Drinking and gaming

[themightyodog]

Hi guys and gals,

I was just wanting to get opinions on whether you drink, or indeed use any other 'substances' along with your gaming? I just ask because i personally enjoy a drink or two, but i find that if i have a glass of wine or a few beers and try playing anything i find that i'm -

A)Useless at it, and

B)If its a story driven game i find myself playing it then forgetting about what i've seen/done, rendering the exercise pointless.

I also find my concentration vanishes almost completely as well, and i end up starting one game after another without actually spending any real time on any one. I'd just like to gather your opinions and thoughts on the matter, and even any stories you might have

For the record i don't want this thread to promote the use of any sort of drugs, legal or otherwise, I personally don't use any drugs.

Cheers,

Olly

 

[Peach_hat]

Only for CSS.

I need to be extra loud when I win some nights.

 

[Fightbulb]

Only when I'm gaming with friends, and then it's usually Smash or Skate.

 

[the_casual]

i find that if i'm drinking a few cans whilst playing fifa 09 it can go either go two ways; i can find myself reading the game as if i was mourinho, slotting together passes and scoring with ease. that, or i just end up being completely overwhelmed by the pace of the game and turning it off because i can see 44 players on the pitch.

 

[Duh]

dont dring alcohol, like my liver just fine like it is

actualy that would be talking out of my asrse since Fat food probably do just as much damage, actualy i dont eat that much

 

[Zippy1313]

I tend to suck ass at any game if I drink, so I try not to. The only times I drink is if I am bowling or playing pool anyways.

 

[KeithA45]

I have no idea about drinking and gaming, but "a friend of mine" says that marijuana mixes well with mindless games like Beautiful Katamari (sp?) or plundering dungeons for nothing more than loot and experience in Oblivion

 

[Cid Silverwing]

Carbonated soda only. Alcohol is banned in my household.

 

[Sion_Barzahd]

Drinking and FPS games go hand in hand for me. I like a can or two to knock back while i play only.
Sorta stops me getting stressed at the abusive retards that flood XBL.
Similarly when i'm doing group work on WoW, especially raids. Cause people can take the game way too seriously.

All in all i drink quite often though just as a simple means to relax. Same reason i game, so why wouldn't i combine the two?

 

[Fizzlewinks]

I get people drinking while they're gaming with their friends and all that. But in my opinion its just kind of sad when your playing COD4 or something and there's that one guy talking about "how hammered they are" and instead of being out with friends and enjoying it they're alone in a room playing video games. So I guess it all has to do with the situation.

 

[Gladion]

I like to have a beer while gaming when I've got mates to voice-chat with. For single-player games - a nice bottle of wine only enhances the experience of playing Silent Hill or MGS

But I don't do it that often.

 

[Rock Beefchest]

I had hurt my back pretty bad a couple years back. Right after Twighligh Princess came out. I was on Oxycodone and muscle relaxers (read: ripped out of my mind). Played through the game in that state and then traded it off for something else. To this day I cannot remember the story in that game or any of the missionsJust remember bits and pieces like screenshots in my mind. Kinda dissappoints me. Don't think I will be playing any more games in that state if I can avoid it.

Alchohol on the other hand, I find that it smooths out my reflexes and improved my FPS ability. Almost like bullet time IRL. But it is a terminating curve add too much booze and i quickly become worthless usually two scotches and I'm gold.

 

[plastic_window]

I don't drink specifically to get in the mood for playing a game, but if I've had a few with some mates we'll probably get Rock Band out at some point. That game is a whole lot more fun when you're drunk.

 

[S.H.A.R.P.]

Spoiler: Disclaimer: The use of mind expanding substances has different effects on various people. This post is not intended to promote mind expanding substances. Please be aware that, if you are prone to psychological instabilities, mind expanding substances may increase those instabilities dramatically.

