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[John Bilbo]

By browsing GAF I've come to the conclusion the reasons we game vary wildly even though the games themselves can be exactly the same.

For many gaming is a social hobby. Others play for thousands of hours competitively while some people play casual games shorter than a movie.

Often I've read people like to at least buy games to support a particular developer. A developer can also arouse interest in a genre otherwise left untouched.

A critical score can make a game feel more precious and attractive. It can also kill one's interest.

I listed these and various other reasons I came up with while thinking about the subject these past couple of weeks in the poll provided.

NeoGAF, what are the reasons we game?

 

[saintjules]

I'm convinced that the way people post in here, they don't actually game. They just complain about games for no reason.

 

[Artistic]

I'm convinced that the way people post in here, they don't actually game. They just complain about games for no reason.

As of this very second, it's like I'm keeping up with the jones.

When I was younger, I loved diving DEEP into a narrative based gaming experience. I took the 100 hours or more to get every Aeon in FFX or defeat every boss at the Coliseum in Kingdom Hearts.

Nowadays, socially is a big aspect of the MP experience for me,which is how I spend probably 80% of my time gaming. The SP gaming experiences are few and far between.

I still care and appreciate gaming, just having a hard time trying to recapture the magic of it.

 

[VGA-Games]

Fun

 

[reezoo]

Gaming is the medium which combines most of the media we consider art. visual creativity , story telling, music etc. you will find every aspect of human creativity in them, it is the ultimate art form.

 

[Generic]

Autism.

 

[Arsic]

Fun

Only reason for any hobby - enjoyment.

 

[John Marston]

For me it's all about escapism and the emotions games make me feel.
I also chose atmosphere because I love exploring big open worlds and discovering every nook and cranny

But it's all about fun.

My motto is "If it's fun play it."

 

[Durin]

Always going to be compelling gameplay, or novelty in gameplay for me.

I wanna have a fun interactive experience, and while aesthetics, atmosphere, a cool world or narrative are nice, it's all secondary to gameplay.

It's why AAA companies I often have more to complain about than love, because their stuff is getting stale or they focus on GAAS...but mid-budget to indie titles I'm more favorable because you get weird stuff that's at least interesting.

This wouldn't get made by Ubisoft

 

[poodaddy]

Genuinely brilliant poll, good stuff OP.

My first instinct was to simply answer fun, but reading the choices forced me to internally review which of these apply to me, and my reasons for gaming are far more diverse than I previously thought. It's fun when something teaches you about yourself lol.

 

[Arsic]

Genuinely brilliant poll, good stuff OP.

My first instinct was to simply answer fun, but reading the choices forced me to internally review which of these apply to me, and my reasons for gaming are far more diverse than I previously thought. It's fun when something teaches you about yourself lol.

 

[LordOcidax]

I'm convinced that the way people post in here, they don't actually game. They just complain about games for no reason.

Those are the more vocals ones, but polls like this one always show the reality of this place.

 

[March Climber]

Ctrl + F Poll option for "Fun"

 

[John Bilbo]

Ctrl + F Poll option for "Fun"

This poll was sponsored by Naughty Dog.

 

[Edgelord79]

Gaming is the medium which combines most of the media we consider art. visual creativity , story telling, music etc. you will find every aspect of human creativity in them, it is the ultimate art form.

Glad you feel that way. I would differ. I think viewing games this way is actually what's causing a lot of the issues with games now. The fun factor has been deprioritized by developers who crave artistic integrity. Developers sneer at gamers for not "getting it", etc…

IMO I believe games are more entertainment than art and that there are some artistic components within them. Just my opinion of course.

 

[German Shocks]

All of the above

 

[March Climber]

This poll was sponsored by Naughty Dog.

Fun isn't Naughty Dog's issue though.

It's narrative.

 

[rodrigolfp]

Fun

But why fun with this over fun with another thing?

 

[Brakum]

It's not that deep. I play a game because it's fun.

Just like i might fiddle with a pen in my hand. Sure Ou can say it's because of the sound it makes, or the visuals, or because you're trying distract yourself from the real world. But ultimately those things dont even cross my mind. I do it and brain releases dopamine and that's all there is to it.

 

[MazingerDUDE]

for the experience of course,

experience something that you can't experience in real life

 

[Danjin44]

it's fun.

 

[German Shocks]

experience something that you can't experience in real life

I don't know about you, but I stomp out goombas irl

 

[forsakkenSoul]

what are the reasons we game?

To make the voices in our heads go away.

 

[PeteBull]

Expected results, u didnt dissapoint me, gaf bros, we are based af

 

[mitch1971]

To stop me killing.

 

[John Bilbo]

To stop me killing.

That's fun.

 

[T4keD0wN]

Wait up... i dont have a true reason...

