How long can you go without playing video games?

[menaceh2k]

I am at the 3 year mark. Oh man it hurts so much. The last game I played was halo 3. Oh man. I think I can hold up for another two years. Why am I doing this to myself, well its because I am addicted. I cant get any work done. You all know how it is. The late nights, the red bull, don't even get me started on xbox live. I just gave my games and consoles away to my lil cousins, and never looked back. I feel like a junkie, always going on forums and watching xplay online, making a mental list of games that I need to play. I havent even played MGS 4 yet. I don't even play my friend's consoles. I have to fight it for two more years. You know what's going to be sad, I'm probably going to die before I can play all these games. Arrgggg. Must hold on. Let me live vicariously through you guys. 2 more years .

 

[Words]

I feel you very much dear sir. I'm still at 1 month. Though, I think already lost the addiction. Maybe stop hearing about games would help? But I wouldn't be able to resist the newer-gen controllers.

 

[Ran]

Oh wow just hearing you describe it is painful! I applaud you for gritting your teeth and doing it. To answer your question : One semester, which is about.. 5 months? When summer rolled around I'm back in the spiral again...

I would do stuff like move all my games on an external HD and then hiding it somewhere hard to get, so that whenever I want to play it'll be so difficult to set it up I give up due to INTP laziness.

Ofcourse if I REALLY wanted to play nothing can stop me

 

[Latro]

A good question, one to which I don't have an answer really; I played an FPS yesterday and mostly play that FPS and Starcraft day-to-day. However, on the question of how long can one go without playing an MMO (quite possibly a more relevant issue for me), I'm at about 10 months at present.

 

[ashitaria]

About two years. And everyday of my life to come.

 

[Quiet&Nerdy]

i recently got my first car and might start replacing video games with something else

how did u guys make the transition from video gamer to someone with hobbies or something

 

[Latro]

i recently got my first car and might start replacing video games with something else

how did u guys make the transition from video gamer to someone with hobbies or something

Didn't really. I replaced WoW (2005-2006) with a forum (2006-present, though I haven't spent that much time on there since late 2008) with here, INTJf, and IRC (March 2009-present). Some EVE was sprinkled in there after WoW but never longer than about 3 months at a time; I also haven't played since last April.

 

[Words]

same..now to get away from all these forums and the addiction.

 

[Latro]

same..now to get away from all these forums and the addiction.

I do believe that would probably require getting an RL social life, which is easier said than done.

 

[RubberDucky451]

I don't play video games as much as I used to. I would play 1-3 hours straight but now I find it hard to play a single hour.

I find I rarely commit to any activity, even if it would be enjoyable.

 

[Words]

I do believe that would probably require getting an RL social life, which is easier said than done.

What should I do? Specifically.

 

[Quiet&Nerdy]

i did some brain storming and it came down to this
take an aikido class at comm college
learn to play guitar
try to write a book
smoke more pot

 

[Causeless]

smoke more pot

Works until you discover all of your new RL friends have smoked all of your marijuana.

 

[Irishpenguin]

As of recently I don't play video games as much as I used to. It's turning out to be I only play a game about every 3 to 4 days, and even then it's like less than an hour. A major reason for this is because most games that I play involve either getting on steam or some other form of online community. And even when my friends beg me to get on I'm just thinking

"Damnit...but I don't feel like doing anything sociable right now...at all. I'll just lay here and listen to music, and of course open up this forum."


So yea...I kind of have a built-in deterrent right now. Though I've never had anything against video games and when the mood hits me, I have no qualms of playing all through the night.

Edit*:
Oh wait, I guess that's contradictory, since this forum is technically a form of socialization. I guess it's harder to be bothered by reading text while only hearing music that you like?.....other than that I guess I'm at a loss of words for myself.

 

[Anchorite]

I used to be completely obsessed with video games. Zelda, Mario, Burnout 3, (Halo sucks).
But now, it just don't care very much. I have a Wii, but that's pretty much just to satisfy my love of Zelda. And I have a 360, but I only have Fable 2 and Assassins Creed 2. I could afford quite a few games right now if I wanted them, but I just don't see the point in spending that kind of money on something that is so unproductive.
I would say I pick it up 1-3 times a month, but I've gone as long as about 7 months without touching any.

 

[reprographist]

I've never played video games really. Not my thing at all.
So I guess... Forevers?
Heh.

 

[Dormouse]

What are these video games you speak of?

