How many of you play video games?

[Caminsky]

I'll play a game with my kids sometimes, but I generally don't have the time or inclination anymore. Every once in a while, I might play something though. The Zelda games on the Switch look fun.

 

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[Jon822]

I am way too competitive to allow video games to be options. When they are on the table, I get nothing done. Video games will be a reward after I exit the Fastlane -- never drive distracted. The two games I have played are League of Legends and World of Warcraft.

 

[FreakyThomas]

It was awesome on the PS5. Forbidden West is on my to play list next and I am always telling myself, I will have all the time in the world to play that, as long as I fulfil my dream of getting onto the fastlane (priority) first. Good idea on turning it off too, just 1 small step and it can aid me in my self control.

You know, environment plays a huge role in willpower. If the PS5 is in your sight, you will always be tempted, and the day you have less willpower you are more likely to turn it on. If you really want to stop, you should remove it from your (visual) environment, for instance by stowing it in a cupboard. Adding barriers/friction (like switching it off so that you have to update it manually) also works like a charm...
Good luck on your fastlane project

 

[cruzka]

This happens quite rarely. Usually when I come to visit a friend and we can play fifa for half an hour or an hour

 

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[e_ryan]

If so, what games have you been playing lately?

ALSO, I'm acutely aware a lot of people here get weirdly vocal about games and how tHeY jUsT wAsTe tImE and aNy gOoD eNtRePrEnEuR sHoUlD oNlY fOcUs oN wOrK. This thread ain't for you. Please spare me the sigma nonsense.

I only ask because a good friend-turned-client of mine who I met through playing video games together mentioned how great it is to find someone of similar age and interests who also owns their own business so.. we can't be the only two people. And now I'm curious.

I stopped playing several months ago and really haven't done much since.

I have my steam account slated for deletion sometime in September, and I got rid of my Xbox and my Microsoft account recently so games are basically removed from my life at this point. I occasionally relapse and download a phone game for a couple of days, but I always end up deleting it pretty quickly.

I just spent too much time playing video games when I could have been talking with girls and making memories in my real life. Not saying that this is what will apply to everyone, but I am one of the people who can't handle videogames and real life at the same time.

I started when I was about 12 on a Ninendo DS and it basically has led to me being 19 and having very few experiences with girls, and a large lack of memories from my teenage years. It has only started to get better for me once I deleted games. I can observe it in my phone gallery, roughly around the time I deleted games it only takes a few weeks before more real life pictures of me hanging out with people from school pop up.

Granted I am still quite young, but it isn't something I want to do anymore.

I do have some good memories playing games like Napoleon Total War, Roblox, Minecraft, COD Zombies, Men of War, Hearts of Iron IV, Empire at War, Star Wars Battlefront, Halo, Battlefield, and others.

I have a good amount of memories from playing splitscreen games on Xbox with friends when I was younger, especially Cod Zombies, Minecraft, Star Wars Battlefront, and Castle Crashers.

However, it devolved later on into me just playing games alone and as a result having no good memories from it, all I can say I maybe had was some fun with friends in person. Otherwise I probably gained almost nothing from it.

In a nutshell a bad period of my life that I am working to get out of, and live life in the real world.

 

[WJK]

I play 0 video games. I do play Monopoly with real money -- my money -- every day in the RE game. I don't gamble in casinos because the odds are with the house and against me. I spend my time upping my odds with my RE deals and I almost never play unless the odds are in my favor.

In the last few years, I have started doing "pie-in-the-sky" investments. That's where I take a small percentage of my assets to invest in a project where I either lose my whole nut, or it has an upside that is many times my investment. The upside must be worth the risk.

For example, I bought an oil lease a few years ago. My lease was against a working gas field. It turned out that the lease was outside of the production area and my investment was a total loss. If it had worked, it would have been worth millions. We didn't have any way of knowing until I had the lease in place and we did the ground studies. Do I feel bad about making that investment? No. It had good odds of working. And I learned a lot about that business. It should have worked. Oh well. Next!

FYI -- You cannot do those investments with borrowed money or funds you need to use to pay the rent. It must be money set aside for that type of investment.

 

[EmotionEngine]

FF7 Remake was awesome. Can't wait for Rebirth (Remake Part 2).

