Gamed out...

[auronvi]

I am in a gaming rut. I have been playing WoW for way too long and personally regret getting myself into it and others around me into it. So, I quit about 6 months ago, just payed for another month and am quitting again. I am hoping Aion is better but my question to the community is...

Have you ever been gamed out? I really never have but recently it's getting hard to enjoy games with more and more responsibilities I am acquiring as I am aging. I'm 22, going to college and am realizing that life is getting harder for me. I don't mean to QQ but growing up is kind of lame but at the same time I don't want to be the 35 year old McDonald's burger flipping raid leader living in his Mother's basement (no offense if I just described your life, I just don't want that for myself).

Should I break from games for a bit? I've gamed since I was 5 and am going to school for game/simulation programming. Maybe it's too much... Someone help me!

 

[blankedboy]

Play some nice fantasy RPGs, like Morrowind. Old stuff. Matt Thorson games. Definitely nothing multiplayer. That'll get you calmed down, that's what I'm doing now.

 

[auronvi]

I am playing Lunar 2 on my PSP (haxxorz ftw). So maybe I will stay in the single player realm for a bit. Thanks for the suggestion! Anyone else ever get in a rut like this? What did you do?

 

[Corpse XxX]

You can still game, just dont start with games like WoW and such, but games that doesn't need your attention every day.. And set a max of 1 hour a day at least til you break off the worst habit..
Online shooters like for instance TF2.. Where you cannot really progress in anyway or level up.. They are not addictive in the same way..

But if you start setting gaming before friends, then you need a reality check..

And only play games if you have absolutely nothing else to do.. They can ruin your social skills..

 

[Graves]

I once read an article about how gaming gives people a false feeling of accomplishment. I can't speak for eveyone, but I do recognize it. When I have been playing for five hours and turn off the console/pc, I sometimes realize how I didn't end up with anything. Maybe that's what you're experiencing?

 

[silasbufu]

You can't run away from your problems completely. I agree with Poison. Except for guild wars, I never play anything multiplayer, except for co-op and it's ok , relaxing and you can stop at anytime.
I've had the same problem with guild wars..but I just got bored with it and quit. I go online from time to time, see the changes, talk with ppl I used to play with and that's about it. You don't need any drastic measures at the age of 22. I'm 20 and all seems ok for me.

 

[Satin6T]

oh yeah, ever pulled an all night L4D fest?
sometimes it gets boring and you just wanna play casual games for a while

edit* it's also the reason I've never finished KOTOR or Ocarina of time

 

[auronvi]

I once read an article about how gaming gives people a false feeling of accomplishment. I can't speak for eveyone, but I do recognize it. When I have been playing for five hours and turn off the console/pc, I sometimes realize how I didn't end up with anything. Maybe that's what you're experiencing?

Kinda feel like that. I am starting to dislike the trophy system/achievements in the consoles. Furthers that false feeling of accomplishment. Spent 3 hours yesterday trying to get 100% on Batman...

EDIT: Spelling

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I am in a gaming rut. I have been playing WoW for way too long and personally regret getting myself into it and others around me into it. So, I quit about 6 months ago, just payed for another month and am quitting again. I am hoping Aion is better but my question to the community is...

Have you ever been gamed out? I really never have but recently it's getting hard to enjoy games with more and more responsibilities I am acquiring as I am aging. I'm 22, going to college and am realizing that life is getting harder for me. I don't mean to QQ but growing up is kind of lame but at the same time I don't want to be the 35 year old McDonald's burger flipping raid leader living in his Mother's basement (no offense if I just described your life, I just don't want that for myself).

Should I break from games for a bit? I've gamed since I was 5 and am going to school for game/simulation programming. Maybe it's too much... Someone help me!

A break from anything is a good way to renew your interest in it.

Maybe stick to some fun single player stuff for a bit (play Oblivion, it's like WOW without the real people!)

 

[Amarok]

Get Osmos, it's the gaming equivalent of a good smoke.

 

[Jimmyjames]

Do you have a 360? Can I have it? If so, I think you need to quit games.

Just remember, games are ultimately entertainment. Like movies or reading, really. You can partake of any entertainment in unhealthy amounts. I know people that watch 6 hours of TV a day. No better than 8 hours of games.

 

[Textbook Bobcat]

It depends what you have going on really.

When I was 17 I had my first proper relationship, and gaming went straight out the window. Here's a question to ask? Is that failed relationship a better spend of my time than playing games would have been?

Same thing I can apply to each of the relationships I've been in since, were they really such a good thing to be doing?

I think what you're going through is a bit of self-realisation. I thought I wanted to get married, have kids and do the same grind of a job; day in day out by now. I do the latter of the three, but realised that the former aren't really my cup of tea.

I broke out of what people were telling me the proper thing to do with your life is, and started thinking for myself.

For example, in two weeks I'm cycling across France from Le Havre, across the Pyrenees and into Spain. All a precursor for me cycling round the world next year. If I listened to the majority I'd be looking forward to this seat in the office for the next 40 years.

