Do you grow out of gaming?

by Penn • 16 Mar 2009, 00:16 • Journals
Forgive the rambling, just have a read and see if you have any idea of wtf I'm on about because i don't even know!

Growing out of gaming - Is it true? I see plenty of old gamers around, so what's up with me?

Is it because i don't have something competitive to play?
Is it because communities just aren't the same anymore?
Is it the fact i don't have the free time to play anymore?

I honestly couldn't tell you. This is the first time I've logged on to this site in a long time and i am thrilled to see that it is still up and running with more CC events on the horizon but i just don't feel it. You know what i mean - you'd get in from work/school and jump on the computer to either frag the shit out of people or catch up on the latest happenings within the community, it was a blast.

Does it matter which game you play or is it the people you play with? I still keep in touch with a fair number of people i used to game with and can happily talk all night, but you won't catch us playing anything. This leads me to think that a game is only as good as the people you play it with.

Would RTCW have been as enjoyable as it was without the absolutely amazing community throughout the world? I am beginning to think the answer is no. This supports the fact that the older gamers appear to be new gamers. They only know what's current, they had no idea what online gaming was whilst it was in the process of becoming popular with the masses.

So, do you actually grow out of gaming or is it simply a fact of life, that you get older, your friends get older and interests change? Or is it due to the general census that the current games on offer are in fact a load of crap? Roll back to my gaming prime as i like to call it, i'd of never imagined I'd be on the internet without playing a game.

I can't work it out, and i wish i could.
Comments
24
▼
sol 16 Mar 2009, 00:23
Turn this into a column!
▼
dedz 16 Mar 2009, 00:23
i think runescape is the best game alive
▼
Paper 16 Mar 2009, 00:30
Online gaming began (for me) with Wolfenstein : Enemy Territory and unfortunately already ended there. Competitive gaming was something I did with my friends on a PS or a N64, but the true gaming community and matches began with ET. Met a lot of friends, a lot of fags, and a lot of people who have my true respect and best regards. However, trying to make a living out of this requires effort, skills and overall time. Time which people in my country do not have, counting the fact that at least 80% of the high schoolers who graduate go to college. So right now my life is on track, A grades on two majors, a nice family and a sexy girlfriend. It has been at least 1 month since my last time playing ET for real (not a random pub) and I hope it stays that way.
▼
Juize 16 Mar 2009, 00:40
you took the lead!

people need to follow you :o
Parent
▼
Paper 16 Mar 2009, 02:39
Everyone's story is different. I hope people that are good and legit at this game stay that way and have as much fun as possible. But being a third world country means we have to work harder to make a good living, and living with your parents, not having a job or not going to school/college just doesn't make the trick. So thats why I had to quit. I still love ET though and if I get a chance to watch a match while eating my lunch on a Sunday afternoon, hell yeah I'm there.
Parent
▼
Juize 16 Mar 2009, 02:54
iam glad people like you atleast tried to play the game :)

but ofcourse, if you aint got the time anymore.. so be it

rl will always have the upper hand;)
Parent
▼
Ollz 16 Mar 2009, 00:43
i wish i could quit but the bright colours and loud sounds make real life look dull and washed out
▼
artlove 16 Mar 2009, 00:50
I saw this movie some time ago, and there was a guy talking to his baby son that plays with baby toys.. and he said to him "You like it don't you? when you're small you seem to like everything... but when you grow you see that there are less and less things that you like... and in the end, you end up loving only a few things..."
It's partly true, but on the other hand, you can still see a lot of old gamers...
▼
Kristoffersson 16 Mar 2009, 01:31
But way fewer than young gamers.

Yes you grow out of it. Very simple.
Parent
▼
tyyrd 16 Mar 2009, 02:32
well ive just turned 18 so it will definetly put me off gaming now as i can go out to the pub and clubs with my mates instead of sitting in and gaming.
▼
ETNiES 16 Mar 2009, 03:38
That's not really growing out of gaming, thats just having something better to do for the moment!
Parent
▼
infi_ 16 Mar 2009, 08:27
that's one way to look at it. but you eventually do get tired of going out every single evening. when i turned 18, i think i didn't get home for nearly a week, ask Starzi, he thought something happend to me :D after i got home - i thought - fuck this, im gonna start real lifing. but after going out nearly every evening, wasting all my money. it became dull(for me atleast, guess im a true nolifer). Now i just enjoy playing the game and also love going out in the evenings when we dont prac with the team...etc etc.. but as Etnies said, it's not growing out of the game.
Parent
▼
anzz 16 Mar 2009, 03:57
I think you are right, a game needs an active community. Without it,the game is just gone in a few months. Look @ rtcw or Cs or call of duty, big and active community's and still alive! When i look at myself, the fact is, i dont game that much when im alone. I always need contact with other ppl when im gaming. Like playing a football game with friends at the ps3 or chatting with some ppl @ ventrillo or skype while im playing ET, for me its just like watching a movie together, just a way to spend your time!
I don't think you'll grow out of gaming, we are living in the 21st cenury, for our generation its just, like i said, watching a movie, just for leisure.. At least i dont think ill ever grow out of gaming, ofcourse in the future when im graduaded i will probably have less time to game but i dont care about that. I have the same feelings as you, when you're getting older you're getting busy with other things, i dont feel everyday the desire to game when im at home. But hey, whats the problem?? no-one is gonna kick your arse when havent gamed today!
▼
plekter 16 Mar 2009, 04:03
Life gets busier with age, less time for gaming, and it's not as much fun when your skillz aren't as good as they used to be.
▼
tactics 16 Mar 2009, 06:21
It's different for different people, but things definitely change both in your perspective and in reality.
▼
Cachucha 16 Mar 2009, 08:08
A lot of factors, go make your thesis with them
▼
zomme 16 Mar 2009, 08:25
1 year at army was the factor for me. After that I just bought a laptop because of school.
Now studying energytechnology and going to gain title: master of engineering aprox. in 3-4years.
▼
rahula 16 Mar 2009, 09:24
I don't have the money to go out on weekdays (or a car) so gaming is a great alternative to say..TV. I've also found that sometimes i don't really feel like going out on my friday night so i just stay in and play mixes :D

I have absolutely no intention of gaming at university though, and i'm not sure how much i'll play this summer if i get a job :3

I've always had people who i enjoy playing with though, so...
▼
rahula 16 Mar 2009, 09:34
I'd also like to agree with sol and say you should develop this into column material.
▼
Gaso 16 Mar 2009, 10:15
For me pure gaming for competitive reasons has lost it's meaning. I do value the social connections made during the active gaming period, though. People matter.

I still enjoy playing every now and then. It's a great way of relaxing after a day at work, and a great medium to stay in contact with your friends. The older you get, the less you actually talk to your friends: people have other activities, families to support and so on. Getting together every night for an hour or so talking shit in vent is, well, simply fun.

At times I still lose the perspective on gaming. I'm a competitive person and I hate losing, no matter the subject. When it happens, I just have to step back and remind myself why I am still doing it.
▼
RedoX 16 Mar 2009, 11:14
2 much 2 read
Back to top