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkD8BCCYsS0

 

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[FreakyThomas]

Hey @WJK, while you're playing the Monopoly of real life, some of us are engaging in the digital playground. Video games like Minecraft can be more than just a pastime; they can also offer lessons in resource management, teamwork, and problem-solving. In Minecraft, there's a similar risk-and-reward mechanic at play, especially when you're mining for resources deep underground with the constant threat of running into lava or hostile mobs.

What you say is very true. That's why I think video games are much more valuable than watching TV.

There was a popular scientific study who showed that surgery interns who played video games were able to learn coelioscopic surgery faster than those who didn't play video games (one hypothesis was because it's also a 2D vision of a 3D environnement, and when you play games you're already accustomed to this adaptation).

We still need to say that in most video games you develop very specialized skills to solve very specific problems, and those skills cannot always transfer to other areas, even not sometimes to other videogames, and when they do, it's not always to a great extent.

 

[Kevin88660]

Playing game is only useful if you ever do it seriously. I used to try to memorize game strategies, where you have to remember the sequence of actions to take when you rush your opponents , just like remembering a chess opening.

I never find games addictive, even when I was a teenager. The fun part was never the entertainment. It is not the game itself that is fun. It is the part about gaming the game that’s fun to me.

In other words anything that could be “gamed” is fun to me.

 

[FreakyThomas]

I understand what you say. Still, don't you think games are specifically designed to provide this addicting "achievement" feeling, more than for instance endurance running, or studying ?

If you didn't find them particularly addictive, good for you, but today gaming addiction seems to be a growing issue among teenagers.

 

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[WJK]

Hey @WJK, while you're playing the Monopoly of real life, some of us are engaging in the digital playground. Video games like Minecraft can be more than just a pastime; they can also offer lessons in resource management, teamwork, and problem-solving. In Minecraft, there's a similar risk-and-reward mechanic at play, especially when you're mining for resources deep underground with the constant threat of running into lava or hostile mobs.

Board games did the same for my generation. Monopoly games took days in our neighborhood. Notes were taken and playing pieces were put into paper bags so the game could go on later. And yes, I learned a lot. BUT, games and book learning are just a jumping-off point -- a place to start. My real education started when I went out into the real world and tried to do all this stuff myself. You can pause or quit a game without real-world consequences. Life doesn't work like that when you are playing with real money and affecting other people's lives.

 

[Nicholas04]

I work in the game industry and get paid to play technically. It's kinda neat when you think about it but it's just become commonplace to me as I've done it 20 years. I recently bought Horizon II Forbidden West on PlayStation 5 and it's like a 40+ hour game. I maybe got 2 hours in it and it came out weeks ago. Every now and then I get sucked momentarily into a game but it's really rare nowadays. A guilty feeling starts brewing within 15 minutes and I usually go back to using the time to work on my software projects, which is the path to getting off the script and into full entrepreneurship.

Videogames are like any other form of entertainment like movies, TV, or a sports. When it controls you then it's a problem. It's okay to relax and do something you enjoy. If anyone tells you otherwise, ignore them. It is video "GAMES" after all. Just avoid letting hyper realities dominate you. If you can't do that, avoid them until you've fully unscripted .

(I want to purchase the newly released Gran Turismo 7 but I know I wouldn't play it much so I've stayed away. I want a real Ferrari not a fake one made up of 3d geometry and texture maps on a screen.)

I actually did buy Gran Turismo 7, I bought the racing wheel and all that too, played about 3 times, then never again. Sold the racing wheel a couple years later.

 

[Nicholas04]

Some people here might not believe it, but networking with fellow gamers can lead to all sorts of opportunities. More often than not, it doesn't because you can obviously get too much into the gaming thing. But I've met a couple of entrepreneurs (even ex-pro gamers reconverted into other things) and I was about to speak to one of them to suggest a business partnership to make use of his domain expertise and my software development skills.

Same here I used to stream Fortnite way back during Covid, I'd do giveaways and pull people in that way, we'd all play like multiplayer modes together and my audience got to play with me, which was special for them. Most streamers didn't do public lobbies like I did, but having the opportunity to talk to a streamer with a good size audience was empowering for them. I still talk to some of these guys today and a few of them are looking to be entrepreneurs themselves. All and all, good times.

