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Why Ever Stop Playing Video Games

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Re: Why Ever Stop Playing Video Games

#11

Post by Tenhundfeld »

arcanus wrote: post #2

>155 million Americans play video games, more than the number who voted in November’s presidential election. And they play them a lot: According to a variety of recent studies, more than 40 percent of Americans play at least three hours a week I'm among them. I play a few hours a week, after my wife and child go to bed. I barely talk about games with any of my fellow adult friends, because for some reason it is still…

I'm curious about how those numbers break down by type of game. 3 hours of casual phone gaming, e.g. playing Candy Crush while waiting in line, feels different from 3 hours of sitting in front of dedicated console/computer.

It's analogous to saying X% of adults read 3 hours per week, outside of work. Reading hacker news for 3 hours is different from reading US Weekly is different from reading a novel, etc.

I'm not passing judgement on any of those activities or saying any aren't worthwhile or whatevs. I'm just saying the broad category of "video games" or "reading" is so vague as to be almost useless. The consumers have different motivations and desires.

Sorry if this is addressed in TFA; I only skimmed it.

Edit: Also, an opinion question: I play the NY Times crossword puzzle on my phone; would that be considered playing a video game? I wouldn't categorize it that way, but I don't have a logical reason when I really think about it.

Re: Why Ever Stop Playing Video Games

#12

Post by alexchantavy »

overcast wrote: post #3

Honestly I don't see the thirty something generation ever giving up video games. They've been a part of our entire lives at this point. Once we're old, it will be a case where no generation has ever been without video games in some capacity.

There's also probably going to be a huge market in making games that older people can play when this generation hits retirement age.

Re: Why Ever Stop Playing Video Games

#13

Post by dibujante »

robin__ wrote: post #5
arcanus wrote: post #2

>155 million Americans play video games, more than the number who voted in November’s presidential election. And they play them a lot: According to a variety of recent studies, more than 40 percent of Americans play at least three hours a week I'm among them. I play a few hours a week, after my wife and child go to bed. I barely talk about games with any of my fellow adult friends, because for some reason it is still…

I'm jealous. Every time I try a game, I totally suck at it. Even the easy difficulty is not easy enough anymore. Nowadays, I only enjoy puzzle games if anything at all.

The first time you tried anything, you probably were pretty bad at it, but with perseverance and engagement, I assume you've gotten pretty good at a lot of things. I used to be very bad at a lot of genres of game and have gotten much better through conscious effort.

Re: Why Ever Stop Playing Video Games

#14

Post by M_Grey »

gnarcoregrizz wrote: post #7

I've been semi-hooked on counter-strike for the past few years. I started getting into it again after I got sick, and now some of my long distance high school and college friends jumped on the bandwagon again and we play regularly. Its a great way to stay in touch and socialize, as well as just have fun playing the game. Its also SUPER competitive which has its upsides and downsides. It makes the game dynamic, you co…

Balance. It's a theme that runs through absolutely everything in life, and video games are no exception.

Re: Why Ever Stop Playing Video Games

#15

Post by jeron »

scottmcleod wrote: post #10
paublyrne wrote: post #4

I would love to play games still. I certainly enjoyed it in my teens and in periods in my 20s where I had more free time than I do now. They can be a real time sink though, so I don't allow myself to buy a console. I barely find time for the pursuits I want to enjoy as it is.

"..so I don't allow myself to buy a console." this is common with so many other people I know (and try to convince to game with me as Adults). I think its all too common to watch Nextflix & HBO for 20 hours in a week, but video games are taboo, despite being more social and cognitively enhancing.

to say Netflix and HBO is fine but gaming is too much of a time drain makes no sense. I've banned myself from both during the work week. The amount of reclaimed time is insane and I feel a lot more productive.

Re: Why Ever Stop Playing Video Games

#17

Post by s_kilk »

robin__ wrote: post #5
arcanus wrote: post #2

>155 million Americans play video games, more than the number who voted in November’s presidential election. And they play them a lot: According to a variety of recent studies, more than 40 percent of Americans play at least three hours a week I'm among them. I play a few hours a week, after my wife and child go to bed. I barely talk about games with any of my fellow adult friends, because for some reason it is still…

I'm jealous. Every time I try a game, I totally suck at it. Even the easy difficulty is not easy enough anymore. Nowadays, I only enjoy puzzle games if anything at all.

On the topic of puzzle games, you might enjoy The Witness: http://the-witness.net

Re: Why Ever Stop Playing Video Games

#19

Post by rthomas6 »

I used to play games a lot, and I don't now. It's not that I don't want to or that I wouldn't enjoy it, I just want to do too many other things more. I have a wife and a kid who demand a lot of my time, I lift weights, I try to play board games with friends, I work on hobby projects, I read books, I do chores, I go on trips. As much as getting immersed into the new Witcher game would be enjoyable to me, I just can't fit it in. All those other things are more important and make me happier.

Re: Why Ever Stop Playing Video Games

#20

Post by AlwaysRock »

Every 6 months or so I find a game that swoops in and eats up all my time. Usually it is a valuable and rewarding experience and its missed once I complete the game. Then I spend 6 months trying games from my steam library until I find another one that has that special something.

It's not the best method but I try to set a timer for 30 minutes 3 times a week and try a new game I've never played. It's obviously not a perfect method but often that's enough time to decide if I want to dedicate more time to that game.

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