Why we play

[Fire Daemon]

Hmmmmm, Interesting Question. I can't say what makes me play games. For instance I didn't pick up CoD4 because I wanted to escape into the role of a character but at the same time I picked up mass effect to escape into the role of shepard. But some people did buy CoD4 for the ability to play as a person from the armed forces and some people bought Mass effect for the sex scenes and hasent touched it since they realised its up on youtube. And i can't say that i play games for the "enjoyment factor" because I have games sitting in my.... little room thing that I hate but i still take out the old n64 and move everything around so I can say "fuck you" when i finally beat banjo kazoie.

I suppose at the end of the day it comes down to what games you play. A WoW addict plays to level up when you think about it where as a CS junkie plays to shoot people in the head.
Thats why we play games, to do what the game intends for us to do. We play Resident Evil to get scared of zombies, we play MoH to fight in WWII, we play Forza Motorsport to drive cars around a course, we play Star Wars games to destroy the Empire and we play Banjo Kazoie to get pissed off at its Shitiness.

 

[Seyon]

Because there is an activity that involves onehand and video games that involves two hands, without video games one arm would eventually fall off...

 

[Hey Joe]

I don't think any one person has any one reason for playing video games.

For some, it's stress relief. After all, what's better that coming home after a long hard day at the coal mines than yelling "BOOM! HEAD SHOT!" as loud as you can into your monitor to release tension? Or partaking in a more sedate form of gaming such as playing Viva Pinata or one of the Wii Sports games for relaxation?

Some, of course, enjoy the challenge that video games provide. I, being one of those people (I can't ever play on hard difficulty for reasons I've elaborated on in the past). After all, there's no challenge in reading or watching a movie (unless it's A Scanner Darkly...now THAT'S a challenge).

On a sensory level we enjoy the interactivity of world we encounter. Far from being a passive medium like film (I say passive for lack of a better term) where you just sit there and accept what is up on the screen, you control what is happening.

And of course there's the pure escapism of the thing which is why we also enjoy reading, watching TV and movies. Anything that provides a break or alternative from the current reality appeals to people.

When combined with the interactivity of the games, the challenge of them, and the stress relief they provide, it adds up to a much more immersing experience and one that a player will enjoy due to the pleasurable experience of disconnecting from reality.

To sum up: There is no one reason why we play video games, but we know the aim is to disconnect from reality. Now why we want to disconnect from reality, well, that could be debated until the virtual cows come home.

 

[codespace]

I play games for a variety of reasons. To kill time, to have fun, to enjoy a story, to test my reflexes, to socialize, etc.

 

[SidVicious]

I got nothing better to do.

 

[Rad_Brad]

I game as an escape from everthing, and it's research.

 

[ReverseEngineered]

If you'd like a good book that asks this same question, Raph Koster's "A Theory of Fun" discusses both why we play games and what that means in terms of designing games to be fun.

As you can see even from the responses here, people play games for different reasons. For some, it's escapism -- a chance to forget about life and live something else. For others, it's entertainment -- a pleasureful way to kill time. Almost universally, there's challenge and learning involved, although people don't always play explicitly for that reason, but on a physiological level that's what makes it enjoyable (our brain is happy when it's learning).

 

[gustcq]

Recent studies show gamers having much more abilities than regular joe's.

 

[stratta one]

I play to win... doesnt leave a lot of room for fun sadly... Personality defect DEAL WITH IT haha....

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Almost universally, there's challenge and learning involved, although people don't always play explicitly for that reason, but on a physiological level that's what makes it enjoyable (our brain is happy when it's learning).

Challenge and learning are definitely the things that keep me coming back to games. I can't understand why so many people seem so dead keen on making games easy and standardised if that's so universal. For beginners you give them a way in, granted, but not for veteran gamers.

 

[PhoenixFlame]

While I respect that you might find games a transient experience, they aren't really as such to me. Like many others in the thread, games are simply a means of enjoyment and fun to me. I like games that engage me in something and put me in a role that has a story that is appealing. When games stop being fun, I stop playing them. It's probably why I have a Gamefly account and I rent most of my games from there (much cheaper than buying and getting bored with one).

I play games to unwind, enjoy a good story that I can direct, and pass the time. As an extension of what I partly do in my spare time, I like building forums and communities and find the gaming communities like this one to be nice to be a part of.

 

[Mask of 1000 Faces]

When I'm not working and all my friends are busy, I game.

Heck, I game while I talk to people online (aim, facebook, etc), I just run everything in a window.

Yay Multi-Tasking!

 

[pmega]

im with u man the true calling of the new virtual experience. "i.e video games" Ive thought of this very question and came to think that video games could lead off to new planes of reality intigration of man and machine. it could bring peace to the world one gaming mecca. a matrix of sorts where we plug in and work out our differences without actually killing each other to create without confines real manifistation real immortal soul. but sooner or later we'd have to figure on a way to tie reality in with the games or itd be like the borgs took over. so then I said just get rid of money and value virtue. create for the better ment of you choosen profession not for money.

 

[UncleAsriel]

Because women aren't that interested.

 

[Big Chuggz]

cant really say its a hobby... to hang out with ur friends cause you dont want to go outside in the dangerous scary world we call life

 

[Arkhangelsk]

The point of video games:
1. Video games show a different reality, more interesting and intriguing world without dickheads and assholes. And when there are, you can just kill them.
2. To quote Yahtzee; "To have some fucking fun!"
3. You can live out your dream virtually. It's like moving to a different dimension and fulfilling dreams, although the world isn't as immersive as reality.

 

[Shycte]

For the same reason I watch movies, read, play guitar, hand out with my friends and do other stuff.

Becasuse it' fun

 

[Sensenmann]

I play primarily for the experience of freedom and secondarily for the immersive escapism.

 

[pffh]

Because it's fun.

 

[shadowelancer]

The point of video games:
1. Video games show a different reality, more interesting and intriguing world without dickheads and assholes. And when there are, you can just kill them.
2. To quote Yahtzee; "To have some fucking fun!"
3. You can live out your dream virtually. It's like moving to a different dimension and fulfilling dreams, although the world isn't as immersive as reality.

Ditto that.