Why we play games?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6932785.stm

Just read an article today from the BBC where a journalist gives her opinion on why we play games. Though when I started reading, I couldn't disagree more with her reasoning and found the article quite pretentious but after reading more and more and getting near the end, the arguements just became more and more plausible.

Just wondering on your guy's opinions on the arguements..............

Strange,but she´s somehow right after all.She maybe missed out the fact that all humans love competition and like to win.If I´m 1st place in a GeoW-Versus-Match (...maybe someday :x) I´m happy because I have the satisfaction of being better then the other players.

A friend of mine also mentioned that there are a lot games (like Pokèmon) that also activate the Human Hunter-and-Collector-Instinct.I disagreed at first,but how many games are out there you have collected tons of useless Items just to have them?

I love gaming because it´s a different way of telling stories.You are more "in the Storyline" then in Movies or Books.And it´s unbeliveable how fun it is to compete against others.Archiving things where others lost (Chainsawing Snipers and Shotgunners for example,getting a certain Item,beating a hard boss) or just communicating with others.

I love gaming because it is what it is.I´m doin it for 18 years or so and I still buy new games...just because it´s fun.

I slayed thousands of Dragons,beaten millions of enemys,won tenthousans of races and usually I should be bored doing everytime the same...but I´m not.Why ever...

People also play games to o things that they normally would be unable to in real life (if it being morally or physically).

E.g. If I've had a bad day at school, I sometimes like to let off steam by running around half-life 2 whacking everyone with the crowbar, lets me let go of my frustration.

People also play games to o things that they normally would be unable to in real life (if it being morally or physically).

E.g. If I've had a bad day at school, I sometimes like to let off steam by running around half-life 2 whacking everyone with the crowbar, lets me let go of my frustration.

G013M

A few snippets: "But the more I play, the more I'm struck by an unavoidable realisation. Games are rubbish. Really, dismally, rubbish." "And they're boring. So, very, very boring." "And - here's the kicker - games aren't just boring, inconvenient, and over-priced. They're designed to make you feel like a failure." "Why on earth would you want to do this stuff?" "Games let you be a spectator in your own head. They're laboratories which let you contrive test after test - tweak a condition here and a parameter there - and give you a visible, beautiful read-out on just how smart your brain really is. And in doing that, they give you more insight into your own capabilities than I've ever found in any work of literature or any piece of music." First things first. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The above is part of her opinion. The mass majority of people on Gamespot will probably disagree with her. That's their opinion. With that said, after reading her article and some other stuff she's written, I'm convinced that she is just another "mainstream writer" working for a corporation that doesn't know the first thing about gaming, and couldn't hire a "true game expert" if that individual walked into their offices and beat them to death with a Wiimote. The game she references in the article is Nintendo's "Brain Training," which doesn't even exist, or she's mistaking the titles for one of the DS "Brain Age" games. If that's the case, no wonder why she's bored, she's playing a boring game. Plug in Guitar Hero, boot up Unreal Tournament, pop in Burnout, do something other than poking at the DS with a little plastic stick. Now I know that this is her personal view on "Why She Plays Games" (which is actually a ridiculous theme for a column when you spend the entire time highlighting why you think games are boring), but, you work for BBC. Professional journalists shouldn't be allowed to post personal views on corporate news sites.maddog95376

Well, tbf, it is on the BBC website and they include a lot of random journalisms. But I did identify with her point on just playing games with instinct rather than thinking about them. During the peak of my gaming obsession with counter-strike, I would sometimes just play rounds without really paying too much attention to what I was doing but rather just drifting off and watching myself play (I did that all the time with maths homework since it was just repetitive bookwork :P)

I have a theoretical question for you or anyone else. You say people want to play games that would allow them to do things that they normally would be unable to do or would allow them to "let off steam;" the game that most people pop in is a game that allows the gamer to "kill everything that moves." Is that really why we play games? Is that what we really want to do if we were able to? I'd like to think that we play games for reasons other than "whacking everyone with a crowbar." If what you say is the norm, maybe mainstream media and right-wing activists are right about video games.maddog95376

I don't know if the specifics of the game are what I want to do secretly, like with GTA, The whole thing of getting as many starts as you can and seeing how long you can survive, it's not the act of killing policeman that I want to do, but rather the act of being chased on a high speed pursuit. Or int he mission system, for me, it's not about killing as many gang members as possible, but rather competing with other gangs for supremacy.

