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originally posted in:Dads of Destiny
12/10/2014 3:09:46 PM
15
Why do we Game?
This topic has come up numerous times with other fathers, friends and especially the wife. Question goes why do you spend so much time playing on the Xbox? When Destiny was first released a read a forum post that hit the answer to this question spot on. To this day I wish I would've saved it, as I have searched and searched for it with no luck.
When I was a kid I started playing on Atari and Coleco. I was an original Nintendo kid amd graduated up through each game system as they came out. I had a an old computer that had the original floppy's with games like spyhunter and digdug. I loved going to chucky cheese and aladdins castle in the mall dropping token after token, quarter after quarter and remember telling my parents just one more minute or can I just finish this stage??? I hear these same questions everyday from my boys.
So back to the original question why do we game? I would like to hear what others say as I cannot articulate my thoughts as well as others.
My feelings are with todays changes with cell phones, tablets smart tvs this and that. Kids just atent the same as we were growing up. My memories are vague but I remember scouting amd throwing the football, baseball etc. I feel today that memories are beong created by playing with my boys. I have 2 that I play with on a daily basis. This may sound terrible but I have an Xbox 360 in each boys room, one in the living room as well as an xbox one in the living room. We have days we play and i bring in a 32 in flat screen amd we have all 4 going at the same time. To me I feel this is a great bonding tool amd we enjoy playing together not to mention the competition is fun in the crucible. What I am having a hard time with is balancing the 2 out with wifey time vs. Kid time. So please thoughts and ideas? Why do you game and do any of you have spouses you game with? Mine likes to watch for awhile but gets easily bored. I cant fathom that but oh well. I am 39 retired Army amd still feel like a big kid and seeing the enjoyment in my kids eyes when I say lets stay in and play. hits a soft spot as well as gives me cherished memories. I hope someday when im not around they do the same for my futire grandkids wo all the negative comments on you shouldnt play that all the time. For the record. My boys are also student athletes. I am also proud to say my 9yo 3rd grade competive football team went 8-0 on the season amd were unscored on as well. So they arent couch lumps either. I am a super proud gaming father. I look forward to hearing your alls thoughts.
Respects,
Brian
English
#dads
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I used to think gaming was just a stress relief for me. But I've been understanding why it helps relieve stress, and discovered its a bit deeper than that. I have a very active mind, one that likes to run rampant with ideas. As a result I have a tendency to overthink the shit out of anything, which naturally happens more often when my mind is bored. this can be dangerous and problematic, as I'll tend to spin some life issues into problems and make a mountain from a mole-hill. Occasional I'll work on exciting projects at work that I can really dive into and get really imaginative about, but more often than not I'm working on mindless stuff. I've found games are an awesome way to occupy my mind, looking for strategies to play better, how to get better gear, solve problems, even think of new ideas for the game. I Kind of think of it as a positive background noise for my head when I'm not gaming. lol, I guess it helps keep me sane.
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Gaming lets me anger out so I dont let out on people. Point blank. Ive done it since I was 2 years old. My mom has me on video plating mario and duck hunt at 7 am in the morning 1991 on nes. This has been apart of my life for 23 years. I game because I get to meet people like all of you who know what I go through on a daily basis expecially with kids and wives and jobs and family priblems. I love the connection I can share with otber people. I love the challenges games bring. Ive done alot of research of game addiction and how gaming actually enhances your mind. I look at the world differently.
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1 ReplyI game because: 1. It's my hobby, I'm not brilliant at it but I enjoy it. 2. I'm still a bloody big kid at and I hope that will never change.
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This video from the Game Theory series really sums it up quite nicely from a scientific point of view. [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyUC_28HIvA]Game Theory: Why You Play Video Games[/url]
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Let me count the ways: 1) I enjoy the challenge which is set up in a fun environment. 2) Learning and practicing skills: Certain games require certain skills that are applicable to experiences outside of gaming. Much like chess, some games teach you how to strategize, tactical plays, risk evaluation, rewards and consequences, and knowing your boundaries. 3) Mental and physical conditioning: there are multiple physical benefits to gaming. hand-eye coordination. keeping the brain active like if you need to instantly strategize or deal with ever changing situations. Obviously, there are impacts if gaming is abused like becoming sleep deprived or experiencing other physical issues. 4) Entertainment: I would often much prefer playing a game than watching TV or a movie. I'm more engaged with games, and I don't find much TV/Movie media that meets my likes. 5) Experience a different reality: I don't say "escape from reality" because I like my reality. Experiencing a different reality, especially one that I'm not involved in can be fun though. 6) Socializing: While not all games fit into this category, there is an aspect of socialization that you can have. I much prefer person-to-person contact though when socializing so I really don't put much emphasis behind this one and gaming.
