Gaming is great. As long as your not using it to avoid responsibility, or using it as an excuse to avoid working on that idea you've been thinking about non stop...but never try. But uh, any new games I should check out for twitch streams?
@@JoshuaFluke1 As a new subscriber, it is exactly why I subscribed. I don't come to RUclips for career advice. I come for the YOU part of RUclips. To get to know the raw emotions, and the background. If you feel comfortable, talking about your past marriage could potentially resonate with a lot of people. I completely understand if you'd rather keep that private though.
I'm the same, I can go without gaming for a good couple of months. But when I come back to it and I enjoy it, I'll an unhealthy amount (4+ hours a day) depending on the game and what I'm doing that day could even reach up to 8-10 hours.
I've been looking for something to enthrall me since the Witcher 3. I've tried tons of games. However, I still can't find anything that I can play for more than 2 or three hours.
i think being a software developer... ruins gaming at another level. because you start thinking about how the game works in the backend... i remember in pokemon going around looking for pokemon to have fun... now i would think whats the % of shinys, % of perfect stats for each pokemon to be competitive etc..... and apply this to any other game. games are probably better now... we are just older.
welcome to ADHD, where dopamine dosent exist for us, most normal humans get desaturated over time until something new comes along or if they stay away for awhile, for ADHD people, nothing can give us a feeling of accomplishment or satisfaction.
Josh, everything you said was the exact realization I had about 10 years ago. I was an avid gamer and WoW player, to me there was NOTHING like WoW. It was an incredible experience. Then I went through an ugly break up. Young, naive love. You think it will last forever, but it doesn't. I graduated with my degree and couldn't find a job, I had a serious injury that I needed rehab for. I could go on about my soap box, but in short life was just shit for a time. As you put it, my fire was lit. I came to the conclusion that NONE of the stuff I was doing in game was tangible or actually meant anything I looked back at other games like Everquest and asked myself "What will happen when WoW dies?" I am spending hours, years even of my life dedicating to this game, but at the end of the day, no one cares on a resume that you reached grand marshal in WoW or have raided the best dungeons in the game and acquired the best gear. All of it resets again with the next patch, expansion, or sequel. I played a human warrior in game at the time. I realized that I could be spending my time going to the gym and leveling my OWN strength up, rather than grinding away at NPCs. I could be making actual money, rather than playing the auction house. I could be creating something, or helping other people. Achieving things that other people can universally recognize and appreciate. I could be learning how to talk to women and exploring new places rather than gawking at it on screen, thinking I was a "nice guy" that nobody understood. I justified that I WAS being social and learning skills. People will find all sorts of excuses to justify their addictions, but then life keeps passing you by and you wake up one morning and realize you're not actually DOING anything for the world. You start to realize that the online world is actually pretty toxic and cynical. So, I quit WoW... To this day I have a sealed, unopened copy of the next expansion I was planning to play, but never ended up installing it. To me, it serves a reminder of the willpower that I dug deep in that moment of my life to break free from my routine and do something else with myself. It was hard, but I treated it, as you did, as life being like a game. Today, many years later, I just finished up my clinical doctorate in the medical field and about to take on a career that helps people in need and makes well above what I had ever saw myself making in life. I never even originally wanted to go to college, I told myself I was going to join the military, because that's all about I was good for. I lift and train at the gym most days of the week and I am in the best shape of my life. Others now even come to me for programs and advice. Dating became much easier once I started focusing on and developing myself. Now I am in a committed relationship (soon to be engaged) to one of the most beautiful and supportive woman, that I had always considered "out of my league". And I have a much better relationship with my family and friends. Don't get my wrong, gaming can be a lot of fun. I still play games from time to time, as you do. My SO will even play with me or watch me (she rocks), just nowhere near how much I used to. And it has been the most life changing decision I ever made. I have even been tempted to pick up the new Classic WoW about to launch next month to relive some of the nostalgia I once had, but then I came across your video here and realized that I don't think I will not. So, thank you for sharing your story and putting yourself out there. You may not think it so, but there is a LOT of wisdom in the words in the words that you are saying here. In a much more profound way that you even realize and I think it will help a lot of people. I wish you the best on your journey and I know that you will continue to grow into the best version of yourself here on RUclips. You've already mastered yourself in ways that many go their entire lives and never truly actualize for themselves. And without a doubt, if you keep the mindset that you have, you will go far and bring a lot of good to the world. You've gained a new supporter and subscriber.
Same for me, I even forced myself into play some video games, but it didn't work, now I have so many ways to use my free time for becoming a better version of myself that gaming isn't even in the schedule anymore.
Video game addiction ruined me in ways I can never take back. Relationship finance and weight/health Getting rid of my systems was the best and hardest decision I made because I know when I’m playing I’m guaranteed happiness. I didn’t once think to go and find happiness myself. My younger days of 12+ hours a day of gaming are over It was a great experience and I had so much fun playing and it will be a memory that won’t go away for the rest of my life. but it’s a great blessing I’m glad to never turn back to ever again in my life.
Same man, my gpu got damaged and I told myself: This is it. I quit and simply don't by a new one. Been 6 months now. I feel so much better and can finally face my daemons that I ignored for so long while gaming, it's hard sometimes but it's worth it, best of luck!
@@Bordsteinpflaster Yeah, I recently read an article about gaming and it's effects. Basically it said that it inhibits learning lessons in real life. For instance (according to the article) let's say you get a bad grade on your exam. Normally, you should feel bad and try harder next time. But when you're into video games, you just forget that feeling of shame/disappointment when you drown it out by playing video games. So you don't actually learn in life. The same principle applies to other things in life. Relationships, financial, emotional issues are not dealt with because you're drowning it out, escaping it with video games. And you inhibit your growth as a person. I also know this because I experienced it myself. When you stop relying on video games as a crutch, you start to take responsibility for all things in your life head-on.
@@muCephei_ sounds interesting and thats exactly what I meant with facing my daemons: taking responsibility for my life and face issues that I'm confronted with. Thanks for the input :)
I dont think video games can be addictive. Sure they can distract, but its more an indication you don't have focus on yourself. As there are no real withdrawals or major side effects. It can be a time waster but not addictive
I regret wasting my life on runescape . I played for 8 years or so on and off during 2004-2012. Those vulnerable years of childhood are crucial to learning skills and knowledge that helps a person become successful later on.
Dude... I almost cried listening to this, everything you said I can relate 1000%. I'm 27, I work for Amazon as delivery driver I make decent money, but.... I don't enjoy games as much anymore. I tend to find myself bullshitting and telling myself this game is good but in reality I want to start my own social media business that I paid for. Reality has been setting in for quite some time now and I know deep down I should be leveling up in real life rather than games. You're right, I don't need to be motivated to do things I just gotta do em and kick my ass knowing that the grind to start my own business will eventually pay off in the long run😞. So I just wanna say, thank you so much for this video I definitely needed a reality major check and this made me sit here and think for a god damn good minute, also to anyone who sees this comment... much love and go out there to achieve your goals & level up in RL cause your higher/better self will thank you in the end, peace:)✌. Lastly, you gotta new sub friend:).
