Why do people play games? Is it to distract from the daily struggle of life? Do people play games in the same vein as others watch TV or go for walk?

Why do you, yes you, play games? Does playing them bring you happiness?

For me, games are an art medium, a canvas for the artist to express himself. For me they are a drug, a form of escapism, while immersed in a game, I am not in the real world, the game fulfills fantasies that can't be realized in this tangible world, they provide experiences, they fade away all the problems of life, but like all drugs it wears off in time, and a new dose must be administered.

So, what does playing games feel like for you? Simple fun or a deeper purpose?

9 years ago

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Like many said, games for me are a "temporary escape" from my harsh reality (I suffer major depression disorder, extremely low self-esteem, coupled with past suicide attempts for... reasons I rather not tell). I'm always consciously aware that games are not "reality", but it's still a good help for me to escape into these fantasy worlds for a moment (or hours when possible) and even imagine I'm part of them. Hence why my preferred kind of games are those of fantasy, medieval-fantasy, rpgs and the like (either medieval or futuristic). They also fuel my already strong imagination, and since I love writing stories (and occasionally drawing as well) these games often serve as inspiration and/or base setting for my stories. I love creating characters, their own stories and past, their own personality, etc. They also allow me to express things that perhaps I just can't express in real, normal life. They allow me to live adventures that, for several reasons, perhaps I can't experience for real.
So.. in short, I play games because:

  • It's a sort of escape from a horrible reality;
  • They're a source of inspiration and fuel for my imagination and stories;
  • They allow me to "live" a life I cannot live in reality.

I think you get the idea of what's my favourite type of games now, altho I don't mind trying other kinds of games. I also love playing more simple games if it means I can enjoy them with friends and have some fun ^^

9 years ago
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You sound exactly like me, and I mean exactly.

9 years ago
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For the same reason that I read books or watch movies- to escape, for a little while, from this humdrum world of ours, into a place where the solution to every problem is easy to find and never farther than the nearest gun or car. That's why I don't play puzzle games, too. Also, like you said, some games are works of art, just like paintings and novels.

9 years ago
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Games can fulfill oneself, easing the harshness of life.

9 years ago
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It's the only thing what left in my life.

9 years ago
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Once I felt this way then I found more things in life worth pursuing, then I lost most, now I have some again.

9 years ago
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Games depending on the game can make me feel happy scared thrilled any kind of feeling why i play them despite all those feelings well its my hobby and i personalyl believe playing a videogame is like reading a book and watch a movie at the same time while you take action for example lets take a game like skyrim there is a lot of lore to read and dialogs to understand the world and the story while you see a beautiful world around you can explore and your actions shape the world thats a form of art that everyone can experience differently . And there are also some nice plain games that you basically need to go from point a to point b and clear some enemies that can be action games or horror games again despite feelings its proven they give you nicer reflexes and makes you smarter cause you train yourself to think faster

9 years ago
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Lots of benefits from gaming, and it's great that they provide an outlet for people.

9 years ago
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I play game to get immersed in the world, just like how I get immersed with books. That's why I rarely play any real-world or realistic games... I want to immerse myself in a fantastical world, be it fantasy or sci-fi! I guess you can call it a form of escape from "reality" too...

Real world-esque games? Too realistic and close to home... so much so it can get disturbingly uncomfortable at times.

P.S. 2 of my fav games are Bastion and Transistor... the world they built... breathtakingly beautiful~

P.P.S. I wanna enjoy the world so no zombie or horror-esque games for me, usually... too scary! But I don't mind some RPGs etc where a part of the story involves zombies or ghosts or anything spooky... I just don't like a game that's focused on it.

9 years ago*
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Everyone has their personal fantasy, glad to know you have such a good idea of yours, and an immersive game can be like a trip to a new place.

9 years ago
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For me it's entertainment, and cheep entertainment that I can keep going back to. The cost per hour on games is lower then just about anything else.

9 years ago
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