I don't get the gaming thing. Can anyone explain the attraction?

I have some questions:

How does playing a game give you any sense of satisfaction? After all, you haven't actually changed anything, created anything, helped anyone.

Where do you find the time to play? Everyone is always saying how busy they are. School, kids work, house chores, don't all these things tug at you while you are playing for hours?

I see that you like to talk about the games amongst yourselves. Is that where a sense of sharing comes in? I can see that. Like the fan thing, everyone lives the same thing ergo everyone loves each other. If you played these games in total isolation would they still be important to you?

Please discuss or add anything to this topic. I really want to understand.

Gaming is a means of relaxation, for me anyways. And I have very good eye/hand coordination so games usually come very easy to me. I also happen to love the fact that's there a genre for any kind of style of game you could think of playing.

Everyday, at work, I change things, create something or help someone. And it's stressful. It's satisfying, but stressful. What I do in real life affects people's life in a very real way.

I can come home and fire up my Game Cube or my GBA and kill things, destroy things, save the princess, save the world, race go carts, rewind time, whatever and there's no lasting effect on anyone else's life. If it's a difficult level, and I can surpass it, then the satisfaction comes from the triumph of conquering something that challenged my skills.

I make time to play if it's a game I'm especially interested in, and on weekends when I've got a couple hours before I have to be anywhere, I'll play. When I'm doing laundry, I'll play my GBA. Like practicing my guitar, or spending time with my niece and nephew, I make time. Very rarely will I sit and play a game for hours. It happens but like I said, it's very rare.

It's nice to have games that others are interested in. It does promote the whole 'community' feeling. There are online video games that have HUGE, HUGE communities of people who all are bonded through love of a game and can offer tips and help and encouragement.

I have games that only I play, like my InuYasha game on PS2. None of my other friends play it, I'm alone in playing it, but I do derive great pleasure and satisfaction when I play. Cause it's fun and something I enjoy.

Of course there are extremes, of people sitting and playing massive hours away, 8-10 or more, which I think is unhealthy. I have a life other than video gaming.

I also like to play video games in groups of friends. Friendly competition and good natured trash talking is always fun and you get caught up in the spirit of team work and competition in a good way.

I don't know if this helped, but it's a abridged version of why I love gaming. Thanks for asking though.

The questions you've asked could also be asked of just about any leisure pursuit. Why do people read? Why do they watch Xena? Why play sport?

There are also many other questions you could have asked, from a positive point of view. What is FUN about playing games? What type of games do you like? What has been your favourite game and why?

I have many leisure pursuits. Chatting on the internet, watching television and film, playing hand held games, swimming, talking with friends, attending lectures on philosophy and art, etc. None of these things REALLY creates anything, changes anything or helps anyone. They stretch me and I enjoy them, and so I schedule them into my life style.

Unlike reading, which is quite a passive pursuit, playing games is interactive. I control the outcome of the game. A lot of the games I play involve having to use my brain to figure out the best solution. There is SOME creation involved, as thoughts are created in my mind, much the same as when I sit in a lecture and new ideas are presented to me.

I play games that other people enjoy (or I introduce them to games that I like) but I also play games that only I am playing. Like a book, I can immerse myself in another world. However, for every game there is a message board or online review, so you can never truly play alone.

When I read a novel I can lose myself in the world of the book. I can't really BECOME a character, though. In gaming I can. I can be a stealth operative. I can fight aliens. I can rescue a princess. I can co-ordinate huge battle campaigns which can last minutes or hours (on the rare occassion). I can play pinball in any room of the house.

Satisfaction comes from besting your best time in a race, getting through a difficult part of a maze, surviving a battle campaign with all your troops unscathed. That old human instinct that is stimulated by competition, only it's competition with yourself.

Like most things, you'll never truly understand games unless you try them out for yourself. Different people approach them differently. If you REALLY want to understand, buy a GameBoy Advance (they aren't too expensive at the moment) and grab a copy of a popular game. Pokemon Fire Red or Leaf Green is a good place to start.

One last thought, a new gaming system has just been released with games that have you touching the game screen, blowing on it, etc. I've never had to blow on a book, computer or television screen before. Games are innovative, interactive imagination in a box.

Yeah what they said. D

I feel it stimualtes the mind, i prefer to play games that make me think, and make me have to remember certain things, so my imagination, memory and all round brain skills get a work out.

I like playing games that go with books and movies too (ie harry potter)

It also helps pass the time sometimes.

I'm not meant to read or play games at work, but i generally have a book, and my GBA with me, under the desk, as it helps pass the time, since my actual job is a no brainer.

Alot of the time when i play it's stress relief.

I go to another part of the house, away from jess, away from mick. and just mellow out.

And another reason, is it's just plain fun!!

These are some great replies. Thanks for putting a lot of thought into your answers. I have wondered if actually playing a game would help me to understand. I even have an xbox now, and have tried a game, but I couldn't stick with it. (I use it for kerioke and dvd's)

Sara writes:

quote:

---

Everyday, at work, I change things, create something or help someone. And it's stressful. It's satisfying, but stressful. What I do in real life affects people's life in a very real way.