Go for it man! That's about the same age reality started to set in for me. As you start experiencing the world of business, you might change your mind and decide to pursue a different business. That's the way it was for me. It's like being a tiny fish in a fish bowl being released into the open ocean. There's so much to discover in the world. As you start making progress towards your goals you're going to discover what you like and what you don't like. Eventually, when you know what you truly like, you can start designing your life towards that. Just make sure you commit to working on your goals daily, whatever they may be, and take small steps with patience and consistency. There are 4 things that go on my to do list daily. 1) work on my business 2) work (I'm self-employed so I can get away with not working consistently. But I have money goals) 3) personal growth reading and podcast 4) exercising one muscle group. I don't ever take days off on those 4 things unless life forces me to. You won't see huge results quickly, but everything compounds. Just don't do too much at once and burn out. You want to create habits. "You are what you do daily". Think of it like brushing your teeth daily twice a day for a few minutes vs. brushing your teeth just once a year but for 24 hours straight. You brush your teeth daily you're a dude with fresh breath. You brush your teeth once a year, your a smelly dude with no teeth lol. Gamers like to tweak and improve their strategy. Same applies to getting better in real life. Eventually, just like a game, it gets fun to see money collecting in the bank. It gets fun to see muscle growth. It gets fun to meet new people and build new relationships. Or improve your martial arts techniques. You'd be surprised with who you can become once you step away from the games and start tacking the greatest game, real life.
Damn.... I've recently graduated college at 23. I felt really lacking job skills. I felt insecure knowing more of my friends graduated and started their career earlier than i am. I tried to cope with it with gaming. Thank God i found your channel. Been binging on Job seeking videos and now this was a wake up call for me... Really thanks.
@@bang.marcel0 I meant to say that 23 is more like really common to start a career out of college, though more on the younger side. Tons of people take way longer to get through college cause they switch majors. And even once they start their career, they may switch careers or industries several times or decide to go back to school for something else. I've had several classes at my college with dudes in their 30's and 40's.
RUclips is similar to video games. People watch videos to entertain themselves, relax, and escape from reality. Without those kinds of people, a lot of RUclipsrs wouldn't have a career.
i stopped online gaming and returned to single player games ,they are less time consuming ,less frustrating ,less addicting ,more rewarding and most importantly there are alot of incredible experiences to have in the medium same as with movies or shows its just a waste to ignore all of these experiences just to play one online game ,these single player games have really inspired me in so many ways in the past years and helped me get through alot of the BS that im dealing with.
I decided that I will never again, play any games that are competitive, and thus stressful + they need a significant time investment, or grindy leveling loops. I was left with some co-op games that I play with my friends to socialize, indie games that are short and have intriguing new mechanics, and an occasional story game. I still finish every Dark Souls game, but apart from that, I uninstalled Dota 2, cs:go, league, and a bunch of random MMOs that I played on and off for years. Now when I sit down to play, it's a scheduled relaxing time off, and I don't feel any guilt whatsoever.
@@RealTommySal I know right, that feeling when the new From Software game drops and you together with millions of people slowly start chugging through new levels, discussing cheezy enemy placements and traps, and then eventually, the lore. About the only thing in gaming I get truly hyped for.
I only get addicted to story single player games, I don't get the addiction to very repetitive multiplayer games, especially the social aspect, I only like to socialize in person (very little though), if I'm at my computer, I like to be left alone.
I think this: Play the game that make you better in the real life, if the game atack your life, is not good, is hard to know wich one is good for each person cuz everyone are different,but even find this is funny
Hey! I just made the same decision today. Specifically, that I will no longer play MMO, RPG, progression, or esport video games (not that I have recently, but I was SO tempted to get back into them). I LOVE co-op games, especially ones that can be played locally (like Overcooked 2). I even like some simple singleplayer games, so long as they don't take up too much time or energy (I just use them to relax and enjoy some time off after work once in a while). I treat them like playing board games; my gaming session is complete - start clean, finish clean. No fantasy progression, no ego or desire to be revered, and no experiences that can't be shared with people I care about.
@@NickMart1985 there is a different between being unhappy, and being unhappy with where you are. Yes videogames are an escape if you are unhappy, but if the reason you are unhappy is because you have many goals that you need to achieve... sat playing videogames wont get you any closer... and you know this, so the subconcious guilt just sucks the fun out of it.
i agree with this personally, i used to play video games a lot back when i was in school and when doing my first job distributing newspapers at night(got yeeted from uni because some profs refused to grade me, didnt even know they could do that). I was happy to game back then but i didnt really enjoy it. now, i sit here with a full 5-people CNC jobshop in my garage, talking to customers while gaming or screen-sharing fusion360(i love the zoomer generation) on weekends and working 80-hour weeks for a startup where i already own the most expensive CNC machine as a security for my services. now i fully enjoy the 2-3 hours per week i get without customers and feel like i am appreciated and my life is going well at the same time.
I wasted 8 years of my life playing online games. As soon as I got home from work I sat down and played and didn't quit until I went to bed at 12 o'clock and kept it for 8 years. It wasn't until I had problems with my back and joints that I stopped playing and started focusing on my other interests. I feel depressed when I think back on all the years that went by so quickly and were just wasted on online games. Now I can play for a few hours every now and then but nothing more than that. I am a much happier person now.
As a game developer, I find this video has great insights on why people stop playing games. At the end of the day, real life is actually the most engaging and rewarding game.
I really miss the years I would hang out with roommates playing games locally. Online games are fun, but local play with friends was always something special. I remember when Halo 2 came out and all of my local Halo buddies just wanted to play online. That was pretty much the end of an era for me.
@@MrEvan1932 Thank you for writing that. I used to play LoL both as amazing social activity and as addictive shit I should have abandoned. I had entire team of 5 people including my 2 best fellows, girlfriend of one of them and my brother. We were neighbors. It was amazing, because if there was no possibility to hang out somewhere, someone needed to stay home, was ill or it was raining, we played all together. That time passed. Different terms of exams split us apart and for some reason I continued to play the game. It wasn't fun. I remember I stayed online in lobby, programming meanwhile and waiting for one, one more opportunity to play together. There were also dark periods in my time when I grinded trying to climb up in rank hoping it will help me. Hopefully I did realize that's nonsense and stopped this bullshit. But thank you I think too many people forget about this reason of gaming.
'Where did all the good games go?' - that's exactly my feelings whenever I browse for new gaming content, be it Steam or elsewhere. Your in-depth exploration of WHY that happens was awesome & insightful.
I was an gaming addict (still am) and avoided outings and friends all throughout my highschool and degree college.. now since I'm working, and don't get time to play more, I've gotten to see how others have improved in other aspects of life and I didn't.. damn I'm not even good at video games.. still .. seeing I'm not the only one fighting this battle has given me strength that I should be improving myself instead of a character on the screen. Thanks man.. your video helped gain perspective.
Yeah that's how you know adults in your life were complete trash sorry my parents included...i'd never let my son play games i know what to make him learn...
