Gamer Subculture Study

[Happiness Assassin]

Male, age 18

1. Yes
2. 10 hours
3. Both
4. 6 friends who I play with constantly
5. Varies, but I'll say 5 hours a week
6. No idea. Most of my free time.
7. Varies
8. Age 7. Everyone I knew loved pokemon, so I bought into the craze.
9. Indifferent, they don't pretend to understand them.
10. Read, hang out with family, learn to play guitar.
11. Never been really competitive. If the game is about a narrative I get invested in it. If I am playing with friends, I try to work together.
12. B- average, would recent developments have affected it far worse than any gaming habit could.
13. No job, currently looking
14. Possibly. This question is strangely worded and almost impossible to answer objectively.
15. Yes, rarely.
16. Relaxation, coping, escapism
17. Competitive games are more likely to make me more aggressive in the short term, though violence has little to do with this.
18. When you forgo personal responsibilities for pointless in-game rewards.
19. No
20. Some T-shirts, but very little beyond the games themselves. I am on a limited income and I tend to buy only the standard editions of game and little else.

 

[Silly Hats]

1. Yes
2. 10-12h
3. Myself
4. Very casual if they do
5. Sometimes Co-Op if available. I'll go through phases where i'll play MMOs
6. Kind of a lot, when i'm not playing games and particurly when on lunch breaks at work. I just find it very interesting.
7. wRPGs, stealthy action games and Sci-Fi.
8. When gifted Pokemon Blue
9. They don't really get the appeal, but they appreciate that I have a researched interest.
10. Work, Guitar, Music, Beer tastings and DVDs
11. I enjoy good games, I like to think about Lore and good Storylines after playing.
12. Average (74%)
13. Full time 45-50h a week
14. No
15. Left work a few minutes early to beat traffic to have a tiny bit more time
16. Experimentation of gameplay, personal challenges, lore/story and enjoyment. And interactive environments.
17. No, if desensitization was to occur its because violent games are an over-exaggeration and we can differentiate similation and real life violence.
18. Pure addiction. Mental/Physical wellbeing getting sick. Poor sleeping habits only lead to poor health,
19. Have gone through stages with on/off gaming.
20. None. I do like to collect Band t-shirts, they interest me more

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

I'm a college student and for one of my classes I have to study a subculture. Naturally, I picked the "Gamer" subculture. So for any of you who are interested in answer some questions, that would be awesome. Please include your age and gender if you feel comfortable doing so.



Feel free to expand on any of your answers beyond what I have asked and thank you very much for your time for all who participate.

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
Yes.

2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
20-ish?

3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
Depends on the game. If it's something like League of Legends or Starcraft multiplayer, I only play with friends.

4. How many of your friends play videogames?
Almost all of them.

5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
It's hard not to, these days. But if you mean online multiplayer, much less than I play singleplayer.

6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
A couple hours a day?

7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
Almost everything except sports games.

8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
About 2 or 3? My dad got a PS1 for Father's day that year.

9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
Both play games themselves.

10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
Reddit, twitter, skype, and reading news.

11. How emotionally involved do you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
Not much at all, really.

12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
ATAR of 59.75 (highschool) which got me into my desired course for uni.

13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
No.

14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
Probably.

15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
No.

16. Why do you play videogames?
Because they're (wait for it) fun.

17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
Not really.

18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession?
When they negatively affect other areas of your life.

19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
No.

20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)
T-shirts, posters, and soundtracks.

 

[JEBWrench]

A survey?! I'm in!

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture? - I suppose so, I've been called one enough times.
2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week? - Between 5 and 10 usually.
3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends? - By myself.
4. How many of your friends play videogames? - Two.
5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play? - Two or three.
6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames? - 10-15
7. What kinds of videogames do you play? - Simulators, sports games, the occasional RPG, platformers.
8. When did you start playing videogames and why? - Give or take, about 25 years ago, because it was really interesting to see Jumpman Jr. hopping around the TV because of the C-64.
9. How do your parents feel about videogames? - They bought the C-64. While never big into games. (Mom and dad played a few things on the 64, but never really more than that save for dad's Solitaire addiction).
10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do? - Watching sports, playing MtG, reading.
11. How emotionally involved do you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.) - Meh. Generally don't care.
12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable) - Straight A's in high school, dropped out of Uni.
13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work? - 20 hours.
14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance? - Can't say they have, but maybe I'm biased?
15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often? - Once. To finish Rygar.
16. Why do you play videogames? - Something to do.
17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players? - Nah.
18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession? - When they clearly affect work, school, social, or family life in a negative way.
19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames? - With this Steam backlog and how much I actually play games, I think I'll be playing even after I'm dead.
20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.) - I have a poster of Skyrim, and the Mass Effect 3 N7 edition art book. Anything I have had before was either stolen or destroyed.

