60 days no video games

[Traindom]

Yeah, it's hard to play story-driven games casually. I usually log in a few hours a day myself if when I get a new game. But the game usually only last a week or so, so when I look at the big picture, I've only wasted one week on a kick-ass game as opposed to wasting weeks and weeks playing multiplayers.

Story-driven games aren't casual when you think about it. You have to invest a little time and emotion to play them. The real casual games are casual because you can play them quickly without much investment. So I can see how it would be easy to play and quit quickly. It's easy to jump in and out of, but when I stay there too long, it's easy to get taken for a ride. Very interesting to see your experience, Pineapple. I can play multiplayers casually at first, but it's way too easy for me to get hooked. I imagine playing with friends is a different experience than playing alone.

[SeXyBaCk]

I need like 45 minutes of video game mindless-me-time most days after work, just to switch off and clear my mind. I don't do tv so what else is there? I've got a clear routine, come home, change, work out, fresh orange juice, wash, eat, walk dog, play. After that I'm emotionally and intellectually available to other humans around me. I haven't played anything aside from starcraft in the last 2 years.. can't be arsed to learn a new game and go through all that trouble. I just log in, destroy some 14 year old nerds, wind them up good and I is very content. Of course, I sometimes lose in which case I go absolutely apeshit.

This might also touch on internet rage mentioned in the PM radio podcast.

[Justin]

I stopped video games almost completely after World of Warcraft about 4 years ago (shit it has been that long lol). I used to be hard. core. I had 212 days logged into final fantasy XI and 90 days logged into WoW. Don't get me wrong I had a blast playing games but it comes to the point where you realize that by playing them you aren't really leveling up anything in real life.

The only games I really play now is In the Groove at the arcade (mainly for work out) and the occasional super smash brothers with my gamer friends. Other than that I can't justify spending so much time in front of a computer screen a day since my day job (did) require me to be on it all the time.

Now I find real life more fun. I kind of see real life as an RPG where you're leveling up various skills to get better. The adventures that you can have in real life trumps anything video game. I likened my traveling experience through south america like journeying through an MMORPG. You're going from town to town, having adventures, talkin to NPCS (other travelers), picking up supplies that you need, seeing amazing things, getting ideas from other people on where to go (aka quests) etc.

I think if you channel your desire to play games into hobbies in real life you hardly need them anymore. Channel the need to play competitive LoL to sports or something. Or fighting games to tennis as my friend does it. It's more rewarding in the long run that way. Hell, I don't even watch movies or TV anymore (except the NBA) because I rather have my own great experiences then vicariously living through a television screen. That's just me though.

Now that I'm older, I see a lot of my old gamer friends at the same place as they were in high school. It's kind of sad that I'm the only one who really grew up

[Zac]

I actually never ended up playing that game =P

[Zac]

So I think we all did it? Yay? haha.

[Pineapple]

Wow, 60 days already?

I haven't even really been playing casual games, and have no real desire to play anything at this point. I think I'm happier not playing them.

[Zac]

Yeah I'm pretty content not playing them.