@@okbriel should be fine as long as it's not the game the type of game they normally play; still its prob better to do smth else Obv dont do it if the person in question is trying to take an extended break from games
@@curiousgeorge6921 you cant have full control over your child's life, that would be counterproductive; at a certain point you can only hope you they learned the right things from you My point is it's not right to assume this guy's parents were the ones at fault; they might have tried their best to intervene but couldnt or the guy hid his addiction well from them
@@curiousgeorge6921 why would you assume that? TBH i had a pretty bad breakup scenario in high school and I went total suicidal.. the only thing which kept me going were my games and my parents noticed that.. parents always think for good of their children, keep that in mind. I've got their support even today, though I'm not a good party goer, social freak I admit I've got the best adults in my life.
Be careful with content consumption as well. It makes it harder to learn with those going on in the background. Also makes it a lot harder to focus, as your attention will be diverted any time anything interesting happens.
@Gunner Walk It states that heavy-duty multitasking can take a toll on you, not listening to music while drawing. Learn to read your papers before you smugly show them off as your "evidence."
I’m a little older than most of you guys and I’ve had the opposite happen. I was a video game junkie until my early 20’s, then through much of my 20’s and 30’s I dedicated most of my life to work, friends, women, the gym and “Experiencing life”. I ended up coming full circle and returning to gaming, finding out that video games make me a lot happier than the other things that I was pursuing. Gaming and music have saved my life more times than I care to remember. I understand this is probably not the norm, but I’m more at peace on my own, and I realize now that’s always been the way. It’s all about the journey of discovering yourself.
Same but I'm younger than you. The moment I bought myself a decent rig and played games, I really understood how much gaming as a hobby was important to me. But I find it difficult to make time for it.
100%! I started working at 12 years old + my parents are divorced so I had to be the man for my mother. I'm 30 now and i'm back 2 gaming. Did the family/friend/gym thing to and I still do. Friends are all online and gym is at home.
@@halometroid enjoy yourself man. You don't owe anyone anything. And I think it's bad that you had to be "the man" for your mother, who should be taking care of you and making sure you had a childhood
this was huge dude. Gaming really has taken control of my life and just recently can I see myself sort of coming out of that addiction. Its better to get out of it know and level up IRL than stay stuck where I currently am and just waste time on something that really doesnt matter. Games are just a form of entertainment, and they should be treated that way.... not a lifestyle
Used to play WoW fulltime ( PvP boosts etc. ), then I realised that it wont get me anywhere long term. Started self-learning coding, eventually quit WoW and games in general, and got my DEV job. WoW PvP thought me how to stay competitive in anything you do in life, probably the most valuable thing I learned from it. It has helped me to grow super fast in my 2 years DEV career.
I love how real you are in all your videos. As a 20 year old aspiring developer hearing from someone that has went through some of the struggles I deal with (in this case playing too much video games). Really has helped me narrow down how to better myself and my future. Thank you for all that you do for us and the community!
I stopped for the same reason. My reasoning was to enhance my knowledge of linux, coding and computer security. I figured the same as you. If you can figure out how to master a game, why not spend that time mastering a programming language that will provide you with continual benefit. The ultimate video game.
@@InnerAnimateeverything in life if done excessively is bad. One can drown from too much water. Yet you need a certain amount to sustain yourself. Maybe you just need to keep yourself away from video games due to you addictive personality. 16 year old recently won $3 million in a Fortnite tournament, your going to tell me he is stupid. Lol gtfo.
I get you bro. I was also working a shitty job and the only thing that kept me happy was playing Rainbow six all Friday night, all Saturday morning and Saturday night again, and lately also Sundays and a couple of weekdays. The problem is Rainbow is a competitive game, so I got really into it, now only I would spend 25-30 hours a week gaming, I would spend a few more hours a week watching tutorials, gameplays, streamings, and I would never get Rainbow out of my head. I was thinking how to be better all the time and I wouldn't do anything else. So last summer I decided to sell my Xbox, I quit my job and I went on vacation. Since then I've been learning languages, be more physically active and read more books. Best decision I've ever made, because I have more time and money. I have great memories playing rainbow with my friends on rainy weekends for hours, and I'm always going to remember that part of my life as extremely happy, and sometimes I feel tempted to use my credit to get another Xbox and a rainbow six game and start again, my friends have invited over a couple of times, but I hope I won't do that. Even though I want to go back, I know I will be better off If I don't and I use my mind in things that are really important.
you need to find something to replace the time you spent gaming with. Learn a language, READ, start a company. Draw? Learn and instrument. Find something you like. Where the action is rewarding not the benefit.
Fucking preach man. Josh, this is literally the truth of gaming in your early 20's, at this point, the meta of game design is all understood, no surprises, no new mechanics. It's all just gaming. Every genre is played out, and I'm thankful that they exist but you seriously hit the nail on the head when you said that you were using it as a habit to avoid the passion projects you truly internally wanted to start. To anyone watching this with and grimacing, maybe you just haven't reached that point, or maybe you've been more disciplined in your usage, but all of these points hit the nail right on the head. Went into this video skeptical, but man, this really is the truth.
I definitely agree gaming has a got in the way of a lot of things for me because it’s really easy to do rather then brainstorming or being stuck making something. In fact I was playing Blood Dragon as a way to avoid editing as I can’t think of an intro to design for my videos As I decided to restart my channel going into narration as a side hobby. And then bam - this video appears. I’ve been personally attacked.
Appreciate your honesty around gaming. It’s a hell of a thing to recognize how gaming was stealing your time. I’ve had nearly every gaming system since the Atari 2600 and can relate. I started taking up hobbies and getting in shape. Yes, I still game. But, now, I enjoy spending more time doing meaningful things. Good vid.
I had to give up gaming too. As an international student I gotta do my best at everything to get sponsored. High key sucks but bosses hate the system as much as I do. So I'm just trying to max out my full potential. I honestly have no idea what I'm doing at this point but all I know is hard work and strategy. Hard work at my projects and at my job as a .net developer for the school since I'm not allowed to work anywhere else... you motivate me man. Thank you. I'm going to make it big. I promise.
Very eye opening...very applicable to my life right now. I don’t have a drinking or drug problem, but I do have a tendency to plug in to a game as a form of procrastination, or to run away from a problem. Something I’m realizing I need to change now. Thanks for this.
When I quit games one of the most amazing things about it is that I suddenly realized I had plenty of time to do and accomplish anything I want. Not to mention being able to get enough sleep at nights.
If uve lost ur legs and love swimming and sight seeing the world and talking to cool calm life experienced grown ups u can continue enjoying ur life this way and even to invite ur in life real friends ect #b more likable sociable skills
I love how he's always like "Yeah, I know the people in the comments are gonna complain about what I'm saying", but then when you jump to the comments everyone's being positive and understanding.
I might have been addicted to MMOs and RPGs forever. My wake up call was learning how the "sausage" is made. Writing code on teams with other people gave me the insight to single out symptoms of a software product that would indicate the problems people had creating it. Almost as if, by playing the game they made, I could picture those guys low on sleep, ignoring each other, or getting harrassed by their bosses to do something specific. When I have that sort of imagery, a game's absorption factor on me isn't so powerful anymore. (Extra) Recently, the malpractice seen in the game publishing industry has drawn my attention more than the games, themselves. Big publishers are now known for buying and killing small franchises thinking they're going to hit the lottery with a single character design, treating customers like sheep, bribing reviewers, and generally stunting the growth of every other publisher they can. And now that they've come in to the world of social media, they eat up opportunities for indie titles to get recognized. Just look at E3: it used to be a medium for consumers to see something completely new. Now it's only another announcement board for clones and sequels by Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, etc. It's like playing a lousy game just to find something worth it these days.