 

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[DCG]

Been playing Helldivers 2 recently its so much fun

 

[circleme]

Still, don't you think games are specifically designed to provide this addicting "achievement" feeling, more than for instance endurance running, or studying ?

If you didn't find them particularly addictive, good for you, but today gaming addiction seems to be a growing issue among teenagers.

I see it the same way. Not just with teenagers, but also with adults. I myself have had a rather problematic relationship with computer games in the past. They were a way for me to escape reality. A way for me to run away from my problems.

That was certainly the case, but I also think that I was simply addicted. The dopamine rush that certain games gave me was disproportionately high compared to other (normal) activities, such as working on myself (sports, nutrition, etc.) or building my own business.

And this is precisely where I see the main problem with modern video games. They are designed to be highly addictive by overstimulating the dopamine system. According to studies, the kick from modern computer and mobile games is supposed to be stronger than that of cocaine. That's insane, in my opinion.

But what ultimately led me to quit was the following realization:

If these activities influence my dopamine system so strongly, other activities automatically become less attractive to my primitive brain. There is thus nothing/almost nothing that is more attractive than gaming. So it was clear to me that I needed to reprogram my brain. I needed other sources of dopamine. Nowadays, for example, I associate work with music. I can work for 12 hours straight and now enjoy the process. But it wasn't always like that. It's crazy that I'm even writing about this topic, but video games and their design mess with the dopamine system of so many people so subtly that I would even go so far as to say that they destroy dreams. Simply because the dopamine gain from almost no other activity is higher than from playing video games. Thus, our brain always prioritizes what hurts less and is more fun -> video games.

 

[P0KiD0Ki92]

If so, what games have you been playing lately?

ALSO, I'm acutely aware a lot of people here get weirdly vocal about games and how tHeY jUsT wAsTe tImE and aNy gOoD eNtRePrEnEuR sHoUlD oNlY fOcUs oN wOrK. This thread ain't for you. Please spare me the sigma nonsense.

I only ask because a good friend-turned-client of mine who I met through playing video games together mentioned how great it is to find someone of similar age and interests who also owns their own business so.. we can't be the only two people. And now I'm curious.

I’ma pretty avid gamer. My favorite game of all time is Mass Effect 2 (but I love the whole trilogy and Andromeda).

I only play very casually for market research these days. My Fastlane business necessitates it.

 

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[StrikingViper69]

I’ma pretty avid gamer. My favorite game of all time is Mass Effect 2 (but I love the whole trilogy and Andromeda).

I only play very casually for market research these days. My Fastlane business necessitates it.

I’ve been hit with pretty bad fatigue and also a bad sprain, which has resulted in a lot of sofa time lately, so I’m playing through the ME trilogy. About halfway through 1 at the moment!

 

[JimmyJonCricket]

I have a Nintendo Switch and play on my PC. Hoping the Switch is the last console I have to buy, however I loved the last Zelda game and a new one would probably convince me. Currently playing through the Resident Evil 4 remake for the first time, incredible game. Have been loving Resident Evil lately. RE: Village was fantastic. I've been burnt out from gaming the last few years. I don't mind video games as long as it's not mindless hours of back to back sameness, like Overwatch.

 

[ZackerySprague]

Use to be my safe heaven away from the world at its problems. I use to game a lot. Nice to unwind every once and awhile.

League of Legends was my go to for so many years. Had 400+ steam games.

 

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[Simon Angel]

I’ve been hit with pretty bad fatigue and also a bad sprain, which has resulted in a lot of sofa time lately, so I’m playing through the ME trilogy. About halfway through 1 at the moment!

Mass Effect was the shit, along with Fallout 1, 2, 3, and New Vegas. Plus Asassin's Creed 1, 2, Brotherhood, Revelations, and 4.

Oh, and Mafia 1 and 2.

Alright, we can also add Halo Combat Evolved, 2, and 3... and the other 1000 games I've played.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

I play the real video game, an RPG called life.

I've owned real Lambos, baller cribs, and collected a ton of gold and live like a king... in the REAL WORLD.

Why?

Because I work hard to win real rewards, not fake ones.

If you're playing video games more than a few hours per month, something is missing from your life.

