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Heroes Community > Other Side of the Monitor > Thread: Is gaming a waste of time?
Thread: Is gaming a waste of time? This thread is 3 pages long: 1 2 3 · NEXT»
Doomforge
Doomforge


Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
posted November 19, 2010 11:43 PM

Is gaming a waste of time?

Many people argue that gaming stinks. We, gamers, tend to disagree, but actually... I've been thinking about this lately

Thinking "gaming is a waste of time" is a dead end, obviously, as we will go to a conclusion that all hobies are a waste of time, but what's NOT a waste of time then, money making? when you die anyway?

But... people calling games a waste of time have a good point - regarding certain games. MMOs, hack and slashes... and such.

If a game is played for plot, like, say, a good cRPG, it can be viewed as a book or movie. It enriches our imagination. Improves our level of culture, although obviously not as much as books. However, I had a lot of thinking about governments after playing Deus Ex.

However, if the game is an endless cycle of:

- boss-running to get better items to boss-run more effectively (aka Diablo 2)
- Playing the same maps over and over again with human opponents to improve to play those maps better (aka Starcraft-like competetive RTSes)
- Playing the same maps over and over to have a better score at them (say, Civilization)

it's.. you know. What struck me is that it's an endless loop. There is no goal. You do stuff to get some virtual benefit to the that stuff again, only better. Until you get bored. Sure, some of us may become "pro" players one day, but... it's not likely to happen, seeing that we'd usually need to compete with Korean players who treat competetive online games VERY seriously, training 8-10 hours each day... (see games like Starcraft 2).

So, we're obviously not going to achieve any success in that endless cycle. What is really my point. Most of people that dedicate their free time towards something - most of it - have some goal. Someone playing football most of the time may get to a team one day - not necessarily Barcelona, ofc, but... a guy that likes writing may publish his books one day. But gamers? They will get bored. That's pretty much the only possible scenario: you get bored. And many of us has put quite a lot of our lives playing games. As a former diablo2 player, I know how repetitive and mindless it looked like: hundreds of boss-runs over and over again to get a super rare super great item.. to trade it for something that will make my runner a better runner.

And the outcome was as usual: I got bored, eventually. Deleted the game and... now I'm feeling like I've lost many of those hours for nothing. If I were training instead, I'd have better muscles, if I were jogging, I'd have good stamina, if I were reading books, I'd be more wise or well-read... and so on... but gaming? What has that brought me?

Nothing. No lasting benefit. No sharper relexes, no better mind, no healthier body... I even barely remember the enjoyment. Most of the time it was "aww, what a bunch of random crappy loot again" disappointment.

Was that addiction? I can't really call it that, I quit whenever I wanted, never missed something important because I was gaming, never ommited a boxing training, a good book or something similar. Still.. all those hours, for nothing? I barely remember what I was doing, now.

Ultimately, I think certain way of playing - the "loop" playing - is a waste of time. Unfortunately, the games this board is about are all about looping. It's playing a map to get better at memorizing tricks and methods to play the map in a more efficient way. But what do we get in the end? Joy? Yeah... undoubtedly. A joy that lasts a while and then gets forgotten. With nothing to remind you of it.

Some of us play in Tournament of Honor, compete with each other... at least we have stats and can brag about them on-line, lol But all in all, it's the same. The endless loop until we get bored...

All of that made me finish and delete all games I've been "playing" lately. You know, a hour for this game, a hour for that game, whoops its evening already. Right now I have just a simple game installed to relax after school. (Torchlight). Yeah, it's one of those pointless games but... I'm not going to waste my life on this anymore. A hour after work or school or workout, and voila.

So, do you think games are worth it? The moments of joy, are they worth the fact that you're doing something that will never really leave any benefit in your life, and barely any memories at all?

For the first time in my life, I'm doubting gaming - excessive gaming like I did in a year or two now - is worth it. It almost feels as if I wasted those years, because I can barely remember what have I been playing all that time...
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JoonasTo
JoonasTo


Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
posted November 20, 2010 12:00 AM

Of course they are.