Y'all... Not throwing shade here but, if people are quitting their lifelong hobby because it's keeping you from doing what you want to be doing. The hobby is not the problem. The void that video games fills will be replaced with something else. It can be replaced with something just as problematic just with less social stigma. I.E. You can quit gaming and become a workaholic and spend 16 hours a day working. Same underlying problem, yet one is seen as good and one is seen as bad. The key isn't quitting the thing you like doing as though it's an addiction. The key is understanding WHY you want to play games. Understanding yourself is where real growth is. The other key is recognizing how fucked up our society is that the first thing we say is "you should quit your gaming addiction" instead of "maybe its time to talk to a therapist".
Yeah true. I am feel that i am addicted by dopamine and need therapy i guess but live here in Russia too hard find any competent specialists in that way
@@vinyvinycocopuffpassittomenow yeah you should. I'm a computer science student because of my parents. If only I had the freedom, I would choose any art courses or architecture. And I feel alienated in my course. Very very very very few Computer Science students and Software Engineers are into visual arts. Most prefer to be musicians, going to the gym, drinking. Makes me wonder if it's really hard for most hardcore programmers to try out doing visual arts.
You hit the nail on the head on so many points. I've played games most of my life, then in my 20's I quit playing for about 10 years because I LOOOVED video games too much and it was ruining my life. Last year I started playing again. I got into it HARD. Attempted to play every mobile game, every pc game, tried Wticher then deleted it after a few days. After a year of trying different games, I started feeling very different about games. I think starting 2:19 describes it best. But there's more. When you're younger, you're more impressionable. What is presented within the game seems legitimately exciting, like your progressing, give you a sense of ownership of something you can't have in real life. These are some factors that make games fun. But then you realize that this is all false and fake. Yes it's giving you a false sense of progression and you're letting yourself get "fooled". When you starting connecting with real life more instead of living in a world you immersed yourself in, you start to notice the contrast in life and video games. It's just not MEANINGFUL anymore. So for the past few weeks, I've been trying to find that game (because I still like games) that can actually benefit me and satisfy me. I honestly feel that there's none. I know there's some games with great storyline but it seems like a waste of time to me to spend immense amount of time to enjoy a fictional story. So.... now I just play for amusement for brief periods throughout the week. After playing for a bit I realize it's not really going anywhere. I hope many people realize what Joshua said in this video is very sensible. But for some, they may not realize that until you live that game life themselves and when you get older you start to realize and see the big picture.
I tend to find that videos about game addiction are usually related to online games. This is why I prefer offline single player games: no deadline to play them, no rush to beat. They'll be there once my important life duties are taken care of.
@@tombeastie6222 This, moderation for me turns into "let me play for a bit longer..." I either need to quit or I get stuck playing video games instead of real life. Even for singleplayer video games, I love my modded minecraft world and it takes 700 hours to beat it. Next one I do will take 2000+ hours
I hear you. I was in a similar situation. I used mine for an escape from my real life reality and I would neglect my real life needs. I'm trying to do better now, and one of those ways to do is to not spend so much time on video games. I miss them a little from time to time, but I'm just so busy now, that I can't see how I had time to play before.
*_Gaming_* is a tool for you. Use it to de-stress, use it to have fun. It's a slippery slope though because games were made to be addicting. The more you play World of warcraft the more money they make. So when you're playing 4-5 hours a day, they're using you as a tool to make money.
Life Progress - ideas for a better life TV u honestly think even though games made me happy I wish I never played. I will never let my kids play video games just because of what I know
not sure how they make more money if you play more WoW, it's subscription based. You could buy a year subscription and not play and they still make money.
Getting terminated from work is an eye opener, especally during Covid. I have been a gamer since I was 5. But being almost 30 I realize I could have spent my time learning more skills or enjoying life. Now I still enjoy games, I just feel like I have not accomplished much. I am going to use this time to learn a new skill for IT work and maybe get IT certs.
Honestly, if you got extra time after everything is done it doesn't really matter what you do for a hobby. Key thing is getting all your shit done first, whatever hobbies follow is irrelevant. Staying focused on goals/work or school and using gaming as a reward is a good thing, playing video games or another hobby before getting said stuff done is bad M'kay.
I can totally relate to this subject. I have played so many hours hanging out with my mates playing games and still do hang out with them on Team-Speak but I burnt myself out playing constantly to the point where I was no longer enjoying the A+++ games I had waited years to play anymore. I feel I have seen it all and being a developer understand the improvements but still selfishly expect them to produce more technology improvements rather than just enjoying the actual content of the game.
No one ever laid on their deathbed and said “damn, I wish I’d played more video games” I stopped because I realised I’ve only got one life, and for me video games were the biggest time waster of all time
I started setting goals, such as yearly goals (e.g. "learn how to setup a file server", or "pass the CompTIA Security+ test", etc.). I allowed myself to play games as long as I made significant and tangible progress towards completing my yearly or monthly objectives. I, too, realized gaming was taking up too much of my time and distracting me from self-improvement.
Thanks Josh! Never heard anyone speaking about gaming with a deep understanding of the practice by itself, as you did. I am a gaming enthusiast, and am always looking after opportunities to dive into this industry as a developer/game designer. And I must say that you have the most mature view of the practice I've ever heard of. And this is also a misconception most people make about it, which makes me sad. Games can play a role as absolutely any drug or chemical substance found anywhere: you can measure your doses for reasonable/personal purposes and still maintain a healthy lifestyle. But exagerate the doses, and it becomes to turn into an addiction. As always, balance seems to be the sweet spot for anything. Please, keep posting videos as this one :)
You seem like a great guy, take it easy on yourself....theres time. Nothing wrong with pushing hard, but remember to take time to like yourself as well my dude
gaming is what made me like coding (i started it by writing bots for WoW lol), to create websites, which lead me to make my own IT company, and now i have 50 employees, and we create websites and video games in unreal engine. thanks, gaming!
I’m the same way... I wonder why I’m quick to think of something on my keyboard but not in real life. I’m in the process of quitting MMOs, they were great and helped me get out of depression but it’s holding me back irl. Good for you
Thanks for the advise! Gaming has been a big setback in my life, specially when dealing with ADD. I enjoy gaming, and I’ve stopped gaming before, but I feel that I must stop again to accomplish my goals
I completely agree. The learning curve to play a new video game is just too much of a bother. I think that is one of the reasons watching gameplay videos is a thing. It's much more easier to watch someone play a game for a while, than actually learn to play yourself. Maybe in the future professional players will be standard, and people will just tune in to watch them play.
