Does Playing Video Games Affect Your Life?

[cka]

I get no significant benefit in my life from playing video games so I voted no

[kedawa]

No. I don't spend enough time gaming anymore for it to make a difference either way. Same goes for tv/movies.
I spend a fair amount of time online, though, and that has to have some impact, although I really couldn't say whether it's positive or negative. I learn a lot, but it's rarely anything useful, so who knows.

[StriderKyo]

positively.

When i was younger i was always getting into fights. I didn't have a constructive outlet for my young negroid aggression. Than i got Super Mario Bros. My temperment went way down and i mellowed out. Over time i became the extremely laid back person that i am. To quote my buddy "if i you were any more laid back you'd fall over."
I also give credit to games and good parenting helping me stay away from gangs. And in the 90's in South Central, that was a blessing.


JBNagis

Videogames have robbed you of a promising rap career.

[epmode]

After binging on GTA3 for several days, I caught myself going faster than usual, wanting to drive on the wrong side of the road, run reds, etc. So yeah.

[Space Pirate Roberts]

lol

[Yoshi]

Well the idea is to discuss it instead of bringing out that cynical TNL "nerd by day, condescending douchebag by night" attitude.

I can be a nerd and a condescending douchebag concurrently and constantly, thank you very much.

That said, I voted for yes, negatively. I really don't want to think about the time and money I've spent on video games over the last 25+ years. I could have found a cure for AIDS or, better yet, a way for it to kill the right people faster in that time.

[Dyne]

it doesn't affect my life because i very rarely play anything anymore. the only time a system gets turned on is when i have absolutelt NOTHING else to do and don't need a nap.

[Gooch]

It has an overall negative effect. It's a completely unnecessary expenditure, and it consumes far more time than I'd like. It is an addictive, obsessive form of escapism but it is not completely without value so it has some merit.

[Brand X]

The only negative that gaming really gives me is that I spend money on games that I don't really end up playing through. During college gaming used to cut into me going to classes, particularly I would smoke pot and play videogames instead of going to some classes. But that's typical of any college student.

But now that I have a full time job and tons of other shit going on in my life, I just don't have nearly enough time to play videogames. I'm lucky if I can squeeze in an hour a day during the week, and I usually go most weekdays without even playing games. Though I have a feeling all of that will change in the next few months, since the number of AAA games coming out in the next few months is ridiculous.

[torgo]

Games for me have been reduced to only being played with friends (typically fighters or wii stuff) or just like a quick game of picross before I go to bed. The whole dedicating evenings to single player gaming is long gone for me. I actually like it this way better. Gaming with friends is a great way to socialize, and just little gaming sessions here and there are a great way to relax a bit.

If I sit down and plow through an RPG or something like that now, the whole time I'm just thinking "I should be paying my bills/laundry/posting my resume/working on my project/whatever" and that seriously hampers how fun the gaming is. Sucks to be an adult.