Edit: For disclosure! I'm a 30 year old male.

 

[keiji_Maeda]

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
i guess? no, probably not anymore.
2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
nine to ten, most on the weekends.
3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
Yes? it goes bothways abut i'd say about 3/5 on my own.
4. How many of your friends play videogames?
about thirteen
5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
approximately five
6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
estimatedly
ca ten
7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
it varies, mostly RPGS (W/J) RTS, TBSG and the occasionaly FPS/TPS
8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
i was six and got my godfathers nintendo 8-bit, entry drug and all that jazz
9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
Mostly positive, as long as i "kept down that damn chatter" while on ventrilo back in the days that i lived home.
10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
go to the gym, train martial arts, hang out with the ol' ball and chain,read a book, WORK, hit a bar.
11. How emotionally involved do you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
Amazing story? extremely so depending on the scratch of the writing o'course
12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
Did? as in past? Post high school= third best in my grouping, Post collegiat studies i was in the top ten.
13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
minimum fortyfive
14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
sure, when i mess up and neglected to prioritize correctly.
15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
nope, but i have taken leave from work to attend releases.
16. Why do you play videogames?
Entertaining escapism in a medium whose writing may at time rival well written books.
17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
No, but i think that a secular lifestyle peppered with a lack of an active social life and an ordinary routine may affect aggresive people. And that playing videogames is a pretty pervasive activity in these peoples lifes.
18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession?
When you start neglecting your own emotional physical needs to make time for gaming, or when you start justifying skipping gatherings withinn your "personal circle" (family/you close friends/partners etc) this being rationalized by me as "when you start convincing youself of that it's right, it means that you know something is wrong"
19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
Sure, when lifes priorities change. Family first y'all.
20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)
one or two of each.

 

[Mithcha]

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
Yeah.

2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
Depends, if I?m not working it can be 150 hours or so, and that?s likely being minimalist, if I?m working then it drops to about 50 hours, five ten hours on a weekday evening, weekends random.

3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
Myself. I enjoy multiplayer, but not this internet crap. Get six guys/girls in a room with a machine and some controllers and it?s a fun experience, especially with drinks. Same amount of people playing an online game and it feels cold.

4. How many of your friends play videogames?
All of them.

5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
No.

6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
Two. Maybe three.

7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
All of them at various points, but mostly RPG and strategy games.

8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
When I was a very young kid, like 3-4, my brother and sister were gamers. So was my dad at one point, but he stopped.

9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
My dad hasn?t gamed for so long he doesn?t understand them anymore, my mum plays them. Sixty year old woman playing fallout 3, very amusing.

10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
Breath.

11. How emotionally involved do you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
Not that much.

12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
Shit ones, but that had nothing to do with gaming and everything to do with being bored.

13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
When I work, it?s about 42. I think. Six hour day, seven days. School job. And no I don?t teach maths, thankfully.

14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
No.

15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
I lost a job in the long run because of GTA IV. I took a few days off to play it, then lost my stride when I got back to work. Then it spiralled. First and so far only time gaming has caused me a problem.

16. Why do you play videogames?
Because the Earth spins.

17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
No. Think it?s the opposite, you get angry, pissed, so you turn on Skyrim and slash a fucker in the face and hey, all better.

18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession?
When it?s the only thing you have, before then even. I don?t know. I?ve known people who I would?ve said had an unhealthy obsession but their lives were still very varied, and others who I would?ve said didn?t have a problem but ultimately couldn?t pull themselves away from the computer to answer the door. I think the cross from hobby to unhealthy obsession sneaks up on you, and can be very, very hard for the obsessed to notice they?re obsessed.

19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
Not currently, but I?m sure it?ll happen eventually.