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All great comments. I remember when the first video game, pong, came out, http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pong I was in the Navy and on the version we played the tv screen was the tabletop. We would line up the beers and play for hours.
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I find gaming falls into two categories of distraction. 1. It has a great story and is like an interactive book 2. It's entertaining but the community element (I.e Destiny) make it fun. But overall I find that the 'me' time I get playing lets me wash away whatever stresses I have. I guess I just disappear for a while.
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3 RepliesMine is simply an escape from real life. Work is stressful (pediatrician), love my wife and son but things can get crazy sometimes. Also we live in a place where I don't have a lot of guy friends. Playing something like destiny gives me a chance to disconnect from other things in my life and hang out with other people. I only do it when everyone is asleep or gone typically, so I don't miss out on family time otherwise
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2 RepliesI game a stress relief and it is something that I can do that I enjoy just for me. I used to play golf 1 to 2 times per month but with cost per round d and time loss with family it became an expensive habit both monetarily and emotionally. In came xbox one. I had an original NES and then nothing else before the xbox one. The things I love about gaming are that I can do it after the kids and wife are asleep so no lost family time and that I play and interact with a lot of people that I used to go to bars with but can't anymore due to family commitments. Initially my wife was against the xbox one because of cost and the fact that I had never been a gamer but since I have put over 800 hours on the system the cost per hour of entertainment is close to $1 which you simply can not get in any other form. Wow that got long quick. The short answer is I game because either is fun and I can do it cheaply and without compromising family time.
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It all started with my Commodore 64 and I was hooked. Some people have a knack with gaming and I guess I was one of those fortunate ones. Not saying I was the best but just had an easy time picking up on gaming. It was fun, it was stress relief and yes did not have a ton of friends in my neighborhood. So when I had to be in at a certain time or mom couldn't take me to my friends houses it was gaming time. I know there is a stigma that can come along with it but hey I'm a husband and father now and I could care less what people think of me cause I'm happy with who I am (comes with age LOL). Nevertheless I'm happy to see myself evolve along with the gaming industry and get to enjoy some of the things I never in my wildest dreams thought would become reality. Happy gaming e everyone!!!
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At times I wonder if my lust for gaming arises out of the need to recapture my childhood. I too played outside constantly, but I remember all of the days spent playing Goldeneye during the winter - 4 friends huddled around an N64 for hours on end. Now, I game alone and at times it is extremely unsatisfying. Most of my friends no longer have time for gaming, and I actually find myself talking about games with my high school students more than anyone else. I joined this group in the hopes of recapturing that social aspect of gaming that I have longed for the past few years. My wife will play games like Lego Marvel with me but that is about it. She is certainly not the Destiny type, but that's perfectly fine.
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Stress relief. Commeraderie. Cutting up having fun. Forget life for a while.
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Thanks to all for commenting so far. I apologize for the small book. Being retired i have alot of free time on my hands when the kids are gone
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Edited by GR8TGMAN: 12/10/2014 7:04:46 PMWow... i just read your post and its sounds like i actually wrote it....lol... seriously..mabye a couple of small changes but. I have 2 boys 15/12 they also have their own xboxes and an xbox down stairs beside the xbox one... we will play together... its great bonding time. Instead of football in my house its hockey...canadian eh... both boys play on high level teams and they are on the ice at least six days a week ...my youngest does play in a football league in the summer. Seriously... my house ...is your house... as for your question on balance.... i have no idea..lol but if you figure it out let me know.... my wife has no use for video games... she thinks they are the devil....lol i think she might be a little jealous of them and has fobbiden all game talk at the dinner table...you need to add me GR8TGMAN mabye together we can figure this out and save humanity....lol oh almost forgot... why i game.... its fun ! And im a loot whore... always looking for that next cool piece of armour or weapon...
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1 ReplyHoly wall of text batman. Personally I have been gaming since NES and I use it to relieve stress. I do the same by working on my race car but gaming is cheaper lol. Some days you just need a break from reality or get an urge to do something GTA like. Can't do that kind of stuff in real life and just turn it off and walk away like nothing happened.