You answer only to yourself is what I'm trying to get at. If YOU feel you're wasting your time, get off your ass and do something about it. If you're enjoying yourself (which is all we can really ask for in our time) then to hell what anyone else thinks.

 

[Iskenator67]

On games themselves no. OnL4D? Hell yes.

 

[DRADIS C0ntact]

I am in a gaming rut. I have been playing WoW for way too long and personally regret getting myself into it and others around me into it. So, I quit about 6 months ago, just payed for another month and am quitting again. I am hoping Aion is better but my question to the community is...

Have you ever been gamed out? I really never have but recently it's getting hard to enjoy games with more and more responsibilities I am acquiring as I am aging. I'm 22, going to college and am realizing that life is getting harder for me. I don't mean to QQ but growing up is kind of lame but at the same time I don't want to be the 35 year old McDonald's burger flipping raid leader living in his Mother's basement (no offense if I just described your life, I just don't want that for myself).

Should I break from games for a bit? I've gamed since I was 5 and am going to school for game/simulation programming. Maybe it's too much... Someone help me!

I can relate to that. I'm 24, going to college full-time, working full-time, I'm married, and my wife works full-time. It's not easy trying to fit gaming in with the responsibilities of adult life, I definitely understand. The thing with me though, I HAVE to make time for it or I'll go nuts. Gaming is like a retreat for me...it's like recharging my batteries. It's a place where I can go to get away from everything else in my life and just relax. I think everyone needs to have something like that.

 

[Kurokami]

I am in a gaming rut. I have been playing WoW for way too long and personally regret getting myself into it and others around me into it. So, I quit about 6 months ago, just payed for another month and am quitting again. I am hoping Aion is better but my question to the community is...

Have you ever been gamed out? I really never have but recently it's getting hard to enjoy games with more and more responsibilities I am acquiring as I am aging. I'm 22, going to college and am realizing that life is getting harder for me. I don't mean to QQ but growing up is kind of lame but at the same time I don't want to be the 35 year old McDonald's burger flipping raid leader living in his Mother's basement (no offense if I just described your life, I just don't want that for myself).

Should I break from games for a bit? I've gamed since I was 5 and am going to school for game/simulation programming. Maybe it's too much... Someone help me!

Gaming's fine, MMO's however are life wasters, their existence alone consumes your time, just quit it for good an pick up a casual game or something. And by the way, I don't think you gotta cover your ass if you did describe someone like that, even if they do exist here on this forum they should know its not a nice place to be, even if you're the damn lich king.

If you can play MMO's CASUALLY then there's probably nothing wrong, but you shouldn't commit too much time into it.

 

[Baby Tea]

I find that 'growing up', and getting busy with important things (You know, like schooling and work and such) that detract from game time, actually makes game time a lot more...special? I think that's the word I want to use. What I mean to say is that: Now that I'm done school, have a full-time career, am married, am active in my church, and am taking Krav Maga lessons regularly, I have way way less time to game.

Sounds like a bummer? Not really!

Because now any game I buy lasts way way longer than it normally would. Before any of this, I would go through games in a day or two. Now it takes at least two weeks. So I feel like I'm actually getting my money's worth, whereas before I would fly through and think 'oh...well that's over'. Besides that, you just come to see how gaming isn't overly important in life. Don't get me wrong, I love gaming! I have a lot of fun with games and look forward to quite a few this coming fall and winter. But you just come to realize that that are more important, or more productive, things to do.

 

[Chipperz]

Online shooters like for instance TF2.. Where you cannot really progress in anyway or level up.. They are not addictive in the same way..

Yes they are. They are all about getting the next big weapon. They are EXACTLY as bad as MMORPGs if you're stupid enough to get addicted.

On getting burnt out, I find playing something on the Wii helps immensly - a week or so of No More Heroes or MadWorld helps immensly in getting you back on with other gaming, 'cos it feels so different. Hell, even Wii Sports is good for that.

 

[Stalk3rchief]

I used to love the 360 that was in my life. I adored CoD4, had a decent clan, and a great deal of friends. I played new games and old games alike and it was pure bliss.
but
Since my third xbox broke and my money supply ran dry, I've given it a break. I've started watching more movies, reading more books, and even started hanging out with my non-gamer friends.
It got me places.
Now I have a fun job, tons of REAL friends and an overall enjoyable life.
I think losing video games was one the best things that happened to my life.

Although I'd kill to get a new 360 so I can play MW2.

 

[manicfoot]

It's normal to become uninterested in something you've been doing for so long. I've been gaming my whole life and I sometimes hear a voice in my head saying "gaming is meaningless. You are going to regret every damn second you wasted staring at that screen when you only have seconds left." Its not about it being meaningless though. Its about finding meaning in the meaninglessness.

 

[Malkavian]

I feel very much like OP. I don't get much gaming done. I tell myself it's becuase there isn't a lot of quality games out there, but maybe it's me that's getting really picky, that needs one hell of a good game to have it interest me. I'm 21, and maybe it's simply that I'm adjusting to a starting adultlife. I'm not saying I'm growing out of games, just that my personality is finding out whether I'm growing out of them.