Video Games Are Boring

Take this for what you will, but one of the reasons I feel like I've become bored with games is that I've become bored of killing things. Yes, there are games that buck this trend, but I found myself struggling to justify buying a new console (or gaming PC) when this was predominant gameplay mechanic in most triple A titles. I only occasionally play games now, mostly Flash games.

I feel like she just needs to find better less judgmental friends; they certainly don't sound like people I would want to associate with. They belittle her work, refuse to try things she enjoys and overall come off fairly unpleasant. New friends, real friends, are in order.

This article is weird. It sort of addresses the solution to it's problem while it's problem is also almost non-existant.

1 - not every medium is for everybody. Getting my friends to play videogames (or getting my few gamer friends to play niche/weird game I recommend) is something I already gave up. I don't dislike cinema, but most of the movies the are made simply don't appeal to me. There's nothing wrong with cinema. I'm just not that attracted to the medium.

2 - the author's friends' attitude to videogames. This shows lack of knowledge, lack of humility and elitism. Just because they don't know any games that "change you as a person" or cater to their "cultural preferences and interests" that doesn't mean that there isn't. People should be humble when judging other things. I don't like hip-hop. But I don't assume it is all bad or that I will dislike it all. Sturgeon's law applies both ways, and to everything.

3 - about the author's suggestions. I like the suggestions. I thought Skyrim would be a bit too heavy to a new gamer (specially to one who was really on the fence) but it worked! It showed the power transposing ourselves to a new world and live within it. And that Lidya story.. It was the best outcome it could happen. Sure, Kristina later abandoned the game. But the theme wasn't of her liking. But it showed her a glimpse of what is possible.

4 - I dislike the demonization of the bulk of the medium. Sure, there are a lot os FPSs and violence and twitch-reflex action games. We have Call of Duty as we have Katy Perry and Transformers[0]. And these get a lot of imitators and visibility and money because... there are a lot of people who like these things ans are willing to play for them. And this is OK. Niche stuff, out of the mainstream is always harder to find.

Finally 5 - The author is there and clearly knows videogames. If a friend wants to try videogames you should, like the author said, ask what they like or expect to see and direct them to a game like that. Skyrim is a good choice. Papers please is also nice. Maybe a puzzle game. Or a walking simulator to someone who just wants to experience a story in his own pace. And maybe you could, I don't know, give them Call of Duty. They might enjoy it. And they might even dislike everything. Because, as I said, not every medium is for everybody. but The demonization os the mainstream simply shows a clear lack of understanding of the market and an extremely "hipseristic" attitude.

[0] - I'm using these as an example of something low-brow, made for the masses. This is only my opinion and you are free to enjoy them and regard them in whatever way you want.

I don't play video games, but I also don't think they're boring. I was a big gamer during my younger years - teens through university. Unfortunately this means I know the kind of time they can demand and consume, as well as the cost. Now in my 30s, I have a family, a home, and many other hobbies. I make a conscious effort to stay away from video games because I just don't have that much time I want to spend. I have fond memories of many games but I really don't miss it all that much.

These days, my infrequent gaming time doubles as friend/family time with a board game played around a table.

some games have depth and a compelling enough story to keep you wanting for more. e.g. for me that is the Mass Effect series. The graphics you could say are not that great by 2016 standards but the amount of work that went into the story and universe building for that game kept me occupied. I spent hours probably reading the codex about different species and events in the Mass Effect universe, it was similar to reading a fantasy/scifi book like Dune. It wasn't the graphics, it wasn't the amazing gameplay, it was just a good entertaining story and great universe building that made the game.