Videospiele: so suechtig, dass es schon wieder lustig ist ...
Spielt Ihr Videospiele? Spielt Ihr womoeglich auch viel zu viel, viel zu lange und viel zu oft Videospiele? Auf 1UP.com wurde ein Artikel veroeffentlicht, der Euch diese Frage womoeglich beantworten kann. Falls nicht, ist er immer noch aufgrund seiner Humoristik zu empfehlen.
Hm ... "Humoristik" ... is that even a word? [...]
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<<
Warning Signs of Videogame Obsession.
by Jake McNeill, 03.16.2007
It's hard to take mainstream media outlets seriously when they warn us about the evils of videogames. Far too often, they still treat videogames as the latest scapegoat for society's ills, and anyone with any knowledge of the medium quickly sees most of their bluster as sensationalist fearmongering conjured up for the sake of creating controversy.
We're gamers, and we know better. But at the same time, if we're being honest with ourselves, many of us would probably admit that there are times when our passion for videogames can become unreasonable, out of control, or even unhealthy. We all know it's the rare, unstable minority that actually tries to imitate Grand Theft Auto with a real gun, or dies from a marathon gaming session in a Korean internet café, but even those of us who normally consider ourselves to be sane, reasonable people can occasionally cross the line when it comes to our beloved pastime.
The following pages offer a look into some of the common signs that you might be taking videogames just a bit too seriously, with quotes from gamers who admit they may have taken their love of gaming too far. We've also included some completely unprofessional advice for anyone who may be suffering from these symptoms. You know, because we care.
Questionable Priorities
Common Causes: Heavily hyped new releases, rare games/memorabilia, special events
Overview: There are some things most people won't do except in the most extreme circumstances. Most people won't ordinarily wait in the same spot for hours, days, or even weeks just to make a purchase at a store. Most people ordinarily don't spend inordinate amounts of money on memorabilia for their favorite movie or TV show (with the exception of Star Wars and Star Trek fans, anyway). Most people realize the timeless importance of events such as marriage, birth, funerals, and graduations, and wouldn't let their hobby get in the way of such momentous, life-changing events.
Well...every now and then gamers get a little blindsided. In retrospect, maybe going to E3 wasn't quite as important as being there for the wife going into labor. Maybe that awesome Asteroids arcade cabinet wasn't really worth eating ramen every day for a year. Maybe instead of catching pneumonia standing in line for a PS3, it might have been a good idea to just wait a few months until it came back into stores.
Hey, it's one thing to be willing to devote some extra time and money toward something you love to do, but it's another thing when your quality of life starts to suffer as a result.
Gamer Confessions:
Monroe White III: "There were several times back in the day when I neglected to pay my electric bill in favor of buying new games. It made a lot of sense, having all those new games and not being able to play any of them because my power had been cut off."
Ryan M: "I once spent $2,000 in one week on Akumajo Dracula/Castlevania items for my collection."
Matt Pierson: "Wal-Mart. Four Days. PS3 line. I did it so I could afford a Wii."
Mike Moran: "I remember waiting in line for six to eight hours for my Dreamcast on launch day. I am never doing that again."
Our Advice: When you're about to make a huge commitment of time, money, or personal well-being for the sake of a game you're really excited about, take a moment to ask yourself, "Six months from now, will I look back and think this was worth it?" Think about other things you could spend the money on and weigh the importance of your desired item against other things you could get (food, utilities, small car, et cetera). Or if it's a matter of time spent in line for a hot new release, ask yourself how important it is that you get the item now as opposed to a little bit later -- is it more important than having all that extra time to balance your checkbook, clean out your garage, or simply spend a bit more time playing the games you already have? If you ultimately think your sacrifice will be worth it, then go for it -- it's unlikely anyone is going to convince you otherwise anyway. On the other hand, if you have some doubt, maybe it'd be best to hold off on it this time.
Lapses in Judgment
Common Causes: Could be any game, really. Anything, actually. Sometimes people just inexplicably do dumb things.
Overview: Sometimes, in our enthusiasm for our games, common sense takes a rain check. We don't pay attention to the world around us, ignore other elements of our life that are more important, make dumb decisions, and do stupid things. In retrospect, we can look back and slap our heads with a big, Homer Simpson–esque "D'oh!", but in the meantime, it sure would be nice if we could avoid these goof-ups in the first place.
