to think video games aren't just for teenage boys?

[KassandraOfSparta]

Why does playing video games have such a poor image/reputation?

Numerous threads on here with posters confidently proclaiming that they wouldn't let their children play games, would never date anyone who plays games, would never dream of gaming themselves.

Why is gaming any less "worthy" than sitting watching sport all evening, or soap operas, or painting watercolours or doing jigsaws? Just another form of entertainment, isn't it?

And before anyone pops up saying it's so addictive, well of course anything taken to excess is a problem, whether you're staying up all night with your crochet, jigsaws or tv boxset.

It's a growing business worth $300billion
Microsoft right now are trying to buy a company known as Activision Blizzard for a cool $70 billion.

The maker of Minecraft, Notch, was paid 2.5billion by Microsoft for Minecraft. Minecraft is now one of the most financially successful games of all time and has over 130 million players every month.

Oh I love a bit of gaming - currently loving Two Point Campus. Stray was amazing, did anyone play it?

Just like @Hugasauras and @ForTheLoveOfSleep I met my husband on WoW when I killed him in Stranglethorn Vale 18 years ago. We both still game, I tend not to PvP these days as my tolerance for knobheads has dwindled, now more into the RPG games. I’ve just replayed Mass Effect with the new Joker romance mod… to many people this probably sounds absolutely tragic but I find myself so absorbed in stories and characters that it actually gets my own creative juices flowing and I’ve written numerous stories and actually published a novel (original work) not inspired by a particular game but just the worlds and narratives in general.

I could sit and watch tv or browse mumsnet, and I do, but gaming gets my brain far more active than those things do.

I dunno. I suppose people don't tend to become obsessed by cross stitch, and that's the perceived difference.

Personally, I can't understand how anyone can watch TV. I can think of nothing more boring. I don't play computer games, but I'd think they were arguably more interesting/constructive than gawping at a box set. Though I suppose someone else might think that playing the cello was boring.

im 36 and i love playing call of duty cold war zombies.
my 3 year old nephew plays halo, he 1 million times better then me and my son comes 1st before any game etc.
its ok to play games etc people forget to be a kid, i went to a soft play with my son and nephew and we was going down the slides and running all over amd i loved it, people need to remember to be a kid!!

Well count me in 😁, I've been gaming since my first computer ZX80 I bought in 1981 and still game on pc, it's brilliant to relax and unwind. When I get lazy I connect up my VR head set, trust me you have to stop playing because you get shattered and to tired to carry on. I sweat like a good one on fitness games and some shooting it's certainly a work out when I can't get out.

Gaming I's not lazy or repetitive as many have mentioned it keeps your reflexes and mind working and with VR it's a bloody good work out. Try VR boxing it's shattering.

While I'm here, any suggestions for games in the same kind of vein as Zelda and Tomb Raider? I've heard Skyrim is good, any thoughts on that - I'm not so keen on graphic violence so what's it like in that sense? Any suggestions welcome (on Switch, Xbox or PC)

Love Skyrim it’s very medical themed, no guns but lots of axes and bows and arrows. Not graphic really, no sex, no really bad language.

I play a few rounds of Among Us most days. I usually crochet iny spare time though and I am very addicted to it.

A USC study came out recently about how adults aged 60 and older who sit for long periods watching TV or other such passive, sedentary behaviors may be at increased risk of developing dementia. They did NOT find the same risk when sitting gaming.

Thanks @KassandraOfSparta - it sounds up my street. I much prefer that kind of combat to the machine gun type (though liked it in tomb raider tbf). I might give Skyrim a go, I need something to tide me over until BOTW2 comes out.

I just finished my last 3* on TPC!

Stray was cute, but short, and kinda annoying at times (I got lost in those apartment buildings a stupid amount of times but I have zero sense of direction)

Another wow player here (in my 40's). Gaming kept me sane during lockdown - I live alone and raiding 2x a week plus some m+ was a nice way to have some human interaction. I've been in the same guild since 2010 with many of the same people and I consider some of them just as good friends as people from 'real life'. I have met some of them in person too.
I'm much more likely to 'lose' 5 hours reading a book than gaming, and I am much less sociable when I'm reading too.

