I was kind of one of "these people that didn't understand why gaming is popular" - in other words, I played some PnP RPGs and NES games in elementary and junior high about 20 years ago and then just didn't really get back into it until recently.

I didn't really have any prejudice against gamers, but when friends or co-workers would tell me they were "a gamer," I would think to myself "how can you sit there and play a video game all day, doesn't it get boring?"

About 3 years ago a friend was playing FO3 and it looked really cool, so I bought the PC version. I enjoyed the hell out of it and got into gaming again after about a 15-year hiatus.

After that I bought a few more games during Steam package sales like Oblivion, New Vegas, Civ4 and Civ5. Now I have about 50-60 games in my Steam library, most of which I will probably never install, and I learned how to re-build Oblivion with 150+ mods. I also hope to learn how to create some new mods myself before Skyrim is released.

Yea I know tv and video games are two similar forms of entertainment.

not really. they activate different parts of the brain. when you playing video games your actually using alot more of your brain than watching the boobtube. when you watching TV alot of your brain shuts off. thats why you can ask some people what episode of a TV show they just watched and they wouldnt be able to tell you.

Hell, I'll go as far as to say that in the last 10 years, the public perception of gaming has changed dramatically.

Most people view video games as toys for kids. Others view it as a brain rotting time waster. All video games are not for kids, even games that look like they are for kids are complex. Being a time waster may be true, I'm certain that during the time playing a video game you could be doing something more productive like studying but I personally do not believe video games make people stupid. The funny thing is the people who call video games a time waster spend a lot of their time watching TV which is technically the same thing as playing a game. These people are ignorant and stupid, hopefully that foolish attitude dies with that generation.

I disagree. I think that are completely different.

TV is very passive. You sit and stare. Sometimes you might think a little but as mentioned above many people can't every remember what they just watched. Everything is fed to you.

On the other hand video games cause your brain to be very active. Always reacting to things.

In particular with Bethesda Games like Oblivion, FO3, and Morrowind, I find myself thinking at multiple levels. There is the quick reaction combat type of thinking. There is the tactical what should I do next type of thinking. And there is the strategic how should I develop my character what sequencing of quests should I do, type of thinking. Unfortunately not too many puzzle type thinking in the three Bethesda games I mentioned but many games have that too.

The down side to video games might be the limited interaction with other real people. But there are alot more upsides to video games than to (alot of or most) TV I think.

It's ever so slightly more active, but please let's not over rate how much it really is active. You try and remember every moment of all video games you've played ever.

Stupid question. Why do we watch movies or read books? Why do we look at paintings? Hell, why even bother with art at all?

@ Savlian: Watching TV isn't necessarily passive. Good writing makes you think and ponder. Often games don't let you do that at all.

no there are substantial differences in brain activity TV vs video games. hand eye coordination, ability to read and understand data presented in a table or chart format more quickly and overall use of the brain itself. when you are watching TV your brain becomes very inactive. the only TV that i figure would be more active would be watching sports since alot of people jump up and down and are constantly questioning the refs calls. but for your typical sitcom or drama show people just zombie out.

How much of the brain are you really using when you play say Call of Duty or something? Yes, you're using your brain, but you have to use your brain to open the fridge or turn on the microwave too. Arguably, you get more from watching a debate or an in-depth documentary than playing Kingdom Hearts 2.

And it all comes down to preference. There are so many better ways to use your brain than through a video-game or watching TV or even reading certain books. I personally like to read a lot, but I read books that challenge me or make me view the world in a new light. When I'm reading, I get to imagine the characters and setting how I want to.

Gaming is just another form of "popular" entertainment just like a sitcom or HBO drama. It is what it is, and it's ridiculous to attribute anything more to it than that.

Gaming is just another medium, like TV. You get trash, and you get other stuff too.
To use Call of Duty as an example of cerebral gaming *is* ridiculous, yes.

True but when people ask what you do in your spare time and you answer...they give you that look

Everyone does it..

Because 18+ games are considered for kids...


A game can tell a good story, such as a movie or a book, but it is nowhere near as linear to that, because you are in full control over the situation and are kicked in into the event like in no movie or book. There are books where you can choose to do something and then have to turn to page X to continue that story, imo, those books are very close to games because it lets the reader choose and be part of the action, like games today do.