 

[ZackerySprague]

I have a Nintendo Switch and play on my PC. Hoping the Switch is the last console I have to buy, however I loved the last Zelda game and a new one would probably convince me. Currently playing through the Resident Evil 4 remake for the first time, incredible game. Have been loving Resident Evil lately. RE: Village was fantastic. I've been burnt out from gaming the last few years. I don't mind video games as long as it's not mindless hours of back to back sameness, like Overwatch.

I use to own a system that I built for $3k at the expense of my ex-girlfriend. It was a gift. I've sold it due to a heated argument we had. All she wanted was the computer instead of the cats... so I said screw it and sold it damn thing and now no one can have it. Ha!

In the past few years, I've stepped away from gaming almost entirely. Life came knocking and said it was time to payback all the money I've borrowed and to have a couple tramautic events in the process.

But I was a PC gamer since 2009. PC master race FTW. Will always be a die hard fan of it.

Old, but I got rid of the setup.

 

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[Novis]

I play clash of clans
Fun game and it takes only little time a day, so i can focus more on work.
Cant stick to the game for long time even if i wanted to. Its not designed to play for 5 hours or more per day.

 

[goldminer]

If so, what games have you been playing lately? ALSO, I'm acutely aware a lot of people here get weirdly vocal about games and how tHeY jUsT wAsTe tImE and aNy gOoD eNtRePrEnEuR sHoUlD oNlY fOcUs oN wOrK. This thread ain't for you. Please spare me the sigma nonsense. I only ask because a good friend-turned-client of mine who I met through playing video games together mentioned how great it is to find someone of similar age and interests who also owns their own business so.. we can't be the only two people. And now I'm curious.

 

[goldminer]

I'll play a game with my kids sometimes, but I generally don't have the time or inclination anymore. Every once in a while, I might play something though. The Zelda games on the Switch look fun.

 

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[Simon Angel]

I play the real video game, an RPG called life.

I've owned real Lambos, baller cribs, and collected a ton of gold and live like a king... in the REAL WORLD.

Why?

Because I work hard to win real rewards, not fake ones.

If you're playing video games more than a few hours per month, something is missing from your life.

I play games. I'm in a long term relationship. I keep my place neat and tidy. I don't drink mountain dew or eat doritos. I'm in the 99th percentile when it comes to fitness. I have a hobby/side passion where I'm in the top 10 out of 40,000 competitors and I've recently gone semi-pro.

I'm in the top 1% of earners in my country after tax (admittedly, that's a very broad range and I'm at the lower end of it) and I've got loads of free time. I have friends with whom I go out to events, and play sports and video games with.

So what exactly is missing from my life that would somehow magically manifest if I were to stop playing games I wonder?

I also used to smoke weed every day and watch porn. The former didn't stop me from outworking everyone and the latter didn't stop me from being confident with women and establishing a deep, emotional connection with them.

Winners gonna win and losers gonna lose. And it's got nothing to do with whether you enjoy video games or not.

 

[Hello_World1]

I play the real video game, an RPG called life.

I've owned real Lambos, baller cribs, and collected a ton of gold and live like a king... in the REAL WORLD.

Why?

Because I work hard to win real rewards, not fake ones.

If you're playing video games more than a few hours per month, something is missing from your life.

I think the issue arises when people give up their OWN story to escape as much as possible.

As a lover of storytelling and fantasy, I enjoy a good bedtime story and treat video games like fiction books, movies, or stage plays—there are good ones and bad ones. My life is but ONE story grounded in reality, but...

Like playing make-believe as a child, some stories aren't meant for reality. What challenges would a young space explorer face, or a security guard during a doppelganger apocalypse, or a disgruntled grim reaper doing mundane paperwork to meet the department death quota? (I worked in health insurance, so I know what that one's like XP)

Joking aside, some video games are designed to be your "second job" with cute little terms like "dailies" that expect you to CLOCK IN every day, rewarding you with "good boy points" for perfect attendance. They train the habit, bank your time, drain your pocket, and repeat with a bigger time ask.

These kinds of games are like the slimy character in a back alley trying to offer you drugs, the kind those 90's PSAs warned us about. "Hey man... wanna blow 10 hours of your day for the next month? Got the GOOD stuff... WoW, CoD, LoL, and even some new stuff from overseas." Video games are like drugs, but as we know, not all drugs are bad.