Yeah, I play snake and tetris, but I'm under the impression they don't count.

 

[Fedayeen]

I play video games all the time. I could probably stop without much problem if I actually had something decent to do to kill the time. (I don't count socializing as something decent to do)

 

[Words]

Unfortunately, video games have made "purpose" in my life. Or is it the escapism that's attractive?

 

[intuitivet]

Wow, well done. I've gone a couple of weeks maximum. I can't resist playing games, they're too much fun and my friends play games too so games are actually good for my social life!

 

[HumidDesert]

Unfortunately, video games have made "purpose" in my life. Or is it the escapism that's attractive?

I think i like the escapism also. I have been a hardcore gamer for as long as i can remember, (im only 15, but still,) and recently ive been finding that none of them pique my interests. Which leaves me at a loss because its the only entertainment i really know.

 

[s0nystyle]

Havn't touched WoW in.... 4-5 years?

 

[y4r5xeym5]

College killed my video game addiction. I play maybe 2-3 hour a week now

Magic and board games however.... *twitch*

 

[Thread Killer]

Four and a half years was the longest I held out.

I can go for a long time these days since my attention span is too short, but I make it a point to actually make myself play video games just to get my mind off of other stuff. So yes, video games help me become more productive by not mulling over stupid stuff, play a game, feel better, feel inspired to do something productive.

 

[Logos]

My dad has always been a huge gamer (still is) and I've always been playing games, so I've pretty much been a hardcore gamer since birth (got baby pictures to prove it). But I wouldn't say I'm addicted, even though all I really do is play guitar and xbox. If someone said I couldn't play games (a parent for example) then I would just play guitar (which is definately worth learning).

 

[Cati]

College killed my video game addiction. I play maybe 2-3 hour a week now

Magic and board games however.... *twitch*

College actually fuelled my addiction. I haven't met any hardcore gamers until I got into college. I play more often now than I did in school, but that's due to a lack of school work and having less going on at home.

 

[transformers]

I've never played video games really. Not my thing at all.
So I guess... Forevers?
Heh.

x2

 

[zxc]

Maybe a month?

I used to be a hardcore gamer (20 now), but I play less these days. I still play on most days though, just not 8hrs straight every night any more. I play less for competition and more for enjoying the game now. My skill in FPS and RPG games is still the same - excellent (in the case of FPS).

Currently playing modded STALKER (SoC), Team Fortress 2, and some Guild Wars. Trying out Assassin's Creed 2, and about to try out Dead Space.

 

[ckm]

I've had an on-and-off relationship with World of Warcraft for about three years, playing for three to six months at a time and then getting bored. As of now, I haven't played it since early December, so almost five months. I don't intend on starting again, but unfortunately I can't deny the possibility.

However, upon dropping WoW, my love for Nintendo usually reignites. I have a Wii and a DS, neither of which I play consistently - rather, I go through phases. I spent most of the weekend playing Smash Bros. Brawl, and once I'm bored of that it'll be back to SoulSilver probably.

I don't have much to do with my time, apart from study (out of the question), read (which I haven't had the patience for for years - this is something I really regret) and socialise (on the rare occasion I want to, noone else seems to or it just ends up being too much effort). So I play video games and trudge through the internet.

 

[prd]

I am at the 3 year mark. Oh man it hurts so much.

Holy crap if it takes THAT long to get off the addiction then there's no hope for me at all
I occasionally went months without playing because every once in a while there's a period of shortage of interesting games.
But I'm always busy with other geek activities anyway. THIS is my RL!

 

[Latro]

An update to my original reply to this thread:
FFXIII is a hard habit to break. Especially once you get to Chapter 11.

 

[Puffy]

2 weeks and counting, I'm getting the shakes

 

[Keary]

For me it varies on the games that I have as well as what's going on at school. Although this said the longest I have gone without playing a videogame in the past 2 years (when I really started to play games) would have to be around a week or a fortnight, this would include playing flash games and the sort on the internet. The biggest time wasters I've played would have to be Fallout 3 and WoW, I really like rpg's, but I got Rune Factory 2 the other day so maybe that will be another good time waster. I do personally see gaming as a hobby much like the internet or writing is so really I have no negative feelings towards spending a lot of hours gaming. In short for the time being I couldn't really handle going more than a couple of days without playing a videogame since they are in some way a means in which I use to cope with real life and to relax.

