How "into" gaming are you

[Wuggy]

I can see your point OP. But I have a problem with one thing:

Let's face it, by the time you're my age (26) if you're still playing video games you get slapped with the rightly-deserved stigma: you have yet to grow up.

Why is it "rightly-deserved"? Why is not playing games a sign of maturity? Seems to me that gaming is a form of entertainment the same as movies or books.

To answer your question, however, I guess I'm "moderately" into gaming. I don't attend conventions(or to be completely honest, I have, but I was an representative of the press). But that doesn't mean that I couldn't possibly see myself attending a gaming convention at a point of my life. I don't wear gaming apparel apart from a Human Revolution shirt, but I won that in a contest. I don't go to stores to buy games, but that's mostly because I use Steam whenever I can.

 

[Al-Bundy-da-G]

I'm having major reconstructive surgery to alter my appearance to look exactly like Garrus.

I know the risks, But the priiiize.

What prize? Being in the middle of some calibrations for the rest of your life? :3

Yea laugh it up, but when you're in the middle of a reaper assault and your BFG can't shoot straight due to no calibrating, don't come crying to me. I'll be busy.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

I have some gaming tattoos. I've attended a few minor cons, and two midnight releases. I've introduced girlfriends to gaming, because it took up a good portion of my free time. I'm an engineer who went to a conference, and convinced several of the similarly-aged people there, all of us the young professional types, into wandering off and going to a gaming party I was invited to. I'll let you make of that what you will.

 

[Savagezion]

Do you wear the apparel? Go to the conferences? Go to game stores to buy games? etc?

I have a few gaming shirts and have some I still want. I have yet to go to a conference but I totally would. I go to game stores to buy games... I figured that one was a default one so everyone would have something to say yes to... sadly you are serious.

Let's face it, by the time you're my age (26) if you're still playing video games you get slapped with the rightly-deserved stigma: you have yet to grow up.

I am 32. That stigma is NOT rightly deserved. It is our generations responsibility to throw that stigma out. It is bogus. What exactly do you think "grown-ups" are "supposed" to do? Sit in their study with a pipe in their robe and a good book? Maybe in 1875. Sit at a desk with one hand on their forehead going over cliche paperwork in front of a computer? That is unhealthy and a good way to insure you will health problems in your 50s.

The fact is that stigma about video games is just a stigma. What adults did before video games was sit around watching John Wayne movies - or just action movies in general. (Mostly endulging fantasy) Some sat around and watching Sandford and Son. They sat around the boob tube watching shit. We sit around playing shit and watching shit.

I don't wear my Guild Wars shirt to job interviews. I wear it to Walmart or the theatre or a barbeque. The same places I see average people wearing Budweiser shirts, Dallas Cowboy shirts, or Nike shirts. Any place where a T-Shirt is acceptable apparel probably isn't a place where someone important to my life is going to hold it against me.

Most, if not all, hobbies have an affiliation with someone's childhood. Welcome to adulthood.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I'm 29 and VERY into gaming, comics and technology. I was born in the early 1980's so I have grown up with all things thundercats and space invaders. When I tell men they are like 'OMG that's so adorable.' Then they realise I'm actually, in reality, a huge nerd and don't want to know. I have a theory that 30 year old men don't really want a girlfriend with a collection of Batman comics no matter how much they think they do.

I'm getting a tatoo of a space invader on my ankle for my 30th birthday :3

The happiest people on this planet are those that do not lose their sense of childishness.

Quoted for truth.

Um...I'm fairly certain that, in a few years when I hit 30, I'll be a-okay with dating a girl who has a collection of Batman comics. Hmm, yes. Yes indeed.

A space invader tat, huh? Of which? The tank, one of the aliens, or perhaps the stately UFO?

Like this one but smaller :3 Pew pew pew.

I ordered 1-3 of the new Batman comics from The 'all new 52' among other characters. Looking forward to them.

 

[GeorgW]

I have no shame about being a gamer, and neither should you, OP.
That said, I don't go to conventions or anything like that. I hate to say it, but sometimes there's an odd feeling about the people there. It's not just gamers, I just have a problem with fanboys in general.

 

[Tourmeta]

You just sound embarrassed to be honest, there's no "evil sin" in gaming as some people believe.

I'm very into it, I love going to stores, don't have any game shirts though. I'm also hoping to start going to such events soon
Gamescom would be rad.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Love to play them, hell I even made some on my own, but they aren't the overarching focus to my life.

 

[Tazzy da Devil]

I'm very into gaming. I'm on a first name basis with all the employees of my local game store. I look for game shirts, but they don't make them for girls, so the only one I have is the Bob-omb T-shirt that I stole from my brother. I'd like to go to events, but whenever one comes around (which isn't often), I usually have no money. Last time one rolled around, I blew all my money on a PSP instead.