It doesn't matter if it's a game, a book, a movie, a tv series. It's all the same. Escape from reality. Enjoyment.

And you can play games that actually are worth something, like language games etc.
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Cepheus
Cepheus


Honorable
Legendary Hero
Far-flung Keeper
posted November 20, 2010 12:03 AM
Edited by Cepheus at 00:04, 20 Nov 2010.

I mostly agree, which is why I almost never waste time on games without a strong plot anymore. But I wouldn't be lying if I told you that certain games have helped me substantially in schoolwork and life in general through intelligent premises and narrative and art direction (mostly the subjective disciplines, of course).

Then again, it's not at all accurate to say the most competitive nutcases who play tournaments in "looping games" don't have a goal to strive towards.

I never had a problem with enjoying the gameplay of Heroes or other decent strategy games because contrary to what you say they do sharpen the mind when played in moderation, in much the same way as chess. On the other hand, I tend to avoid "mindless" FPS games like the plague. Call me an elitist.
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1910
1910


Known Hero
posted November 20, 2010 12:10 AM

Well, if you play the games by yourself then yes, it's a bit of a waste of time. Like Joonas said, it's just a way to escape reality. However, if you hare with somebody else and play a game then it isn't exactly to escape reality, more to have an activity to do for fun with the other person. Just my opinion anyway.

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Elvin
Elvin


Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Endless Revival
posted November 20, 2010 12:15 AM

I regret playing no games, the ones I have spent time on had something of value to offer. That said I avoid hack&slash, mmorpgs or loop games in general. Exceptions aside I know from the start that they take more than they give so I simply don't start them.

If you think about it how much free time do you have for activities? Once college is over you will work 8 hours per day(or more), have limited time to see the people who matter to you, a hobby or two and.. the internet. Which consists of forums, games, manga, anime, movies and the list goes on. All are appealing but there's not enough time if you want to do something worthwhile with your life. When you grow out of it you are left empty wondering where your best years went. And you wouldn't be the first or the last either.
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blizzardboy
blizzardboy


Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Nerf Herder
posted November 20, 2010 12:18 AM
Edited by blizzardboy at 00:23, 20 Nov 2010.

In terms of getting something out of it beyond enjoyment, strategy games and even real-time strategy games I think are good exercise for the mind. FPS, racing games, and grinding MMOs not so much, and frankly I'd put most RPGs with that category also. Although I doubt I'd consider even the most thought-intensive games (excluding educational games) to be as valuable as playing an instrument, reading thought-provoking literature, or banging a South African prostitute.

And really, if you consider a lot of the alternatives kids do to playing video games, I wouldn't consider even the fairly useless ones to be that bad, unless they're insanely addicted to them. I had a semi-friend in high school that literally played an MMO almost every waking hour outside of school, and in the morning he'd come in, sit down, and sip a Mountain Dew out of the corner of his mouth because he had tongue ulcers elsewhere from constantly drinking it. Not good...
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Seraphim
Seraphim


Supreme Hero
Knowledge Reaper
posted November 20, 2010 12:40 AM
Edited by Seraphim at 00:42, 20 Nov 2010.

Quote:


If you think about it how much free time do you have for activities? Once college is over you will work 8 hours per day(or more), have limited time to see the people who matter to you, a hobby or two and.. the internet. Which consists of forums, games, manga, anime, movies and the list goes on. All are appealing but there's not enough time if you want to do something worthwhile with your life. When you grow out of it you are left empty wondering where your best years went. And you wouldn't be the first or the last either.


This sums it up.I have something to add though.When you play PC games with the intention to become a good mp player or modder,you enjoy your skill and capability.If you play casually,then you never used great amounts of time on gaming in the first place.
Since life has no "Real' meaning,so does a PC game.I played games for joy and I enjoyed them.I tried to mod them if I did not like them.I valued my work even if it was minimalistic.