It's not that games make us stupid (and there are actually some studies out there that seem to indicate quite the contrary), but that we tend to get so caught up in the excitement that we sometimes get a kind of tunnel vision, where we're just totally focused on the game and not much else. As a result, sometimes we don't realize it until we find out the hard way when the world hits us square in the face.
Gamer Confessions:
Boyd Young: "While driving home from the store, I attempted to read the manual for Jedi Outcast. I was so absorbed in the manual that, on a farm road with no shoulder, I lost control and ended up rolling about three times, totaling my truck. I was mostly unharmed, except for a few scratches on the head. I still played the damn game after I got home from the hospital."
Nick Delorio: "A friend and I were playing an all-out blast struggle battle in DBGT Final Bout at 2 a.m., and screamed at the top of our lungs so loud that the neighbors called the cops."
Zane John: "I got in an argument with some people because they said all games besides sports games suck and that Zelda is gay, and I ended up getting kicked out of class."
Our Advice: It's easy to say in retrospect, "Well, if you only took a moment to think about it...", but it's not so easy to avoid the dumb thing you're about to do. General words of wisdom apply here -- don't ignore the world around you, don't let yourself get carried away, don't act without thinking. And please, when you do end up doing something stupid, try to learn from your mistakes.
Anger Issues
Common Causes: Faulty equipment (sure, the controller is broken. We believe you), multiplayer games, glitchy games, games with cheap A.I., games that are overly difficult, games that you suck at.
Overview: Sometimes videogames piss us off. By definition, a game is something that generally has winners and losers, and it's not fun to lose, and when you lose a lot, it's natural to get a bit flustered. Almost every gamer has had times where a game they've been playing has frustrated them to the point where they've thrown a controller down in anger. This, also, is natural -- when you're angry, it helps to vent that anger, and the best way to do that is to take that aggression out through some form of physical activity.
However, this release of tension has to be kept within reason, and when you're so pissed off about a game that you're actually damaging property or hurting someone, you go beyond simply releasing tension and your actions start to be far more destructive than they are helpful.
Gamer Confessions:
Nick Delorio: "Hmmm...let's see...I punched a hole in my door playing the Conker's BFD military level, bicycle kicked my friend's TV in his attic playing MK2, twisted a N64 controller in half playing WWF: No Mercy, broke a SNES controller in half and stomped on it while playing Killer Instinct, smashed my keyboard and keyboard holder in half with my headset after getting owned in Counter-Strike scrimmage, and once I ripped a Genesis game (I forgot which) out of the system while it was still on and chucked it into my closet door so hard it cracked the wood."
Alex Gauthier: "I've destroyed three controllers and almost four: one N64 controller while playing THPS, one GameCube controller while playing Bloody Roar, another GameCube controller while playing Freekstyle, and the fourth one was nearly thrown to the ground in frustration while playing Diddy Kong Racing."
James Owens: "I got so mad at the water puzzle in the first Onimusha that I hit the eject button on my PS2, threw the disc across the room and smashed it into tiny pieces."
Our Advice: Chill, dude. It's just a game. If you're gonna play something that's just gonna piss you off, have a designated punching bag. You don't need to go out and buy one of those expensive Everlast ones boxers use, either -- a cheap pillow will do just fine. And if you're actually gonna walk away from your gaming experience pissed off, maybe you should stop playing the game, because it sounds like you're not having much fun with it anyway.
Unusual Displays of Affection
Common Causes: Games you're really, really into.
Overview: While there's not necessarily anything wrong with showing your enthusiasm for games in an outward manner so the world can see, it does kinda paint you as a nerd, and this may make it awkward to interact with people who aren't as enthusiastic about games as you. For one, if you're on a job interview, potential employers may not see the humor of the Halo 2 release date tattooed on your arm. And guys, you're not likely to win over many girls wearing that Hot Topic Hadouken T-shirt.
Sure, when you're around other gamers, it's a kind of status symbol. It makes you one of the gang, someone who "gets it," and even, dare I say it, cool. But when you're not around gamers, when the people around you don't know why "I feel asleep" or "all your base are belong to us," when those likely to see you don't know where to find Azeroth, Hyrule, or Raccoon City -- to these people, you are, quite simply, a big, dumb dork.
Gamer Confessions:
James Owens: "When I finally got my Xbox 360 I held it in my arms like a baby during the ride home. Made steering difficult though, and I really don't advise it. People give you weird looks."
