Video Games

[burntheflag?]

Out of sheer curiousity, in the current non revolutionized world, would you say video games are a hinder to society? Yes or no? I personally believe no but that's because i enjoy them.. Opinions? :D

[blake 3:17]

I'm probably in a minority here, but I kind of hate them. I play really simple ones when I'm depressed.

Anyways a few folks I roll with are part of this http://handeyesociety.com/ and https://dmg.to/

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

A hindrance in what way?

As for myself, I find it hard to imagine what my life would have been like without video games. On my own, I've explored wondrous virtual worlds and blown away more monsters, aliens and soldiers than I can recount. I've had fun times playing with and against others online. Although I'm not much of a console gamer, I've got good enough to hold my own corner when challenged by visiting friends.

I'm not entirely certain, but I'd put good odds on sitting indoors playing video games being partially responsible for keeping me out of serious trouble.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Out of sheer curiousity, in the current non revolutionized world, would you say video games are a hinder to society? Yes or no? I personally believe no but that's because i enjoy them.. Opinions? :DI'm not a big fan of video games - I have a short attention span when it comes to them.

But no, I don't think they are a hinderance to anything. It's just games and diversions and who doesn't need something for that now and then in this society? If someone is playing compulsivly to the point where it's impacting their life in a regular and serious way -- then like with anything else, then it can be a personal hinderance.

[KurtFF8]

Out of sheer curiousity, in the current non revolutionized world, would you say video games are a hinder to society? Yes or no? I personally believe no but that's because i enjoy them.. Opinions? :D

No more than any other form of entertainment in my opinion. There's a great book I often recommend that analyzes video games (and the industry) from a Leftist perspective called Games of Empire (http://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/games-of-empire), you should check it out.

[#FF0000]

I pretty deeply regret wasting as much time as I have in my life playing video games. My parents got me a super nintendo when I was like 3 and I think all of us agree that is probably the single worst decision they ever made for me.

Not to say that there aren't great games. Before I had the Nintendo, I was playing the Dungeons and Dragons Gold Box games and everything from Sid Meier and Microprose on our computer, and I'd say those games actually enriched my life. I'd actually credit Civilization 2 for giving me my interest in history and actually teaching me things.

I mean, shit, I even got something out of games like Covert Action. How many kids went into kindergarten knowing what Black September and the PLO were?

[slum]

if i hadn't been addicted to computer games for years to dull the pain of reality under capitalism by living in an artificial world free of financial want and existential terror it would have been something else. probably something more expensive and damaging to my organs.

to answer OP's question, no. i do think there's interesting things to be said about the appeal of alternate realities in an alienated society, though. then again the content of our entertainment commodities, to whatever degree they are 'interactive' entertainment, is reflective of the broader social conditions we live under. i don't think there's much "hindrance" particular to video games.

[synthesis]

I used to love playing the original Nazi Zombies with my roommates when I was speeding my balls off in college, in order to wind down; at the same time, and this is completely serious, I know a couple people who I honestly doubt would have joined the military if it weren't for Call of Duty. The only one who I would consider a close friend was actually getting paid like $16 an hour to work from home half the time.

[Slavic]

Video games such as the europa universalis, victoria, and similar games of the genre, got me interested in history and world politics. Every time I play those games I think I spend more time actually reading up on the events and epochs portrayed in the games then actually playing them.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

After playing video games, I'm now sectarian against any organisation that doesn't promote Tesla Coils, Mammoth Tanks and Attack Dogs. It's the only way to spread the revolution.

[CyM]

Hey, I'm moving this to "non-political". Theory is not the correct forum for it.

[Ceallach_the_Witch]

I've had a pretty much life-long love of video games (and tabletop gaming but i suppose that's a slightly different matter) since I borrowed a copy of Baldur's Gate from my friend's brother aged about 7. I saved up and bought a dreamcast with my pocket money (which took more or less a year on the kind of money I could scrape together aged 8) Possibly mistakenly, my parents were so proud of me for earning and saving the money that they bought me a ps2 for my next birthday. I also used to buy those SoldOut titles at WH Smith's and stuff for a few quid each. My parents weren't and still aren't happy about me playing computer games, but they didn't object to my trying to earn the money and couldn't really stop me from spending it how I wanted.

With a few exceptions, I don't feel I've "wasted my life" pursuing this hobby. I've had fun and occasionally I've learned things, and I suspect that video games may have had a hand in improving my reflexes - aged 10 I could still only catch a ball by accident and I had pretty near abnormally slow reactions, these days I'm just "normal" bad at catching and stuff.

[Quail]

I think video games could be a cool way of telling a story/making a point. Personally I really like a lot of Japanese RPGs because there is the fun of developing battle strategies but at the same time it tells a story.

[TaylorS]

Video games such as the europa universalis, victoria, and similar games of the genre, got me interested in history and world politics. Every time I play those games I think I spend more time actually reading up on the events and epochs portrayed in the games then actually playing them.

No love for the Civilization series? :(

[human strike]

Civ is the only game I have consistently returned to throughout my life. I haven't played any other games for a long time now. (Not that I play it all that much now, only from time to time.)