This is really weird seeing this video now. Only because, about 2 weeks ago I decided I was dropping my video gaming to a drastic level. It WAS ruining my life. All I wanted to do was gear up and progress my character and that's all I cared about on days off and after work hours. That's really ridiculous, I thought. Now, it's been weeks and I've regained control of my life and I haven't logged in that gaming platform in weeks now. I feel free. I'm now learning about a new programming language and attending classes for Cloud Computing. I feel WAY better about myself and I finally have my vision back and I know where I need to be in real life. I no longer think about what monster I need to kill or what quests I need to do for x-gear. I wasted YEARS of my life in this digital world and now I'm finally free from the addiction. Thanks for the video, as it's really a confirmation of a struggle that other people don't see, beyond drugs, for example. Gaming addiction sucks too and is pretty rough on life if you let it be.
I’ve found myself using video games as like a escape from reality in a bad way though to where I was playing for so many hours and not getting anything done...not being the parent I should have been...then I sold my PS4...life then improved lol I refuse to buy another one until I get where I need to be in life
@Anthony Mercado I just sold my PlayStation a few days ago and ever since I've been getting a lot of stuff done to the point of I'm doing things I never do because of gaming. I'm in a better mood. I also picked up more hours at work. Spending more time with my dog, working out more, reading and I still have plenty of time do things .
As much as I love video games, they are just the biggest time sink and waste of time ever if you let them. The only time it isn't is when you are already self-actualized, and most people don't reach that until they are like 35+.
I still game a lot, but I now avoid all MMO games. Its just too hard to walk away because you can't just save your progress and come back later. Also, if you don't play regularly your skills deteriorate. I don't have the time to burn and it's just not fun.
This video is spot on. You get the illusion of progression all the while avoiding responsibilities, putting off passions. Sure, its great to enjoy once in a while, only an escape. Thank you confirming all along. During college I played zero video games. As soon as I picked them up I was hampered. I still enjoy but need to set limits.
So much shit happening in my life, these videos just makes me want to cry, but in a way that I'm breaking down who a I was and becoming a better person.
Hey Josh I've been playing games all my life and am currently 29. Like you I was borderline an addict until company I work for started laying people off including all my close friends that used to work there. I was so stressed and scared I needed to do something different. Starting 2019 I began coding and it was very challenging because I was trying to teach myself without any formal education or enrolling in boot camps. I've almost quit several times because I would loose motivation but every time that happened I would turn on youtube and watched your videos for inspiration. I am proud to say I finally got a job offer as a software dev and I put in a letter of resignation to the company that I've been working for for the past 5 years. Thank you and keep up the great work!
Problem is that I can wait until after all my responsibilities are taken care of, but by then it's late at night and I'm tired and should probably just go to bed OR if there's enough time before bed there is something else I rather do that's a little more productive and less...mind-numbing...like coding or reading.
Same,videogames are a culprit of my life now,i dont have friends nor online friends.Videogames are the main source of fun for me and i cant escape them
Gaming is no different than watching youtube, netflix or social media. The main thing is entertainment. If you control it and spend reasonable amount of time then it would never hurt. And your brain needs some relax time as well. I realzied with time its very important to have proper entertainment. This 1-2hr gaming per day make me more happy and productive person as my brain has time to chill between work and studies
I think there is a difference between playing for fun, and playing to kill time/escape responsibilities. I picked up playing guitar, and writing a screenplay for me and my friends, and I don't really have time to play games as much as I used to. I play guitar for around two hours on week days, and an unknown amount on weekends. I also try to spend at least an hour of screen writing a day at least, and add onto that the time I spend working out or biking around, and I only have two or three hours left in the day to do stuff. usually I spend an hour watching TV with my family, or I go for a walk with them, and then I have a couple hours for gaming.
Fantastic video man, too many people get sucked into video games and go the down the rabbit hole of trying to be the best at it while compromising their relationships, health, well-being. When I was finishing up college League of Legends was that game for me. I used to pull all-nighters and go into work exhausted but I was okay with that at the time because I was so into the game. As I got older and saw the ramifications of my actions, I learned to have a healthier relationship with video games and focus on what really matters in life.
I stopped gaming awhile to do photography. Though I found I was missing a outlet. My work is kinda mindless. It pays well and it's a great job but it's all muscle memory for me. Games provided me a place to focus on make me use my mind. Though I play mostly strategy games for that reason. I still don't really touch action games or mindless shooters. I have a feeling as photography kicks up I'll change to a MacBook pro and stop gaming :-/
Anthony Stebbins how’s photography if I may ask? I used to do photography myself, and always impressed with people who can actually get paid while enjoying it. Hope that’s you m8.
MMORPGs are the kind of game which needs high investment on time, yet very rewarding once you go rambo dominating the PVP. It is either you go "Pay 2 Win" or "Give your Time Grinding to Win". Nothing more, nothing less. There are games that no longer needs high investment on time, such as round games. These are the types of games we should be playing especially if we are now in the CRUCIAL PART OF OUR LIFE whereas we are in our career growth, building a family, bills and taxes. I have this dillemma of being addicted to spending in games and i found it very rewarding. I hope I can quit games just like you do, thanks for sharing. Just as you said, i think being a gamer will no longer be removed in my life, I just need to select/filter the games I need to play and avoid those MMORPG traps.
what you say are part of the game ,but for me ,I want a amazing story ,I want immersive, things real life can't provide , but James Cameron or Andrzej Sapkowski can
Thanks for your insight! This video really got me to overcome my anger and disappointment of wasted time playing video games instead of focusing on social life and college. Slowly rebuilding my life now and getting back at my bachelor's degree in civil engineering. Keep up with your contents, it's really not only insightful but life changing.
i miss the feeling of playing a game and having fun. I have a large library of games, yet when I try to play them now, no games can ever really capture my attention like it did when I was younger.
Thank you for the video and covering gaming and life. I'm currently realizing that I've been gaming hard to avoid real life, and need to put it down to level myself IRL. This video helped me to realize what I need to do. Thanks again.
quit mid cata, came back for mop.. quit late mop, came back for mid wod... quit late wod, came back for late legion... quit this May but I'm sure it's only a matter of time
The sense of progression you get from WoW is so addicting ... I haven't enjoyed these last couple of expansions that much yet I still come back every few months. I had to really force myself to not use last week's 3 free days because I know I'll get addicted again
I'm half way to the end of this video and I agree almost 100%, I don't really quit videogames at all but... these days I feel I'm trapped in a routine life+studying, even on weekends, I don't have anything else to do or maybe nothing fills me, It's why I try to play online games like ESO to have a sense of progression, I can play more than like 1-2 hrs PER WEEK, but at the same time, I feel that progression means nothing to me, that won't make me a better engineer or developer at all, it's just wasted time.. on the other hand sometimes I feel I need to distract myself and relax, unplug.. but doing something useful, I always try to do useful things, valuable things, maybe there is a balance between useful and enjoyable things.. I should keep searching, thanks for sharing your story. ALSO, I don't watch tv or any series at all. Keep going....
I feel the same way. Music: Love 90s and 00s hip hop, rap, grunge, alternative rock, underground music. Now I either like few artists music and passionately dislike many.
OMG this and whenever I fire up a game this voice in the back of my head is like "Do you REALLY need to get lost in this game for 5+ hours or are there some things on your TO DO list that could get crossed off?"
Yes, very true. There was a time when I use to play Counter-Strike for 6hr in a day. I avoided all responsibility and my life completely went downhill. I was depressed that I did not do any work and to avoid this I went back to the Games. But very soon I had a reality check. I did not play CS for 2 years now, I still play games but only on weekends will my old friends.
