There is too much negativity around being a gamer. The media paints us as bomb throwing, carjacking, fanatics with a thirst for the blood of anything living (or recently dead). Parents are quick to hide their children when they hear what we do with our free time. (Okay maybe thats a little extreme.. but hey, gotta be a little sensational here)
Personally, I'm tired of saying "I'm a gamer!" and receiving negative reactions, be it verbal or even just a sneer. I'm proud of being a gamer. I feel like playing video games is something that has had a great, positive, effect on my life. Naturally, we can all boast about our massive collection of plastic disks in plastic boxes, but I think we all get a little more out of gaming than anyone else is willing to acknowledge.
I am much slower to jump to conclusions when something happens, I take my time to investigate my surroundings (must be all the RPGs I play) and make calm judgments. I got a kick-ass sharp eye. I notice TONS of stuff that other people miss. I have a thirst for knowledge. I love learning about stuff (most things..) a trait I credit, mostly, to AoE games.
Now, I started playing games extensively when I hit the third grade and my teacher actually rented games out to us! (This was back with Windows 95, when there was no DRM) So I may have grown up in a totally different way were it not for these little gems. Even if video games didn't instill these qualities in me, they certainly stoked and nudged those what were already there.
And, for the record, when someone pisses me off my first reaction is not to grab the flamethrower but to go play some game in which I grab a flamethrower.... Clearly I do not know the difference between reality and a work of entertainment.
What are some traits or characteristics you have that you credit to gaming, wholly or in part?
And hey, if any thing else: Just wait until wars are fought completely by remote... (a la Enders Game)
Personally, I'm tired of saying "I'm a gamer!" and receiving negative reactions, be it verbal or even just a sneer. I'm proud of being a gamer. I feel like playing video games is something that has had a great, positive, effect on my life. Naturally, we can all boast about our massive collection of plastic disks in plastic boxes, but I think we all get a little more out of gaming than anyone else is willing to acknowledge.
I am much slower to jump to conclusions when something happens, I take my time to investigate my surroundings (must be all the RPGs I play) and make calm judgments. I got a kick-ass sharp eye. I notice TONS of stuff that other people miss. I have a thirst for knowledge. I love learning about stuff (most things..) a trait I credit, mostly, to AoE games.
Now, I started playing games extensively when I hit the third grade and my teacher actually rented games out to us! (This was back with Windows 95, when there was no DRM) So I may have grown up in a totally different way were it not for these little gems. Even if video games didn't instill these qualities in me, they certainly stoked and nudged those what were already there.
And, for the record, when someone pisses me off my first reaction is not to grab the flamethrower but to go play some game in which I grab a flamethrower.... Clearly I do not know the difference between reality and a work of entertainment.
What are some traits or characteristics you have that you credit to gaming, wholly or in part?
And hey, if any thing else: Just wait until wars are fought completely by remote... (a la Enders Game)