20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)
Have a Sith Holocron from the Old Republic, bunch of Warcraft novels, a t-shirt or two somewhere. Overall not much, not really a merchandise kind of person.

 

[Bat Vader]

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
Yes, I consider myself a member of the gamer subculture.

2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
I would say about 20 or more hours a week. I work part time so it does tend to give me a lot of free time.

3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
I primarily play video games by myself. The rare times i do play games with my friends I make sure it is only us playing and no one else. I don't like playing against random people. I do play MMOs thought like Guild Wars and TOR but I quest Solo

4. How many of your friends play videogames?
Both of my friends play video games.

5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
I play Guild Wsrs 2 and The Old Republic about 10 to 12 hours per week.

6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
All in all I pry spend about a three hours or hours a day here on The Escapist reading about video games and watching gaming related content.

7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
Fantasy, MMO, Sci-Fi, FPS, RTS, Simulations, RPGs, and Point and Click adventure games.

8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
I started playing when I was about 5 years old (25 Now). My eye doctor at the time suggested it would be good for me because it could help with my lazy eye.

9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
My dad thinks some of them are too violent but he plays stuff like the Total War Games, Tropico, and Civilization.

10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
Usually watching anime, reading, or writing.

11. How emotionally involved do you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
It depends. Some game stories can make me get pretty emotional while others don't make me feel a thing.

12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
In elementary school, middle school, and high school I received A'a and B's. The few college classes I attended I received mostly A's with the occasional B.

13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
I work part time as a dishwasher at a retirement home. I work about 15 to 20 hours a week.

14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
No, I don't believe so. It has affected my social skills and social life but I never really had any use for social skills since I like to be alone and work alone.

15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
Not skipped no. I will put in for a day off though if a game I really want to play comes out.

16. Why do you play videogames?
Because I generally enjoy the stories, characters, and settings that they offer as well as the choices that some allow players to make and gameplay elements.

17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
No, I don't believe so. I have been playing violent video games for over a decade and I have never gotten aggressive or violent.

18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession?
Usually when someone starts to ignore their family, job, friends or any other essential duties that they have to do.

19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
No. If all games go online I will still play the older games that I have.

20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)
I own a few statues that came with collector's Editions, a companion cube plushie, a few prima strategy guides, Legend of Zelda T-Shirt, a couple of game art books, and a few game tie-in novels too.

 

[EmperorSubcutaneous]

Female, 26.

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
No. I choose to not interact with other gamers for the most part, so I'm not part of the subculture.

2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
20-30

3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
By myself, but I occasionally play MMOs with friends.

4. How many of your friends play videogames?
All of the ones I interact with most frequently.

5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
Yes. Currently at least 80% of my total gaming time.

6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
An additional 10-15 hours.

7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
Mostly MMORPGs and puzzle-adventure games, with occasional branches going out into classic adventure, action-adventure, survival horror, and single-player RPGs.

8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
I played a few games starting at around age 10 because someone gave them to me (the Myst series and various educational games), but I didn't really make gaming a big part of my life until I was about 20, when my then-boyfriend encouraged me to play an MMO with him. I've been hooked ever since.

9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
They used to look down on them as an unimaginative waste of time, but they've been slowly coming around. My dad has always made an exception for the Myst series and is now of the belief that gaming is "the future of entertainment," and my mom got an iPad about 3 years ago and has been working her way through all the classic JRPGs ever since. And you should have seen their faces when I played Journey for them.

10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
Read various forums and webcomics, watch videos online (mostly about gaming), read the news, read books, watch movies, watch TV shows, bake, attempt to be creative, and spend time with my boyfriend.

11. How emotionally involved do you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
If it's well-written, then I get just as much involvement from it as I would from a well-written book/movie/show. Sometimes even more because of the interactive aspect.

12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
I had a C average before high school, a B average in high school, and an A average at university.

13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
Part time. About 20 hours a week, if I have a project.

14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
No.

15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
Never.

16. Why do you play videogames?
I play them for entertainment, for various unique experiences, sometimes for creative expression, and sometimes just as a way to pass the time.

17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
I think it can make people more accepting of the idea of violence (though no more than a violent movie would) but I don't think it makes them more violent themselves.

