Game Behavior in the Real World

[nomadic_chad]

A bit of a strange topic, I'm sure, but I've found myself wondering if anyone else has any real world game experiences or observations like I do.

Are there any times, when walking about in the real world, that you find yourself behaving or at least engaging mentally, as you would in a game?

For example, when walking through a mall, do you take stock of stores that you would loot to aid you in a zombie apocalypse (i.e. Left 4 Dead) situation?

If racing simulations (or Grand Theft games) are your thing, do you find yourself imagining performing dangerous driving techniques when behind the wheel for real?

Maybe if you're walking with a few friends, do you mentally determine who among you would be the tank, healer, dps, etc?

I'm thinking of writing an article over at AssociatedContent.com about this kind of behavior and would like to include other gamer's perspectives other than my own. So please, feel free to reply and add your observations. I'll be sure to notate you as a source if your real world game behavior is used.

 

[L3m0n_L1m3]

I pretty much try and play my life out as if it were Heavy Rain.

It goes just as badly for me as it does in game, too.

(But I still love the game.)

 

[unoleian]

With or without racing games, who doesn't dream of pulling some wicked drifts and spins in their car on the highway just because the very idea is cool as hell?

But other than that, no, I don't really consider that kind of stuff at all day-to-day. Well, I'm sure I have at one time or another, just not anything worth mentioning.

 

[pianoman]

I sometimes imagine a shootout in usual locations in my life, finding cover, deciding best route to take, etc.

 

[nomadic_chad]

L3m0n_L1m3 - in what ways do you try and live your life out like Heavy Rain?
unoleian - good point, I'm sure people imagine drifts and jumps even without racing games.
pianoman - nice!

 

[Meggiepants]

Fallout has made it so I evaluate the junk around my house for it's usefulness should an apocalypse ever hit us.

If Fallout has taught me anything, it's that weapon parts can come from the places you least expect it. And that broken lawnmowers and motorcycles will be valuable commodities. But not irons.

 

[Jedoro]

I see planes in the air and I either think it's an enemy UAV or AC130.

I also think about the paths I'd take in a room if I was clearing it, but that's not exactly from video games.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

I do this a lot, but much more from a writing perspective.

You know, how would a superhero I might write enter this room?

What sort of story would work best in this deserted university? (at night)

Not so much a gaming perspective, but certainly not an avergae 'ooh look, a shop.'

 

[Daemascus]

I think about how fun and relaxing it would be to strap C4 to all the people who are pissing me off, and what would make the biggest boom(yes I know this sounds crazy but it all stays in my head).

 

[Mr. Gency]

With a universal remote, I mark my TV, receiver, and 360, then I execute.

Yes, this is how I turn on my Xbox.

 

[Soluncreed]

I tend to see all the weapons in the room that I could possibly defend myself with.

 

[Jfswift]

Yea, that happens to me sometimes, like i'll be in a mall or a hardware store and start figuring out where the safest stronghold against a zombie invasions would be. Which ailse offers the most strategic advantage and what manuveuers I should be performing during a high speed turn. I think everyone daydreams a little, worse if they play games.

 

[hittite]

I have a zombie plan for every building I spend more than a half hour in.

 

[Doctor VonSexMachine]

My repair skill is like 80. Oh, and I always take tons of stuff with me when I leave the house, just in case I need it on my travels.

 

[Composer]

ya i take whatever was happening and try and apply the story of the last game i played to it. i find myself imagining how my school would look in Fallout3.

 

[nomadic_chad]

Great posts, guys and girls!

You all came up with some that I do and hadn't realized that it might be based on previous game play.

Keep them coming!

 

[GL2814E]

I once saw some kids fighting and when one went down I was afraid the winner might tea bag the loser like in Halo. Bizarre, but that was the terrifying thought that went through my mind.

 

[Fightgarr]

Yes. I have found myself flirting like Commander Shepard pretty frequently.
You go up to a girl:
Me: What do you know about the geth?
Her: Oh man, I find myself attracted to you for some reason.
Me: What did you think of our last mission.
Her: I'm really into you.
Me: Tell me about Asari culture.
Her: Wanna come back to my place?
Works every time.

 

[GL2814E]

I have a zombie plan for every building I spend more than a half hour in.

See I had a Sergeant who told me to have a plan to kill everyone I meet. He even had it down in writing. I only wish he'd put it on a counseling cause I would've framed that and put it on a wall.

 

[Burningsok]

LOL about the mall thing... My friends contemplated for about an hour on what they would use to barricade themselves from a zombie attack. They only could use things that they personally saw while walking in the mall that day.