Games as a hobby

Do you view games as a hobby or as something else?

For me, gaming became a lot more fun (and I actually did better) when I "realized" it was my hobby. Before that, I think I was taking it too seriously. I would get frustrated a lot, wouldn't keep playing a game because of a harder level, etc. It was such a release when my perspective changed. Now, when I look back on my "serious" days, I can't help but think, "What was I doing?!"

Well, unless you work with games, what else can gaming be besides a hobby?

When I was younger (4+ years ago), I used to view gaming as a way of life. I lived, breathed, and essentially ate gaming. PC gaming to be exact. Now-a-days, I've been slowly moving away from video games and am currently exploring pen and paper RPGs. I'm astounded at the amount of creativity and the open endedness that pen and papers provide. It's nothing like I've seen in my 14 years of being a PC gamer.

Yes, I'll still be gaming, but not as intense as I used to.

Well, unless you work with games, what else can gaming be besides a hobby?

Grieverr

Some people view it as a type of sport, or to be more accurate, a cyber-sport.

Do you view games as a hobby or as something else?Panther023

[QUOTE="Grieverr"]

Well, unless you work with games, what else can gaming be besides a hobby?

BladesOfAthena

Some people view it as a type of sport, or to be more accurate, a cyber-sport.

Perhaps, but if you're not making a living off of your sport, than your sport is also a hobby. Just because an activity is a hobby doesn't mean that it's not also a serious hobby. People spend a huge amount of time on their hobbies and are very devoted to them.bekkilyn

You don't have to be making a living off of it for it to be considered a sport. And that entirely depends on the occassion. Being in competitive mode and being able to chill and relax aren't necessarily the same thing.

Good question. Ive been playing games since I was six. I now mod them as well, now I veiw THAT as a hobby. But playing games, IDK just feels more than a hobby. Like watching tv. Is that a hobby? I dont watch tv that much, Im too busy playing games, haha, but Ive never heard someone call watching tv a hobby before so what is it? Entertainment? Idk this is a really good question. Alls I know is since Im still a teenager my hormones basiclly control my life, and Ill go through periods where Im very competitive, then the next week Ill be relaxed and laugh at things I ussually scream at. Haha, but once more GOOD QUESTION!

[QUOTE="bekkilyn"] Perhaps, but if you're not making a living off of your sport, than your sport is also a hobby. Just because an activity is a hobby doesn't mean that it's not also a serious hobby. People spend a huge amount of time on their hobbies and are very devoted to them.BladesOfAthena

You don't have to be making a living off of it for it to be considered a sport. And that entirely depends on the occassion. Being in competitive mode and being able to chill and relax aren't necessarily the same thing.

I never denied that it was still a sport. I only said that if you aren't making a living from your sport, then your sport is a hobby. Otherwise, your sport would be a sports profession or occupation rather than a sports hobby. Competition in and of itself doesn't make something any more or less of a hobby. Some people are pretty casual about their hobbies and other people are very passionate about them.bekkilyn

Do college or high school softball players make a living out of playing softball?

Being serious or devoted about a hobby is entirely different from being serious or devoted to a sport. Your level of involvement in a sport implies that ultimately, your only goal in mind is to dominate your opponent. In a hobby, there is no such thing, otherwise there'd be sport competitions in fixing cars, building computers, or collecting stamps. Sure, there's a degree of improving one's skill involved, but its not done solely for the purpose of one-upping somebody else.

This is interesting and something I didn't expect when I posted the topic. It seems that an answer to my original question actually implies a general definition of "hobby". According to Webster, the definition of a hobby is, "a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation". So, as was said, unless a person does this for a living, video games are a hobby, at least by the definition. Having said that, some people do take their hobbies veru seriously, even to the point where they stop being relaxing. Perhaps I should have worded the question something like this...

Do you treat video games as a hobby or have they become something more to you? The "something more" is the area of debate, I would imagine. :)

Either a hobby, passion or punchbag that can punch you back.

It could be viewed as a passion...skingus

Games are way to relax , much better then going to the pub/bar and getting wasted.

Better way to blow of steam hasn't yet been invented,now is it an obsession or hobby or what else is debatable .