/wave to all the fellow WoW players here! I'm in my 50s. I've played MMORPGs since the first one (Everquest), and I'm currently a guild leader in WoW classic. I'm also a great fan of games that are turn based (Civ IV and V) or have a pause button (Age of Empires 2). Interestingly, Age of Empires 4 is now out and there is so much teaching of history in that game. Cut scenes tell you about things like what actually happened in particular medieval battles, or explain castle design etc.

Agreed with how games now are fantastically creative. To the person asking for recommendations, if you liked Tomb raider, try Horizon zero dawn. I can't use the PS4 controller but particularly enjoyed watching that one for the great story. Skyrim, Red dead redemption and Uncharted series also good (Uncharted is a bit too shoot-em-up for me personally though).

The kids all play too. It was a great family activity (family 5 person WoW instances 😀) and nice to still see the kids online when they are away at Uni.

Like everything, it's all about balance and everything in moderation. But for me, games are are great relaxation and an escape from the daily stress. As long as they don't take over. I also saw the research about dementia, and am not surprised at all as it's an 'active' brain activity rather than passive like watching TV.

I think my eldest has a copy of Horizon Zero Dawn, will stick it on the list. Last one of his I tried was Far Cry and I wasn't too keen.

I dont know when it suddenly became for teenage boys tbh. I’m 34 and growing up always had a games console and equal numbers of boy and girl friends that ‘gamed’. Suddenly its a boy thing? Since when?

Lots of people think it's either a boy thing, or a saddo loser adult man thing. That's also the picture put out by the media, when did you last see a middle aged female character in a TV show playing video games? The marketing and advertising is very masculine.

There are lots of games which have female characters and storylines though.

This view died out in the 00s on everywhere except Mumsnet.

I'm a game dev, so obviously I'm quite pro-game. But even trying to explain that here would be exhausting.

My husband is a gamer. He loved it before we met and he loves it know. When we got our son he moved his gaming session after he went to bed and it stayed that way now when we also have a daughter. He tried to teach me so we can play together but I wasn’t interested.
Rewind five Years later and pandemic starts. During that time I fell in love with table board games. We played at the table, but I always wanted more. Then I discovered steam and board game arena and found out there are lot of my favorite games on those platforma. So now I play Pandemic, Ticket to Ride, Splendor, Azul, Love Letter and many others online when my kids are in bed. And together with my husband.
but I’ll have to learn to play Simms. It seems like something I would likr

It does not help kids to learn how to interact in real life situations
Mine are just into sport and i am delighted

I'm a huge gamer the same as my partner and my two children. We only play when things are done such as work, education and chores. Gaming is a fantastic release and good fun, no one will convince me otherwise.

I may copy this answer and just paste it regularly into most threads…

How wrong you are.

I spent about 7 hours playing COD Warzone with my guy friends on Sunday. I'm not very good, but they don't mind and it was a lot of fun. I've only recently started playing with them but I've known them for a long time.

I usually play games that have a storyline, but Warzone is fun and there's always good banter with the guys. I think they like having a girl playing with them!

Years ago I used to like Civilisation. I got into a game one afternoon and was there hours. DH got really annoyed with me because I burnt dinner

I didn’t play computer games in my twenties until DH convinced me to try Civilisation 2. I actually rang in sick and played 36 hours straight.

I still play Civ5 and Civ6, and a few others on steam, sitting on the sofa while DS or DH play Horizon:Forbidden West or Cyberpunk etc.

In fact, DS “play together” sometimes for a specific game where I make the choices with him, and he only does side quests if I’m not free to join him.

Gaming is a great hobby. As long as it’s not the only hobby and people still get fresh air and exercise it’s a very healthy activity with a lot of scope for creativity.