"Growing out" of video games?

[DrunkPickle]

I grew up playing video games. Now I can't seem to get into them. I used to spend days in front of the screen, playing either WoW or Fallout. Now I'm almost 16, and I've just lost interest. At first I though I just needed a brake, but I went on 3 months without playing anything, and the feeling still didn't go away. If it makes any sense, I feel "lonely" when playing games; The thought always strikes me: "Why would I waste time playing, when I could just go out and hang out with friends?". Of course, it's a good thing, but I get the feeling every time; even when it's 4 am and ever normal human being is asleep. I just don't know what to do...Any ideas?

Also, sorry for my English, it's not my native language...

 

[plugav]

Is it really a problem? There's nothing wrong with giving games a break. No matter how long it is, you can always go back to them (technological advancement aside).

If you really need a reason to play, though, I suggest playing with your friends. A lot of current titles support co-op and multiplayer, and even many single player games can be enjoyed with friends, switching at the controls.

 

[kaioshade]

Sometimes, taking a break is good. I had a period where for about an entire year, i did not play games. Did not miss them, just felt like other things. Then i started playing again.

Never question your own feelings.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Growing out of it implies that it's a children's activity. Can you grow out of books or movies? Games are just another medium.

That said, too much playing, just like too much reading or watching movies, gets me burned out on them. It's funny that now that I started college again and not have hours upon hours to spend on gaming, I'm appreciating the games I play a lot more. Before I just took a break for a while, spend more time on something else. When I felt like playing again, I played. Simple as that.

 

[sneakypenguin]

Not really growing out of it so much as I don't have the time to invest in it. I play in under 1hr increments so getting into a game is kind of a pain unless its available to be beaten in 6 hours or so on an off day with nothing to do. An RPG would take me months as I play an hour here 30 min there and I lose track of where I am in the story and just don't care. Thats why multiplayer is so awesome I can jump on a game destroy some fools for 10 min to an hour and be done. Plus single player games are kind of boring to me its like o wow I can beat an AI... its just no fun whereas people are random, challenging and entertaining.

 

[Mouse_Crouse]

Growing out of it implies that it's a children's activity. Can you grow out of books or movies? Games are just another medium.

Pretty much sums up what I came in to say. You can't really 'grow out' of a type of media. You can grow tired of something. But that would be exactly like he said, growing out of reading books.

 

[krazykidd]

I grew up playing video games. Now I can't seem to get into them. I used to spend days in front of the screen, playing either WoW or Fallout. Now I'm almost 16, and I've just lost interest. At first I though I just needed a brake, but I went on 3 months without playing anything, and the feeling still didn't go away. If it makes any sense, I feel "lonely" when playing games; The thought always strikes me: "Why would I waste time playing, when I could just go out and hang out with friends?". Of course, it's a good thing, but I get the feeling every time; even when it's 4 am and ever normal human being is asleep. I just don't know what to do...Any ideas?

Also, sorry for my English, it's not my native language...

Because your not a nerd like i am? I never grew out of video games, then again i don't have any friends . Guess your just too busy with friends and having sex with [ insert your sexual preference here ] to play games . ( this is a good thing, when i was 16 i would have given up games for female physical contact in a heart beat , i didn't get the interest of any girl no matter how hard i tried before 18, guess i'm bitter about that)

 

[LordFisheh]

I grew up playing video games. Now I can't seem to get into them. I used to spend days in front of the screen, playing either WoW or Fallout. Now I'm almost 16, and I've just lost interest. At first I though I just needed a brake, but I went on 3 months without playing anything, and the feeling still didn't go away. If it makes any sense, I feel "lonely" when playing games; The thought always strikes me: "Why would I waste time playing, when I could just go out and hang out with friends?". Of course, it's a good thing, but I get the feeling every time; even when it's 4 am and ever normal human being is asleep. I just don't know what to do...Any ideas?

Also, sorry for my English, it's not my native language...