To be honest I love games and what I would love to do is making games, but all I know to code is websites and instead of starting to learn how to make games I just play them and then feel guilty, I want to change this but I don't want to stop playing either :/
Great video man, I can relate to this so much. Being stuck in a loop really sucks and the worst part is you dont even realize it because you're comfortable. That fire that he's talking about? When you just kick it into gear and start knocking stuff out and things start falling into place? That is the most satisfying progression loop you can get in life. These days I still enjoy videogames... like A LOT. But really only because I feel like my real life has progressed far enough to be comfortable playing them again.
I've played games pretty much my entire life. However I've noticed that I'm at the stage of life and goals where I have to either choose between: 1. Play games 2. Study python, or any other skill/project that will improve my life, spend time with my daughter, or make sure I'm doing my job correctly and at a high level. It's all about opportunity cost, and there's too many other things that I need to spend time on now. Also, I can confidently state that gaming likely resulted in a point lower GPA in college than it could have been. I have finite amounts of time, and I need to be careful what I spend it on. I still play games, but the amount of time spent is GREATLY reduced compared to years past as I have (literally) more important things I need to do with that time.
I think the other thing that has changed is games were a few minutes, then a few hours, and now they can be 100+ hours. As an adult its hard to commit that much time to a game.
Gaming is great. As long as your not using it to avoid responsibility, or using it as an excuse to avoid working on that idea you've been thinking about non stop...but never try.
But uh, any new games I should check out for twitch streams?
S.T.A.L.K.E.R
Warframe
ring of elysium
escape from tarkov
@@alvanprathama375 He is going to become unemployed if he plays this
Your channel is slowly becoming more about the WAY of life rather than just development. It's a good direction IMO
It's always been the true passion
@@JoshuaFluke1 As a new subscriber, it is exactly why I subscribed. I don't come to RUclips for career advice. I come for the YOU part of RUclips. To get to know the raw emotions, and the background. If you feel comfortable, talking about your past marriage could potentially resonate with a lot of people. I completely understand if you'd rather keep that private though.
@@VictoriaMorganawesometori I'm an open book just trying to showcase if I make it or not.
I love his content. So so goooood!
true, I am doing CS degree and watching his videos is giving me valuable life lessons and perspectives
The irony of this video is that I feel like I use youtube for escapism and relaxation.
same, we should be careful of not doing this whit youtube
I think this is true for almost everyone in the comments.
The difference is that you actually learn alot more from RUclips then gaming.
That’s not necessarily a negative thing as long as you keep it in balance .
@Beau its still better than playing video games. And ofcourse most videos are a waste of time, but you can still learn something from certain videos
Gaming is feast or famine for me. I can go months without gaming at all and then if I get a good game, play the shit out of it for a few weeks.
Me too
Yes. Someone that speaks my language.
Good to know I'm not the only one
I'm the same, I can go without gaming for a good couple of months. But when I come back to it and I enjoy it, I'll an unhealthy amount (4+ hours a day) depending on the game and what I'm doing that day could even reach up to 8-10 hours.
I've been looking for something to enthrall me since the Witcher 3. I've tried tons of games. However, I still can't find anything that I can play for more than 2 or three hours.
I have never related to a video like this. Thank you for this insight
yup
Same here
i think being a software developer... ruins gaming at another level.
because you start thinking about how the game works in the backend...
i remember in pokemon going around looking for pokemon to have fun... now i would think whats the % of shinys, % of perfect stats for each pokemon to be competitive etc.....
and apply this to any other game.
games are probably better now... we are just older.
Real shit bro. I can't even find the enjoyment anymore. I feel like i could actually be doing something productive.
Same
I love being productive more than shitting myself
yeah, me too. but it's kinda sad, isn't it?
@@philipefernandino9180 Yeah, but at least I also play TCGs
Same here.
welcome to ADHD, where dopamine dosent exist for us, most normal humans get desaturated over time until something new comes along or if they stay away for awhile, for ADHD people, nothing can give us a feeling of accomplishment or satisfaction.
Josh, everything you said was the exact realization I had about 10 years ago. I was an avid gamer and WoW player, to me there was NOTHING like WoW. It was an incredible experience. Then I went through an ugly break up. Young, naive love. You think it will last forever, but it doesn't. I graduated with my degree and couldn't find a job, I had a serious injury that I needed rehab for. I could go on about my soap box, but in short life was just shit for a time. As you put it, my fire was lit. I came to the conclusion that NONE of the stuff I was doing in game was tangible or actually meant anything I looked back at other games like Everquest and asked myself "What will happen when WoW dies?" I am spending hours, years even of my life dedicating to this game, but at the end of the day, no one cares on a resume that you reached grand marshal in WoW or have raided the best dungeons in the game and acquired the best gear. All of it resets again with the next patch, expansion, or sequel. I played a human warrior in game at the time. I realized that I could be spending my time going to the gym and leveling my OWN strength up, rather than grinding away at NPCs. I could be making actual money, rather than playing the auction house. I could be creating something, or helping other people. Achieving things that other people can universally recognize and appreciate. I could be learning how to talk to women and exploring new places rather than gawking at it on screen, thinking I was a "nice guy" that nobody understood. I justified that I WAS being social and learning skills. People will find all sorts of excuses to justify their addictions, but then life keeps passing you by and you wake up one morning and realize you're not actually DOING anything for the world. You start to realize that the online world is actually pretty toxic and cynical.
So, I quit WoW... To this day I have a sealed, unopened copy of the next expansion I was planning to play, but never ended up installing it. To me, it serves a reminder of the willpower that I dug deep in that moment of my life to break free from my routine and do something else with myself. It was hard, but I treated it, as you did, as life being like a game. Today, many years later, I just finished up my clinical doctorate in the medical field and about to take on a career that helps people in need and makes well above what I had ever saw myself making in life. I never even originally wanted to go to college, I told myself I was going to join the military, because that's all about I was good for. I lift and train at the gym most days of the week and I am in the best shape of my life. Others now even come to me for programs and advice. Dating became much easier once I started focusing on and developing myself. Now I am in a committed relationship (soon to be engaged) to one of the most beautiful and supportive woman, that I had always considered "out of my league". And I have a much better relationship with my family and friends. Don't get my wrong, gaming can be a lot of fun. I still play games from time to time, as you do. My SO will even play with me or watch me (she rocks), just nowhere near how much I used to. And it has been the most life changing decision I ever made. I have even been tempted to pick up the new Classic WoW about to launch next month to relive some of the nostalgia I once had, but then I came across your video here and realized that I don't think I will not. So, thank you for sharing your story and putting yourself out there. You may not think it so, but there is a LOT of wisdom in the words in the words that you are saying here. In a much more profound way that you even realize and I think it will help a lot of people. I wish you the best on your journey and I know that you will continue to grow into the best version of yourself here on RUclips. You've already mastered yourself in ways that many go their entire lives and never truly actualize for themselves. And without a doubt, if you keep the mindset that you have, you will go far and bring a lot of good to the world. You've gained a new supporter and subscriber.
