old and love playing games. Have for years. I'm a telecom engineer and it's a very stressful job. When I go home I either spend time with my family or I play games for relaxation away from work.
Notice the words "video games" is missing from this quote. Gaming is not even close to what was intended by this quote. Playing involves real life - not vegitating in front of a computer screen.
I've known many a person to screw up their relationships, estrange their families etc from gaming but, then I've known people who involve their family in the gaming.
My view is that we make decisions in life some good some bad (many bad .. many many bad). The online time syncs such as everquest are an escape from the harsh realities of life - the mistakes we've made including relationships and kids.
Is this escape mentally healthy? Who knows - to me it's just another drug - one I personally am tired of using.
Justify it however you want - I see ya trying to convince yourselves with all these wonderful justifications - mine was "it keeps me outta trouble" - hell man, it keeps me out of real life. Vegitate in a chair in front of the computer - sitting with your kid in front of the screen for hours - uh yeah... that's what the kid needs. Not to go outside and play games for real - but, to learn how to be a vegitable.
Way to go wonder parents.. way to freakin' go... pat yourselves on the back - if ya can't in real life I'm sure there is a /patonback command in one of your games...
I for one am glad to be unplugged...
These are the opinions of one person - nothing more
Notice the words "video games" is missing from this quote. Gaming is not even close to what was intended by this quote. Playing involves real life - not vegitating in front of a computer screen.
I've known many a person to screw up their relationships, estrange their families etc from gaming but, then I've known people who involve their family in the gaming.
My view is that we make decisions in life some good some bad (many bad .. many many bad). The online time syncs such as everquest are an escape from the harsh realities of life - the mistakes we've made including relationships and kids.
Is this escape mentally healthy? Who knows - to me it's just another drug - one I personally am tired of using.
Justify it however you want - I see ya trying to convince yourselves with all these wonderful justifications - mine was "it keeps me outta trouble" - hell man, it keeps me out of real life. Vegitate in a chair in front of the computer - sitting with your kid in front of the screen for hours - uh yeah... that's what the kid needs. Not to go outside and play games for real - but, to learn how to be a vegitable.
Way to go wonder parents.. way to freakin' go... pat yourselves on the back - if ya can't in real life I'm sure there is a /patonback command in one of your games...
I for one am glad to be unplugged...
These are the opinions of one person - nothing more
Video games have been an escape for me , yes, but they have mainly been a place for my imagination to fly and for me to have entertainment.
I dont watch much tv, I work at night, but I still have never been a sit com/prime time person, I have history channel and cartoon network going while I play at night.
So im not a tv veg, but I am a veg in the sense that I dont work out much, although one of my summer jobs is being out in the heat moving heavy stones and doing real landscaping, not like mowing lawns.
I have never put video games over reality... although I always want video games to be a PART of my reality... who i am online, all the friends Ive made, the people I talk to, including all you guys on mmrogp.com, are part of my life.
Perhaps the only time where I used video games as a true escape was in High School, which was the worst four years of my life, I remember just trying to survive each day and going home at night to play some warcraft or command and conquer (originals) with my buddies on dial up connection, back in the day where you actually had to DIAL the persons phone to connect to his game server to play. There were times I thought about suicide and all that, but I never felt like I wanted to end it, and after high school I became more self confident and never cared what people thought, to this day even though I'm older and larger, I still love life and myself and friends and to have fun.
In college I partied and danced on tables with sorority chicks and drank my ass off... and played a lot of video games :P. I think you can do both. Now that I'm married though It's all about the work and family, but I still want a good 25% of my life to be about the internet and online.
I want to go around the world and see places, and have grand adventures, but I also want to log into video games with my online friends and experience thing's in my imagination I never will in real life... Like riding with theoden in the last charge at helms deep, or trampleing barbarians in Roma Victor with my friends.
video games are the new media my friends... first there was the written word.. then radio... then tv... video games and the internet, and computers in general are the next stage.
You should still go out and throw the ball around and go to parties and drink your ass off and have fun... but a t-shit I have sums it all up.
a white shirt with an 8 bit nintendo pad on it and under it says " know your roots".
VIDEO GAMES FOREVER BABY!
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Ok would you say the same thing if a child was watching their favorite cartoons on the cartoon network on TV? Ok what's the difference between my daughter watching Dora the Explorer or some other cartoon on TV and watching daddy play a game on the computer. We still go outside and play on the swing or play in the pool or play ball. You think because I sit her on my lap while I play an online game that I'm turning her into a "vegetable"??
