Why do you play video games?

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I'm at a cross roads in my life. Issues I won't repeat for the 1,000th time here. I had an income 24/7 latest game NOT going on with my life just latest Mario 24/7 NEW game OMG OMG! for years! Destiny a shooter for months I barked at family OMG! BUSY IN A LEVEL! LEAVE ME ALONE! Skipping dinner etc.

Now at the cross roads and not having an income for the newest game in the next few months is sort of depressing. Sure it's a sequel and just play one of the prior games (you have them all pop them in/on play those until you can afford the OMG! NEW ONE!)

But I ask the above subject question since I'm torn? Was I using them as a depression tool not moving forward with my life getting the employment agency help I so desperately needed. Or looking for employment just game 24/7. Realizing this now going on 30 and I wonder am I questioning/wondering this too late in life. Got a degree during this time 18-30 but am doing nothing with it.

Realizing you spent 12 years "depression tool" vs. come home from work "escape" as normal people do is shocking!

Not even sure I want to go back and play those "prior" games. So? Do you use them as an escape from work THE RIGHT THING! Or as a depression tool? To escape life???

I'm getting into reading fantasy and am hoping to buy some self-help books to better myself and am walking 2 miles a day around the neighborhood vs. playing those old games. (Not that I don't want that OMG! NEW sequel a couple months after release at least) LOL!

Anyone relate? How do you go from "depression tool" to "normal play" Are you at "normal play" or still use it as an emotional crutch so to speak.

Thanks gamers!

(Don't worry I know plenty of Aspies deal with social issues/depression etc. so YES they are an escape for you so I truly understand)

It's hard to say why I play games. I just enjoy them. Sometimes I play too much, read too much, eat too much, sleep too little. There's nothing inherently bad about any of these activities but too much of any one is probably going to have a negative impact on your health. I love videogames, I'm not going to stop doing something I enjoy because it's maybe a coping mechanism. I'd be way more depressed if I didn't play videogames.

I don't think you can really distinguish between 'normal' and maladaptive gaming but skipping meals and ignoring people is probably not a good idea. It's great that you're doing new things but don't feel like you have to go "cold turkey" on games. It's easier to be moderate than to swing between extremes of behaviour. Too much of anything is bad for you. Everything in moderation.

I used to play video games because I derived pleasure from doing so, although during the past year that has somewhat lessened. I haven't played games in quite a while.

Simple: They're fun, they're challenging, they make me think, they require effort. And in some cases, they let me compete against friends or others.

BUT: I make sure that things STAY this way. I look at so many gamers these days, and they never stray from the usual AAA games or big popular things or whatever, and.... they often just dont seem to be having much fun anymore. Alot of games have become less about fun, challenge, or anything resembling depth, and instead all about slogging your way from one story element to the next, or maybe grinding stuff (UGH), or whatever. That, instead of fun, becomes the ENTIRE reason. The moment that started happening to me, I stopped, and shifted focus. I now actively AVOID games like that, and instead.... focus ONLY on games that actually will give me those things I"m after. If I'm not having a good time THE ENTIRE TIME, what's the point? Alot of games force you to slog through like, 3 hours of dullness in order to get to the next "interesting part" that's just like, a couple of cutscenes. And then players wonder why they're getting less and less interested or compelled to finish the game.

By doing these things, gaming continues to serve a good, positive purpose for me. It has even led into a couple of actual development contracts; I am currently in one of those, and it's bloody fascinating.

That could be part of it though, honestly, for those that find themselves losing interest. It might be time to try something new, and see how that affects you. Maybe then, they wont JUST be a depression tool or escape thing, but.... something that, instead, brings you genuine fun. And that, to me, sounds like a much better reason to play.

Having something to escape to at the end of a day is normal. The problem comes when people play games instead of doing what they need to do, or skip work/school to play.

Virtual Reality

Hope to open my own video game studio one day.

I like to get into the story so I tend to play RPG preference for JRPG (can't wait for xenoblade!!).

But sometimes I just need to shut my brain down at the end of the day from work and play something mindless like WoW, FFXIV currently WildStar. I don't usually interact with the other players other than arranged groups :S

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A fun distraction. It's that or sit around being sad about being unloveable. Unfortunately work doesn't allow it as much and als riding the bus gives me time to do lots of sitting

I just find them to be entertaining and fun...I mostly play League of Legends, guess you would call that an MOBA(multiplayer online battle arena) but that is probably the game I spend the most time on. Aside from that I like to play console games sometimes, but it can take me quite a while to finish games since when I get stuck I will usually take a break and then come back to the same game maybe days later to try again.

I don't really neglect things for video games, though there may be times I wait longer than I should to eat or really hope no one will bug me if I am really getting into a game...basically its a fun activity, and a good way to kill time if you are bored. I don't think I'd really be classified as a gamer though, I'm more a person that just plays games.

Simple explanation: They are fun, they are universal and its one of the few hobbies my brother and I share.

Complicated explanation: As a child who was bullied, excluded and teased mercilessly for reasons I still cannot figure out, gaming became my way of getting away from all that. It's probably the same reason I became a rink rat: I am accepted, treated fairly and understood. When nobody wanted to play with or let me join them, I could always count on my NES or SNES to provide endless new worlds to explore, new challenges to overcome (since school was B-O-R-I-N-G) and fun, relaxing experiences.

I still cannot believe how many hours I logged on my PS2 and PS3. Never cut school or work to play although I did stay up well past my bedtime more than once! Nowadays with Wedding plans and playing hockey I rarely play. For example, games usually take about 2 weeks to beat. I have one game I have been playing for over a year and still haven't finished it.

I play video games because they're fun and I enjoy the stories they tell. I also play them because I like the challenge and it helps improve my hand-eye coordination.

I like to feel in control, the rules are usually simple (complete the task or try again) and I have a very active imagination. The possibilities and scenarios are endless.

I got into videogames when I was a toddler. When I got older, it was a way of coping with stuff I wasn't ready to deal with. It became an escape, a way to relax, and something to take my mind off of a bad day. Nowdays, it's something that's there to entertain me when I need it. Years ago, it was TV that entertained me the most, but as the number of shows I liked to watch became scarce due to either cancellation or bad time slots, videogames increased for me. That's why I had the cable removed from my bedroom TV and use that TV for game consoles and DVDs only.

A few reasons, 1: because it's the only place i don't get nervous 2: because i'm very skilled in gaming overall 3: because it beats talking to people and having a social life.

1. For fun
2. for releasing stress (I'm a sucker for FPS anyway besides call of duty)