Why I stopped playing video games

Is it just me or.....

I can say that this NoFap thing does cause many changes to our lifestyle choices that is for sure. For what seems interesting is not so anymore and things that we never thought of doing and experiences we never thought of having become real.

Diablo 3 began a new Seasons last Friday. Just played through it and got really bored and some what "repulsed." So a few minutes ago I uninstalled the game and let it be that.

 

Never realized video games could have such an affect on certain people. I don't play as much as I used to but I can kinda understand what you mean.

 

I stopped too but only because my brother sold my Xbox one lol

 

I don't play video games often but your post opens my eyes. That's true. Game is not our real world.

 

I used to play video games and at times still miss it but I have changed to flying RC airplanes and multi rotors. You should look into it, I think its a healthy alternative, it gets you outside a lot and its a great conversation starter.

 

I can wholeheartedly relate here...I used to be quite addicted to video games as a kid, and looking back, whilst it did help me through times, whilst it did help me make friends, and was initially integral to me...I have now found that at uni, I just don't have time for it. Furthermore, I found more and more that I'd sit there, making an awesome character...only to find I'd put on a few pounds, before needing to scrub my teeth. Not a great image!

When I met a lady who ate through marathons, who could recite Shakespeare at will (no joke), has been to the Himalayas and writes, I initially thought "Well crap, how am I supposed to match that?" Of course, that moment made me realise I'd spent the most part of my life sat at a screen or a laptop, not really achieving anything other than a high score. Had she done the same, she probably wouldn'tve been where she was now. That, and many other moments almost made me think "I've wasted my life so far". PMO and video games? Damn, it's pretty much the stereotype!

All I can say is, is that there's a long way to go, but I've quit gaming, and I'm doing more with my life! I'm getting into running, writing and also ballroom dancing and karate; even without any impetus, I just wouldn't have had the time to do this if I'd spent it all playing video games. It's just amazing realising how much free time you have once you quit.

 

I learnt how to ride a bike after quitting games.I was 19 and could never ride a bike while kids who were 9 and 10 years old were vrooming past me while I was waiting for a crowded bus to come and take me home.

When I finally packed all my cd's and threw them away in the sewage I felt this huge pride where I could do whatever the fuck I wanted without being trapped and it made a man who would face consequences without sitting at home and living an plastic life.

Good to know you quit.There's a whole new world waiting for you.\,,/

 

I think most games can be a good stress reliever and a good way to spend some time relaxing in moderation - a large part of it depends on how a person's schedule looks. If you're working hard all day, improving yourself all the time, never procrastinating etc - then things like TV, video games, etc which might normally seem like time-wasting - could actually be a positive influence, because you've already got all the rest of your priorities managed, and you're just making them a small part of your relaxation process.

On the contrary though most of us do it the other way around. We dedicate our time primarily to those things that don't provide any use and are purely there for entertainment - video games, TV, scrolling Facebook or other social media sites, etc. Then we procrastinate, and don't dedicate enough time to the things that matter, and as a result these seemingly harmless pursuits actually become a negative influence because of how much time they're taking up.

So the key is to prioritise:

Work, self-improvement, health, diet, exercise, socialising etc FIRST.
Recreation should always come second after everything else is done.

Once you've done that, it's also worth looking at the content of the games. Not all games are created equal, some games are designed in such a way as to be addictive/compulsive and get you playing for long hours. Games like Cookie Clicker or Clicker Heroes where literally all you do is click, increase levels, and get upgrades - over and over. The only thing that changes about the game is the items have different names, and your XP goes up faster.

How is it that people can waste so much time in a game where there's seemingly so little going on like that? Well it's simple. Dopamine, that chemical responsible for wiring our habits in, responds to novelty. The first time you play any game, there's some dopamine released, because it's new and exciting. Now with a game like say Clicker Heroes, you click a few times, the monster dies, and now some gold appears. Bam, novelty, dopamine release. Then you spend that gold to do more damage - now you're doing something new, bam, novelty, dopamine release. This cycle continues and since your damage is always increasing, the gold is always increasing, the monsters levels are always increasing, and your upgrades seem flashier and more insane each time - you're constantly being fed novelty at just the right moment to keep your dopamine levels high.

So what effect does this have? Well, it means within just a few hours of playing, you've wired the game into your reward circuits. It's now a habit. You'll walk away from the game to go eat, and you'll be thinking about how much XP your game is getting for you while you're at the table, and how fast you need to get back to it so you can get more. Or perhaps you won't even go eat because you'll be saying "One more kill", and then that novelty kick comes in at just the right moment and convinces you to play for another 30 minutes.

MMORPGs are like a more watered down version of the Clicker Heroes formula. A constant cycle of grinding, getting gold/xp, levelling up, getting new skills and gear, fighting tougher monsters etc - it feeds the novelty cycle just right, and keeps you playing. An MMORPG is by far the lesser of two evils because at least there's a social element to it and there's actually some genuine fun to be had that *doesn't* just come from the dopamine fix, but still, be aware that it doesn't take you actually ingesting a drug for your brain to start building a hard habit around something. The right amount of novelty in the right places is all it takes.

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So I still play video games these days but when I do I try to pick games that involve more thinking and less mindless stat progression. RPGs where the focus is more on story and less on your XP/level for example. Strategy and political or business simulation games etc too are one that I enjoy because they actually require you to do some creative thinking and use your problem-solving skills, and engaging your mind like that is healthy.

 

Hey RealLifeGamer,

I agree that reality is your friend. So much of my time was spent "checking out" from reality and leading a double-life that I had to set a time for how much I played. I have also seen that real life things are much more valuable to me. I enjoy watching the bees that I keep much more than TV.

Solving real problems and being the hero in your own story is more fulfilling than fantasizing about doing something.

Great idea to be a gamer in your life.

 

I like how increasing strenght works in this game. Ya know, you pump some iron, do your workout and shit. You eat some real food, go to sleep to recover. It's grinding. Well but ya know, I kinda like it. Because it is not easy not many people do it. Takes fucking time, but when you finally see the results... shit does feel real good. I mean REAL good when girls tell you things like: 'Wow, when did you get so muscular' or 'Hey Verhart, I didn't realise you have so much muscle' when they see me without shirt. Three years ago I was just bones. 10kg pure muscle later I still have miles to walk, but I'm already in the top 20% when it comes to body. Lifting is the easiest thing you can do to improve your life.

 

I used to play games non stop.
I still consider myself a gamer..

 

I'd recommend playing games that don't involve online interaction for a while, then.
(except if you don't like gaming, that's okay too, it's all a matter of preference)

 

It's amazing how Nofap journey touches many aspects of our general behavior. Yet another proof that we're headed to the right direction. A wise man once said "If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change".. Stay clean!

 

I play video games since I got my first PC years ago, and I think I will probably always will. I do not feel like spending dozens of hours a week on them anymore tho like I used to. I just notice that my desire and fulfillment naturally decreases the more I get involved in real life. I don't even have to try to stop playing now, I just don't want to that much anymore.

People are grinding for hours or even months in games to get that max level and that legendary gear and stuff. Why instead of grinding for that awesome, epic mount not grind in real life for an epic car. Something that is not just pixels on screen!

 

It's up to you what you value, but everything is forgotten. Even your real life "achievements" will be forgotten. Some value working hard (do they?) and some value having fun.

I hope now, you find more time to do what you want.

 

Video games...
I get a nervous breakdown every time I see kids on 9gag defending it.
And arguments varie from "it does not affect you anyhow" all the way to "It actually makes you smarter" and "You learn a lot from there" -facepalm

PS4 destroyed my marriage along with PMO. Brain absorbs everything like a sponge, whether you're aware of it or not and it dictates your behavior. Especially these games nowadays being so fucking awesome.

It's an unhealthy waste of time.
And after you spend so much time playing, reality just gets boring.

It's like pron, seriously.

 

To all these people that have had a bad experience with gaming: I preach Nintendo! :3