We go to primary school,to high school,uni-college,work-work-work-work and finally we die.What is the difference from a MMORPG?In life you have greed,in MMORPG you have the need to level up/

imo,you cant really waste time,only spend it.So,you wasted nothing.

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markkur
markkur


Honorable
Legendary Hero
Once upon a time
posted November 20, 2010 12:47 AM

Quote:

So, do you think games are worth it? The moments of joy, are they worth the fact that you're doing something that will never really leave any benefit in your life, and barely any memories at all?

For the first time in my life, I'm doubting gaming - excessive gaming like I did in a year or two now - is worth it. It almost feels as if I wasted those years, because I can barely remember what have I been playing all that time...


I think they are. I would rather play football than watch football played. When we are young we play all the sports but as time goes by that becomes quite hard for many reasons and it is still "gaming" after all. Fishing or photography could be a passion but they both still take time and money, (maybe more)...just like gaming. I think its the old Moody Blues Title "A Question of Balance"

Also as has been said several times, <IMO> it does sharpen the mind. If I were still playing real football I would be following my plays or blocking-assignments and probably not seeing the whole concept of the Game.
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Doomforge
Doomforge


Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
posted November 20, 2010 11:31 AM
Edited by Doomforge at 11:37, 20 Nov 2010.

Quote:
If you think about it how much free time do you have for activities? Once college is over you will work 8 hours per day(or more), have limited time to see the people who matter to you, a hobby or two and.. the internet. Which consists of forums, games, manga, anime, movies and the list goes on. All are appealing but there's not enough time if you want to do something worthwhile with your life. When you grow out of it you are left empty wondering where your best years went. And you wouldn't be the first or the last either.


Yes, exactly the point...

With movies, books, games with great plot, I'm not regretting the time, it sort of enriched my imagination.

But "loop games" ? I barely remember what I've been playing last month... seems like an utter waste of life

Quote:
We go to primary school,to high school,uni-college,work-work-work-work and finally we die.What is the difference from a MMORPG?In life you have greed,in MMORPG you have the need to level up/

imo,you cant really waste time,only spend it.So,you wasted nothing.



That's also a way of seeing it. However, I think that even our "pleasant activity" should give us SOMETHING later in life. If not direct benefits of better muscle or sharper mind, it should at least give us pleasant memories.

I certainly have warm memories of games like FFX, or books like Witcher. Their plot really felt good, I remember every detail, and it simply feels good that I went through them.

But I really don't remember how much time I spent on boss-running in Diablo 2, and it all ends the same way: you get bored, in addition to remembering nothing after a year

My complaint that some games (the "loop games") are basically meant to play them to get better to play them better to get even better... an endless cycle of no reward for the player, and barely remarkable. Time consuming as hell, though!
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markkur
markkur


Honorable
Legendary Hero
Once upon a time
posted November 20, 2010 12:07 PM

[quoteMy complaint that some games (the "loop games") are basically meant to play them to get better to play them better to get even better... an endless cycle of no reward for the player, and barely remarkable. Time consuming as hell, though!


I will not play shooters just for that reason. No matter the new package, they still feel the same. Maybe that is part of it; a how new is it to me? kind of thing.
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DarkLord
DarkLord


Supreme Hero
Fear me..
posted November 20, 2010 12:23 PM

Yes Yes and Yes !!!! Gaming IS a waste of time !!!! Unfortunately..
Just think of the amount of time you spent for gaming + internet in your life.. Scary isn't it??? I know it's fun to play PC games.. BUT! It just simply takes too much of free time.. There are so many other things to do in Life!!! I stopped playing loads of games, just left few favourite ones, and try not to spend hips of time on them.. Didn't quite work with internet though..((( working on it..
I would say the best way is to get a girlfriend, or two .. so you gonna spend more time doing staff with your GF then your PC ...

