Am I a gamer anymore?

[Hey Joe]

I hold a deep love for games and where they will go in the future as a viable art form, but recently I've come to a decision that will eradicate my stature as a 'gamer'. You see, I'm in third year journalism and film and video, which is a *****, and well, due to this I am doing something...shocking.

I am not buying GTAIV

If I don't buy this game, can I be considered a gamer anymore? When did my schoolwork take priority over gaming, and does that disqualify me from ever showing my face in here again?

Discuss.

 

[Drong]

We are sorry to hear you are quitting gaming, please go down to your local post office and return your gamer passport along with £12.40 to cover return and administrative expenses and be sure to fill out the why i have quit gaming survey then sell any gaming devices and games back to a government registered gaming stockist, recycle any gaming magazines or other paper media you may have obtained and deactivate your escapist account.

 

[Doug]

I am not buying GTAIV

*Audiable shocked gasp, and then* Burn the heretic!

 

[Ruffythepirate]

Well there just was a thread that concluded that if you consider yourself a gamer, you're a gamer. So, do you still consider yourself a gamer? I know I would, sometimes in life we have to make choices and prioritize. I don't think getting an education can qualify as not being a gamer.
I for myself have, over the past few months, been forced to choose between socks, food and xbox stuff. I find myself choosing the latter category.

 

[Gigantor]

You're what? Or rather, you're not doing what?

It's understandable. I'm just glad I don't have any exams at the moment, as it would have a quantifiable impact. It's probably the sensible and wise thing to do, and you can play it at some point. It's not going to be easy though: queuing for the bus and hearing people talk about it, reading the reviews...temptation can be a *****.

In conclusion, you'll still be a gamer...just a deeply unhappy one.

EDIT: My new avatar pic expresses my shock quite effectively.

 

[magicmonkeybars]

I am not buying GTAIV

you will buy GTAIV just not right away but you will buy it I know you will.

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

I was technically going to wait until my friend finishes playing it, then borrow it from him.

 

[Gavaroc]

I have never played a single game in the Grand Theft Auto series and I plan never to try.

Oh crap, now I'm going to get shot.

 

[Lightbulb]

If I don't buy this game, can I be considered a gamer anymore? When did my schoolwork take priority over gaming, and does that disqualify me from ever showing my face in here again?

Welcome to a wider world.

 

[Saskwach]

While I'm tempted to shame you for the fun of it, if not buying GTA made you a non-gamer then let me welcome you to the non-gamers club. I dabbled a few hours in 3 and Vice City and never touched San Andreas.

 

[propertyofcobra]

I never liked the 3D GTA games that much. GTAIV doesn't interest me much if at all. If there's only one sandbox game I'm getting this year, it's going to be Mercenaries 2.
Prototype as a possible second. GTA comes somewhere long down the line.

So yes. You're still a gamer. You can be a gamer without having touched Franchise X. Even if that is Halo, GTA or Final Fantasy.
Mario though, you're gonna have a harder time explaining away never touching if you consider yourself a gamer.

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

I have never played a single game in the Grand Theft Auto series and I plan never to try.

Oh crap, now I'm going to get shot.

I would shoot you, but you have an awesome avatar.

 

[CodingMonkey]

Sure you are.

 

[tooktook]

I hold a deep love for games and where they will go in the future as a viable art form

I'm the same as you. In final year of school. Under huge pressure but i still find a couple hours a week to play. I am definitely a gamer, i enjoy games and think there is still a lot of untapped potential.

Once a gamer always a gamer. We just go through fluctuating dedication levels

 

[Necrohydra]

Last I checked, there is no pre-requisite game to become a gamer. Just because you're not getting the current game everyone is drooling over because you have your priorities straight, you're not any less of a gamer. Good luck on your exams/projects.

There's nothing wrong with applying yourself to the real world so you can get a job that means you can get the next big game and NOT live off of ramen noodles for 2 weeks.

 

[CodeChrono]

I hate the GTA series and would rather gouge my eyes out than spend a huge gob of money of that stupid overhyped and mediocre game series. But that's just me, so I can't really relate on that note.

And for the record, I went about 3 months without picking up a game due to massive amounts of schoolwork, but then picked it back up again. I still considered myself a gamer, because I still quoted Portal, I still got my Game Informer and had Zero Punctuation to fall back on when I was bored. :O

 

[Spinwhiz]

It's not about the GTA4, it's about your priorities. If all you do in your freetime is play video games, then you are still a gamer...and hardcore I may add. I personally see myself as a light gamer or hybrid gamer. I enjoy games, I'm good at them but I don't NEED to play them.

 

[krashdummy]

I am not buying GTAIV

Had you excluded the "not", I would've considered you an absolute drooling moron.

 

[Hey Joe]

If GTA IV is necessary to be a gamer, I guess I'm still undecided. I think I'll check it out. The last GTA I tried was Vice City, which didn't really convince of its supposed greatness. GTA IV harvests 100% review scores, which is just plain ridiculous and makes me more suspicious than anything else.
So, I guess I'll give it a try and see for myself, but I think it's not necessary to buy that game to be a gamer