18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession?
When you neglect important aspects of your life for them, or go into debt in order to play them.

19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
Maybe not as much as I do now, but I doubt I'll ever not play them.

20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)
A couple shirts, a bunch of soundtracks, and a handful of knick-knacks from collector's editions.

 

[CellShaded]

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
Yup.
2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
I'm really bad at math. It's my main past-time.


3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
Oof. I play as much co-op as I can. But there's not that many split-screen games out there.

4. How many of your friends play videogames?
All of them, though a few only do it when they're around me and my girlfriend, so they're not active gamers.

5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
One or two matches of DotA 2 a day, so not all that much.

6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
That's my second past-time after gaming itself, so, alot.

7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
All kinds.

8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
Oh, I must have been 6 or 7. And I started because my mom's boyfriend got me a Playstation.

9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
Well, that depends on whether I'm supposed to be doing something else or not. They're indifferent, if anything.

10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
Read books, just hang around with friends and my girlfriend, watch movies/shows and the like.

11. How emotionally involved do you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
It's a bit embarassing, but good lord does DotA 2 piss me off sometimes. And games with great story and characters can get me involved, too. The Walking Dead is a great example. (Just finished it last night)

12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
Oof. Average/slightly above average.

13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
Yeah, I do. On average I work about 20 hours a week. It's just a small job to tide me over until I go to University.

14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
School, yeah. There was a time when I was pretty addicted to Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy.

15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
Not directly, no.

16. Why do you play videogames?
It's just a fun past-time to have by yourself or with friends. Lets me explore new worlds and stories. Also, they're mostly the place I learned English way back when.

17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
Mmh, yes and no. They'll get aggressive when playing frustrating games, but I haven't noticed much aggression otherwise.

18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession
Ah, that's a tough question. I guess once videogames not only replace social interaction, but when they start to affect one's psyche.

19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
Not really, no. I'll play games until either the industry gets too silly, I get too poor, or I die.

20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)
Ahh, not much at the moment, sadly. Only recently moved out and am still testing the waters when it comes to finances. But once that settles and money from work starts pouring in, I'll probably get shirts and posters and the like.

 

[gazumped]

23 year old female

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
No.

2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
Roughly 10

3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
I have a rule at the moment (while I'm at uni) to only play games when I'm with friends.

4. How many of your friends play videogames?
Maybe 70%?

5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
Not anymore, it's too much of a timesink.

6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
At a guess... 3?

7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
Usually: real time strategy, RPGs, puzzle games, point and click adventure games, god sims.
Occasionally, if they're good: Driving/racing games, FPSs, platformers.

8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
When I was about 6/7 because they looked like a fun way to exercise my brain? (I started on the Discworld point and click adventure games.)

9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
My mum loves them and plays them all the time. My dad is less into them, although he still gets addicted to puzzle games like Tetris pretty easily.

10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
Visit sites on the internet, watch TV programs (online) or films.

11. How emotionally involved do you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
A little less than with films and TV, but that's only because I have to be active and think about what I'm doing. No time to cry!

12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
I was a straight A student in school/college. In uni I still get high grades.

13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
Nope, but uni work is pretty much a work-however-much-you-can gig.

14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
No, because I've been good at setting rules on myself about not letting them get in the way of my work.

15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
Nope.

16. Why do you play videogames?
For the same reason anyone does anything that's entertaining - to escape from reality, blow off steam and have fun!

17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
I think if anything it gives an outlet for aggression. I know it does for me, I'm very polite and passive until I play a good violent game - I'd be bottling it all up otherwise!

18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession?
Like anything, it's when you allow it to impede on the rest of your life. If there are problems with your work, education, social/family/love life, your health/fitness/mental wellbeing and a factor is your hobby, it has become unhealthy and you need to curb your habits.

19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
If my workload gets busier (likely, once I have an actual job) then I'm not sure when I'll have time to play games alone, although while I still have gamer friends I'm sure I'll have a chance to play sometimes.

20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)
Nothing, I dislike unnecessary clutter.

 

[Karoshi]

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
Yup.

2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
8-10? Depends whether I'm on vacation or not.

3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
Alone.

4. How many of your friends play videogames?
One.

5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
1-2

6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
14 I suppose. Hard to gauge

7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
RPGs, MMOs and any story-heavy games in general. Playing even strategies if they have a good story.