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phoenixreborn
phoenixreborn


Promising
Legendary Hero
Unicorn
posted November 20, 2010 12:25 PM

Some games are worth playing and some are not.  The same with movies, books etc.  Sounds like you found a genre you don't like Doomforge.  Now you know to avoid it.

Elvin speaks of doing something worthwhile with your life.  What does that mean?? Also, what is the point of playing bejeweled?
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Elvin
Elvin


Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Endless Revival
posted November 20, 2010 12:34 PM

Quote:
Elvin speaks of doing something worthwhile with your life.  What does that mean?? Also, what is the point of playing bejeweled?

I'm not sure, I'll let you know when I find that worthwhile thing Nah you know what I mean, anything that can give growth to you, something that can affect your life and/or others people's lives for the better.

The point of.. bejeweled..? Explosions! Lots of explosions and high scores. Also kicking other people's @sses. And wasting time only one minute at a time. That said I've given up on it for a while Bliz asked me to check it today, they added some new rare bonus gem. I must say that was totally worth checking out, really crazy
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Map also hosted on Moddb

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phoenixreborn
phoenixreborn


Promising
Legendary Hero
Unicorn
posted November 20, 2010 12:51 PM

Quote:
And wasting time only one minute at a time.

That is untrue.  That is how they advertise it...have you ever played just once?
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Elvin
Elvin


Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Endless Revival
posted November 20, 2010 12:54 PM

There have been times I only played 2-3 times. Not their fault if people have no self-restraint
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Map also hosted on Moddb

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phoenixreborn
phoenixreborn


Promising
Legendary Hero
Unicorn
posted November 20, 2010 01:10 PM

It is my theory that the bejeweled game works on the same principles as slot machines.  Eventually you will buy something, and people with more addictive personalities will keep coming back.  Something about constant repetition and shiny colors...and explosions.  Gee maybe that could apply to gaming in general...Doomforge said something about addiction up there.  He said he doesn't have it...Doom what was the longest period in the last 3 years you went without playing a video game?
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Doomforge
Doomforge


Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
posted November 20, 2010 01:11 PM

couple months. 4-5 iirc.
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xerox
xerox


Promising
Undefeatable Hero
posted November 20, 2010 01:16 PM

Having fun is not a waste of time.
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Over himself, over his own
body and
mind, the individual is
sovereign.
- John Stuart Mill

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JoonasTo
JoonasTo


Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
posted November 20, 2010 04:10 PM

But DF specifically mentioned games that he didn't have fun playing. Just grind work. I have to admit, if you're playing games like that then you are wasting your time.

It turns whole lot different if you're doing it with friends though. I have very fond memories of diablo with friends.

Same goes for shooters, UT2004 was the king and kicking your friends ass at it was wicked fun.




I have to take the Elvin quote:
"Time you enjoyed wasting was not time wasted."
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disturbed-gnu
disturbed-gnu


Supreme Hero
Pro Bacon Vodka Brewer
posted November 22, 2010 09:47 AM

Errhm, i think its a matter of opinions. By that i mean, if you ask me, i'd say that books are a major waste of time, but movies and games aren't. If you ask my mum, she'd say the opposite, that games and movies is the waste of time..

I hate to read books cuz i can't imagine the written things. I have to see it through a movie or a game..
But if you ask anyone hwo likes to read a book, that person would say that movies needs alot of details from the books..
So i usually go for the games..

You can use Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings as examples..
Everybody says the movies miss alot of details and history, and it's a shame..
People like me hwo never read the damn books, likes the movies, and only wants to punch the book-readers right between the eyes if they don't shut up..

But i imagine that its hard to make a movie really interesting. But if you take Godfather as an example, you got a masterpiece in your hands! Cuz that (Actually all of them) is a movie with top-class acting, plot and work...

But a game? What/which game can beat the damn books and be equal to some of the greater movies?
My best guess would be Half Life series? But i don't know...

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