In weekends I often consume some tetrahydrocannabinol to relax, and enhance my gaming pleasure. Surprisingly, this substance enhances my gaming noticeably at times, in one of the most fast paced shooters (UT2004) around. I can't really explain why I get better, but I think that cannabis allows you to focus on one, and one thing only. The single-mindfulness (really being the character you play, moving fluidly around, dodging deadly beams, killing everything at sight, and run like hell to capture that flag in order to win!) is really effective at times, but only in slight dosages. If I smoke 1/4 a gram I'm toast, 1/8 of a gram is generally a good dosage to be able to concentrate. Also, while smoking I like to have Beethoven piano sonata's on in the background, which helps me relax even more. On a side note; I've managed to score good grades in mathematics while being stoned too. I won't say it improves my analytical/logical/etc. abilities, it doesn't affect them in a negative way too. This varies with a lot of people though.

Drinking is a whole different thing though. I don't drink very much, and it usually does bad things for my gaming capacity. On certain times though, with just the right dosage, and the most violent music I can manage, I can play like a god. Really. Though unfortunately not for long.

And remember kids, say no to drugs!

 

[O277]

Beer and COD4 does not mix, neither does LSD and space giraffe, neither does weed and guitar hero....


JUST SAY NO KIDS!

 

[Simriel]

Sure, if I'm with mates. Don't have an effect om my performance though, I'm a heavyweight.

 

[Daye.04]

I usually don't drink while playing games. I have no need for it. Honestly. I might sound a bit ridicious now. But I kinda praise gaming more than not. I love gaming to a thousand. Therefor I like to be as clean as possible whenever I have the chance to enjoy gaming. I can see why people think that a beer or two enhances the experience. But in my opinion, drinking and gaming - even if it's just a beer, a glass of whiskey, wine whatever - is kinda like having sex when you're hammered. It just complitely destroys the whole experience.

Since I think so highly of gaming, I'm pretty much allways clean. I allways make sure I have a lot of time to play the games. I make sure the conditions are as perfect as possible. Simply because I love gaming.

on the other hand, though. As I said I understand how people can think it makes stuff better. Especially as one guy above me mentioned. Playing some coulorful wierd game while high. Why not. It's making the whole thing more interesting. Also being drunk while playing. it's all of a sudden more fun.

As another guy above me said. It's not cool to hear someone being drunk while playing over the net. My honest thought about that is that I feel sorry for them. On a side note here. Buying sufficient alcohol to actually get you hammered. I'm not sure how it is at your places, but here it's not cheap. And because of that I'd think he'd enjoy this state with his friends rather than being alone and playing. Now this is why I feel sorry for them. Whenever I encounter someone like that. The thing that comes to my mind is that they must have been bailed on, or that this persons friends left him for another person. Or simply that this person just doesn't have any friends to enjoy drinking with. So no, I never get drunk alone and play. I never get drunk alone - period -

What I do, however. Is gather up some friends to drink, have a great time. And finding out how long we're able to stay on the road in MarioKart Wii, How many notes we're able to hit in Guitar Hero. Or just trying to have the ball for more than five senconds. That I enjoy. Alone? No. As stated above. I chearish games a bit too much for that.

 

[WingedFortress]

I'm an absolute slouch at Drinking and gaming, but it never seems to stop. The problem most of the time is that I couldnt be bothered to stay in once I've started hitting the bottle.

But when I do, I only play halo. The obnoxiousness that is normally associated with its player base is much more forgivable when your half cut, and its not like the difficulty curve makes it hard to enjoy yourself, regardless of the state your in.

EDIT - I read a couple of the above posts, I just felt I'd mention that RARELY am I actually discovered to be as drunk as I am. Mabye its because I'm playing halo, and everyone has the same, erm, informal attitude I do, but probably because I'm not a raving lunatic while drunk. People only seem to notice if they get in a hornet with me, and laugh as a I try to negotiate the middle pass in Avalanche.

Basically, I try not to let my fun ruin everyone elses. Sometimes I cant help it.

 

[GyroCaptain]

Drinking doenwnt iwntewtfereg witghm mayea gamiwtug at wahotlll!!1

I play sober, but a beer or two playing Rock Band seems to relax the old vocal cords a bit.

 

[joystickjunki3]

Depends on the game. I drink all the time when playing fighting games, but will drink next to nothing when playing RPGs. It's obscenely fun to play MMOs drunk I think.