 

[Ceallach]

This is the gayest thread that has ever been created

 

[Garnox]

Voted options 7,9,16,22

 

[cormack12]

I would like to be gay, and modern games can get me there

 

[Humdinger]

• atmosphere
• aesthetics
• mechanics
• escapism
• feelings
• story

 

[Mercador]

What you meant by "The job I have"?

 

[John Bilbo]

What you meant by "The job I have"?

Let's say you are a game developer who has to play a game as a part of his job. To study the particular game for example.

 

[Mercador]

Let's say you are a game developer who has to play a game as a part of his job. To study the particular game for example.

Thanks, I've changed my vote. I have a stressful job so I play to relieve that stress.

 

[Juza]

Playing video games feels like visiting parallel universes, each with its own world, story, and version of yourself.

Unfortunately, more and more of those "worlds" feel the same, or release in such a broken state that they're barely enjoyable.

 

[PeteBull]

What you meant by "The job I have"?

That was a trap to sniff out potential secret sellout journos gaf accounts, since they dont game coz of fun, but to make a living

 

[yogaflame]

To be entertained, to be impress with the technology, gameplay and graphics, and appreciate the beauty especially the character models, and it is good for the health especially brain functions. Studies shows that gaming is also good to lessen the risk or prevent Dementia and Alzheimer

 

[John Bilbo]

Thanks, I've changed my vote. I have a stressful job so I play to relieve that stress.

Yeah now that I think about it the wording could have been clearer. My bad.

 

[kiphalfton]

By browsing GAF I've come to the conclusion the reasons we game vary wildly even though the games themselves can be exactly the same.

For many gaming is a social hobby. Others play for thousands of hours competitively while some people play casual games shorter than a movie.

Often I've read people like to at least buy games to support a particular developer. A developer can also arouse interest in a genre otherwise left untouched.

A critical score can make a game feel more precious and attractive. It can also kill one's interest.

I listed these and various other reasons I came up with while thinking about the subject these past couple of weeks in the poll provided.

NeoGAF, what are the reasons we game?

Literally none of those reasons you mentioned

 

[Hollywood Hitman]

As a child of the 80s I been thru it all with entertainment from all the amazing music of the 80s, movies, wrestling, gaming etc... And at 47 for me gaming makes me feel like being young wasnt as long ago. And gaming is imo the only form of entertainment that has for the most part gotten better and or has maintained a standard that I still love.

Modern music sucks, movies suck, wrestling sucks, shows are the only thing that has stayed afloat and well football and hockey, but overall gaming has held onto a decent standard for the most part.

Plus it's just my me time to relax

 

[xVodevil]

For me a well made and written story oriented single player game is a far superior experience vs anything that any top tier movie or book can offer because of the interactive aspect.
It's just one of the best thing when you sit down every now an then full of hype and play trough a brand new story over a weekend or so when the next game of the sorts drops.
Re9 and 007 so far this year, but Kotor and Witcher 3 comes to mind as some of the best of the very best experiences I've ever had with a game.

 

[John Bilbo]

Literally none of those reasons you mentioned

Damn.

How about figuratively?

 

[Dr.Morris79]

You're insinuating I play the games I buy and not just install them, mess with settings, get overly excited that it's great and then do exactly the same thing two days later and have a vast back catalogue in which I'll die before ever actually playing..

I don't know how to take this

 

[dreamstation]

Good thread mate! I play with friends so often buy games that we all want to play, usually competitive multiplayer games. When it comes to single player it's down to the atmosphere, mechanics and presentation.

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

I've found that recently I play to help the CCU of the game I love. It is my primary function.

 

[Raven117]

I did it for entertainment late in the evenings. That said… I'm less and less entertained and find myself doing other things nowadays.

I havent sworn off the hobby. Just way more selective with my time. I won't just play something to play something. It has to be excellent. Otherwise, there are books to read and music to learn to play.

 

[ThatOneGrunt]

Does the option "feelings it provides" also include gooning? Because I'm almost certain, based on the rage bait posts on this website, that that is only reason gaffers play games.

 

[mopspear]

I'm convinced that the way people post in here, they don't actually game. They just complain about games for no reason.

It's like /v/ sometimes.

 

[kiphalfton]

Damn.

How about figuratively?

I didn't think there's any real extrinsic reason.

Some stuff clicks and other stuff doesn't.

It's probably more subconscious than conscious.

 

[PeteBull]

As a child of the 80s I been thru it all with entertainment from all the amazing music of the 80s, movies, wrestling, gaming etc... And at 47 for me gaming makes me feel like being young wasnt as long ago. And gaming is imo the only form of entertainment that has for the most part gotten better and or has maintained a standard that I still love.

Modern music sucks, movies suck, wrestling sucks, shows are the only thing that has stayed afloat and well football and hockey, but overall gaming has held onto a decent standard for the most part.

Plus it's just my me time to relax

Kinda agree but there are still recently made movies that are pretty good, to not look far 2 very new ones i just watched(both 8/10 in their respective genre, aka maybe not timeless classics but at least u wont think u wasted ur time on them )