Do you "get" fun?

[Booze Zombie]

Never thought of it like that, but I still wouldn't mind being excessively overjoyed about just one thing.

Just one thing to make me giggle like a blithering idiot, y'know?

 

[chronobreak]

"Fun" is overrated. There are much better things you could be doing with your time. Studying, Working, why throw your future away for a few moments of a chemical reaction in your brain that says you're having "fun"? Use your time to build a legacy of accomplishment that future generations can look upon as an example.

 

[sheic99]

I'm slightly worried about my mental well-being, to be honest. I feel like I don't "get" fun, that is to say, I feel that I lack the ability to understand fun.

I mean, I shoot people in a game and feel a dull sense of having done something... but that's basically it. I watch my custom character in a cut-scene and think to myself "I made him look cool", but I don't really feel any "fun".

In fact, I'm not even sure I really know what fun is.

Do you truly feel fun? Maybe you can tell me what you feel it as?

Well in a study I read, guys do not get aroused very much by games eventhough they rated them as exicting. So I guess what you feel is normal for guys.

 

[latenightapplepie]

"Fun" is overrated. There are much better things you could be doing with your time. Studying, Working, why throw your future away for a few moments of a chemical reaction in your brain that says you're having "fun"? Use your time to build a legacy of accomplishment that future generations can look upon as an example.

That sounds terribly depressing. I mean, and this is obviously from a subjective standpoint, but that seems to me to be a fast-track to unhappy thoughts.

I think "fun" is much harder to define than people would think. I found doing the homework of and learning new words in latin or french very satisfying and fun whilst others would think that any 'work' could not translate into fun. Yet at the same time playing video games can in fact sometimes be quite boring for me.

To the OP, maybe keep in mind that sometimes video games don't have to be fun. They have to be an enjoyable diversion or a distraction from school/work/children for sure, but they shouldn't be expected to be the return-to-childhood-joy all the time.

 

[the fifth]

go completely insane. it works, just look at me. i will be all by my lonesome and giggling like a, well, madman. the only side effect is that you occasionally have the urge to kill lots of people. but then you talk to the voice in your head and suddenly you are giggling like a madman again. trust me i know i am a paranoid schizophrenic.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Play Hitman: Blood Money. I dare you to not have fun with that game. Eh, sometimes I'm not always elated while playing a game, but my measure of whether or not a game is "fun" is if I find myself wanting to play it throughout the day. But there are degrees of fun. Like others said, if games aren't fun for you anymore, take some time off from them. Sometimes you have to do something really dull to appreciate hobbies.

As for the whole "games that excite," I've actually had to stop playing Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution late at night. It seems it gets my adrenaline pumping and I can't get to sleep as a result! So far, this game and God Hand are the only ones that affect me in this way.

 

[flatearth]

This sounds like dopamine deficiency to me, well, because I have it.

Lack of strong emotions, lack of real enjoyment, doing things only to fight boredom and not for the reward and pretty much just lacklustered feeling all the time. Common symptoms also include ADD (attention deficit disorder). If this is the case, there is no diet or anything that can help you. Exercise has been seen to be beneficial, but that is up to you.

There is a medication that increases dopamine, but it has a lot of dangers involved, and I wouldn't really promote that. If you feel like that this could be the case, go talk to a shrink.

 

[RhinoTuna]

Play games with friends. The most fun i've ever had in a game (Whether it be PC, console, online, MMORPG) is with others. The social aspect that intertwines with playing a game makes it that much more fun. If you're 'that guy' when it comes to games, play some co-op. GoW2, L4D, SSBB, etc.

 

[Novajam]

Well a lot of modern games are forcing a lot into games that's making them less fun, like moody storylines and such. But you can remedy it. You might get a laugh out of one of the GTA games, or by playing some kooky music in a shooter (Yakkity Sax!)

The problem may also be from relaxing too much. You might feel a little more energised and open to fun after a walk/nice meal/seeing a friend. Playing for too long often makes something boring quickly.

However if it persists then a doctor would know better than me.

 

[dalek sec]

Same problem with me, use to feel alot of enjoyment when I played my games and what not but now I barely feel anything when I play them.

 

[ThePlasmatizer]

I characterize the moments as "hell yeah!" moments. Just moments in games that make you happy.

I think you're over-analyzing it. Fun isn't something you need to actively pursue it's when you're playing and it makes you feel good.

 

[foolishnun]

"Fun" is overrated. There are much better things you could be doing with your time. Studying, Working, why throw your future away for a few moments of a chemical reaction in your brain that says you're having "fun"? Use your time to build a legacy of accomplishment that future generations can look upon as an example.

I'm sorry this may not help our friend in need but I COMPLETELY disagree with this suggestion. I would say, "why throw your life away trying to build a legacy of accomplishment that future generations can look upon as an example, just to be dead at the end of it. There are more important things in life than 'success' as chronobreak seems to define the word. In my humble opinion, it is infinitely more important to be satisfied with who you are and to be kind to yourself and others, while trying to help everyone else do the same. If you are content working and studying then that is fine, but I don't think it should be because you want to "create a legacy" for anyone else to follow. That is foolhardy. It should be for yourself.

And I do not believe that is an over-simplification because it is not a simple thing to do.

The point is that you need to find out who you are. It seems clear that you are not satisfied with this serious demeanor you have. Is this because you havn't made peace with it?

Strive towards contentment.

 

[famousninja]

Go to parties. Hang out with some friends. If you lack friends, make some. Then hang out with them. Watch comedy shows. Have sex.

Just some suggestions.

I will second that motion.

I was actually having fun playing Gears of War 2 in co-op mode. A strange feeling to describe such a Middle of the Road shooter. But to me it was fun. Fun, like everything else in life is relative.

Einstein is more a philosopher to me than scientist.

Hey Albert Einstein, throw your hands in the air. Props on the whole theory of relativity thing.




The main piece of advice: go find a significant other who hates games. You'll discover how amazing they are when you can't play them as much.

 

[Zeke109]

Whenever I have fun is when I'm with people, so try playing a popular FPS and find some friends on Multiplayer.

 

[emptyother]

My theory on FUN is that every human has different things that triggers fun, but what fun is, is really the "flow". That point where you forget all thing around yourself and manages to totally immerse yourself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)
People are trying to achieve it trough meditation, or trough hard work. Sometimes what made you able to get into the flow changes, and you can no longer achieve flow with ex. viedo games.
My tip? Try something else. Or maybe just another game or gametype. Or another chair or sitting position. Or maybe there are no games out yet that are able to immerse you enough. You just have to wait...