[QUOTE="maddog95376"]A few snippets: "But the more I play, the more I'm struck by an unavoidable realisation. Games are rubbish. Really, dismally, rubbish." "And they're boring. So, very, very boring." "And - here's the kicker - games aren't just boring, inconvenient, and over-priced. They're designed to make you feel like a failure." "Why on earth would you want to do this stuff?" "Games let you be a spectator in your own head. They're laboratories which let you contrive test after test - tweak a condition here and a parameter there - and give you a visible, beautiful read-out on just how smart your brain really is. And in doing that, they give you more insight into your own capabilities than I've ever found in any work of literature or any piece of music." First things first. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The above is part of her opinion. The mass majority of people on Gamespot will probably disagree with her. That's their opinion. With that said, after reading her article and some other stuff she's written, I'm convinced that she is just another "mainstream writer" working for a corporation that doesn't know the first thing about gaming, and couldn't hire a "true game expert" if that individual walked into their offices and beat them to death with a Wiimote. The game she references in the article is Nintendo's "Brain Training," which doesn't even exist, or she's mistaking the titles for one of the DS "Brain Age" games. If that's the case, no wonder why she's bored, she's playing a boring game. Plug in Guitar Hero, boot up Unreal Tournament, pop in Burnout, do something other than poking at the DS with a little plastic stick. Now I know that this is her personal view on "Why She Plays Games" (which is actually a ridiculous theme for a column when you spend the entire time highlighting why you think games are boring), but, you work for BBC. Professional journalists shouldn't be allowed to post personal views on corporate news sites.donwoogie

Well, tbf, it is on the BBC website and they include a lot of random journalisms. But I did identify with her point on just playing games with instinct rather than thinking about them. During the peak of my gaming obsession with counter-strike, I would sometimes just play rounds without really paying too much attention to what I was doing but rather just drifting off and watching myself play (I did that all the time with maths homework since it was just repetitive bookwork :P)

[QUOTE="donwoogie"]

[QUOTE="maddog95376"]A few snippets: "But the more I play, the more I'm struck by an unavoidable realisation. Games are rubbish. Really, dismally, rubbish." "And they're boring. So, very, very boring." "And - here's the kicker - games aren't just boring, inconvenient, and over-priced. They're designed to make you feel like a failure." "Why on earth would you want to do this stuff?" "Games let you be a spectator in your own head. They're laboratories which let you contrive test after test - tweak a condition here and a parameter there - and give you a visible, beautiful read-out on just how smart your brain really is. And in doing that, they give you more insight into your own capabilities than I've ever found in any work of literature or any piece of music." First things first. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The above is part of her opinion. The mass majority of people on Gamespot will probably disagree with her. That's their opinion. With that said, after reading her article and some other stuff she's written, I'm convinced that she is just another "mainstream writer" working for a corporation that doesn't know the first thing about gaming, and couldn't hire a "true game expert" if that individual walked into their offices and beat them to death with a Wiimote. The game she references in the article is Nintendo's "Brain Training," which doesn't even exist, or she's mistaking the titles for one of the DS "Brain Age" games. If that's the case, no wonder why she's bored, she's playing a boring game. Plug in Guitar Hero, boot up Unreal Tournament, pop in Burnout, do something other than poking at the DS with a little plastic stick. Now I know that this is her personal view on "Why She Plays Games" (which is actually a ridiculous theme for a column when you spend the entire time highlighting why you think games are boring), but, you work for BBC. Professional journalists shouldn't be allowed to post personal views on corporate news sites.maddog95376

Well, tbf, it is on the BBC website and they include a lot of random journalisms. But I did identify with her point on just playing games with instinct rather than thinking about them. During the peak of my gaming obsession with counter-strike, I would sometimes just play rounds without really paying too much attention to what I was doing but rather just drifting off and watching myself play (I did that all the time with maths homework since it was just repetitive bookwork :P)

Actually I find them quite relaxing. I'll put on some music, voice chat with everyone on the server and just enjoy watching my natural reactions take over int he game (mind you, I don't do as well in the game as I would if I was actually concentrating and focusing on getting headshots and more advanced tactics.

