Quitting video games

[Jamie Bougourd]

I play until I've exhausted the story and I rarely revisit them so the game is used in a week.

The key to my freeing up of time is to be so picky that I can't find a game worth buying for months, (handy considering the time it takes for game development these days).

If all fails just remind yourself that you are replaying a game with limited strategies for advancing through formulas made of zeroes and ones. Sorry about the cynicism.

 

[BeeRye]

Tried to quit so many times and failed miserably.

 

[Nutcase]

Why quit suddenly? Just lower your gaming time, iv been able to juggle a girlfriend, work, college, exams and gaming. Just be sure to remember what is important, going cold turkey is the hardest method of quitting anything.

Not really. With an entrenched habit or non-physiological addiction, cold turkey is probably the *easiest* method. Makes sense when you consider how these things manifest physically in the brain.

And no, I have never tried to quit gaming. I don't play enough for it to be a problem, and have long breaks without planning for them.

What I *have* done is to deliberately quit specific internet forums and sites that I recognized were eating too much of my time and not giving enough back. I have disabled access to a bunch of addresses using my hosts file, so that I don't drift there without thinking once I'm in a browser. Works great.

 

[lord667]

Over-indulgence was my cure for gaming addiction. Eventually it's possible to create a psychological link between the phrase "raid list" and the feeling of finally dragging your atrophied carcass out of bed at 5pm and being screamed at by Dutch dwarves via Teamspeak while you shovel a breakfast of cigarettes and Doritos down your malodorous, yellow-fanged gullet. That usually does the trick.

 

[PaladinBlake]

While I fully believe that many people have no issues playing games and balancing everything else in their lives, I don't think that's me. Unfortunately, I think I don't have the kind of self control I'd like to have.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Quitting anything cold turkey usually ends badly...maybe instead of giving up a hobby you enjoy, you can just play games that are good in short bursts. In other words, handheld gaming. I never leave the house without my DS. Ever. Even to get the mail.

 

[Bofus Teefus]

While I fully believe that many people have no issues playing games and balancing everything else in their lives, I don't think that's me. Unfortunately, I think I don't have the kind of self control I'd like to have.

If you truly feel that it's interfering with life, maybe it's not a bad idea. I didn't play at all from 16-21. At 16, I just quit suddenly for no particular reason, and didn't play again until I simply regained interest. You can always start again if you feel like it will no longer interfere.

 

[Nutcase]

Quitting anything cold turkey usually ends badly...maybe instead of giving up a hobby you enjoy,

Strawman. Quitting cold turkey does not mean you have to give up the activity forever. If your goal is continuing the activity in moderation, it can be very useful to first break the habit with total abstinence.

you can just play games that are good in short bursts. In other words, handheld gaming. I never leave the house without my DS. Ever. Even to get the mail.

This is an instance of a more general tactic of physically relocating / isolating an activity to break a habit. It's a useful tool.

For instance, I have found it helpful to isolate my digital entertainment (games/video/...) on one computer, and have another "clean" machine which allows me to concentrate better on work.

 

[carlosvader77]

Gaming is like any other form of entertainment and/or hobby (only much better, IMO), you have to control your exposure time. Judging by your decision you should quit all other hobbies you might have. If you spend time with your friends, you loose time with your girlfriend and vice versa. I'm a married man (no kids yet) and I have my gaming time perfectly under sane levels, it's my hobby and my relax time. My wife respects that, she has her own hobbies. You have to put aside some time to enjoy your favorite hobbies.
The fact that you quit completetly on games because you felt you were wasting time is perfectly valid, there's no obligation to play videogames either

 

[GammaChris]

I play videogames to fill the time that I'm not doing school or friends or girls. As a matter of fact, all of my friends play videogames anyway, so it never really interferes with them, and all my girlfriends thus far have tolerated playing some games with me. I never really saw it as a problem before, but that's just me I guess.

 

[Nutcase]

You probably just need to scale back a bit, i'd hazard you are playing MMO's from your name. I've been there, and it's good to quit them, as personally i find them to be quite a time sink (and i will fight vehemently against anyone who claims they are an addiction).

Also, this. Take two months off, including the game itself and all forums and news sites related to it, and then consider if you'd still like to play. If the game's appeal goes down massively (you might actually end up wondering what was ever good about the game in the first place), that's a sure sign of a game built to be purposely addictive and not just entertaining.

 

[Iskenator67]

I've never quit. I've noticed I've started playing them less as I get older but I don't think I'll ever quit.

 

[experiment0789]

Like Ranooth said, time management. Also like he said you didn't have to give it up, but you do have to have your priorities in order. If your ok with giveing up gameing and your spending more time with your friends,girlfriend,and doing good in school, then it shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks because thats what works for you!

 

[wordsmith]

Seriously? Without games I wouldn't be the funny, calm, non violent person I am. Would you rather I drive recklessly in game or on the roads? Would you rather I learnt the art of "Spray and pray" at a local shopping centre or on a game?

Point made, so leave me to my games.

 

[BIGpanda]

best thing about being a libra. multitasking.

 

[Adfest]

I suppose I can see the point of quitting if you play them uncontrollably to the point that that your addiction is causing negative consequences in your life.

 

[Sgt. Dante]

I've never quit. I've noticed I've started playing them less as I get older but I don't think I'll ever quit.

That happens, i've clocked about 40 hours on my PS3 this year. Used to do that in little over a week. But as commitments pile up you have to put things in moderation.

between GF's, uni, jobs (now unemployed) and keeping a relatively social life going - gaming can be pushed to a back burner.

Still take my DS on the bus tho.