Michael Spencer: "I was in the third grade in 1986, and I was completely in love with Dungeons of Daggorath. In this game the dungeon is made out of blocks, and movement is kinda board-game-meets-FPS. You use commands like "move" to go forward one space (or bump into the wall), "turn left," or "turn right," et cetera. So one day I got off the school bus at school and I was being a complete idiot. I was moving along in one step intervals, saying "move," "move," "move," "turn right," "move" out loud. I remember one kid must've thought I was barking commands because he said back to me, 'No, YOU move!'"
Sam F.: "Senior year of high school we had to make a video for my physics class and all of our action and fighting scenes were ripped from videogames. It included Driver, Xenogears, Incredible Crisis, Blast Corps, Paper Mario, Tekken 3, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, and a bootleg copy of Dragon Ball GT. I also performed the first song from Parappa the Rapper. A life-size cardboard cutout of Yoda was also utilized, as well as a mask made entirely out of masking tape."
Our Advice: If you have this problem, you're probably a hopeless cause. You're probably smart enough to know that you look like a geek, and you just don't care. So, with that said...walk with pride! I mean, if you're gonna make a fool of yourself, you may as well do it in style, right?
Subconscious Effects
Common Causes: Just about anything you're really into. Historically, Tetris and MMOs are well known for this.
Overview: We don't claim to be experts on the inner workings of the mind here. Psychologists will analyze a dream and tell you it means anything from deep-seated issues of paternal resentment to a lack of fiber in your diet. We, on the other hand, look at things a bit more simply, and we figure that if you're dreaming about a videogame, you might be just a bit too engrossed in it.
While there's nothing wrong with having a dream about videogames in and of itself, if you're having dreams about games, you're probably thinking about them a lot in your waking life, and having a game dominate your thoughts all the time isn't exactly healthy.
Of course, maybe you were just playing the game right before you went to sleep, but that's a habit your significant other (or future significant other, if you're currently single) might not appreciate. You know, because there are other things you could be doing right before you go to bed, if you catch my drift.
Gamer Confessions:
Jason Landals: "Back in the days of Quake III I was in a clan for the mod Weapons Factory Arena. I had just played a five-hour scrim where we were running defense and attack drills. It was late and I was wearing headphones. After the scrim was over I went to bed, and as I was falling asleep I was having auditory flashbacks like some Vietnam vet. I could hear rockets buzzing by my ears, gibs splattering, et cetera. It was rather unnerving."
Kevin Major: "I had a dream, once, that I was Crono of Chrono Trigger fame. I did some tech attack to a monster in my driveway."
Our Advice: Variety is the spice of life, and in that respect it couldn't hurt to spice up your life a bit -- try to balance your gaming with your other hobbies -- sports, movies, art, whatever. Anything is fine, as long as you're not thinking about the game while you're doing it -- that's cheating. Oh, and if you're one of those people who plays a game before going to sleep, try reading a book -- or better yet, giving some attention to the other person in your bed. Trust us, you'll thank us for it later.
Straight-Up Addiction
Common Causes: Again, just about anything, but MMOs are infamous for this -- particularly EverQuest and World of WarCraft.
Overview: Are you playing videogames a little too much? How can you tell? It's not like there's some universally agreed-upon amount of time people should devote to gaming, and different people have different schedules, anyway. Who's to say 100 hours is too much time to spend on a game, huh? Or even 1,000?
Generally, the easiest way to know if you're gaming too much is if it starts to edge out other important parts of your life. You know, like school, work, sleep, socializing with friends, spending time with your significant other...and if you're going extended periods of time without eating or going to the bathroom, you may have a serious issue. Have your grades in school been dropping because you don't sleep enough and fail to get your homework done? Have you called in sick to work just so you can play? Have you turned down sex just so you can keep playing?
If any of these things ring a bell, you may want to take a serious look at your playing habits. If you have trouble setting the controller down while playing a game, you might just be playing a great game. If you consistently have trouble setting the controller down, you may have a problem.
Gamer Confessions:
Jim Winder: "Super Mario Bros. affected me on so deep a level that I actually stopped eating and going to the bathroom. I just lost my appetite and kind of just shut down physically. Anyway, my parents freaked out and took me to a doctor, and my grandmother yelled at my mom to make me eat by buying me whatever food I wanted as long as I promised to eat it. The upside was being able to just pig out on chocolate ice cream and baloney sandwiches until I got my appetite back. The downside was at one point being administered an enema."
