Why do you play games?

[Xifel]

What are the reasons you play games? And why do you keep playing a game?
What motivates you?
What is it that makes a game fun to play?

And also:

What makes you stop play a game? Is there anything that really can destroy the experience of a game?


I'm interested in why we enjoy games so much, and would like you opinion on the subject.
This is for my thesis "Why you don't go outside and play" and any input would be greatly appreciated. This means I will probably will quote you. You will be anonymous, of course.

Thank you, fellow Escapists

Edit 2: You people are just amazing. I now remember you I like The Escapist so much

 

[Tazzy da Devil]

I play games because it's fun. It's relaxing, so I play whenever I've got a few hours free and just want to chill. I like getting involved with the story, and games take a lot longer to play than books take to read.

 

[Soxafloppin]

I like it! I'm not obsessed with gaming at all, but when I've put in a hard day at work I like to get home, put my feet up and be immersed in a world much more interesting than my own.

 

[Xifel]

I play games because it's fun. It's relaxing, so I play whenever I've got a few hours free and just want to chill. I like getting involved with the story, and games take a lot longer to play than books take to read.

So, you primarily play for the story in the games? Or is there any other element you enjoy?

I like it! I'm not obsessed with gaming at all, but when I've put in a hard day at work I like to get home, put my feet up and be immersed in a world much more interesting than my own.

What is it that makes the world immersive? And you mean you use it to escape the real world for a while... like an Escapist? :O


Hope I don't don't come across as I'm questioning your reasons, I'm just curious! Thanks for answering by the way

 

[Tazzy da Devil]

I play games because it's fun. It's relaxing, so I play whenever I've got a few hours free and just want to chill. I like getting involved with the story, and games take a lot longer to play than books take to read.

So, you primarily play for the story in the games? Or is there any other element you enjoy?

Well the story is the main bit, yeah, but that's not to say that there isn't other things I enjoy. It's just more of a bonus to me if there is something else I enjoy. If I get into a game and something makes me go "Holy shit that was awesome, let's try that again!" that makes my day. That being said, I LOVE visual novels, which is pretty much all story, which proves to me that I can enjoy a game without really involved gameplay.

 

[Soxafloppin]

I play games because it's fun. It's relaxing, so I play whenever I've got a few hours free and just want to chill. I like getting involved with the story, and games take a lot longer to play than books take to read.

So, you primarily play for the story in the games? Or is there any other element you enjoy?

I like it! I'm not obsessed with gaming at all, but when I've put in a hard day at work I like to get home, put my feet up and be immersed in a world much more interesting than my own.

What is it that makes the world immersive? And you mean you use it to escape the real world for a while... like an Escapist? :O


Hope I don't don't come across as I'm questioning your reasons, I'm just curious! Thanks for answering by the way

Just being able to do things that arnt possible in real life. I can't grind along cables shooting lightning out my limbs in real life, I can't go toe to toe with yellow robot ninja with Blades for arms in real life! I guess it is a form of Escapism, yea.

 

[Durgiun]

I play games so that I entertain myself and, hopefully, experience a neat story.

 

[Lucem712]

Nothin' quite beats the feeling of having a long, hard day and sit down, putting GTA into your preferred game-machine and proceeding to run over EVERYONE.

I play games because of the experience, sure movies and books are cool. They can transport me to another world, they can make me care, but games do it so much better.

So, in the end, entertainment and relaxation. Maybe a bit of nostalgia?

 

[Anti Nudist Cupcake]

Because I'm bored with reality. I really don't blame humanity for our lack of progress in certain areas but that doesn't change the fact that modern life is kind of...primitive. I feel like a young kid in an old person's house that has no TV, video games, internet, or any nice tech of any kind. NOTHING TO DO.

Games, all though virtual, provide the experience that keep my brain from shriveling up from boredom.

 

[Iwata]

For escapism, for fun, and for the challenge of it. That's pretty much it.

 

[porpoise hork]

Cause it's hard as hell to fly 6ch. R/C helicopters drunk at 2 am.

 

[AdamxD]

Procrastination

 

[Cheesus333]

Indulgence, enjoyment and escapism. Indulgence from doing things I could never normally get away with; enjoyment from the various entertainment factors in the games I play; escapism from the sheer immersion of myself in a completely different world.

There you go. I think that sums up my reasons quite neatly, to be honest.

captcha: "don't tase me"

Kind of hoping I wouldn't have to clarify but the captcha raises a good point. Um, don't tase me please.

 

[AtillaBosma]

I'll just pretend to be the stereotype for a nerdy gamer.

"I play the games because I get bullied every day and get ignored by everyone around me, this way I can go and escape from the real world."

Of course that is not why I play them, I play them because I just want to pass time by shooting lots of shit.
The end.

 

[DanteLives]

Because I want to make kids RQ back to conkers.

 

[Guffe]

I play games because it's fun.
At later times I have also noticed that I know the English language a lot better than most other Finns that don't play games, so it's also educational.
And in very rare cases it's a bit competitive in a fun way with friends.

 

[RuralGamer]

Enjoyment, good story-telling and challenge, in that order. If its fun, that'll usually keep me going for a while (e.g. Just Cause 2, which I spent most of late January/ early February playing). If its fun and tells a good story, that'll keep me going for longer (e.g. Stalker: Call of Pripyat, that absorbed most of January and February last year). And if it also has a good progression of difficulty, then all the better; those are the kind of games I know I will go back to at some time in the future (e.g. Skyrim; playing it on and off and still haven't finished with it and subsequent DLCs will likely inspire a return to it; I'm waiting for more free time before I start another playthrough of Fallout: New Vegas as well; basically anything by Bethedsa really...)

 

[Philol]

Games are fun and a great way to pass the time.

 

[Palademon]

If I go outside I can play sports.

If I play games, I can be awesome instead.

 

[Mitzeh]

Wasn't sure about commenting but then a wild :

"This is for my thesis "Why you don't go outside and play" and any input would be greatly appreciated."

appeared and I decided to >.< (I mostly just read rather than comment). Right, before I go way off topic.

I was pretty much raised with gaming, not by my parents or anything, they are far from gamers, my father plays a bit of AoE 2, pretty much the only game he ever played and has played since, but very casually. As for me, as stated above, was self-raised with games and on the internet which seems to have worked out quite ok for me...I didn't turn out too bad.

Now for what makes games a passion and what keeps me playing...hmm, I guess a game with a good storyline can keep me in front of my screen for hours, same goes for gameplay. Good graphics undoubtedly do add to the experience but if that's all the game has, I'll get bored quickly, same goes for the game's sound design. I also enjoy playing competitive games online...right now I am playing quite a bit of LoL, and have played a lot of CoD 2 in various ladders and cups.

Games help me, escape life I guess...not that I have an incredibly difficult one...but I find comfort in playing games, and of course I also play them for fun, lots and lots of fun ^.^

tl/dr version: games are awsuuum ! i play them cus they r fun and make me happy !

Well, that was a bit of a rant xD Good luck on your thesis and if you want any more info don't hesitate to ask for it.