Maybe you need to wake up and smell what you are shoveling?? Maybe you were picked on as a kid? Maybe you need to actually have kids yourself and see what it is like being a father? Maybe you need to grow up some and think before you open your mouth and say something ridiculous again?
Case closed.
And herein lies the problem. The internet is also real life as well, its just a different medium of expressing it. The key is moderation and balance. One can also "escape", as you put it, by reading novels or poetry or being absorbed in a creative project, or potting plants in their garden or what not. Everyone has stress-reducers in their lives. The key is achieving moderation and balance with them. I categorically disgagree that is is healthier to pot plants in the garden than it is to play a video game for the same period of time ... but doing either for 15 hours a day is a problem no matter what. The bias towards non-computer interaction is just that .. a bias.
And people will find every manner of reasons of subverting their relationships, be it oeverwork, drinking and drugs, affairs, emotional neglect and the like. It comes down, again, to moderation and balance, not the choice of using video games as a stress reducer.
Again, I don't agree that they are inherently bad, but if they are played too much well then yes that is bad but it isn't an issue with video games its an issue with someone not having a good balance and moderation in their life. Again, if they were out in the garden potting plants 10 hours a day that would be a problem too. We all need escapes from life from time to time, that is not an issue ... again the key is making sure that the escapes you choose to use are used in a moderated and balanced way and fit in with your life rather than urusrping it. That takes personal responsibility, but its the same responsibility to make sure than anything else doesnt usurp your life, like work, food, alcohol, sex and other pleasurable activities.
Again, it is real life, its just a game played in a different medium in real life. It's just as real as a tabletop roleplaying game, it is just played via a computer program.
I figure i will quit playing games once i get older, when im 19 or 20 ;'cause i'll just be into grown up stuff at that age.
The only problem with that is there is no clear point at which someone becomes "grown up". The 80 year old walking down the street with a cane is still the same being he was 70 years ago (not necessarily the same person). I'd have to say that the only real change I felt was in my mid teens (15-17). That aside, I really don't care if I'm "grown up". I'm still 8 years old at times, and sometimes I'm 30. I don't believe I'll ever view myself as a grown-up - just a little closer to death.
"Put your foot where your mouth is." - Wisdom from my grandfather
"Paper or plastic? ... because I'm afraid I'll have to suffocate you unless you put this bag on your head..." - Ethnitrek
AC1: Wierding from Harvestgain
I'll be 53 years old in a few days and I've been playing games all my life and "video" games since Pong. My brother and I were always competitive in games, from chess to scrabble to trivial pursuit to Super Mario Brothers. Although our game interests have diverged over the years (he prefers online chess while I prefer mmos), I've since gotten his oldest son into mmos and he's played DAOC with me for the past 3 years. When you live half a continent apart, it's a good way to keep in touch!
Some people enjoy their free time by playing or watching sports, reading, crafting, listening to music or watching TV, hanging out with friends, etc. Some people enjoy their free time by playing online or offline computer/video games. I don't play console games anymore because they seemed to get stuck in racing/fighting mode. Computer games are much more evolved and involved. It was the difference between computer games and video games that caused me to buy my first computer - a Commodore 64. I did my time in the "twisty little passages" of the adventure games of that era. If you're interested in trying some of these games, try this site: http://www.msadams.com/index.htm. You can play them online.
I was quite satisfied with my Commodore computer until we got IBM's at work in the mid 70's. The speed difference convinced me that I MUST have an IBM. So, I got one. It was still the era of CGA graphics - 4 colors - pink, blue, gray and white (if I remember correctly). You can just imagine what graphics were like! My first modem was 2.4k baud and that was the fastest you could connect to most services. It seemed like lightning speed at the time after working with 1.2k baud at work, but compared to the 56k baud of today, it was a snail's pace. Of course, web pages and games were still mostly text at the time.
I guess what I'm trying to get at is that if computer games have intrigued me since the invention of the desk top, why would they not interest me now? Most people give up their joys when they are no longer able to indulge them, not because they lose interest. I don't think I'd last very long in a game of hopscotch or double-dutch and my knees wouldn't take a game of skellies or marbles. But, my fingers and eyes still work so playing computer games is still an enjoyable option!
So, yes, you might grow up and take on adult responsibilities. That doesn't mean you have to give up your childhood loves. They may evolve and change over time but that can make them more exciting and interesting to you.