Games & gear forum: Video Games, Am I wasting my life?

If you are spending so much time on your video games that your school work, chores, and interaction with family and friends is suffering, then I would say you need to cut back. There is nothing wrong with playing video games as long as they don't interfere with your 'real' life.

One of the most important things I learned in college was from my engineering professor who often said, "Time is you most precious variable." Once spent, it cannot be retreived and from whatever perspective you choose, Biblical or practical, you only have so much. So spent it wisely. I like to play vieo games with my children on occasion. I'm not very good and they enjoy mopping up on Dad. So there is extra entertainment value when I play. That said, they don't play unlimited and it is always after the necessary things have been accomplished like schoolwork, and other in home responsibilities. I have shelved the unit on more that one occasion because of "attitude". So if you can't play nice, you can't play. It seems to me to be the height of man's silly pride that he he get so worked up over something of such little worth as scoring ???? on a video game. My older brother flew F-14's in the first Iraq war. He was an excellent pilot and landing on carriers and dogfighting require skils that average Joe does not possess, inlcluding excellent hand-eye coordination. He can't play video games, epsecially flying ones, worth a hoot. That's his estimation, not mine. He still flies airliners today for Jet Blue. All that to say the supposed hand-eye benefit is probably worth a lot let in practical every day living that what it is said to be. At the end, all things in moderation. Have a good time. Enjoy. But if it keeps you from doing things you ought do or generates a bad attitude, let it go. It's not all that valuable in the total scheme of things.

Anything can be done to excess and that usually is bad. Nothing is wrong with gaming it does have some benefits such as problem solving, managing, planning, creative thinking, to name a few. When I first saw Pong in the 60's I was fascinated with gaming, being 54 it lead me into the computer/IT industry. I've found quite a few other professionals (doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc) in their 30's, 40's, and 50's that play online games. We use it as a release from the stresses of life. Society accepts other forms of releases because they have been around longer such as drinking alcohol, TV, movies, sports to the extreme (golf, softball, hunting come to mind), cards or board games, etc… Serious gamers, I’ve found are not much interested in abusing or even doing alcohol or drugs because they desire to do their best in game. Other activities are usually much more expensive and can be more time consuming as well. Yes it is important to have social skills and human inaction, my guild and local friends get together at times and have dinner and yes we talk about our games. Games do offer a high level of fun, entertainment and enjoyment that is seldom found in other activities as I have tried many others over years. As to the argument that it promotes violence that is nothing but a scare tactic, if anything it relieves stress and pressure which are a more direct cause of violence. I heard a good analogy that there are more loves songs than any other, yet people sure don’t love each other more. People are responsible for their own choices of actions and use outside elements only as an excuse, so game responsibly.

First I want to say I am sorry for the loss of James Kim, I feel for his family and my my prayers are with them.

As for gaming it is a double edge sword. I believe all that is said is true but again you must base it on the individual. It can make people aggressive but help with problem solving.coordination. For me it raises my adrenaline and helps me focus on other tasks. It also changes my mood and I get more aggressive. It just depends on each individual situation.

If you start going down the road of not socializing with friends, loved ones, or people in general in favor of staying at home and playing video games then you ARE wasting your life.

Sure we all love a good gaming session, but in reality they are not important at all to one's life...they are basically just another form of entertainment like movies.

If you spend more than 10 hours a week playing video games, in my opinion you are wasting your life and time (if you are at least 14 years old). After working at your job, taking care of your house, family, bills, etc...you should not have more than 10 hours a week to play video games and have some sort of social life too.

I love my Xbox 360 but whenever the choice comes up to go to a bar or party with friends, spend time with my girlfriend, etc. I will never choose to play video games.

dude
i think your just fine palying video games, everybody plays some occasional video games. theres nothing wrong with playing for fun, or maybe for compititions, but dont let it take of your life like i have seen done. i play video games a lot but i play it moderitly. but it definitly isnt bad for u!
haha how does it to feel on cnet weekly email dude!!!
thats an honor if i might say so!

I'm 19, a part time worker and part time school in a apprenticeship living at home and constantly are being told by my parents that i'm playing to many video games. I'll play from 10-15 hours a week usually just a hour or two a day and 2 or 3 times a day i check an online games i play like travian, knightfight and kings of chaos. But i also work 20 hours a week and go to school for 16 hours a week. As well i play soccer on the weekends with friends for about half a day. Do i play to many video games? Not really, how i play video games is a way of relaxing and doing something with my mind so my body may rest and has no effect on my social, working or school life except the occasional need to get on a computer around lunch time for 5 minutes.