I can come home and fire up my Game Cube or my GBA and kill things, destroy things, save the princess, save the world, race go carts, rewind time, whatever and there's no lasting effect on anyone else's life. If it's a difficult level, and I can surpass it, then the satisfaction comes from the triumph of conquering something that challenged my skills.

---

This explains a lot for me. Since I've been out of work I've had much less stress, so I have less of a need for stress reducers. I thought gaming would be an interesting persuit since I have the time now. But it seems more like a chore!

Argy I totally get the interactive nature. Like the race we played here, we had others to deal with who changed what was going on. I wonder if you ever think about the games creators, and how they manipulated the results you can get, so that any success you have is actually programmed by someone else. (I think about that- that's why I ask.)

All in all I think it's a good thing, I see how it stimulates the brain, helps to use up some of our natural competitiveness, and shake off the stress of daily life. I think it would make a good article for a magazine, and I would have read it if there was one but you guys explained it very well. Thanks.

Nanzar, X Box is more known for it's first person shooters. You might like FABLE alot. It's a game that based upon your choices, good or evil, it affects your life, your appearance, how people interact with you. Every choice has a consequence. There is fighting involved, but in between tasks, you can interact with townfolk, marry, have kids, have a store, all sorts of things.

Plus it's got a sweet soundtrack by Danny Elfman.

It also depends on what kind of games you like. Puzzle? First person shooters? Racing? X Box does have a LOT of titles that we can't get on Game Cube. Maybe search around and do some homework on what interests you.

I know for a fact that they do have Namco Museum on X Box now. It has classics like Ms. Pac Man, Galaga, Dig Dug, Pole Position, etc.

Gaming can be lots of fun.

Thanks Sara I'll look into those. I have heard of "Fable" and I thought it might be one for me. I like that popcap game "bedazzled" for some reason, even though you never win it! I wonder if there would be something like that. I've been looking for used games so I don't have to jump in with a big expense. Does anyone have experience with this? Is it ok to buy used?

Buy from someplace that offers a guarantee of some kind. Then you should be fine. You can probably rent, also.

I play partly because it helps me to order my thoughts. Also there's all that puzzle solving and daydreaming to be had...

What Heitie said. EB Games is good that way AND you can get a discount on pre-played games if you buy them on a semi-frequent basis.

If you go someplace that doesn't have a guarantee but it's a must have game, have the clerk show you the back of the disc. Any scratches, blemishes, nicks and don't buy it as your X Box won't read it and your game will hang and you will know the agony of being halfway through a level and then...the infamous XBOX green screen.

Don't let that happen to you. lol, it happened on FABLE once and I wept in pure frustration.

Bedazzled is fun. I recommend going here:

IGN.com

They have all X Box games listed and you can search by genre. There's a neat game, can't remember it's name right now, that you basically roll around and collect things and you turn into this huge ball of stuff. The more stuff you collect, the better. Heh, it's fun to play, watching buildings stick on you and mailboxes, cars, ships.

ARGH!
Nanzar you own a computer & bought an Xbox to try gaming....!!

I have played games since I was a boy...
Monopoly,Risk,Stratego,Chess etc then I took ahiatus when I got a car & found Alcohol...

After I got married I bought a computer ..a vic20..dont ask it was a pathetic lil thing couldnt do much..I moved up to a Commodore64 an Excellent lil computer for its day & a decent Video game machie too..
I added an Atari 65xe comp to the collection when I saw one for $60 bucks at a Kmart or somewhere..
that accepted video game cartridges too

If you have a computer you really dont Need anything else to try out games & computers can play games that really dont adapt well to gameconsoles...

with the Inet you can download games for FREE!!!



go to
http://www.gamehippo.com/

Ignore all the Hype in the middle of the page for now...
look at a small column on the left side
saying This:


GAME CATEGORIES

THE BEST
ACTION
ADVENTURE
ARCADE/CLASSIC
BOARD
CARD
CASINO
DICE
EDUCATIONAL
LOGIC/PUZZLE
SIMULATION
SPORTS


Pick a category that looks interesting & read up on some stuff pick a few out & dowload em install & try them out..

my 79 year old mom is a Freecell addict it come with widows & is on your comp right now ..unless you have an apple....
freecell is a variant of a solitaire card game....you probably have played yourself at sometime...
they have mah-jongg games out there
board games on computer pacman rip-offs etc..


tucows.com is another site I think has games...
Im afraid my big list of websites I copied off to floppy may have that dread virus on it & Im not stickin it in this comp until I have won my other 3 computers back from it first


Im drawing a blank on any more..Im sure others in this thread could make suggestions as where you can go..
maybe just type 'freeware' into goole & see what comes up.

OOooooo I H A T E when that happens this dodgy browwser errorred on a 15 minute typin tirture laughingly call my next reply.
Im tired its late so Im gonna break stuff up into lil chunks so I dont screw up again...

I also have this site where one can create your own Zelda type Scenarios...I have never played Zelda but Argy loves it.. I do Beleieve.

