How has gaming affected your life?

In good/bad ways.

For me gaming has been a use to relieve alot of stress, and has also brought me happiness for being able to play a video game is my ultimate f u to to the government for making us do things that are stupid like finish high school and be an active member in society. It is the ultimate escape and freedom and comfort to be able to play a video game. It is always fun and in depth. By far I would rather live in a video game than live in this world. In fact it has changed my perspective on life so much that i want to take computer programming in college as an elective just to have the background to create from the heart and soulful, meaningful and purposeful video games. The stories provided by a video game are much more interesting than the stories in books and is more interactive. I think the world hasn't seen video games in the same perspective they would a book or the news, or education. I wan to push the movement of where video games can be a new book in your classroom and you can study off of them. I mean video games are not only entertaining, they are also meaningful and educational when under the influence of depth. What is your perspective on video games. and do you share this idea about video games?

Relieve a lot of stress from work and life as a whole. But i fear for my health if i do not become more active, since sitting on my butt for 4-5 hours a day, staring at a screen is not a way i want to continue living...

So everything is good with measure.

It's made me violent, unstable and unsuitable for modern society.

It's made me violent, unstable and unsuitable for modern society.

vadicta

Less bored.

The Bad: I sound like the stereotypical geek/loser/nerd/dork saying this, but I'm not going to lie it has ruined my social life tremendously. Since high school I stopped socializing like a normal person. I'm in my mid 20's now, and I don't really plan on making any changes unless it's for a girlfriend. Was it worth it? Maybe.

The Good: I say it's kept me out of a lot trouble during my high school/college years. I didn't get involved with any drugs or anything like that. I've learned a great deal about the industry, and I have something else to be passionate about besides just animation. It actually may have overtaken my love cartoons/comics which I didn't intend for it to happen.

It's made my evenings a lot more pleasant. Instead of watching a bunch of crap on TV and a whole ton of commercials, I play games I really enjoy.

That's about it.

It cost me my job, my family, and my marriage. *sobbing* I want to quit. But I can't... I need help! *more sobbing*

Nah, but seriously it keeps me off the streets and out of trouble.

it drove to persue a career in the IT industry.. my hope is to one day manage servers for say EA, Arena.net, or Eidos.. thatd be just hardcore!

im even willing to mvoe into the states to do it (despite many reasons ive discovered not too)

The bad: I was really slack in school. Both primary and high school. I wish I had did a bit more in school.

The good: Loads of fun with friends, inspired me to take up programming, creative inspiration, a fun hobby, something to be passionate about.

From around 2002 to 2007, I didn't play many video games. But then in May 2007, I was diagnosed with stage 1 Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. I asked my parents if they would buy me a used PS2 from Gamestop, since some of my friends had given me a $50 Gamestop gift card. So I got the PS2 and used part of the gift card to buy Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid 2. Video games were definitely cool to have when I wasn't feeling well from chemotherapy. Today, I'm going strong as a gamer once more, and to top it off, I'm almost 3 1/2 years cancer-free.

From around 2002 to 2007, I didn't play many video games. But then in May 2007, I was diagnosed with stage 1 Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. I asked my parents if they would buy me a used PS2 from Gamestop, since some of my friends had given me a $50 Gamestop gift card. So I got the PS2 and used part of the gift card to buy Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid 2. Video games were definitely cool to have when I wasn't feeling well from chemotherapy. Today, I'm going strong as a gamer once more, and to top it off, I'm almost 3 1/2 years cancer-free.

MathMattS

From around 2002 to 2007, I didn't play many video games. But then in May 2007, I was diagnosed with stage 1 Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. I asked my parents if they would buy me a used PS2 from Gamestop, since some of my friends had given me a $50 Gamestop gift card. So I got the PS2 and used part of the gift card to buy Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid 2. Video games were definitely cool to have when I wasn't feeling well from chemotherapy. Today, I'm going strong as a gamer once more, and to top it off, I'm almost 3 1/2 years cancer-free.

MathMattS

This thread made me realise i'm going to play a video game tonight! WOOOO

Games have affected probably most here that read these boards. Many can be very addictive to the point of skipping things you have planned or would normaly do. Even to the point I know people that have called in sick for a new release or update.

They can be a escape goat from RL stresses and problems.

What a game can do is give entertainment, and fun in some challenging to non-challenging environments.

Depending on games you play, I have made RL friends from many Countries, let alone many places in the US, and have even met many.

Ultimately, what it did to my life,while not really searching for, afamily, and two kids.

Keeping RL in perspective, games can be fun, even friendships created,but don't let them take over your entire life.

