Playing Games for All the Wrong Reasons

[Pulsar_t]

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/28/ ... ng-reasons



An interesting introspective article.

[D.D.D.]

That was surprising from IGN. Actually a good read.
And yes, subconsciously, that probably is why I play.
Life is the hardest game of all but also the most rewarding if you unlock the right stuff and you don't get 6 wanted stars.

[8bit]

That was a really good article. It makes a lot of sense that games can provide some kind of virtual satisfaction when life cannot. It certainly rings true for me but I think more of in a collecting sense. I collect games when things are kinda down (like when a girl goes binge shopping to make herself feel better). I actually think I play more games when I am happier or things are going my way because I have more energy and motivation to tackle games I didn't when I am not at my best.

[Luke]

Well, I'm in the minority as that article was a wasted read to me and doesn't reflect positively on gamers.

I enjoy playing video games, there is no need for introspection. I don't play to relax, I don't play because I want to escape, I don't play because games are easier than life, I certainly don't play any game for an "achievement" (lame), I play video games because they are fun (usually).

"If textbooks had achievements, we'd all be geniuses". Someone in high school must have written this malarkey. The only thing that video games and textbooks have in common is that you get screwed when you sell them back. If games were actually like textbooks, there would be a shit ton more of drop outs.

If this article was supposed to be motivational or insightful, all was lost on me.

[BoringSupreez]

Well, I'm in the minority as that article was a wasted read to me and doesn't reflect positively on gamers.

I enjoy playing video games, there is no need for introspection. I don't play to relax, I don't play because I want to escape, I don't play because games are easier than life, I certainly don't play any game for an "achievement" (lame), I play video games because they are fun (usually).

"If textbooks had achievements, we'd all be geniuses". Someone in high school must have written this malarkey. The only thing that video games and textbooks have in common is that you get screwed when you sell them back. If games were actually like textbooks, there would be a shit ton more of drop outs.

If this article was supposed to be motivational or insightful, all was lost on me.

Gotta say the same goes for me. Playing to "escape?" Yeah, no. I started playing games at an age when my life was calm and easy 24/7. I play for the fun of it. Sounds to me like the author is in the wrong line of work for what he wants to say.

[Ghegs]

"Gaming for escapism" is undoubtedly true for many people but I play for the fun and/or the challenge of it. If, while playing a game, more than five minutes goes by without anything at least trying to challenge my gaming skills I get bored, so I don't really have the patience for RPGs or anything with grinding in it nowadays. If I want to lose myself in a story, I grab a book. When it comes to games, I want to work for my rewards. And not grinding-work, real thinking-and-practicing-work.

Still, it is a good article, maybe it'll wake up some people.

[Zing]

"Grinding tells us that, no matter what, if you keep playing you’ll become more powerful. If you keep playing, you’ll earn enough money to buy the things you want. If you keep playing, you’ll gain access to more levels and items and goodies."

This is one reason I don't play modern games. Every game, even the old trusty FPS, has some sort of "grind" added to it. Hell, every game has grind added by default in the form of "trophies" or "Gamerscore". No thanks.

I'm interested to know what "that week's hot new game" would be. He mentions two old games, World of Warcraft and Halo, so it makes me wonder what modern games he is playing, other than iOS games. I wonder if he is actually trying to rationalize his current disinterest in gaming, whether due to lack of satisfactory games or outside pressure.

[Menegrothx]

If, while playing a game, more than five minutes goes by without anything at least trying to challenge my gaming skills I get bored, so I don't really have the patience for RPGs or anything with grinding in it nowadays. If I want to lose myself in a story, I grab a book.

Those two aren't always mutually exclusive. SS2 and HL-series have engrossing storylines while simultaneously having great, almost constant action and fine gameplay (and puzzles, stealth and platforming when you aren't killing stuff)

[isiolia]

I enjoy playing video games, there is no need for introspection. I don't play to relax, I don't play because I want to escape, I don't play because games are easier than life, I certainly don't play any game for an "achievement" (lame), I play video games because they are fun (usually).

People playing games for those reasons also tend to be playing because the games are fun to them.

The point of the article, along with plenty of other articles and books written about behavioral conditioning and the like, is why they find those games as fun or engrossing as they do. Which is not to say that all players are the same, but more that it can be worth exploring what makes video games trigger happy chemicals in your brain.

[Ghegs]

If, while playing a game, more than five minutes goes by without anything at least trying to challenge my gaming skills I get bored, so I don't really have the patience for RPGs or anything with grinding in it nowadays. If I want to lose myself in a story, I grab a book.

Those two aren't always mutually exclusive. SS2 and HL-series have engrossing storylines while simultaneously having great, almost constant action and fine gameplay (and puzzles, stealth and platforming when you aren't killing stuff)

That's probably true, I don't play FPS games much at all, they usually bore me for other reasons. Out of Half-Life I've only played the first one. The newest FPS I've played is probably Crysis, and that's a four-year old game. And Left 4 Dead, but that's a different beast altogether.