8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
Dad was playing them and let me and my sister watch. Loved it, but it wasn't until a couple years ago that I began actively buying my own games and dedicating a lot of time to it.

9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
Dad likes them, Mom is neutral. Since I was almost an adult when I began gaming, they never forbid certain titles.

10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
Writing, reading, shopping, riding my bike.

11. How emotionally involved do you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
As emotionally involved as I would be reading a book. Greatly depends on how good the story is, but atmosphere is almost even more important. I love dystopias and how people try to cope in such situations, therefore it's one of my favourite video game genres.

12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
Pretty good. I think it would be 90% translated to American system.

13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
Nope, still at university.

14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
No, not really. Sure, there might have been homework here and there I skipped to play games, but I'm good at controlling myself.
I used to be the greatest Mass Effect fan and made the heroic feat of waiting for 3 weeks before actually playing ME3, because I had exams. The whole time my Collector's Edition was sitting on my desk and taunting me. Still, I endured.

15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
I have skipped school, but not for the sake of playing games. Usually went to hang out in the city.

16. Why do you play videogames?
Story, atmosphere and exploration. Challenge is sometimes fun, but not terribly important.

17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
No.
Violence is a tool and it can be used to upset the player, make them feel guilty, horrified or sad. Walking Dead Game was a very violent game, but not glorifying violence.
The question should be, whether games glorifying violence succeed at their task and that is a question which one could pose at the rest of the media. I doubt that Tarantino movies breed serial killers, just as I doubt games create murderers.

18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession?
When your job or school suffers under it and when it is the only thing which you can do to feel satisfied.

19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
I see myself playing less, especially at old age, but not because I lack enthusiasm, but because I might lack the skills, reflexes or health for it at some point.

20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)

Fallout 3 Collectors Edition with a Vault headbob figurine and a metallic lunchbox.
Mass Effect T-Shirt and Jokers baseball cap.
ME3 Collectors Edition with art book.
Sweatshirt with Black Mesa logo.

 

[Feraswondervahnn]

Male, 22.

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
I do indeed.

2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
It varies. Depends on work hours and any new games I have. I'd say at least 24.

3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
By myself, this doesn't mean I don't like multiplayer, I just play a lot of single player games.

4. How many of your friends play videogames?
Most of them play at least one game.

5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
Sometimes. Very Rarely. Though I did put 4 or 5 hours into Red Alert 2 online last night.

6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
Watching videos? Not really. Reading articles? Quite a lot. Not sure exact amounts.

7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
Bit of everything. My favourites hands down are Strategies and RPG's. Particularly RPG's with an isometric view, as in
the old PC style.

8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
My first game was Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Megadrive, I was 2 years old and my Dad decided to see if he could
teach me to play the game. He succeeded.

9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
Probably wish I didn't play as many as I do, but considering my Dad was quite the gamer back in his day I don't think
it's much of a problem.

10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
Play guitar, listen to music and go on crazy adventures with my highly modified friend.

11. How emotionally involved do you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
This depends entirely on the game. The Walking Dead had me very emotionally involved. Assassins Creed 3 had nothing.

12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
No longer at school or college but my grades were never too bad.

13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
Yeah but the hours vary and it sure as hell isn't enough.

14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
It negatively affected school if I stayed up all night gaming, then went to school and slept through the day.

15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
More than likely. Couldn't tell you how often as I haven't done it since starting work.

16. Why do you play videogames?
They're fun. Why else?

17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
I think it affects aggression, just not in a bad way. It sure helps me get a lot of my own anger out, then I feel
genuinely better and much more capable of keeping a calm and cool head.

18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession?
When it's all you do. Like full stop all you do. I can understand some people REALLY like games, but not doing
anything other than gaming seems completely pointless to me. I'd rather spend most my time playing guitar.

19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
Hmm. The way modern games are going I'd say yes. However, that would not be true as I still have all my older
consoles and PC games.