Because your not a nerd like i am? I never grew out of video games, then again i don't have any friends . Guess your just too busy with friends and having sex with [ insert your sexual preference here ] to play games . ( this is a good thing, when i was 16 i would have given up games for female physical contact in a heart beat , i didn't get the interest of any girl no matter how hard i tried before 18, guess i'm bitter about that)

I'm sorry but no, it's not 'better'. There's no god-given mandate on the best way to spend your time, and anything other than said mandate is a human opinion. If you prefer to stay inside, stay inside. If you want to play games, play them. If you want to go out and socialise, do it.

So if games aren't doing it for you any more, find something else. You don't have a duty to them. If you don't want to go out much, you don't have a duty to do that either. It takes more than a set of opinions and arbitrary values to make one choice 'right' and the rest inferior.

 

[Windcaler]

The answer seems simple to me, if you dont have fun playing them or have something else you would rather do then dont play them or go do that other thing.

I have my doubts that its growing out of them though. Most likely your enjoyments have just changed and theres nothing wrong with that

 

[Matt Dellar]

I "grew out" of video games about the same time I stopped reading books and watching movies. I felt like there were better things I could be doing with my time, but ironically, I started making games, writing stories, and scripting movies.

I genuinely have to force myself to play games, watch movies, or read books, but I know it's important because I find the most fun to be in the process of creating my own stuff, not looking at others' products and wishing I could do something similar.

Media is still entertaining, I just have a nagging feeling that I should be MAKING the next big thing, not watching someone else do it. I suppose I have "grown out" of certain types of media altogether. I'm starting to appreciate the kinds of things my parents do, but as I'm seventeen, my brain isn't matured and won't be for another decade. My tastes will change, and I'm probably gonna be repulsed by the idea of playing something as meaningless as Unreal Tournament 3 (which I currently love, but feel like it's the biggest waste of time of everything I play).

Yes, I'm bad at explaining things.

 

[Savagezion]

Don't look at video games as a substitute for social interaction? There is nothing wrong with taking a break from gaming and no rule that says a quota must be met. If you have no interest in them anymore, then don't play them. But you should try to identify why you don't ever get this feeling when you watch movies, listen to music, or surf the web. These are just things to experience not substitution for social interaction.

 

[Scow2]

I say... good for you if you're struggling to maintain a gaming life because of your social one. Far better than vice-versa.

 

[babinro]

I find the urge to play games comes and goes as it's just a hobby. I'll frequently stop gaming for a month or so every year and just move on to other hobbies. I've had longer gaming lapses that lasted a couple of years, but I eventually came back and enjoyed them as much as I ever did before.

 

[Strain42]

I sort of understand where you're coming from. I've been going through some similar things myself. I used to play games all the time, I loved buying new titles, it was a pretty big part of who I was.

Now...I buy about 5 games a year, and even though I own a PS3, Wii and 360, I think I'm done with consoles after this. Like once all three of those systems stop releasing games, I'm basically out of video games.

I still enjoy handheld games (I'll buy a 3DS and Vita down the line) so those are all I'm going to really follow anymore.

I think it just happens to some people as they grow older. I don't see it as a bad thing.

If anything I see it as a way for me to save a lot of money...

 

[qeinar]

I usually just browse the internet when i'm awake at night. : p I also probably sort of "grew out of games"; I usually never play games unless it's with friends. For instance I am going to be playing bf3, but so is most of my friends..
I rarely play singplayer games, it woul have to be a really good one, and probably not to long. (played a good amount of super meat boy, and recently did bastion)

 

[Matrixbeast]

Can you grow out of books or movies? Games are just another medium.

That's basically what I was going to post.

 

[DustyDrB]

Give it a break if you want. I quit gaming when I was fifteen and didn't start back until I was 19. Then I played KotOR on my friend's Xbox in college, and was pulled back in.

It doesn't mean you're maturing past games. You're just not interested in them. Kind of like how I'm not interested in movies anymore (I've seen one this year, and it was on Netflix).

 

[violent_quiche]

I fall in and out of interest, nothing wrong with it- same goes for tv, film, the intenet, reading etc. Anything done constantly becomes a rut after a while, don't be afraid to keep things fresh. Right now I'm on a Song Of Ice and Fire kick so games are on the backburner, but I'm sure they will make a return when there's something I want to play.