Life is all about choice and how they affect you in the long run. From my experiences parents like to command their children especially when dealing with videogames. If you wish to "waste your life" with video games then that is how you choose to spend your life. But don't expect to stay at home for free and just play videogames. If you get addicted and let it consume your life you soon might now be able to play at all because you don't have a choice due to lack of money. I would take their opinion, agree that too much videogames has a negitive affect on various things but for now your just going to relax for a couple of hours and do something you enjoy. My favorite line "would you rather i go out and do drugs?".

To set a bar of what is an addiction. For the full time student or worker anything over 20 hours a week, every week would be a addiction. Further points would be if you actually go outside for more then to go to the store for a new videogame, if not... you need to put down the controller.

To John Wilkonson, Saint Augustine & eranoco: Balance in favor of living well first, seems to be your mantra. Responsible adults would see it's value, but we're writing to kids. How many millions of actors, musicians and artists have we all seen "waiting for their 'big break'"??? Gaming has the same stigma. The few successful game-masters & game analysts are held as examples from the millions who will only dream of making a living in gaming as life passes them by. TheCrowing would be wise to pay heed to them.

To those who have argued in favor of gaming over all else:
sprt--Here's a glaring example of one whose attention during English class was apparently voided by obsession with gaming. No employer of substance (including software companies requiring coherent reports on their games) would hire anyone who applies ebonics to the written word. Communicating effectively IS a sellable skill to EVERY employer.

theinfamouschris-- While the civilian-version of military simulators do improve Hand/Eye coordination, as a combat vet/military-instructor myself, I can say with authority that NO simulator can prepare anyone for the stress induced by another trying to kill you first. To say gaming DOES is irresponsible and misleading. READERS NOTE: Another whose grammar deteriorates and chronic mispellings show how well gaming teaches 'real-world' communication skills.

To drewlore, eclipse_6, & fuzzyCWD:
As I exampled above, competition for the gaming positions is fierce. My own son has a position as a game-master & troubleshooter for one of the most popular RPGs on the net today. His problem is that he obsessively plays as a customer at home Monday-Friday 5-6 hours (25-30hrs./wk. NOT counting weekend time)which cuts into his sleep time. Sleep-deprivation affects one's immune system, mental acuity & overall health. "Doing something he enjoys" as you put it to such an extent now is ruining his health, endangering all others he shares the road with while driving and, if he shows up late to his "primo" job one more time, he stands to lose it. Putting all that at risk HARDLY justifies him spending THAT much time playing a game, now doesn't it? Puts a whole new perspective on obsessive gaming!

The Greeks had it right: "Moderation in ALL things." But if everyone had been paying attention in class instead of gaming, or incessantly talking about gaming, we wouldn't be discussing this now, would we?
Redtalon

If you enjoy them, play them. I enjoy them tremendously, and my parents don't seem to mind. Yes, they do build eye-hand coordination and all that jazz, but really, they are just plain immersive, fun, and entertaining. They can help you calm down when you have a problem, they can allow you to use your creativity and imagination, and really allow you to unwind. And by the way, the whole thing about hurting eyes is really false. I play the most video games in my family, yet I was the last person to receive glasses. Besides, most people need glasses these days anyways, just because of them getting older. Really, just keep playing if you really enjoy them. I will always enjoy them for the rest of my life, no matter what anyone tells me.

Doctors are going to be operating using joysticks. Wars are gonna be fought using joysticks. School, from kindergarden up to getting your PHD are going to be via a joystick.

The only thing wrong with playing video games is the chair ain't the shape of your butt!

If I give my dad a joystick, he doesn't know what to do with it. If its a car chase? He rams into the wall. If its a scifi trooper with a gun? The creature with the 8 eyes gets him, easy. Now, you stick me with a joystick, and I take first place in that car race. And I find the evil doctor mastermind behind the 8 eyed tongue eaters.

That's not education?

I play 4 hrs a day , and now i am the #1 player in XBOXLIVE HISTORY .I have 5 top leader boards to my credit ( GOOGLE MY GAMERTAG ; MRXBOX n VAN BC ) and in doing so have made hundreds of new friends .If you only play after all your chores and home work is done , then you should be able to choose your own pass time . Remember this HEART Surgeons play games so as to stay sharp . The docs who play are faster ,30% faster and 33% less likely to make a mistake because vidgames train your mind . They make you use your brain to interact with people and they can be just darn FUN !

if you could could see what your life would become if you didn't play vs what you did play, the rational person would surely choose not to play games.