I just try to help
“Over time I found myself using gaming to escape my responsibilities and ambitions rather than escape into relaxation.”
SO relatable.
Same for me man! Life has been hard after college.
Same for me, I even forced myself into play some video games, but it didn't work, now I have so many ways to use my free time for becoming a better version of myself that gaming isn't even in the schedule anymore.
Video game addiction ruined me in ways I can never take back. Relationship finance and weight/health
Getting rid of my systems was the best and hardest decision I made because I know when I’m playing I’m guaranteed happiness. I didn’t once think to go and find happiness myself. My younger days of 12+ hours a day of gaming are over It was a great experience and I had so much fun playing and it will be a memory that won’t go away for the rest of my life. but it’s a great blessing I’m glad to never turn back to ever again in my life.
Same man, my gpu got damaged and I told myself: This is it. I quit and simply don't by a new one. Been 6 months now. I feel so much better and can finally face my daemons that I ignored for so long while gaming, it's hard sometimes but it's worth it, best of luck!
Thx both guys for share your experiences.
@@Bordsteinpflaster Yeah, I recently read an article about gaming and it's effects. Basically it said that it inhibits learning lessons in real life. For instance (according to the article) let's say you get a bad grade on your exam. Normally, you should feel bad and try harder next time. But when you're into video games, you just forget that feeling of shame/disappointment when you drown it out by playing video games. So you don't actually learn in life. The same principle applies to other things in life. Relationships, financial, emotional issues are not dealt with because you're drowning it out, escaping it with video games. And you inhibit your growth as a person. I also know this because I experienced it myself. When you stop relying on video games as a crutch, you start to take responsibility for all things in your life head-on.
@@muCephei_ sounds interesting and thats exactly what I meant with facing my daemons: taking responsibility for my life and face issues that I'm confronted with. Thanks for the input :)
I dont think video games can be addictive. Sure they can distract, but its more an indication you don't have focus on yourself.
As there are no real withdrawals or major side effects. It can be a time waster but not addictive
He quit playing video games when he realized that life is the most challenging, yet rewarding game of all
Yes
Life's an RPG
spoken like a true noob.
speaking like a true philosopher!!!
Deep :D
I regret wasting my life on runescape . I played for 8 years or so on and off during 2004-2012. Those vulnerable years of childhood are crucial to learning skills and knowledge that helps a person become successful later on.
this is me right now. been playin rs since 06 to 2021 lol.
@@befree9579 you must be good by now
@@ryanthepianoman27 lol im a pro pvmer on RS but sad i still play it cause i get bored of life.
I wish my nephews weren't so addicted to video games! Although the oldest isn't playing as much and spending more time reading books. 😊
In my case RS helped me a lot, gave me money and new skills. I learned how to do business thanks to the game, I learned English as well.
Dude... I almost cried listening to this, everything you said I can relate 1000%. I'm 27, I work for Amazon as delivery driver I make decent money, but.... I don't enjoy games as much anymore. I tend to find myself bullshitting and telling myself this game is good but in reality I want to start my own social media business that I paid for.
Reality has been setting in for quite some time now and I know deep down I should be leveling up in real life rather than games. You're right, I don't need to be motivated to do things I just gotta do em and kick my ass knowing that the grind to start my own business will eventually pay off in the long run😞. So I just wanna say, thank you so much for this video I definitely needed a reality major check and this made me sit here and think for a god damn good minute, also to anyone who sees this comment... much love and go out there to achieve your goals & level up in RL cause your higher/better self will thank you in the end, peace:)✌.
Lastly, you gotta new sub friend:).
Go for it man! That's about the same age reality started to set in for me. As you start experiencing the world of business, you might change your mind and decide to pursue a different business. That's the way it was for me. It's like being a tiny fish in a fish bowl being released into the open ocean. There's so much to discover in the world. As you start making progress towards your goals you're going to discover what you like and what you don't like. Eventually, when you know what you truly like, you can start designing your life towards that. Just make sure you commit to working on your goals daily, whatever they may be, and take small steps with patience and consistency. There are 4 things that go on my to do list daily. 1) work on my business 2) work (I'm self-employed so I can get away with not working consistently. But I have money goals) 3) personal growth reading and podcast 4) exercising one muscle group. I don't ever take days off on those 4 things unless life forces me to. You won't see huge results quickly, but everything compounds. Just don't do too much at once and burn out. You want to create habits. "You are what you do daily". Think of it like brushing your teeth daily twice a day for a few minutes vs. brushing your teeth just once a year but for 24 hours straight. You brush your teeth daily you're a dude with fresh breath. You brush your teeth once a year, your a smelly dude with no teeth lol. Gamers like to tweak and improve their strategy. Same applies to getting better in real life. Eventually, just like a game, it gets fun to see money collecting in the bank. It gets fun to see muscle growth. It gets fun to meet new people and build new relationships. Or improve your martial arts techniques. You'd be surprised with who you can become once you step away from the games and start tacking the greatest game, real life.
@@shaunpearce6846 Thanks for the insight.
Its bee two years since this comment, I wonder how you doing man
I'm wondering the same. Hopefully he progressed with what he wanted to do.
Damn.... I've recently graduated college at 23. I felt really lacking job skills. I felt insecure knowing more of my friends graduated and started their career earlier than i am. I tried to cope with it with gaming. Thank God i found your channel. Been binging on Job seeking videos and now this was a wake up call for me... Really thanks.
Same situation!! Trying to get employed asap as well
23 is insanely young to be starting a career. You shouldn't be insecure at all starting at that age.
@@merritt2014 really?
@@bang.marcel0 I meant to say that 23 is more like really common to start a career out of college, though more on the younger side. Tons of people take way longer to get through college cause they switch majors. And even once they start their career, they may switch careers or industries several times or decide to go back to school for something else. I've had several classes at my college with dudes in their 30's and 40's.
@@merritt2014 thanks man, that does help to ease some worries off of me! Hope you get a great year
RUclips is similar to video games. People watch videos to entertain themselves, relax, and escape from reality. Without those kinds of people, a lot of RUclipsrs wouldn't have a career.
You are quickly becoming one of my favorite RUclips channels. Keep the good content coming
Thanks xavier
Ditto
Agree 100%
I second this
yes! I'm binge watching 🤗💯
i stopped online gaming and returned to single player games ,they are less time consuming ,less frustrating ,less addicting ,more rewarding and most importantly there are alot of incredible experiences to have in the medium same as with movies or shows its just a waste to ignore all of these experiences just to play one online game ,these single player games have really inspired me in so many ways in the past years and helped me get through alot of the BS that im dealing with.
I decided that I will never again, play any games that are competitive, and thus stressful + they need a significant time investment, or grindy leveling loops.
I was left with some co-op games that I play with my friends to socialize, indie games that are short and have intriguing new mechanics, and an occasional story game. I still finish every Dark Souls game, but apart from that, I uninstalled Dota 2, cs:go, league, and a bunch of random MMOs that I played on and off for years.
Now when I sit down to play, it's a scheduled relaxing time off, and I don't feel any guilt whatsoever.
Nikola I love dark souls
@@RealTommySal I know right, that feeling when the new From Software game drops and you together with millions of people slowly start chugging through new levels, discussing cheezy enemy placements and traps, and then eventually, the lore.
