Poll: Do you play video games in public?

[KaosuHamoni]

I commute to college Monday-Wednesday, and take my laptop with me every college day. I have been known to crack said laptop out and start playing The Binding of Isaac at the bus stop, the corridor, the classroom... pretty much anywhere. I also take my 360 controller with me, in case I feel like playing anything else, like, oh I don't know, any of the other 70-odd games on my machine.

I FEEL NO SHAME.

I don't use handhelds anymore, but when I did, I had no reservations at all. There is no reason to, because what's the alternative? Be insecure about the things you enjoy?

Yes. That. I'm a rather insecure person you know >.>

Yeah no, I would love to play some Fire Emblem: Awakening on the bus or something but i'm just kind of scared of doing it. I can almost watch an entire episode of an anime series on my phone (at the very back behind the higher seats hunched over hiding it, naturally) but a bus is a loud beast and how could I enjoy Watamote without hearing the truly amazing voice acting for Tomoko?

Baby steps I guess.

Wuss ;]

 

[DEAD34345]

I've chosen "anywhere" on the poll, but I'm assuming common sense restrictions apply. As someone above pointed out, I'm not going to whip out a DS in a funeral, and in practice there's probably a few places I wouldn't want to have video game stuff out for fear of it being robbed. I wouldn't ever care about being judged for it though, which I guess it the main point of the question.

Throughout my time in education I saw plenty of people playing games during breaks, and even now that I'm working there's always at least a few people playing video-games during the lunch break. If I did the same it wouldn't be in any way noteworthy, so I'd have a hard time being embarrassed about it, but even if no-one else played games I doubt I'd let it stop me.

 

[Baron von Blitztank]

It's practically become routine for me. Whenever I take the train to Uni or wherever it is I'm going I'll always end up playing my 3DS the entire time. I'll sometimes play it when I'm done with Uni work and am waiting for the train home but I often just listen to music instead. I get paranoid that I'll lose the stylus or end up dropping it...

 

[Maximum Bert]

I rarely play games on handheld devices I would just much rather read a book or something if I cant game on a big screen. That said I do play on handhelds when I am away from home for long periods but its rarely in public not because im ashamed but just that when I am in public I am usually doing something else and if im not I just enjoy reading more than gaming.

I enjoy games that I can sit down and experience most quick fire games do not appeal to meI suppose I could play a fighter but for those I would much prefer playing on a decent TV with better controls. With books I find it much easier to get into and out of quickly and still feel satisfied.

 

[EmperorZinyak]

I play Civilization V in some of my college classes. The way I see it, don't be ashamed at all of playing video games in public. You're not bothering anyone, and everyone around you probably doesn't even care.

I'm not ashamed at all of being a gamer. I openly talk about it, but not at inappropriate times. E.g when someone asks me what I did this weekend, I'll tell them I played WoW. It's my life, and I'm not letting anyone else dictate my hobbies.

 

[AuronFtw]

I've had a handheld gaming device ever since the first gameboy. I spent my youth on gameboy pocket, gameboy color, GBA, GBA SP, and even DS/DSlite as time went on. I would play it while waiting in doctor's offices, play it in line for rides at disney world, play it in the car while traveling, and play it at night at home. I grew up not caring what people thought about it, so I still do it. If anything, people around me are interested, like "hey what game are you playing." I rarely feel "judged" for doing it in public. Mostly, though, they just ignore it. Interacting with strangers is a huge social faux pas in our modern civilized society. /s

 

[Evil Moo]

I try to minimise the amount of time I spend in public. Playing with a handheld would probably just be inviting people to steal and or destroy it, especially as the games would be distracting me from potential threats. That said, reading would have the same problems.

In principle I would have no issue doing it. In practice, I'd be to paranoid to let my guard down.

 

[The Wykydtron]

I don't use handhelds anymore, but when I did, I had no reservations at all. There is no reason to, because what's the alternative? Be insecure about the things you enjoy?

Yes. That. I'm a rather insecure person you know >.>

Yeah no, I would love to play some Fire Emblem: Awakening on the bus or something but i'm just kind of scared of doing it. I can almost watch an entire episode of an anime series on my phone (at the very back behind the higher seats hunched over hiding it, naturally) but a bus is a loud beast and how could I enjoy Watamote without hearing the truly amazing voice acting for Tomoko?

Baby steps I guess.

Nobody is going to care. If they do, that's their deal, not yours.

Yeah I suppose that's true but I can never shake the feeling that everyone is silently judging me...

I commute to college Monday-Wednesday, and take my laptop with me every college day. I have been known to crack said laptop out and start playing The Binding of Isaac at the bus stop, the corridor, the classroom... pretty much anywhere. I also take my 360 controller with me, in case I feel like playing anything else, like, oh I don't know, any of the other 70-odd games on my machine.

I FEEL NO SHAME.

I don't use handhelds anymore, but when I did, I had no reservations at all. There is no reason to, because what's the alternative? Be insecure about the things you enjoy?