20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)
I have a Sonic the Hedgehog toy, and a plastic Dragonite.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I'm 25 and most identify with the Male gender

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
Yes

2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
20 - 45 (I really don't keep track this is a very rough estimate)

3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
By myself and, offline

4. How many of your friends play videogames?
All of my friends play video games to some extent

5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
I do not play online: Zero hours

6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
5 to 15 (again, very rough estimate)

7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
Adventure games, Role Playing games (Japanese and Western), Platformers, 3rd-person shooters, 1st-person Shooters (non-realistic/non-military), Kart racing games, arcade racing games, Adaptations (movie/TV show/Comic based games), Party Games/Minigame collections, Classic arcade games. Basically anything with the exception of Sports sims and, Real-Time Strategy

8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
Apparently I first played a video game at 2 and I continue playing video games to this day because they're really great toys. There's no better form of entertainment in my opinion. A $20 game can last much longer than spending the same amount on a comic or a trip to the movies and I just get a lot out of playing games.

9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
No strong feelings one way or another. Mom is of the mind-set that there is a limit and there can definitely be too much.

10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
Read comics, watch the cooking channel (or food network), watch random videos online, write short stories

11. How emotionally involved are you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
There are some games that have moved me to tears but these are definitely in the minority. It all depends on the game in question since not all games can really immerse me while others succeed extremely well.

12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
Currently not in school. I graduated High School with a 2.9GPA

13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
I work overnight anywhere from 20 to 30 hours in a week

14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
Work performance no but there have been many times when I would play video games instead of doing homework which must have negatively affected my GPA overall. That being said, I've always been very competent when it came to taking tests...

15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
Never

16. Why do you play videogames?
A combination of story, challenge and, to have fun (mostly the later).

17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
Nope. I would assume that it can give already-violent people different ideas though in terms of inflicting violence (thinking Manhunt here). Most video games though don't really add to aggression and violence. That being said, arbitrary limits like always-online in games that don't need such a restriction would definitely add to player annoyance.

18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession?
When people chose to play games over taking care of their most basic bodily needs, that's when passion turns to dangerous obsession.

19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
Even when future consoles are 100% digital and 100% online-only, I will likely always have older consoles to play games on. So yes.

20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)
T-Shirts, Posters, Statues/statuettes and, applicable anime/movies etc

Hope that helped a bit.

 

[Not Matt]

17 year old male here.

1. yup. are you proud of me

2. maybe 9 to 11 hours

3. depends on game and my mood. it's pretty much 50/50

4. 3.

5. barly 3 if i am lucky. my connection stink. the fact that i can check my email is a miracle.

6. 5 hours probebly.

7. what ever i come over. story and divercety is very important to me.

8. age 10. because my parents did't want me to. tihi.

9. i feel the word "HATE" fits here. they do not like it. at all

10. fuck around at home, write stuff, hang out with friends, work out, watch tv.

11. depends on game. there have been games that have gotten me emotionally involved and given me feeling for the characters. even if the game sucked i would still play it all out just to see the characters evolve.

12. avarage. Cs and Bs. an A if i am lucky

13. none. i am out of a job again.........yay

14. yes, lodes of times, even right now infact. hello i am writing this in English class

15. no, never. never skip it. i may neglect some homework and i may not pay attention in class but i don't skip.

16. because it's fun and i like cool stories even more when i can interact with it.

17. sadly, yes. but i believe it only does if the person who's being aggressive let's it effect them.

18. when it's your only interest and you will skip friends, job, school, dates etc. to play.

19. yes and no. i want to play, i don't need to play. i could spend the rest of my life not playing but i would prefer the option to play.

20. silly small stuff and collectors editions. the silly stuff i got for under 10 $ at some shop i walked passed one day when my wallet was big and fat and the collectors editions..........they cost like 15$ more. why not just spend an extra 15$ and gain some new stuff. plus if i am going to be a fan boy i may as well do it right

 

[upgrayedd]

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
Nope
2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
10-20
3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
Nope
4. How many of your friends play videogames?
Most/If not All
5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
Yes, 10-20
6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
2 Hours a Week Max
7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
RTS/Roleplaying
8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
9 Years old, Moved to the city and neighbour kid had a SNES, was hooked
9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
They are fine.
10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
Coach/Play Basketball
11. How emotionally involved do you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
As much as a good television show. I love story, I tend not to go overboard or have any rash reactions
12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
University Drop-out
13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
40 Hours a week for one, 6 hours a week for another
14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
Nil
15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
Yes, Release of starcraft when i booked 2 days off
16. Why do you play videogames?
Entertainment
17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
No. It's solely on what the person is capable.
18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession?
When They border on something to Escape to/Persistantly let it effect every other aspect of your life
19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
Probably not.
20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)
Fallout 3 Poster. Starcraft Cut out of Protoss.