John Picini: "Because of Diablo II, I almost failed my sophomore year. It was such an easy year, too. But I never went to bed before 3a.m. and had to wake up at 6, so I was basically sleeping through school. One night a friend stayed over and woke me up telling me I had been saying "throwing mastery" in my sleep."
Thomas Dale: "Right after Oblivion came out my girlfriend and I decided to get a condo on the coast for spring break. I brought my 360 along on the trip so I could get in some more Oblivion time, I was hooked on the game. That first night at the condo was going to be the first time we had ever slept together, so obviously we were both looking forward to it. After a nice relaxing day, the time came to go to bed. "Are you ready to come to bed with me?" she asks. 'Just go without me, I've got to close this Oblivion Gate.'"
John Thatcher: "My total WOW time is over 160 days (over 3840 gameplay hours)."
Nick Delorio: "I skipped two days of high school for MGS2, and skipped a week of high school for GTA3."
Our Advice: Set yourself a reasonable limit on gaming time on a regular basis, and stick to it rigidly. We know it's always tempting to do "just one more level," "just one more raid," or go "just until I get to the next save point," but once you start making exceptions for yourself, you might not be able to stop. If you can't bring yourself to limit your gaming, you might need to take the most extreme route and force yourself to abstain altogether. If that's the case, get friends and family to help you, because, as with any addiction, it's easier to break free from your habit when you're not doing it alone. If you do have a serious problem with addiction, you may want to consult a professional psychologist, or even join a support group.
>> # top # | Q: 1UP.com
Ich koennte vllt. noch hinzufuegen, dass ich auch mal von einem Videospiel getraeumt habe, naemlich von Banjo-Kazooie fuer den Nintendo 64™. Das Lustige ist, dass ich von einem Level getrauemt habe, bei dem ich gerade nicht weiterkam. Ich habe mir ueberlegt, was ich wohl machen muss, und kam schliesslich darauf - in dem Traum.
Also mal ehrlich, wer traeumt schon davon, als Baer mit gelber Hose und blauem Rucksack herumzulaufen und einen rot gefiederten Vogel, den man im Rucksack umherschleppt, blaue Eier in ein Erdloch kacken zu lassen, damit daraus eine gigantische Blume waechst ...? Crazy.
Hm ... "Humoristik" ... is that even a word? [...]
(show me)(don't show me)
<<
Warning Signs of Videogame Obsession.
by Jake McNeill, 03.16.2007
It's hard to take mainstream media outlets seriously when they warn us about the evils of videogames. Far too often, they still treat videogames as the latest scapegoat for society's ills, and anyone with any knowledge of the medium quickly sees most of their bluster as sensationalist fearmongering conjured up for the sake of creating controversy.
We're gamers, and we know better. But at the same time, if we're being honest with ourselves, many of us would probably admit that there are times when our passion for videogames can become unreasonable, out of control, or even unhealthy. We all know it's the rare, unstable minority that actually tries to imitate Grand Theft Auto with a real gun, or dies from a marathon gaming session in a Korean internet café, but even those of us who normally consider ourselves to be sane, reasonable people can occasionally cross the line when it comes to our beloved pastime.
The following pages offer a look into some of the common signs that you might be taking videogames just a bit too seriously, with quotes from gamers who admit they may have taken their love of gaming too far. We've also included some completely unprofessional advice for anyone who may be suffering from these symptoms. You know, because we care.
Questionable Priorities
Common Causes: Heavily hyped new releases, rare games/memorabilia, special events
Overview: There are some things most people won't do except in the most extreme circumstances. Most people won't ordinarily wait in the same spot for hours, days, or even weeks just to make a purchase at a store. Most people ordinarily don't spend inordinate amounts of money on memorabilia for their favorite movie or TV show (with the exception of Star Wars and Star Trek fans, anyway). Most people realize the timeless importance of events such as marriage, birth, funerals, and graduations, and wouldn't let their hobby get in the way of such momentous, life-changing events.
Well...every now and then gamers get a little blindsided. In retrospect, maybe going to E3 wasn't quite as important as being there for the wife going into labor. Maybe that awesome Asteroids arcade cabinet wasn't really worth eating ramen every day for a year. Maybe instead of catching pneumonia standing in line for a PS3, it might have been a good idea to just wait a few months until it came back into stores.
