Addictive Games: Your take on it?

The idea for this thread came from one of my blog hopping sessions.

In the linked entry, the writer ponders whether spending great amounts of time throughout his life in games which could be cIassiffied as "addicting" was the right choice or not.

I wish those games were finite, in retrospect. I consider a great deal of the time I spent with them wasted. Our leisure activities should not generate regret. It made me consider swearing off video games entirely, though I later learned a stronger sense of moderation coupled with a desire to limit myself to certain types of game experiences. I am far more productive than I once was. I have a good job, I started this blog, and I have close friendships and exciting artistic projects. My time to actually play video games is severely curtailed, but my life is more fulfilling as a result.PressPausetoReflect

My free time is much more valuable to me now than it once was. I don't have the mental space for an addiction. Maybe it's time to put infinite games behind me, and focus on the finite. After all, I like a good ending.PressPausetoReflect

I have certainly spent a good chunk of my spare time in games with addictive qualities (for lack of a better term). Throughout my life, games such as Diablo, StarCraft, or The Sims have taken a prominent role in my gaming pantheon, and thus, have been played to exhaustion. However, fortunately, I've never been in a place where my gaming interfered with my studies, personal relationships or my job, regardless of the kind of game I'm playing.

I'd like to hear some thoughts from you guys on this subject. Have you ever had any aspect of your life compromised by your gaming? How did you deal with that?

I agree with PauseToReflect, if that was his name. I spent way to much time on games like StarCraft, WoW, Sims, Stronghold, Civilization, etc. And some I'm still with (Mainly just Civilization, but more moderation). I feel a lot of regret for some of these games because they contributed enormously to my social anxiety **** I went through in junior high and freshman year. Got out of it eventually though, and I couldn't afford subscriptions myself, so it worked out decently.

Though all of the above games I'd still recommend anyone to play anytime. Just, not to be stupid and try to binge game from right when you get off the bus till midnight daily through junior high, or anytime for that matter. That's not a very tactical approach. :roll: