Why do we play video games?

[Heijoushin]

How are you gentlemen,

 

On a philosophical level, why do we play games?

I’m of the opinion that most of what we do is connected to gaining reproductive advantages (money, sex etc.). It's built into our DNA, right? (Even if some of those instincts are a little outdated.) The only thing on my schedule that seems to contradict this is video games. After all, isn’t WoW famous as a method of retaining one’s virginity?

 

So why do we pour so many hours into video games?

I mean, you can ask this about any hobby, but most other hobbies have other benefits. Sports make you healthier, playing a musical instrument allows you to entertain people, etc. 

 

The world “escapism” is used a lot when talking about this, and I agree that games are relaxing, and help you to zone out and/or live vicariously in a fantasy world. But is that it?

 

I read an interesting article the other day, which stated that most of what we do, including video games, is for 3 invisible needs:

 

The need to feel competent: We want to feel that we’re good at something. In the real world, there’s always someone better, and learning a new skill requires a lot of failure and stumbling along the way. But in a video game world, you can be the best. And especially in RPGs, there’s a distinct feeling of growth and becoming stronger.

 

The need to be autonomous: People love choice and freedom in their games right? That’s why open world games like Skyrim are so popular.

 

The need to be related (or to matter): People want to have fulfilling relationships and to matter to other people. Apparently even NPCs count. I think J-RPGs especially cater to this, since they often put you in the middle of a harem, and heap praise on you from every angle. “Heijoushin-kun, just being near you relaxes me… you’re the only one I can talk to about my troubles <3 ”.

 

What do you guys think?

[rjshae]

Yes, I like video games for the sense of escapism, control, tactical problem solving, sense of accomplishment, and novelty they provide. Especially when the weather is too dreary for outdoor activities, and the TV shows are lame. Books and movies provide some of the same enjoyment factors as games, but you're entirely in the hands of the writer/director.

[algroth]

I like this video about the matter:

 

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

Because they're fun and able to play on your own.

[kirottu]

Well, my wrist starts to hurt if I just **** all the time.

[BrotherFerg]

For me its not just about playing them, I want to know everything about them, I think about video games constantly, more than womyn. They are fun, like board games. I don't feel that I play video games to compensate for my lack of real world success or to achieve anything. Many wealthy people and successful athletes play games. Like board games, just fun. I hate that when critics of video games say gamers are just living in a fantasy world because they can't cope with reality, like some kind of pseudo psychologist. Do i role play and pretend that I'm an elf? Yes. Do I wish I could really be an elf? Yeah i guess i do

Edited April 26, 2017 by BrotherFerg

[Guard Dog]

Heji, you are seriously overthinking this. We play computer games for the same reasons we watch TV shows, read fiction, go to movies. It's just light entertainment.

Edited April 26, 2017 by Guard Dog

[BruceVC]

Heji, you are seriously overthinking this. We play computer games for the same reasons we watch TV shows, read fiction, go to movies. It's just light entertainment.

GB  wouldn't you also agree its because we get access to forums like this where random strangers who dont even live in our own countries help to change and improve our views on politics and SJ issues ?

 

 

[Fenixp]

They won't allow me to shoot people with guns in real life, and joining army or police is no guarantee. And getting a license is just too much hassle y'know.

[Amentep]

They won't allow me to shoot people with guns in real life, and joining army or police is no guarantee. And getting a license is just too much hassle y'know.

 

 

Heji, you are seriously overthinking this. We play computer games for the same reasons we watch TV shows, read fiction, go to movies. It's just light entertainment.

If we want to abstract things to a biological imperative (such as the initial precis that everything is tied to reproductive advantage), I'd argue that enjoying entertainment comes from the fact that ultimately entertainment is a form of narrative storytelling that ties in with our language processing skills. Since communication is a way to impart knowledge without experience ('don't eat those mushrooms, they killed Uncle Grognark!'), there is probably some tie to our language processing centers and a need to gather information for simple survival that is triggered through communication and manifest itself both in a desire to consume stories (real or fictional) and to communicate with other people (widely or narrowly) as communication serves as a way to pass experience on in the face of being born without broad instinctual knowledge.

 

Or, you know, something.

[Gfted1]

What if we are inside a video game right now and something else is using us as the characters?

 

Anywho, I play for the boob physics.

[BruceVC]

What if we are inside a video game right now and something else is using us as the characters?

 

 

 

That would mean your actions and decisions aren't your own, in other words you arent responsible for either what you do or what you think...and that includes the outcome

 

Consider that for a second and think of what it could mean?

[Fenixp]

That would mean your actions and decisions aren't your own, in other words you arent responsible for either what you do or what you think...and that includes the outcome

 

Consider that for a second and think of what it could mean?

I like.

[Guard Dog]

 

Heji, you are seriously overthinking this. We play computer games for the same reasons we watch TV shows, read fiction, go to movies. It's just light entertainment.

GB  wouldn't you also agree its because we get access to forums like this where random strangers who dont even live in our own countries help to change and improve our views on politics and SJ issues ?

 

 

 

Nah, that's just the icing on the cake

[Katphood]

I play video games for the sake of curiosity, adventure, exploration and storytelling.

[Malcador]

Distraction from the ruin that is my everyday life

[Gorth]

What do you guys think?

How do those three points explain Pong?

[Ben No.3]

 

What if we are inside a video game right now and something else is using us as the characters?

 

 

 

That would mean your actions and decisions aren't your own, in other words you arent responsible for either what you do or what you think...and that includes the outcome

 

Consider that for a second and think of what it could mean?

Would it even make a difference? I mean, we couldn't ever know for sure. So would it make a difference?

[BruceVC]

 

 

What if we are inside a video game right now and something else is using us as the characters?

 

 

That would mean your actions and decisions aren't your own, in other words you arent responsible for either what you do or what you think...and that includes the outcome

 

Consider that for a second and think of what it could mean?

Would it even make a difference? I mean, we couldn't ever know for sure. So would it make a difference?

 

It would matter hugely to many people who now could commit any crime or wrongdoing and then claim its " fatalism ". Bennie are you really going to suggest you wouldnt  have some kind of breakdown and break the law ?

 

In WW1 fatalsim became the religion in the trenches due to the appalling and incomprehensible slaughter in the trenches 

 

http://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/life-at-the-front/trench-conditions/faith-and-fatalism/

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/30/fatalist-at-war-first-world-war-diaries-german-soldier-rudolf-binding

[Chilloutman]

I thought this one is simple:

 

Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of the women! (usually your own)

Edited April 28, 2017 by Chilloutman

[redneckdevil]

Lamentations until they find where the fuse box is....

[Ben No.3]

 

 

 

What if we are inside a video game right now and something else is using us as the characters?

 

 

That would mean your actions and decisions aren't your own, in other words you arent responsible for either what you do or what you think...and that includes the outcome

 

Consider that for a second and think of what it could mean?

Would it even make a difference? I mean, we couldn't ever know for sure. So would it make a difference?

It would matter hugely to many people who now could commit any crime or wrongdoing and then claim its " fatalism ". Bennie are you really going to suggest you wouldnt have some kind of breakdown and break the law ?

 

In WW1 fatalsim became the religion in the trenches due to the appalling and incomprehensible slaughter in the trenches

 

http://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/life-at-the-front/trench-conditions/faith-and-fatalism/

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/30/fatalist-at-war-first-world-war-diaries-german-soldier-rudolf-binding

That's... simply wrong.

 

If we DEFINITELY don't live in a videogame, that breakdown will never happen.

 

If we DEFINITELY live in a videogame, that breakdown won't happen either, since we aren't programmed to realise that we do.

 

If we CAN NOT know for certain, it remains all but a philosophical concept, thereby never leading to the breakdown

[Amentep]

You can't even prove you exist (and aren't products of my imagination) much less prove we don't exist and are products of a video game.

(Solipsism FTW!)

[Gromnir]

How are you gentlemen,

 

On a philosophical level, why do we play games?

 

...

 

What do you guys think?

can't speak for others, but prostitutes were getting a bit expensive and a conviction for solicitation mighta' hurt our job prospects.  

 

HA! Good Fun!

[Tigranes]

Because life is mostly a void and filling it with sound and fury has become a practical solution where prostitutes are expensive and a conviction...