Site formerly known as OpenZelda

Now to get back to my own expiriences....

I found a friend who had some coplicated SPI/Avalon Hill games & smulation type sytuff mostly with Dice lil chits & many phases & charts to consult..
the Nifty things isd that Computers are GREAT at doing known repititive tasks like these..

those pen paper & board games included..

Sniper! a realy great platoon level combat game...
I played Rommel in Afrika Corps once

I was Versaintgetrix or someone in a nother ancient battle scenario.

One I played often was Wooden Ships Iron Men .

I would have made a good Admiral 300 years ago...LOL


Movin onto Computer games..

Computer Games I like are Empire .. a generic computer version of those old chit war games I used to like
& the best of the best of those Sid Meier's Civilzation

you get a wandering band who knows how to irrigate land & stuff & you explore an unknown world to settle it & learn how to advance from cave-villagers to spaceflight.


My computer is messing with me tonite so Im gonna end herefor now..

Sara What does "EB Games" refer to? I think you were talking about used or renting but I'm not sure. I'm going to Blockbuster today and rent Fable if they have it. I have a $10 refund coming from them. There are a few flea-markets here that sell used but I will remember to look at the disks. I didn't realize the game could work fine and then quit in the middle that must have been awful!

Brucy Thanks for hagin' in there buddy with your comp giving you a hard time! As far as using the comp for games, I have a lot of images on mine that I don't want to risk AT ALL by downloading something that could cause a meltdown. Are there games around to buy that are safe?

It's funny actually why I bought the xbox. I wanted a microphone to use my dvd as a kerioke but Hubby bought one made for the xbox which included the music maker software so I got interested in how that would work and ended up buying the xbox. Now that's in my room where it would be more comfortable to play games anyway.

Thanks everyone for your support. I'm definately going to try this.

EB games is a gaming store, they're most likely found in your local mall or in a strip center around town.

The staff there are really friendly and genuinely like to play video games so you can ask them for help and they'll be happy to suggest games or give advice.

That's cool, lemme know how you like FABLE and if you get stuck, I can offer some tips. Or you could also look online, there's plenty of walk throughs and guides too. And yes, the Green Screen of Death is a fate no one should have to suffer. Oh man, I still shudder when I remember just how painful it was. lol.

One really cool thing about the X Box that I like, you can burn your cds in there and make your own soundtrack to different games. That's pretty cool. Although I really like FABLE's soundtrack, Danny Elfman is a genius, imo.

Anyways, good luck and remember, it's only a game.

Just dropped in to say I have started playing Fable with xbox. I am pleased with the slow pace of the game, it lets me get used to the controles and learn all the tasks. I find the controles a bit hard at times to remember what does what, but I guess that will come with repitition.

It seems like a bit of a lonely enterprise at the moment, I guess that's why communities of gamers have evolved. The games that you play with more than one person if you have two controls would be fun too I guess.

Glad to hear you're enjoying FABLE. Remember, you can always switch those options around if it's easier for you to remember 'em that way.

I always had trouble remembering how to equip and use my spells, so my guy was very proficient with his swords and axes and his bows.

It is a little lonely when you're first starting out, but you meet friends and interact with more townsfolk and the like as you progress.

They're working on a FABLE upgrade that might involve a multi player aspect, which I think would be neat. It'd be so cool to have a buddy to tromp through the land with, and much more helpful fighting off those damn Balverines.

lol don't worry, you'll find out what those are soon enough. Here's a hint: silver weapons and/or spells are your best friend when it comes to whoopin' some balverine tail.

I don't know if you've already done this (I've been on holidays) but you could start a F A B L E thread on the Scrolls and discuss strategy and experiences with Sara.

That might make it feel less lonely.

Don't worry about the outcome of the game being preprogramed. Some philosophers believe that EVERY aspect of life is preprogramed into us from birth anyway.

And now can I just say - We accept her! We accept her! One of us! One of us!

I suspected you were looking for a nudge to dive in. Welcome to the madness.

Thanks Argy for the acceptance cheer. I don't think I'll make it as a gamer though. I took the rental back already. I only played it one or two times in a week and a half. I don't think it's going to be a seady thing for me.

It's crazy but I think when you have more free time your life actually starts to shrink. Another thing that got to me was the time I left my husband alone watching TV. Why is that such a social thing? I don't know but it seems to be a big part of our life together.

Thanks for all your interesting replies. I feel I understand it much more now.

Nanzar, being a gamer doesn't mean you have to be hardcore and play several times a week.

Heck I haven't touched my Game Cube in over two weeks, to be honest. I finally just finished my GBA game Fire Emblem after not playing it for about two weeks.

What makes you a gamer is that you enjoy firing up the ol' console, popping in a game every now and then and escaping to a place where reality can't intrude.

It's all about the fun of it. I'd call you a gamer, regardless of how often you play. If you enjoy it, then you're a gamer.

After all, you can't call a Xenite a non-Xenite just cause they maybe dust off old video tapes and watch a Xena ep once every few months.