Hey, it's one thing to be willing to devote some extra time and money toward something you love to do, but it's another thing when your quality of life starts to suffer as a result.
Gamer Confessions:
Monroe White III: "There were several times back in the day when I neglected to pay my electric bill in favor of buying new games. It made a lot of sense, having all those new games and not being able to play any of them because my power had been cut off."
Ryan M: "I once spent $2,000 in one week on Akumajo Dracula/Castlevania items for my collection."
Matt Pierson: "Wal-Mart. Four Days. PS3 line. I did it so I could afford a Wii."
Mike Moran: "I remember waiting in line for six to eight hours for my Dreamcast on launch day. I am never doing that again."
Our Advice: When you're about to make a huge commitment of time, money, or personal well-being for the sake of a game you're really excited about, take a moment to ask yourself, "Six months from now, will I look back and think this was worth it?" Think about other things you could spend the money on and weigh the importance of your desired item against other things you could get (food, utilities, small car, et cetera). Or if it's a matter of time spent in line for a hot new release, ask yourself how important it is that you get the item now as opposed to a little bit later -- is it more important than having all that extra time to balance your checkbook, clean out your garage, or simply spend a bit more time playing the games you already have? If you ultimately think your sacrifice will be worth it, then go for it -- it's unlikely anyone is going to convince you otherwise anyway. On the other hand, if you have some doubt, maybe it'd be best to hold off on it this time.
Lapses in Judgment
Common Causes: Could be any game, really. Anything, actually. Sometimes people just inexplicably do dumb things.
Overview: Sometimes, in our enthusiasm for our games, common sense takes a rain check. We don't pay attention to the world around us, ignore other elements of our life that are more important, make dumb decisions, and do stupid things. In retrospect, we can look back and slap our heads with a big, Homer Simpson–esque "D'oh!", but in the meantime, it sure would be nice if we could avoid these goof-ups in the first place.
It's not that games make us stupid (and there are actually some studies out there that seem to indicate quite the contrary), but that we tend to get so caught up in the excitement that we sometimes get a kind of tunnel vision, where we're just totally focused on the game and not much else. As a result, sometimes we don't realize it until we find out the hard way when the world hits us square in the face.
Gamer Confessions:
Boyd Young: "While driving home from the store, I attempted to read the manual for Jedi Outcast. I was so absorbed in the manual that, on a farm road with no shoulder, I lost control and ended up rolling about three times, totaling my truck. I was mostly unharmed, except for a few scratches on the head. I still played the damn game after I got home from the hospital."
Nick Delorio: "A friend and I were playing an all-out blast struggle battle in DBGT Final Bout at 2 a.m., and screamed at the top of our lungs so loud that the neighbors called the cops."
Zane John: "I got in an argument with some people because they said all games besides sports games suck and that Zelda is gay, and I ended up getting kicked out of class."
Our Advice: It's easy to say in retrospect, "Well, if you only took a moment to think about it...", but it's not so easy to avoid the dumb thing you're about to do. General words of wisdom apply here -- don't ignore the world around you, don't let yourself get carried away, don't act without thinking. And please, when you do end up doing something stupid, try to learn from your mistakes.
Anger Issues
Common Causes: Faulty equipment (sure, the controller is broken. We believe you), multiplayer games, glitchy games, games with cheap A.I., games that are overly difficult, games that you suck at.
Overview: Sometimes videogames piss us off. By definition, a game is something that generally has winners and losers, and it's not fun to lose, and when you lose a lot, it's natural to get a bit flustered. Almost every gamer has had times where a game they've been playing has frustrated them to the point where they've thrown a controller down in anger. This, also, is natural -- when you're angry, it helps to vent that anger, and the best way to do that is to take that aggression out through some form of physical activity.
However, this release of tension has to be kept within reason, and when you're so pissed off about a game that you're actually damaging property or hurting someone, you go beyond simply releasing tension and your actions start to be far more destructive than they are helpful.
Gamer Confessions:
Nick Delorio: "Hmmm...let's see...I punched a hole in my door playing the Conker's BFD military level, bicycle kicked my friend's TV in his attic playing MK2, twisted a N64 controller in half playing WWF: No Mercy, broke a SNES controller in half and stomped on it while playing Killer Instinct, smashed my keyboard and keyboard holder in half with my headset after getting owned in Counter-Strike scrimmage, and once I ripped a Genesis game (I forgot which) out of the system while it was still on and chucked it into my closet door so hard it cracked the wood."