[QUOTE="maddog95376"][QUOTE="donwoogie"]

[QUOTE="maddog95376"]A few snippets: "But the more I play, the more I'm struck by an unavoidable realisation. Games are rubbish. Really, dismally, rubbish." "And they're boring. So, very, very boring." "And - here's the kicker - games aren't just boring, inconvenient, and over-priced. They're designed to make you feel like a failure." "Why on earth would you want to do this stuff?" "Games let you be a spectator in your own head. They're laboratories which let you contrive test after test - tweak a condition here and a parameter there - and give you a visible, beautiful read-out on just how smart your brain really is. And in doing that, they give you more insight into your own capabilities than I've ever found in any work of literature or any piece of music." First things first. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The above is part of her opinion. The mass majority of people on Gamespot will probably disagree with her. That's their opinion. With that said, after reading her article and some other stuff she's written, I'm convinced that she is just another "mainstream writer" working for a corporation that doesn't know the first thing about gaming, and couldn't hire a "true game expert" if that individual walked into their offices and beat them to death with a Wiimote. The game she references in the article is Nintendo's "Brain Training," which doesn't even exist, or she's mistaking the titles for one of the DS "Brain Age" games. If that's the case, no wonder why she's bored, she's playing a boring game. Plug in Guitar Hero, boot up Unreal Tournament, pop in Burnout, do something other than poking at the DS with a little plastic stick. Now I know that this is her personal view on "Why She Plays Games" (which is actually a ridiculous theme for a column when you spend the entire time highlighting why you think games are boring), but, you work for BBC. Professional journalists shouldn't be allowed to post personal views on corporate news sites.donwoogie

Well, tbf, it is on the BBC website and they include a lot of random journalisms. But I did identify with her point on just playing games with instinct rather than thinking about them. During the peak of my gaming obsession with counter-strike, I would sometimes just play rounds without really paying too much attention to what I was doing but rather just drifting off and watching myself play (I did that all the time with maths homework since it was just repetitive bookwork :P)

Actually I find them quite relaxing. I'll put on some music, voice chat with everyone on the server and just enjoy watching my natural reactions take over int he game (mind you, I don't do as well in the game as I would if I was actually concentrating and focusing on getting headshots and more advanced tactics.

[QUOTE="donwoogie"][QUOTE="maddog95376"][QUOTE="donwoogie"]

[QUOTE="maddog95376"]A few snippets: "But the more I play, the more I'm struck by an unavoidable realisation. Games are rubbish. Really, dismally, rubbish." "And they're boring. So, very, very boring." "And - here's the kicker - games aren't just boring, inconvenient, and over-priced. They're designed to make you feel like a failure." "Why on earth would you want to do this stuff?" "Games let you be a spectator in your own head. They're laboratories which let you contrive test after test - tweak a condition here and a parameter there - and give you a visible, beautiful read-out on just how smart your brain really is. And in doing that, they give you more insight into your own capabilities than I've ever found in any work of literature or any piece of music." First things first. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The above is part of her opinion. The mass majority of people on Gamespot will probably disagree with her. That's their opinion. With that said, after reading her article and some other stuff she's written, I'm convinced that she is just another "mainstream writer" working for a corporation that doesn't know the first thing about gaming, and couldn't hire a "true game expert" if that individual walked into their offices and beat them to death with a Wiimote. The game she references in the article is Nintendo's "Brain Training," which doesn't even exist, or she's mistaking the titles for one of the DS "Brain Age" games. If that's the case, no wonder why she's bored, she's playing a boring game. Plug in Guitar Hero, boot up Unreal Tournament, pop in Burnout, do something other than poking at the DS with a little plastic stick. Now I know that this is her personal view on "Why She Plays Games" (which is actually a ridiculous theme for a column when you spend the entire time highlighting why you think games are boring), but, you work for BBC. Professional journalists shouldn't be allowed to post personal views on corporate news sites.maddog95376