 

[Mondorius]

I've held up for a few months before. Computer was broken. I can't say I'm really a game addict, more of an internet addict.

Truth is, I don't really have any problems doing other things, either. I adapt very quickly to new situations, for some reason. But if video games, or to be honest, anything remotely related to internet is available, it EATS MY SOUL!!!

In fact, pretty much anything could get my soul cheaply if I like it enough. I'm just unreasonnable in whatever I do. Internet and games just happens to provide enough variety to hold my interest, unlike many other things I've tried.

 

[miyuki]

i wish i could be addicted to games again, but i can't. or anything much. currently i have things i am good at but no more hobbies anymore... it is really bad. they all bore me.

 

[sroro]

2 wks, after that I break down. I play very lightly due to college and internships.

 

[Chimera]

How long can I, at this very moment?
Maybe two days. During the week I have raid to attend.
I've gone months without games before though.
​

 

[5k17]

I play video games every day, but I guess I could do without them for some time (reluctantly) if I didn't live in a remote hamlet, far away from the civilized world.

 

[Dogod]

If I get into a game, I will play it until I get bored or finish, which can take a few weeks or months, depending on the game. Other than that, I'm more addicted to the internet than to video games, and I can go for a few months and only play a game for a few hours at a time, separated by days or weeks of not touching a game.
I also play Magic whenever I have someone to play it with.

 

[nexion]

I haven't played for about... 4 days? That's a record for me, truthfully.

 

[telepathink]

its like 3 month in average for me, and i play for 4 days after those months in average
i am bored with playing games - they are just not interesting anymore, all the time the same stuff... although I used to play a LOT when I was young

 

[Hysteresis]

I surprise myself at how long I can go without playing a video game. I'm at the 2 week mark now, which is weird considering that it is the summer holidays and I have nothing to do.

 

[Snarlbuckle]

I went a few months without playing any games. My secret was to replace the focus of my obsessive impulses with something less introverted. Instead of playing games, I took up shooting clays. That lasted for about three months before I regressed back to online games. At the very least, now I have something social to do when it is needed.

 

[snafupants]

 

[RubberDucky451]

I don't play as much as I used to, and if I do it's usually for only an hour or two. I used to play everyday when I was in junior high.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

My PS3s been broke for over a year now, it's been so long I have no urges at all to play video games. They pretty much dominated my whole life until 12th grade. Nowadays I just get so bored easily..

 

[nexion]

I'm not even going to bring any of my gaming consoles to college.

 

[IfloatTHRUlife]

I am too picky to play video games, i havent played wow since my computers motherboard fried 4 months ago. Aside from WoW i am kind of jaded, i refuse to play any other game. I despise halo, dont like CoD because the people i know who play it have ruined it for me, disgusting me with their sensory need to constantly yell out, "DUDE did you see me just shoot that dude in the face!". I do enjoy playing Forza and other car games as long as they are simulations, but it can get boring fast.

To conclude, i love wow, would be playing it right now if my computer wasnt scrap metal, and i hate all console games and would rather sit in silence at my friends houses than play mindless games with them.

 

[DesertSmeagle]

i go through gaming phases..ive maade an emotional connection with WoW, and have WoW dreams when the weather is right haah..but i havent played it in months..right now im in a call of duty thing...cant wait for black ops.. I play alot of call of duty now, but it doesnt interferewith college much...so far..but when im in a state of deep depression, i just cant play video games..The longest ive gone was about 4 months,during basketball season in 11th grade....i hated my coach, my team, and school..they kinda ruined highschool basketball for me..my parents made me play...but ive ffound wonderful alternatives to gaming..like photography, sleep, and youtube..even wow...i dont consider WoW a game..its so enertaining yet sux at the same time...takes so much time to play.

 

[Dansk]

I stopped gaming around the time Sonic the Hedgehog 3 came out. If my memory hasn't failed me, that was 1994 and I was 9 years old.

I just can't get into it. I've played casually when I'm around friends over the years, and some of them have tried to get me hooked on some sort of MMORPG--I have one in particular who would give his left testicle for me to play WoW with him--but the simple fact is that they bore the shit out of me.

If I ever am stricken with the rare need to play something, I usually fire up an emulator and play some old Genesis or SNES game, or even better, the DOS games I grew up with. If you've ever heard of Shamus or Supaplex, you'll know just how out of date I am.

(For what it's worth, Supaplex was the perfect computer game. Everything since has just been trying to reach that peak. It's a fact.)