Alex Gauthier: "I've destroyed three controllers and almost four: one N64 controller while playing THPS, one GameCube controller while playing Bloody Roar, another GameCube controller while playing Freekstyle, and the fourth one was nearly thrown to the ground in frustration while playing Diddy Kong Racing."
James Owens: "I got so mad at the water puzzle in the first Onimusha that I hit the eject button on my PS2, threw the disc across the room and smashed it into tiny pieces."
Our Advice: Chill, dude. It's just a game. If you're gonna play something that's just gonna piss you off, have a designated punching bag. You don't need to go out and buy one of those expensive Everlast ones boxers use, either -- a cheap pillow will do just fine. And if you're actually gonna walk away from your gaming experience pissed off, maybe you should stop playing the game, because it sounds like you're not having much fun with it anyway.
Unusual Displays of Affection
Common Causes: Games you're really, really into.
Overview: While there's not necessarily anything wrong with showing your enthusiasm for games in an outward manner so the world can see, it does kinda paint you as a nerd, and this may make it awkward to interact with people who aren't as enthusiastic about games as you. For one, if you're on a job interview, potential employers may not see the humor of the Halo 2 release date tattooed on your arm. And guys, you're not likely to win over many girls wearing that Hot Topic Hadouken T-shirt.
Sure, when you're around other gamers, it's a kind of status symbol. It makes you one of the gang, someone who "gets it," and even, dare I say it, cool. But when you're not around gamers, when the people around you don't know why "I feel asleep" or "all your base are belong to us," when those likely to see you don't know where to find Azeroth, Hyrule, or Raccoon City -- to these people, you are, quite simply, a big, dumb dork.
Gamer Confessions:
James Owens: "When I finally got my Xbox 360 I held it in my arms like a baby during the ride home. Made steering difficult though, and I really don't advise it. People give you weird looks."
Michael Spencer: "I was in the third grade in 1986, and I was completely in love with Dungeons of Daggorath. In this game the dungeon is made out of blocks, and movement is kinda board-game-meets-FPS. You use commands like "move" to go forward one space (or bump into the wall), "turn left," or "turn right," et cetera. So one day I got off the school bus at school and I was being a complete idiot. I was moving along in one step intervals, saying "move," "move," "move," "turn right," "move" out loud. I remember one kid must've thought I was barking commands because he said back to me, 'No, YOU move!'"
Sam F.: "Senior year of high school we had to make a video for my physics class and all of our action and fighting scenes were ripped from videogames. It included Driver, Xenogears, Incredible Crisis, Blast Corps, Paper Mario, Tekken 3, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, and a bootleg copy of Dragon Ball GT. I also performed the first song from Parappa the Rapper. A life-size cardboard cutout of Yoda was also utilized, as well as a mask made entirely out of masking tape."
Our Advice: If you have this problem, you're probably a hopeless cause. You're probably smart enough to know that you look like a geek, and you just don't care. So, with that said...walk with pride! I mean, if you're gonna make a fool of yourself, you may as well do it in style, right?
Subconscious Effects
Common Causes: Just about anything you're really into. Historically, Tetris and MMOs are well known for this.
Overview: We don't claim to be experts on the inner workings of the mind here. Psychologists will analyze a dream and tell you it means anything from deep-seated issues of paternal resentment to a lack of fiber in your diet. We, on the other hand, look at things a bit more simply, and we figure that if you're dreaming about a videogame, you might be just a bit too engrossed in it.
While there's nothing wrong with having a dream about videogames in and of itself, if you're having dreams about games, you're probably thinking about them a lot in your waking life, and having a game dominate your thoughts all the time isn't exactly healthy.
Of course, maybe you were just playing the game right before you went to sleep, but that's a habit your significant other (or future significant other, if you're currently single) might not appreciate. You know, because there are other things you could be doing right before you go to bed, if you catch my drift.
Gamer Confessions:
Jason Landals: "Back in the days of Quake III I was in a clan for the mod Weapons Factory Arena. I had just played a five-hour scrim where we were running defense and attack drills. It was late and I was wearing headphones. After the scrim was over I went to bed, and as I was falling asleep I was having auditory flashbacks like some Vietnam vet. I could hear rockets buzzing by my ears, gibs splattering, et cetera. It was rather unnerving."
