Do you regret the time you have spent gaming?

[Conqueror Kenny]

While I was on the way back from a Street Fighter tournament this weekend, somebody asked me if I ever regret starting to play Street Fighter. While my immediate thought was simply "No", but when I really thought about it I do a little.

I personally spend a lot of time not only practising and actually playing in tournaments, but the time spent travelling to and from various places across the city/country really does add up and I really don't have that much time left for anything else. My entire day and sometimes whole weekends are taken up being surrounded by video games.

I have completely changed my vocabulary to the point in which people that don't play street fighter struggle to understand me sometimes, I have turned down parties because there is a tournament and most of my friends now I made because of Street fighter.

I doubt too many people on here are in the same boat as me, but that question really did make me think and I figured it could be applied to all video games. I'm interested in seeing some other peoples views on the question.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Sometimes I think, 'what if I never got into gaming? Would I be playing an instrument now? Writing a book?', and I wonder what could have been.

But then I remember that video games are not toys anymore, nobody criticises movie buffs or book worms for 'wasting time'.

I'm good at what I do and I enjoy doing it. I haven't chosen gaming over friends or my fiancee so I don't consider myself obsessed. I've pretty much completely replaced television with playing video games (apart from a few choice shows).

I've battled hordes of monsters, saved countless lives and prevented the end of the world on many occasions. I've traveled post-apocalyptic wastelands and lush forests on distant planet. I've defeated gods and become one.

Video games are my books. They are my movies.

 

[Zhukov]

Only the bad games.

Especially the long bad games.

 

[CityofTreez]

Only the shitty games. I with I could un-play those.

 

[DanielBrown]

WoW was a part of the reason why my life went downhill fast. Not blaming the game, but I think it would've turned out quite different if I hadn't played like obsessed.
Only regret it slightly though.

 

[sms_117b]

Only when I've played for a long time and not saved and the game crashes. Well then and really, REALLY bad games.

 

[CthulhuMessiah]

Never. The time wasted on gaming for me was time well wasted.

 

[Naal]

Nope. When I was in high school the only things I could really do were Video Games and Homework. Friends? Pah, people back then sucked.

Now days? Same answer: No. Gaming is at the bottom of my list and I've learned to prioritize. I did, however, enjoy those late nights I spent playing WoW during my college days. Only a few hours sleep for class, but I got enough honor to earn my PVP gear.

 

[Mr Thin]

Only a portion of it. I've spent far too much of my life on games, even for an obsessed, dedicated gamer. I fear this has had permanent consequences, reaching beyond simple lost time.

The purpose of my life is enjoyment, and in playing so many games so often, I have somewhat dulled their enjoyment for myself. This also is a source of regret.

 

[DasDestroyer]

Nope. When I was in high school the only things I could really do were Video Games and Homework. Friends? Pah, people back then sucked.

Precisely this. Also, people still suck. Not much has changed.

Captcha: défense cookedn
Defend a cook? Cook up a defense? I don't understand, oh Lord Inglip.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

Only if I should have been doing something else at the time (ie coursework/revision) and the same applies to pretty much any entertainment medium/leisure activity not just gaming. At any rate it's not healthy to dwell on something you can no longer do anything about.

 

[Dagda Mor]

I'm in a couple of extracuriccular activities besides gaming.So I don't wonder whether I would be happier if I learned to play an instrument or anything,because I do.I guess I'm happy that I did learn how to,and I'd doubt myself if gaming was all I'd ever done,but because I did learn,my only regrets are not spending MORE time gaming.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

The only time I regret spending gaming was time that I SHOULD have been spending on schoolwork. >_> Which happens a lot more than it should, for me.

Any other time I spend gaming? I do not regret it. I really enjoy gaming, and I like that it's my main hobby. It's not like I don't have friends, and I do in fact have a girlfriend who also loves gaming, so it's not like I'm substituting games for real life.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Only the bad games.

Especially the long bad games.

But the bad games are really fun to go back and talk about! Like how Final Fantasy XIII was a series of cutscenes held together by linear corridors and overly dramatic fight scenes controlled by selecting 3 or 4 items on a menu. Also, most of the cast is insane.

To answer the OP, no. I love playing games and don't regret any of the time I've spent playing them. I wish I could make money off of the things but I'm content with where I am at this point.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

No I don't. I don't play as much as I used to, because I'm in college now, so I actually treasure every moment I spend gaming. It's my favorite hobby. And I still manage to read a lot of books, watch all the movies and TV shows that interest me etc. I have enough time for everything so I can't regret it.

 

[Slimshad]

I'm fairly regretful of a lot of time I have spent, but it was worth all of it for the little times of heaven I have encountered within Gaming.

 

[teqrevisited]

Nope. Besides, there's bugger all else to do.

 

[Creator002]

Sometimes I think, 'what if I never got into gaming? Would I be playing an instrument now? Writing a book?', and I wonder what could have been.

But then I remember that video games are not toys anymore, nobody criticises movie buffs or book worms for 'wasting time'.

I'm good at what I do and I enjoy doing it. I haven't chosen gaming over friends or my fiancee so I don't consider myself obsessed. I've pretty much completely replaced television with playing video games (apart from a few choice shows).

I've battled hordes of monsters, saved countless lives and prevented the end of the world on many occasions. I've traveled post-apocalyptic wastelands and lush forests on distant planet. I've defeated gods and become one.

Video games are my books. They are my movies.

You... said that perfectly.

I wish to use this as my reply to this topic.

 

[MysticToast]

No. Gaming is my hobby and my passion. I enjoy (almost) every second of it, and wish I had more time for it.