 

[Vault101]

how can you play lots of games and not consider yourself part of the "gamer" sub culture?

Female, 26.
1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
No. I choose to not interact with other gamers for the most part, so I'm not part of the subculture.

whys that?

 

[Spitfire]

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
I suppose so, yes.

2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
Around 3 hours.

3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
Mostly by myself.

4. How many of your friends play videogames?
All of them, I think.

5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
Most of my play time is done online. See my answer to question no. 2.

6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
I don't know exactly, but it's in the double digits.

7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
More often than not, it's RPG and FPS games.

8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
I started playing when I was about 5 years old. Why? Because it was fun.

9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
They're ok with it. They don't have any strong feelings in favor of or against videogames.

10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
Browsing the net, video editing, listening to music, and even playing music myself sometimes.

11. How emotionally involved do you *get while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
It greatly depends on the game. I can get very invested when playing online matches, though, outside of that, it doesn't happen that often.

12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
They vary quite a lot.

13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
-

14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
Yes, in the sense that it's often taken time from studying.

15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
Not specifically, no.

16. Why do you play videogames?
Same reason why I started playing them: because they're fun!

17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
In short term, yes, but not beyond that.

18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession?
When you start neglecting important aspects of your life.

19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
Sure. I mean, I don't play that often anyway.

20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)
That's not something that I'm really into, although I do own quite a large number of gaming publications, and some posters.

 

[gazumped]

how can you play lots of games and not consider yourself part of the "gamer" sub culture?

Female, 26.
1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
No. I choose to not interact with other gamers for the most part, so I'm not part of the subculture.

whys that?

It's a good point (although I'm not the person you quoted). I figure that being part of a 'subculture' means that it is part of your identity. I am a gamer in the sense that I play games. I am also a reader because I read books. I am a viewer because I watch television and films. However, I don't think that doing any of that stuff defines me as particularly different from someone else. If someone feels that playing games is an important part of who they are then that makes it part of their lifestyle as opposed to a hobby. That makes it become a subculture rather than a pastime.

That's why I don't reckon I'm part of a subculture, anyway (gaming or otherwise), although I'd be kinda honoured if anyone thought I was because it's nice to feel accepted into a group.

 

[Mr F.]

I'm a college student and for one of my classes I have to study a subculture. Naturally, I picked the "Gamer" subculture. So for any of you who are interested in answer some questions, that would be awesome. Please include your age and gender if you feel comfortable doing so.

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
4. How many of your friends play videogames?
5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
11. How emotionally involved do you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
16. Why do you play videogames?
17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession?
19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)


Feel free to expand on any of your answers beyond what I have asked and thank you very much for your time for all who participate.

I am going to reply just saying, I find it really weird when people make accounts SOLELY for the purpose of getting help with work. Plus the research method you are using is flawed imho. I assume you are either a Sociology student or an MCS student (Considering the nature of the work you have been set) so I am willing to bounce ideas around. But still.

Firstly, Age etc.
21 Year old Male Gamer.

1. Yah. Was going to run for Exec of the Gamer Society at my Uni, got distracted by life. Will run for it next year.
2. Counting Flash Games? About 15. Discounting flash games? Maybe up to 4.
3. By myself.
4. Most of them.
5. No, I don't play online any more.
6. 5 - 10
7. RTS, RPG, FPS.
8. I was 5 and why not?
9. My mother doesn't have any interest whatsoever in gaming.
10. Read. Watch stuff.
11. Uh. Depends. Not very, unless it is a very good RPG or a very, very compelling RTS.
12. B+, usually, University level.
13. No. I am a student.
14. Yes.
15. Yes. Back when I was very young. Maybe half a dozen times.
16. Escapism.
17. Yes. Every media we consume affects us in various ways.
18. Once the 20h+ mark has been crossed in a week.
19. Yes.
20. Not any more, No.