 

[thirion1850]

Being quite frank here - I can barely be referred to as a gamer when compared to actual ones. I spend most of my time self-educating, roleplaying and writing. But, hey, when Skyrim comes out and I finally upgrade my PC, I plan to devote some good time to that! Odds are, it will probably live up to my expectations since any brand shiny new AAA release would be a bit of a treat for me. ^^"

 

[Violator[xL]]

I've never been to conferences and I probably never will. I used to go to LAN parties but I think it's too much effort for very little actual gameplay.
I stopped reading gamesmagazines.
I still play with my clanmates, nothing more than public servers though.

So. I'm very into gaming itself, the rest /care

 

[EeveeElectro]

Honestly, there's no point having a hobby if you're going to be ashamed.
I don't see what's so bad about it, it's no different to painting or reading, it's something that makes you happy.

The only gaming shirts I own are a pac-man one, a Little Big planet one and a Mario one.
I haven't played a game in ages though... I've been trying to pack to move and the fact the boyfriend is on the 360 pretty much all of the time. I might carry on with FFVI at some point today.

 

[Vault101]

hmm lets see

I have LOTS of games....I keep buying new games before I finish old ones,

I have discovered the joys of action figures/figurines, I have posters plastered everywhere

I tend to end up relating stuff back to games somtimes...even my sister who has no friggen Idea

when I was a kid I had a....bizare obession with games

so yeah, Im into it

 

[targren]

Less and less as I get older.
...
Call it aging or whatever but I'd say it has more to do with my dissatisfaction for how gaming has evolved. Whether it's hyper restrictive DRM, Micro-transactions, Generic FPS games, or stagnating franchises (some may be all 4).

Get out of my head!

Though I'll still wear gaming T-shirts sometimes, but they're all old-school.

 

[StormShaun]

Im really into gaming, well I'm a hardcore gamer (As outsiders call me), if you could see my room you would see heaps of gaming related stuff, collectors Editions, replicas, shirts, and other cool stuff.

I want a tattoo about a game...mabey.

 

[Cerrax]

I have the Hylian Crest tattooed on my left shoulder.
I read game magazines and websites.
I have many gaming shirts, from Angry Birds to Symphony of the Night.
I proudly display my games above my desk.
I have a decent sized shelf of board games and card games next to my desk.
I have a Scott Pilgrim poster hanging above my bed.
I frequently go to midnight releases and hang out with friends at game stores.
I take a trip to MAGFest (Music And Gaming Festival) every year with my friends.
I make remixes of video game music and contribute to a game remix website (Overclocked ReMix.org).
I'm 25 years old.

And you dare to call me immature/childish? I know this image has been used a hundred times, but xkcd nails it dead on.

 

[Haasth]

Hmm.. Well I don't think it's that easy to define.
Gaming is easily my biggest hobby and I have been a gamer pretty much all my life. My study is unrelated to gaming, but aside from that I spend my time pretty much on gaming. I make videos from the games I play, but aside from that I do not go to any events or wear any clothes and the likes but that is mostly because events are expensive and most of the time I just can't be arsed to go to a big event like that and the clothes mostly aren't clothes I actually like to wear.

I wouldn't be ashamed of it or anything like that, it's just not something I wear.

 

[Liviola]

It's kind of obvious, but there are definitely different contexts where showing off your gamer gear is either an advantage or disadvantage. If there are going to be people there who will "get" the nerd/gamer reference of the tshirt I am wearing (e.g. at a Con, interview with games dev company, Mana Bar!), then I will wear it, otherwise there is not really any point for me. Especially since Tshirts are not the most flattering apparel if you're trying to hide a bit of a pot belly (I'm getting one from too much computertimes.. and it's ironic now that I'm gaming more, I can't wear the gaming merch that I used to be able to)

It's a shame, though, that pretty ordinarily-cut Tshirts are unflattering to less-than-ideal body types. I would love if games merch clothing came in stuff that looks a bit smarter (there are some Blizzard polos and stuff, but there are so many other ways you can put a brand into clothing.. maybe with just colours or minor callbacks to character costumes in ordinary clothes designs: i.e. like the themed Nikes, where it's not just a logo plastered all over it, but you can use colour and shape to reference something)

 

[Rewold]

Used to be really into gaming but now I'm becoming a casual. Don't really see it as a bad thing 'cause I don't want my life to revolve around video games. Time better spent with university and playing guitar, drums. Now I just buy games that seem interesting(not so many) and look at biggest gaming news. And even though I just called myself a casual I don't play sports games or have a wii nor do I want one.

Has anyone else ever noticed that sometimes waiting for a game feels more fun than playing it? Hype is more fun than games themselves.

 

[Vigormortis]

Like this one but smaller :3 Pew pew pew.

I ordered 1-3 of the new Batman comics from The 'all new 52' among other characters. Looking forward to them.

Nice. *slow nod assent*

I personally haven't read any of the New 52, but I've heard from a friend that so far many have been rather good. The only one she said started weak was Detective Comics, but she tells me it ends with one hell of a, as she put it, "brain melting cliff-hanger". So take that as you will.