Know when to stop/slow down on playing games

When I first laid hands on it, I was 6 years old. The wonder years with young Fred
Savage was on TV, and I could still hear creepy stories about a far, evil and red
country. It was the end of the cold war, and what I had on my hands was the joystick of my
brand new Atari 2600. Since that moment, my life changed forever.

After that, every christmas I wondered if Santa would bring the newest
console, which in turn happened. Over the years I spent many many hours with my NES, Sega
master system, SNES, Genesis, and then my first computer. Without knowing it, I grew up
and I never quit games. Today, when I count 25 birthday parties and Im about to get
married, I see that one of the best things of my girlfriend is the fact she isn't bothered
by my gameplay.

Im sharing this because I remember. High school and University were REAL
hard, because I never dedicated more time to study than my hours of MMOGs. More than once
I was about to get sacked of school because of this. In time, I managed to be a successful
linebacker in my school's team, and then a more-than-average Full Contact fighter, but I
still missed some practices for a special event in the game I was. Im writing this because
I wonder now what would have been of myself If I had spent more time doing my actual life
than playing whatever video game. Im not complaining, I am a happy engineer with a good
job, with a life. I just want to share a few common sense advices to you, because you're a
person, not an USB device plugged forever in your computer, and because it's quite hard to
play for long hours and still be successful at real life.

1. Many studies have shown that continuous strategy gameplay improves your
intelligence and sight-hand ability, making you the perfect surgeon. However, you won't
have time to study for 10 years if you play long enough to get this kind of ability.
LISTEN to your body. If your back hurts, your hand is frozen at middle night or your eyes
burn, it's time to STOP playing.

2. Check how you talk: Do you constantly find yourself saying "I need" when talking
about sailors, levels, prem items? Do you "NEED" those? Will your life stop if you don't
achieve your BB5? Another bunch of studies reveal that long periods of gameplay causes
high stress levels, severy damaging your neural system. Ever heard of anxiety or seen the
famous video of the german boy destroying his keyboard? When you feel very nervous or
anxious, it's time to STOP playing. Check for Maslow pyramid on the web, that's a good
theory of what you really need.

3. Do you have a couple? Human relationships require time investment, so this one is
self-explanatory. If you don't have one, it prolly means you simply don't dedicate
enough time to the person who wants to be with you. If you feel lonely, talk to a living
friend or relative, don't start playing a new game to meet new people.

4. Do you play for the play or play for the xp? MMOGs brought many cool things to
gaming, but also brought a serious problem: competitiveness. If you play a game for 2
years and then reach the max level, get all the richness and you basically become one of
the TOP players, you will simply quit. What will happen with the countless hours and
payment you made to become that good in that particular game? They will simply fade. One
day the game will get deleted or abandoned, and all your work will be gone. Forever. How
many potential Einsteins have we lost to video games? If you keep playing till 4am every
day just counting xp or items, it's time to STOP playing.

5. Last but not least: Don't forget to eat nor drink. People has actually died due to
starvation by playing days straight. Don't. For god sake, Don't. Ask for pizza and eat
in front of your computer, if worse. If you find yourself skipping even ONE meal
because you HAVE to play, it's time to STOP playing.

And when I say STOP playing, I mean just do whatever else until you feel relaxed
enough. You know -as I- we are addicted, so just don't forget you have to get a life that
pays for your internet connection and comp upgrades. BE A PERSON! Games are more enjoyable
if you do.

I'm guilty of doing these when I was younger, except for the MMOG's. Now I consider myself as a casual gamer. A helpful post indeed.

Ask for pizza and eat
in front of your computer, if worse.

Huh... Never been so extreme in my gaming, but I'll admit to having ignored hurting eyes or forgetting a meal or two.
Even though for me, all of these can apply if I play a really good game. Getting so absorbed in it I shut the rest of the world out. But "sadly" enough, there isn't many games that good out there.

Okay, first off three isn't conclusive and shouldn't be on there. Now, as for the rest one, two, technically three all apply to me. Sometimes four, but there are only a handful of games where I am more competitive than actually having fun playing the game, which disappoints me.

One is totally me. I've had mild carpel tunnel strains on both my wrists so many times now it isn't even remotely funny. Headaches, eyes burning... yeah been there, done that. Two is me as well. I do need it dammit! It doesn't help that I talk to myself to, so I'm constantly saying this stuff out loud regardless of whether I'm home alone or not.

well i did try replacing my games with watching anime but it got worse ^_^

i didnt intend to offend anyone......

Ive had/have all of those symptoms above and I still play video games like my life depends on it (though to be honest, it probably does). Video games are a part of who I am and I don't see myself "slowing down" any time soon.

This. When your eyes burn, it's time to pop heroism and play harder.

i didnt make the original thread of this just a copy and i think itll be helpful for some user's who want to slow down or stop playing



i didnt intend to offend anyone......