Now that I have gone through your questionnaire, I have a few pointers:
- Use something like Survey Monkey, free survey tools, and get people to fill those out. Your questions are far too open ended, you will DROWN in results.
- Closed Questions Are Your Friend!
- Some of your questions are not neutral, they are very loaded. Such as the "Unhealthy Obsession" question, it indicates that you believe there is a point at which it IS an unhealthy obsession. You should have worded it differently.

 

[CannibalCorpses]

Male 33

1. Do you consider yourself a member of the gamer subculture?
Yes

2. How many hours of videogames do you play a week?
80-100

3. Do you tend to play videogames by yourself or with friends?
Mostly on my own but i do play with friends when they aren't working...i am currently unemployed

4. How many of your friends play videogames?
All of them

5. Do you play online? How many hours online do you play?
I avoid online gaming like the plague because i hate the cheating and elitism shown by generally equal people.

6. How many hours a week do you spending watching videos/reading about videogames?
0 i have a brain and make my own mind up about what i think i will like or not. I do not take the opinions of people who get paid to tell me things seriously unless it is in regards to broken games...my friends are my source of fresh info.

7. What kinds of videogames do you play?
Pretty much everything except sports games which really infuriate me with poor AI

8. When did you start playing videogames and why?
My dad bought me a commodore 64 when i was about 8 years old and the reason i got into it was because it allowed me to get away from the real world violence i had to suffer daily. Before the computer i read a lot.

9. How do your parents feel about videogames?
They think they are silly yet i answer more crossword questions for them as a result of knowledge gained through gaming than they would ever care to admit.

10. If you have free time and aren't playing videogames what else do you do?
I read a lot or watch current affairs programs...like to keep my eye on the real world since i spend so much time in fantasy land

11. How emotionally involved do you while playing videogames?(online play, amazing story, etc.)
Not very...every now and again i find a game that tugs at my heart strings like Lost oddysey but that happens very rarely.

12. What grades do you get in school/college? (If Applicable)
3 B's (English, English lit, Maths), 3 C's (History, Science double). I failed art and french

13. Do you have a job? How many hours a week do you work?
I am currently unemployed but seeking work

14. Has playing videogames ever negatively affected school/work performance?
Not that i can think of. I've gone to work half asleep from playing games too late into the night but when i was at school it was never an issue.

15. Have you ever skipped work/school to play videogames? How often?
Never skipped school once but i've rung in sick plenty of times at work because i wanted to finish a game off and stayed up so late that 2 hours sleep wouldn't be enough for me to perform my job properly.

16. Why do you play videogames?
It's a distraction from the world i have no power to change. I have always lacked challenge in jobs i have had (other than the challenge of not hitting someone) and some computer games actually challenge my abilities and make me struggle to get better to beat them.

17. Do you think violent videogames affects aggression and violence in its players?
Not at all. I am quite the pacifist in reality except when provoked and then i am a complete bastard. That stems from my childhood far more than my gaming experiences.

18. When do videogames go from being a passionate hobby to an unhealthy obsession?
When you can't stop doing them to do something else. I play games for very long periods of time but if the offer of something else comes along then i usually take it up and go out and be sociable. I think multiplayer gaming is far more unhealthy in that respect as people get far too involved in getting more points, putting more hours in etc and lose sight of the fact that they are damaging themselves. I like highscore boards but it's the rolling totals you get on some games that i find worrying. Keep playing to keep adding more score...it's deliberately addictive and that is not a good thing. Add a pay for aspect to it and you are basically making computer games like crack cocaine.

19. Do you ever see yourself not playing videogames?
Yes definately. The more games i play, the easier they become aswell as games generally getting easier aswell. I'm finding it harder and harder to find a challenge that befits my skills and at some point i'm going to find another way to pass my time that challenges me again. I might take up studying something instead i guess but the trend towards the lowest common denominator within the games industry is alienating me and my peers.

20. What other gaming merchandise do you own? (t-shirts, figurines, posters, etc.)
Nothing. Music comes first with things like t-shirts and posters and my love of fantasy fiction is where all my ornaments are based (dragons and necromancers etc). Computer games are already too expensive so i wont allow myself to feed the greed of those corporate titans anymore than i have to.

One last thing to note that i didn't cover in this that you might find useful. I don't really purchase games anymore and tend to rent or borrow everything i play. This is due to me finishing games in a day and also a massive drop in income.