Do college or high school softball players make a living out of playing softball?BladesOfAthena

No, they don't, and so their interest and participation in sports is a hobby for them. They are just more serious about their hobbies than someone who casually collects butterflies (as opposed to someone who collects rare butterflies and enters their collections into science fairs and such.)

Being serious or devoted about a hobby is entirely different from being serious or devoted to a sport. Your level of involvement in a sport implies that ultimately, your only goal in mind is to dominate your opponent. In a hobby, there is no such thing, otherwise there'd be sport competitions in fixing cars, building computers, or collecting stamps. Sure, there's a degree of improving one's skill involved, but its not done solely for the purpose of one-upping somebody else.

BladesOfAthena

[QUOTE="BladesOfAthena"]

Do college or high school softball players make a living out of playing softball?bekkilyn

No, they don't, and so their interest and participation in sports is a hobby for them. They are just more serious about their hobbies than someone who casually collects butterflies (as opposed to someone who collects rare butterflies and enters their collections into science fairs and such.)

Being serious or devoted about a hobby is entirely different from being serious or devoted to a sport. Your level of involvement in a sport implies that ultimately, your only goal in mind is to dominate your opponent. In a hobby, there is no such thing, otherwise there'd be sport competitions in fixing cars, building computers, or collecting stamps. Sure, there's a degree of improving one's skill involved, but its not done solely for the purpose of one-upping somebody else.

BladesOfAthena

No, they don't, and so their interest and participation in sports is a hobby for them. They are just more serious about their hobbies than someone who casually collects butterflies (as opposed to someone who collects rare butterflies and enters their collections into science fairs and such.)

bekkilyn

Yeah, but only if its being done outside of a championship or a playoff. You wouldn't call it a hobby if you're going against another school or state. Then it becomes a sport, or a competition.

Actually, people compete within their hobbies all the time. Someone who has a gardening hobby may enter competitions in order to see who grew the best roses, or who has the most historically accurate specialty garden. My father loved bass fishing and would regularly enter bass competitions. He bought the boat, had the memberships, collected all kinds of stuff related to bass fishing, but it was still his hobby. He was never a professional bass fisherman. I'm sure people who play high school or college sports have multiple reasons for playing them other than just one-upping someone else. Otherwise, they could just play rock-paper-scissors or something that doesn't take up as much time. I suppose another word that could be used for someone who participates non-professionally in a given activity (i.e. hobby) would be "amateur".

bekkilyn

What about birdwatching? Is there any competition involved in that as well? :P

And that's just a rather loose usage of the term "hobby", because if there's competition involved, then it would no longer be considered as such, since the element of relaxation and pleasure is no longer present. Your only focus is on beating your opponent or the opposing team, and with that comes a level of struggling and stress involved. Hobbies are meant for pleasure and relaxation. In competitions...no.

And last I checked, I don't think anyone's ever called a gardening competition a sport. :P

Yeah, but only if its being done outside of a championship or a playoff. You wouldn't call it a hobby if you're going against another school or state. Then it becomes a sport, or a competition.BladesOfAthena

What about birdwatching? Is there any competition involved in that as well? :P

And that's just a rather loose usage of the term "hobby", because if there's competition involved, then it would no longer be considered as such, since the element of relaxation and pleasure is no longer present. Your only focus is on beating your opponent or the opposing team, and with that comes a level of struggling and stress involved. Hobbies are meant for pleasure and relaxation. In competitions...no.

And last I checked, I don't think anyone's ever called a gardening competition a sport. :P

BladesOfAthena

The event itself is a competition or a sport, but the people playing or competing in that sport or competition are involved in that activity because the sport is a hobby for them, at least until they go pro and start making a living off of it. Most people who play high school or college sports do not end up going pro and follow other career choices. Many probably will continue to keep their sport as a hobby though, perhaps coaching a little league team or getting involved with an amateur league within their community. Some may just keep up with their favorite teams. Still, most do not go pro.bekkilyn

Not really. Its their passion for the hobby that brought them there in the first place. When you're in the arena or in the field, its a whole new different "ballgame" (pun not intended :P). Its not just the event itself. Its the entire mindset of the people involved in the event. Their mode of thinking is different. Everyone on each opposing team has their mind set on "combative" mode, and that's when it ceases to be a hobby to them. If your only concern is to dominate the opposing team, they wouldn't say "we're playing a hobby", because that would sound rather awkward. A more apt way of putting it would be, "we're playing a game, match, tournament, or a sport."