I have no idea how my life would be without videogames I've been playing them since I was 2 years old. Without them I would probably be somebody completely different.

In good/bad ways.

For me gaming has been a use to relieve alot of stress, and has also brought me happiness for being able to play a video game is my ultimate f u to to the government for making us do things that are stupid like finish high school and be an active member in society. It is the ultimate escape and freedom and comfort to be able to play a video game. It is always fun and in depth. By far I would rather live in a video game than live in this world. In fact it has changed my perspective on life so much that i want to take computer programming in college as an elective just to have the background to create from the heart and soulful, meaningful and purposeful video games. The stories provided by a video game are much more interesting than the stories in books and is more interactive. I think the world hasn't seen video games in the same perspective they would a book or the news, or education. I wan to push the movement of where video games can be a new book in your classroom and you can study off of them. I mean video games are not only entertaining, they are also meaningful and educational when under the influence of depth. What is your perspective on video games. and do you share this idea about video games?

CleanNJerk

Games have affected probably most here that read these boards. Many can be very addictive to the point of skipping things you have planned or would normaly do. Even to the point I know people that have called in sick for a new release or update.

They can be a escape goat from RL stresses and problems.

What a game can do is give entertainment, and fun in some challenging to non-challenging environments.

Depending on games you play, I have made RL friends from many Countries, let alone many places in the US, and have even met many.

Ultimately, what it did to my life,while not really searching for, afamily, and two kids.

Keeping RL in perspective, games can be fun, even friendships created,but don't let them take over your entire life.

poisonelf1

escapism can be helpful to an extent, but yeah.. i think that in the long run, escapism in a game (as a habit) will cease to be useful and possibly become harmful.

The Bad: I sound like the stereotypical geek/loser/nerd/dork saying this, but I'm not going to lie it has ruined my social life tremendously. Since high school I stopped socializing like a normal person. I'm in my mid 20's now, and I don't really plan on making any changes unless it's for a girlfriend. Was it worth it? Maybe.

The Good: I say it's kept me out of a lot trouble during my high school/college years. I didn't get involved with any drugs or anything like that. I've learned a great deal about the industry, and I have something else to be passionate about besides just animation. It actually may have overtaken my love cartoons/comics which I didn't intend for it to happen.

majadamus

It's made me violent, unstable and unsuitable for modern society.

vadicta

The Bad: I sound like the stereotypical geek/loser/nerd/dork saying this, but I'm not going to lie it has ruined my social life tremendously. Since high school I stopped socializing like a normal person. I'm in my mid 20's now, and I don't really plan on making any changes unless it's for a girlfriend. Was it worth it? Maybe.

The Good: I say it's kept me out of a lot trouble during my high school/college years. I didn't get involved with any drugs or anything like that. I've learned a great deal about the industry, and I have something else to be passionate about besides just animation. It actually may have overtaken my love cartoons/comics which I didn't intend for it to happen.

majadamus

Gaming helps me to fight my disability, it's painful, but I can endure the pain. Better than giving up and letting a life long disability continue to win. Gaming helps a little with making sure I can keep fighting.

The rare, and I mean very rare, times when a game has gender choice or a female lead in general, it helps me to feel less trapped within my birth defect of a male body - being trans-gender, female trapped within a male body, is a living hell - and lets me be myself for even a little while.
Games with male only leads don't do that, they just make me extremely miserable and highly depressed.

Life happens, gaming helps in little ways to endure.

Less bored.

Relyontips

It keeps me for being bored and I have met people because of it. I like to balance my social life with my gaming life which is a good thing so I don't become anti-social.

Games stress me out.

I don't have much free time now that I'm a few years beyond University. There are so many great games I want to play, but the feeling of having to put in 10+ hours per game and there are maybe 20 games I'm behind on.

I don't MMO but I do want to play Diablo 3 and TOR looks great. No TIME!

Gives me something to do and a way to exercise my brain for the most part.

Immensely. I'd say it's about 40-50% of my life.Daavpuke

[QUOTE="Daavpuke"]Immensely. I'd say it's about 40-50% of my life.theSteeeeels

translation: posting on forums!theSteeeeels

I think the generation from the 80s had no choice. Videogames were the things parents bought for their children. Sure the industry is much bigger now, but back then it was the "must" have thing for quite awhile. An addiction(of sorts) that isn't really necessary, but there are worse things out there.

It hasn't affected my life at all, since I don't play that much simply because I'm too busy with other stuff; but I usually play no more than 5 hours on weekends.