Yes. That. I'm a rather insecure person you know >.>

Yeah no, I would love to play some Fire Emblem: Awakening on the bus or something but i'm just kind of scared of doing it. I can almost watch an entire episode of an anime series on my phone (at the very back behind the higher seats hunched over hiding it, naturally) but a bus is a loud beast and how could I enjoy Watamote without hearing the truly amazing voice acting for Tomoko?

Baby steps I guess.

Wuss ;]

See, scathing, potentially self-confidence breaking remarks (as if I still have any self-confidence left anyway lol) like that Jake are why...

Spoiler: You should know where this is going

THIS IS WHY WE NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE. THE OUTSIDE IS SCARY

[sub][sub]Also you're back to posting on here? The fuck is this, you takin' a break from viciously correcting all the League articles for getting details wrong?[/sub][/sub]

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

I would say Anywhere, but I'm afraid I might be out of context. The only reasons I wouldn't play in public are:
- I'm in a situation where it would be detrimental, like I might not be able to finish in time or not worth firing up E.g: I hate pausing in the middle of races
- Playing would make me sick or otherwise fell unwell I.e: vehicle not moving in a stable manner
- I am in an area where I think there is a chance it might be grabbed off me or otherwise my lack of attention could be a problem, like my bag getting stolen in an airport (unless my legs were resting on it or it was already strapped to me).
- I'm supposed to be at work!

So yeah, that rules out stuff like playing while walking or crossing the road, or if I was responsible for a child or someone's belongings, or similar situations.

It's been a few years since I've played my PSP anyway, the battery has gotten fat and living in Indonesia it's hard to find a replacement without paying double what I should be for it. Galaxy Tab and phone provide enough entertainment for when I'm on the go.

 

[evenest]

I never had a handheld when I commuted on a bus and now, with an almost hour-long commute every morning, I yearn for a bus/train so that I can play my games as I travel to work.

I answered anywhere. For the first year or so of my owning a vita, I was leery about taking it out in public. For some strange reason, I didn't want people to think I was putting on "airs" (odd as that may sound). Now, as I'm waiting in a doctor's office or for a table at a restaurant, I don't mind taking it out. That great "pause" button makes dropping in and out of a game rather easy.

Off topic: I hope those to whom it applies had a peaceful Thanksgiving.

 

[Chester Rabbit]

Nope and as far as my public persona is confirmed the only real video game I have played was Mario when I was a kid at a friends house. Guitar Hero and Rock Band don't count.

 

[Drummodino]

I voted for a handful of places, mostly because I only take my 3DS or Vita when I know I'm going to be waiting around on my own for a while. I don't have a problem with gaming out of home though, I used to do it quite frequently on the train/bus. My commute is quite short now though so I don't bother anymore, I just listen to music.

 

[Hero of Lime]

Anywhere for me! I have no reservations, if someone feels negatively about me playing in public I wouldn't want to deal with them in the first place. I've actually met so many people just by having a DS or 3DS out, and it's fun to have someone strike up a conversation with me about whatever game I'm playing.

I won't play when I'm walking around, as I have a pet peeve about people walking and focusing too much on their phones, and I would hate to be doing the same thing. I wear video game shirts a lot too, so I certainly exude my gaming hobby without reservation anyway. Never once have I gotten a nasty look for it. Most of the time someone just compliments me on my shirt, or asks me about the game I'm playing like I previously mentioned.

 

[Cidward]

I haven't owned a handheld in years, though when I did (in the Dark Ages of Gameboy, to show how long ago that was) I played it in public quite a bit. If I did, I'd think I'd play it in the same way I play games on my cellphone now (while on the light rail, or while waiting in a lobby for something/someone).

I was on an airplane flight recently and spent most of it on my Steam account, playing Civ IV and a bit of FTL. I sometimes do the same when I bring my laptop to a coffee shop for whatever reason, though I don't find myself doing that as often as I did when I was in college. That's the most public gaming I do nowadays, but I've never felt hesitant about it.

 

[Uriel_Hayabusa]

I play on my DSi or 3DS in public quite a bit, usually when I'm at a takeout restaurant waiting for my order, or (less frequently) when I'm on a lenghty train ride.

 

[Godhead]

I'll play FTL or old Infinity Engine games on my laptop when flying, and I usually play Spelunky when I'm in a lecture hall but class hasn't started yet. My Gameboy Advance stopped working and I haven't found any games on google apps that I find particularly compelling, so I guess I'll play games in public if I have my laptop pulled out.

 

[PinkiePyro]

ANYWHERE!
I carry my 3ds everwhere
I get bored easy I will often whip it or my phone out if I do ( my phone games are usually 2048, or family guy quest for stuff)

 

[CaitSeith]

Sometimes I play in the commute. But I'm not the only one. Once or twice the week I see someone with his/her 3DS (usually playing Pokemon)

 

[RedDeadFred]

I've never been into handheld games but if I was, I'd play them in public. Isn't that kind of the point of them? Playing them on the the go.

 

[Kaymish]

the sole point in a handheld or other mobile gaming system be it a phone or whatever is to be able to play games on the move and or otherwise away from your PC (or console if you are a scummy peasant (smiley to denote joke(its hilarious trust me))) so if you have some down time why waste it sitting around with your thumb up your arse when you could be spending it playing games on your handheld device be you in public or not whats the worst that can happen?