First definition I found under dictionary.com: "an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation" Note that it says pleasure *or* relaxation, not necessarily both. People play sports because they enjoy them, they take pleasure from playing and yes, even winning games. I'd also think that the competitions, while stressful, would be enjoyable, and perhaps even more relaxing and fun than the hours they spend at school or work each day. As for birdwatching, there may or may not be competitions among serious enthusiasts. I have no idea. :) I'd be more inclined to divide hobbies up between "hardcore" and "casual" than to try to make up some other name for them because some people seem turned off by the word for whatever reasons, even if the word fits.

bekkilyn

Well, AFAIK, I've never heard of a birdwatching competition. Besides, what could be used as competition anyways? See who can watch the longest without getting bored or looking away? Nah, that would be lame.:P

And if we're going to go with definitions, then it could be argued that you can derive pleasure from whatever form of relaxation befits you.:P

I'm not denying that you can derive enjoyment from playing sports, but like I said before, hobbies don't involve dominating your opponent (since when is antique collecting a sport? :P) . Hobbies are just an outlet. It usually involves improving oneself or just something to do to gain a sense of satisfaction. In more social-oriented hobbies however, there's the added element of team interaction put into place, but the key differentiating factor is that there is no opposition involved. When it comes to sports however, its the struggling factor that takes precedence over pleasure.

It's a hobby for me. No more, no less. I'm 100% consumer. I don't make games, I don't critique or write about them outside of a message board post and zero percent of my living expenses are paid by any aspect of the gaming industry.

it's a passionate hobby... i've been playing video games for almost 15+ years and it hasn't gotten old. i could play even the oldest games in my collection and still enjoy as immensely as any new release.

Not really. Its their passion for the hobby that brought them there in the first place. When you're in the arena or in the field, its a whole new different "ballgame" (pun not intended :P). Its not just the event itself. Its the entire mindset of the people involved in the event. Their mode of thinking is different. Everyone on each opposing team has their mind set on "combative" mode, and that's when it ceases to be a hobby to them. If your only concern is to dominate the opposing team, they wouldn't say "we're playing a hobby", because that would sound rather awkward. A more apt way of putting it would be, "we're playing a game, match, tournament, or a sport."BladesOfAthena

I'm not denying that you can derive enjoyment from playing sports, but like I said before, hobbies don't involve dominating your opponent (since when is antique collecting a sport? :P) . Hobbies are just an outlet. It usually involves improving oneself or just something to do to gain a sense of satisfaction. In more social-oriented hobbies however, there's the added element of team interaction put into place, but the key differentiating factor is that there is no opposition involved. When it comes to sports however, its the struggling factor that takes precedence over pleasure.BladesOfAthena

Well, AFAIK, I've never heard of a birdwatching competition. Besides, what could be used as competition anyways? See who can watch the longest without getting bored or looking away? Nah, that would be lame.:P

And if we're going to go with definitions, then it could be argued that you can derive pleasure from whatever form of relaxation befits you.:P

I'm not denying that you can derive enjoyment from playing sports, but like I said before, hobbies don't involve dominating your opponent (since when is antique collecting a sport? :P) . Hobbies are just an outlet. It usually involves improving oneself or just something to do to gain a sense of satisfaction. In more social-oriented hobbies however, there's the added element of team interaction put into place, but the key differentiating factor is that there is no opposition involved. When it comes to sports however, its the struggling factor that takes precedence over pleasure.

BladesOfAthena

A hobby, absolutely.

Wow...freaky avatar.

I'm trying to make it more than a hobby.

Hobby, absolutely.

I'm trying to make it more than a hobby.

King9999

I think of gaming as a hobby but I don't play them 24/7. I do other things as well like work out and excersize at the gym.