Well, tbf, it is on the BBC website and they include a lot of random journalisms. But I did identify with her point on just playing games with instinct rather than thinking about them. During the peak of my gaming obsession with counter-strike, I would sometimes just play rounds without really paying too much attention to what I was doing but rather just drifting off and watching myself play (I did that all the time with maths homework since it was just repetitive bookwork :P)

Actually I find them quite relaxing. I'll put on some music, voice chat with everyone on the server and just enjoy watching my natural reactions take over int he game (mind you, I don't do as well in the game as I would if I was actually concentrating and focusing on getting headshots and more advanced tactics.

I totally agree, most of the arguement was pretentious b****** but some of the bits about playing the game on an instinctual level rather than a concious level are valid points imo

I play games because they're fun, challenging, and rewarding. It's the whole brain working in effect here. If I achieve something in a game, then my reward centre in the brain lights up and a release of chemicals make me feel good. Games make me feel good. Sometimes, games make me sad or angry, and that kind of thought-provoking stuff is amazing, because unlike in a movie or book where you can't give your own input, in games you can.

She's right in saying that FPSs are incredibly boring sometimes, where you're just killing enemies over and over again. But most of the negative stuff she said, are things she's noticed with the games she's played. She's not saying games are bad or anything. Even then, she can't defend herself against blanket statements like: "Games are rubbish." She made a mistake in giving many blanket statements at the start to give shock and incite anger in yourself. No facts to back it up.

I play games because they're fun, challenging, and rewarding. It's the whole brain working in effect here. If I achieve something in a game, then my reward centre in the brain lights up and a release of chemicals make me feel good. Games make me feel good. Sometimes, games make me sad or angry, and that kind of thought-provoking stuff is amazing, because unlike in a movie or book where you can't give your own input, in games you can.

She's right in saying that FPSs are incredibly boring sometimes, where you're just killing enemies over and over again. But most of the negative stuff she said, are things she's noticed with the games she's played. She's not saying games are bad or anything. Even then, she can't defend herself against blanket statements like: "Games are rubbish." She made a mistake in giving many blanket statements at the start to give shock and incite anger in yourself. No facts to back it up.

digi_matrix

I agree, she hasn;t taken into account EMOTIONALLY engaging games, like Metal Gear Solid and a lot of RPGs which create an emotional attachment with the use of character and situational interaction.

I think some didn´t really get her point with "games are boring" or "games are rubbish" and stuff like that.Actually all you dowhile playin is sitting in front of a screen,doin nothingbut pressing a bunch of small buttons.Youdo nothing physically.

So basically we should get bored if you look plainly at the thing you "really do".And you dothe same thing over and over again.It´s really a interesting how people get entertained with that and the reactions it activates in your brain.It just somehow works.You just reactand can´t do anything about it just because your instincts say so.

By reading that article my IQ has been severely reduced and I'm quite infuriated.

Now I'm going to play Gears because I need something to distract me from the stupidity with some competitive fun.

But apparently that's not why I play games.

we play them to impress chicks, why else. they love dudes who can play games for 2 days straight without urinatingOld_Gooseberry

:lol: But then you'll get constipated, and have to stay in the bathroom the whole. Yeah, real sexy ;)

[QUOTE="Old_Gooseberry"]we play them to impress chicks, why else. they love dudes who can play games for 2 days straight without urinatingdigi_matrix

:lol: But then you'll get constipated, and have to stay in the bathroom the whole. Yeah, real sexy ;)

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