Gaming as a personal thing.

[cheese_wizington]

I was playing through Mass Effect 2, doing the

Spoiler: minor mass effect 2 spoilers

Tali Recruitment mission at the part where you talk with Kal Reegar

when my sister and a troop of her friends came in and said they were going to use the TV now to watch a movie. I asked for twenty minutes alone to finish my mission, which became ten. When I asked them that they still wouldn't leave and insisted I just play with them in the room until I was done. Eventually I just turned it off and left, ready to finish it when I was alone later.


Discussion: Do you guys get this way about your games, or is it just me? I just hate people watching what I'm doing especially in a game as personal as Mass Effect.

TLDR; I hate playing games with others in the room, do you?

 

[tippy2k2]

Meh, I have no problem with people watching me while I game. I've never minded and in fact, I tend to do better if I know I have an audience.

I also live alone so if anyone is watching me play, it's because I want them to watch me play (or more likely, we're taking turns in Call of Duty or something).

 

[Phasmal]

Well, my boyfriend sat down and tried to talk to me while I was doing the last romance option with Anders in Dragon Age 2. I was kind of like: `Do you mind? We're having a moment here.`

But seriously, having him in the room doesn't bother me. Having people who don't game themselves around is weird though, especially if it is game heavy on story that I'm actually getting into.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

Hmmm.... depends on who is in the room for me.

If it's someone that I know that plays games then I don't mind, but if it's someone that doesn't then it's just weird for me. With the latter, they will typically make comments on it that are just annoying, especially if I'm trying to concentrate on something.

 

[J-meMalone]

Nope, having people in the room doesn't bother me, in fact sometimes it can make it a real hoot. The most fun I had with Fable 3 was when some mates dropped by unexpectedly and I went around doing EXACTLY as they suggested, twisting their words if I could. It ended with my character having at least 5 children with multiple mothers, then going on a murdering spree through the town because the baby didn't turn out right.

It wouldn't have been nearly as fun if I didn't have my friends and their input.

So no, I can have a GREAT time with people there, even in situations like your own.

 

[JEBWrench]

Doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I've converted more than a couple non-gamers to gamers by letting them into my world.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Depends on the game. If it's something I'm emotionally invested in, like some of my favorite RPGs or anything with a good story mode, then yes, I vastly prefer to be alone. If it's something on the level of a visual novel, I generally try to forget other people exist. The only exceptions I'd make would be people I'm genuinely emotionally open with...haven't had one of those for a while.

For most other games, having an audience is fun. It's generally limited to things like fighting games (non-story mode), FPSs, and rhythm games, but if I have a chance to show off, I will, and I'll thrive under attention.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Depends on the game. Something like Katawa Shoujo... well, let's just say I wouldn't be playing that in the livingroom to begin with. Also, depending on how prudish the people I'm around are, I might not play something like Left 4 Dead 2 in front of them. In both cases, though, it would be to save them discomfort as much or more than to save me discomfort. In general, gaming is more of a social thing to me. Even when I'm playing single player, I don't mind an audience, as long as they don't mind me playing the game. I'm more likely to switch to some sort of a party game if I've got people over, though.

 

[Fleetfiend]

Oh lawd. First time I've seen someone else that has a serious problem with this. The only games that I want to play when other people are in the room are social games, like fighting games, racing games, Mario Party, Castle Crashers, Rockband... etc.

I can't stand there being other people in the room when I play games otherwise. They detract from the experience, and I like to take games seriously. They always seem to either crack jokes at every lame opportunity, point out every tiny flaw and laugh at it, or --worst of all-- be a backseat gamer. I hate backseat gamers. "Reload! You need to reload! OMG look over there get that thing! Talk to that guy! No that guy!!!!""

"...SHUT THE F*** UP."

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

Unless I'm playing a game with mature content (i.e. God of War, Resistance) or an interesting, yet complex, story, I don't really mind letting people watch what I am playing.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

I was playing through Mass Effect 2, doing the

Spoiler: minor mass effect 2 spoilers

Tali Recruitment mission at the part where you talk with Kal Reegar

when my sister and a troop of her friends came in and said they were going to use the TV now to watch a movie. I asked for twenty minutes alone to finish my mission, which became ten. When I asked them that they still wouldn't leave and insisted I just play with them in the room until I was done. Eventually I just turned it off and left, ready to finish it when I was alone later.


Discussion: Do you guys get this way about your games, or is it just me? I just hate people watching what I'm doing especially in a game as personal as Mass Effect.

TLDR; I hate playing games with others in the room, do you?

If I cared about that, I'd hate multiplayer. Honestly, you missed a big chance to recruit some people into gaming.

 

[Zhukov]

I don't mind people watching me play an action-heavy game. In fact, I quietly enjoy the opportunity to show off.

However, I can't stand people watching me play a story focused or cutscene-heavy game. It's hard to explain, but I start to sort of look at it through their eyes and it suddenly strikes me how inevitably terrible the writing and dialogue is.

 

[DustyDrB]

Well, my boyfriend sat down and tried to talk to me while I was doing the last romance option with Anders in Dragon Age 2. I was kind of like: `Do you mind? We're having a moment here.`

But seriously, having him in the room doesn't bother me. Having people who don't game themselves around is weird though, especially if it is game heavy on story that I'm actually getting into.

I think it is more that gaming is something you're going to give your attention to while you're at it. And if someone walks in with no context (or interest) for what is going on then it feels awkward to just ignore them.

At least that's how it is for me.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

Depends upon the audience. I can't really play well with my girlfriend hanging over my shoulder. Were I pressed for a reason why, I'd probably go with something to the effect that my actions seem terribly rude.

 

[Johnson McGee]

If it's something immersive like an RPG I don't really like people looking over my shoulder but I don't really care otherwise.

 

[TheGreatAndPowerfulZOG]

If it's a game like Mass Effect, yes. lol, I can't do it. Any game with a story, actually, I'll get self-conscious about. It's like having someone reading over your shoulder. And you're reading something really geeky. With embarrassingly poor writing. And horrific, uncanny valley illustrations.

Don't get me wrong, I love games. But playing them with other people around, I feel like I have to apologize for and exaplain gamings many quirks.

 

[A Raging Emo]

I know exactly what you mean. The only things I like having in the room when I'm playing are my best friend, and a box of Jaffa Cakes.

However, my entire family and their friends and their friends of friends all insist on coming in to my room and standing and... staring...

 

[Robot Number V]

That....really depends. On a LOT of things. Like, who's watching? What game am I playing? What's the context for them being there? I mean, I usually actually LIKE an audience, but well.....most of my roommates are fine, but one of them gets all weird and passive agressive for reasons I haven't nailed down yet, and playing with him around is annoying because he won't stop commenting on how boring it looks. (I HAVE NO IDEA WHY HE DOES THIS) And one time, we were having a party (of sorts) and I was playing a little Uncharted when the first 2 people showed up. I immediately felt awkward and after about 10 minutes shut off the game, because I felt rude. The people then asked why I did it, because apparently they were enjoying watching me play. So yeah.....It's kind of a mess.

 

[Guffe]

This is the reason I bought a TV (well not the only one but also if two shows are on at the same time etc).
I don't mind people watching when I play a game.