Kevin Major: "I had a dream, once, that I was Crono of Chrono Trigger fame. I did some tech attack to a monster in my driveway."
Our Advice: Variety is the spice of life, and in that respect it couldn't hurt to spice up your life a bit -- try to balance your gaming with your other hobbies -- sports, movies, art, whatever. Anything is fine, as long as you're not thinking about the game while you're doing it -- that's cheating. Oh, and if you're one of those people who plays a game before going to sleep, try reading a book -- or better yet, giving some attention to the other person in your bed. Trust us, you'll thank us for it later.
Straight-Up Addiction
Common Causes: Again, just about anything, but MMOs are infamous for this -- particularly EverQuest and World of WarCraft.
Overview: Are you playing videogames a little too much? How can you tell? It's not like there's some universally agreed-upon amount of time people should devote to gaming, and different people have different schedules, anyway. Who's to say 100 hours is too much time to spend on a game, huh? Or even 1,000?
Generally, the easiest way to know if you're gaming too much is if it starts to edge out other important parts of your life. You know, like school, work, sleep, socializing with friends, spending time with your significant other...and if you're going extended periods of time without eating or going to the bathroom, you may have a serious issue. Have your grades in school been dropping because you don't sleep enough and fail to get your homework done? Have you called in sick to work just so you can play? Have you turned down sex just so you can keep playing?
If any of these things ring a bell, you may want to take a serious look at your playing habits. If you have trouble setting the controller down while playing a game, you might just be playing a great game. If you consistently have trouble setting the controller down, you may have a problem.
Gamer Confessions:
Jim Winder: "Super Mario Bros. affected me on so deep a level that I actually stopped eating and going to the bathroom. I just lost my appetite and kind of just shut down physically. Anyway, my parents freaked out and took me to a doctor, and my grandmother yelled at my mom to make me eat by buying me whatever food I wanted as long as I promised to eat it. The upside was being able to just pig out on chocolate ice cream and baloney sandwiches until I got my appetite back. The downside was at one point being administered an enema."
John Picini: "Because of Diablo II, I almost failed my sophomore year. It was such an easy year, too. But I never went to bed before 3a.m. and had to wake up at 6, so I was basically sleeping through school. One night a friend stayed over and woke me up telling me I had been saying "throwing mastery" in my sleep."
Thomas Dale: "Right after Oblivion came out my girlfriend and I decided to get a condo on the coast for spring break. I brought my 360 along on the trip so I could get in some more Oblivion time, I was hooked on the game. That first night at the condo was going to be the first time we had ever slept together, so obviously we were both looking forward to it. After a nice relaxing day, the time came to go to bed. "Are you ready to come to bed with me?" she asks. 'Just go without me, I've got to close this Oblivion Gate.'"
John Thatcher: "My total WOW time is over 160 days (over 3840 gameplay hours)."
Nick Delorio: "I skipped two days of high school for MGS2, and skipped a week of high school for GTA3."
Our Advice: Set yourself a reasonable limit on gaming time on a regular basis, and stick to it rigidly. We know it's always tempting to do "just one more level," "just one more raid," or go "just until I get to the next save point," but once you start making exceptions for yourself, you might not be able to stop. If you can't bring yourself to limit your gaming, you might need to take the most extreme route and force yourself to abstain altogether. If that's the case, get friends and family to help you, because, as with any addiction, it's easier to break free from your habit when you're not doing it alone. If you do have a serious problem with addiction, you may want to consult a professional psychologist, or even join a support group.
>> # top # | Q: 1UP.com
Ich koennte vllt. noch hinzufuegen, dass ich auch mal von einem Videospiel getraeumt habe, naemlich von Banjo-Kazooie fuer den Nintendo 64™. Das Lustige ist, dass ich von einem Level getrauemt habe, bei dem ich gerade nicht weiterkam. Ich habe mir ueberlegt, was ich wohl machen muss, und kam schliesslich darauf - in dem Traum.
Also mal ehrlich, wer traeumt schon davon, als Baer mit gelber Hose und blauem Rucksack herumzulaufen und einen rot gefiederten Vogel, den man im Rucksack umherschleppt, blaue Eier in ein Erdloch kacken zu lassen, damit daraus eine gigantische Blume waechst ...? Crazy.
Labels: videogame news
posted by Woodrow at 4/27/2007 12:18:00 AM
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