About the only thing in gaming I get truly hyped for.
I only get addicted to story single player games, I don't get the addiction to very repetitive multiplayer games, especially the social aspect, I only like to socialize in person (very little though), if I'm at my computer, I like to be left alone.
I think this: Play the game that make you better in the real life, if the game atack your life, is not good, is hard to know wich one is good for each person cuz everyone are different,but even find this is funny
Hey! I just made the same decision today. Specifically, that I will no longer play MMO, RPG, progression, or esport video games (not that I have recently, but I was SO tempted to get back into them).
I LOVE co-op games, especially ones that can be played locally (like Overcooked 2). I even like some simple singleplayer games, so long as they don't take up too much time or energy (I just use them to relax and enjoy some time off after work once in a while). I treat them like playing board games; my gaming session is complete - start clean, finish clean. No fantasy progression, no ego or desire to be revered, and no experiences that can't be shared with people I care about.
When you are not happy with where you are in life, I think you subconsciously stop enjoying video games.
I think the opposite is true. When you are unhappy with life, you escape into video games.
@@NickMart1985 there is a different between being unhappy, and being unhappy with where you are. Yes videogames are an escape if you are unhappy, but if the reason you are unhappy is because you have many goals that you need to achieve... sat playing videogames wont get you any closer... and you know this, so the subconcious guilt just sucks the fun out of it.
@@JtheMitch I don't think many people without goals beyond themselves are truly happy.
@@NickMart1985 Agreed. They choose comfort as it easy, but can cause huge room for regret later on.
i agree with this personally, i used to play video games a lot back when i was in school and when doing my first job distributing newspapers at night(got yeeted from uni because some profs refused to grade me, didnt even know they could do that). I was happy to game back then but i didnt really enjoy it.
now, i sit here with a full 5-people CNC jobshop in my garage, talking to customers while gaming or screen-sharing fusion360(i love the zoomer generation) on weekends and working 80-hour weeks for a startup where i already own the most expensive CNC machine as a security for my services.
now i fully enjoy the 2-3 hours per week i get without customers and feel like i am appreciated and my life is going well at the same time.
You just don't realize how many people you are helping with your vids ;)
Hopefully, that's the goal.
I wasted 8 years of my life playing online games. As soon as I got home from work I sat down and played and didn't quit until I went to bed at 12 o'clock and kept it for 8 years. It wasn't until I had problems with my back and joints that I stopped playing and started focusing on my other interests. I feel depressed when I think back on all the years that went by so quickly and were just wasted on online games. Now I can play for a few hours every now and then but nothing more than that. I am a much happier person now.
Thanks for share for us your experience
Don't feel bad for it, if you played 8 years is cause you really enjoyed it, it's part of your story
Don't feel bad for it, if you played 8 years is cause you really enjoyed it, it's part of your story
RUclips algorithms brought me here and not disappointed. Been really enjoying binging this series, keep it up!
As a game developer, I find this video has great insights on why people stop playing games. At the end of the day, real life is actually the most engaging and rewarding game.
no. fucking pay-to-win bullshit
@@delpher32exe rigged af game tho u can't even win unless u lose ur soul lol
With the last updates, it's becoming more and more pay2win.
@@ssebasgoo that doesnt make sense if you think about it
@@ssebasgoo it's been pay2win for a very long time
I really miss the years I would hang out with roommates playing games locally. Online games are fun, but local play with friends was always something special. I remember when Halo 2 came out and all of my local Halo buddies just wanted to play online. That was pretty much the end of an era for me.
I think a big reason a lot of people still play games is that they miss those fun memories with friends they had playing video games, online or not
@@MrEvan1932 Thank you for writing that. I used to play LoL both as amazing social activity and as addictive shit I should have abandoned. I had entire team of 5 people including my 2 best fellows, girlfriend of one of them and my brother. We were neighbors. It was amazing, because if there was no possibility to hang out somewhere, someone needed to stay home, was ill or it was raining, we played all together. That time passed. Different terms of exams split us apart and for some reason I continued to play the game. It wasn't fun. I remember I stayed online in lobby, programming meanwhile and waiting for one, one more opportunity to play together. There were also dark periods in my time when I grinded trying to climb up in rank hoping it will help me. Hopefully I did realize that's nonsense and stopped this bullshit. But thank you I think too many people forget about this reason of gaming.
Quake
Halo 2 split screen Xbox live baby!
I remember the old days of lan parties playing the original COD and medal of honor. That was a lot of fun back then.
'Where did all the good games go?' - that's exactly my feelings whenever I browse for new gaming content, be it Steam or elsewhere. Your in-depth exploration of WHY that happens was awesome & insightful.
I was an gaming addict (still am) and avoided outings and friends all throughout my highschool and degree college.. now since I'm working, and don't get time to play more, I've gotten to see how others have improved in other aspects of life and I didn't.. damn I'm not even good at video games.. still .. seeing I'm not the only one fighting this battle has given me strength that I should be improving myself instead of a character on the screen.
Thanks man.. your video helped gain perspective.
Yeah that's how you know adults in your life were complete trash sorry my parents included...i'd never let my son play games i know what to make him learn...
Is asking a video game addict to hang out and play the same to asking an alcoholic person to get a drink?
@@okbriel should be fine as long as it's not the game the type of game they normally play; still its prob better to do smth else
Obv dont do it if the person in question is trying to take an extended break from games
@@curiousgeorge6921 you cant have full control over your child's life, that would be counterproductive; at a certain point you can only hope you they learned the right things from you
My point is it's not right to assume this guy's parents were the ones at fault; they might have tried their best to intervene but couldnt or the guy hid his addiction well from them
@@curiousgeorge6921 why would you assume that? TBH i had a pretty bad breakup scenario in high school and I went total suicidal.. the only thing which kept me going were my games and my parents noticed that.. parents always think for good of their children, keep that in mind.
I've got their support even today, though I'm not a good party goer, social freak I admit I've got the best adults in my life.
I agree. Gaming for me became an escape from responsibilities & reality. Thankfully, i can now distinguish between escapism & relaxation.
Can relate, now days I just watch streams while I work on my own projects.
That's a good idea!
Why do you have the need to watch those? Both are a waste of time and intellect
Be careful with content consumption as well. It makes it harder to learn with those going on in the background. Also makes it a lot harder to focus, as your attention will be diverted any time anything interesting happens.
@Gunner Walk It states that heavy-duty multitasking can take a toll on you, not listening to music while drawing. Learn to read your papers before you smugly show them off as your "evidence."
Watching someone else is kinda fun
I’m a little older than most of you guys and I’ve had the opposite happen. I was a video game junkie until my early 20’s, then through much of my 20’s and 30’s I dedicated most of my life to work, friends, women, the gym and “Experiencing life”. I ended up coming full circle and returning to gaming, finding out that video games make me a lot happier than the other things that I was pursuing. Gaming and music have saved my life more times than I care to remember. I understand this is probably not the norm, but I’m more at peace on my own, and I realize now that’s always been the way. It’s all about the journey of discovering yourself.
Same but I'm younger than you. The moment I bought myself a decent rig and played games, I really understood how much gaming as a hobby was important to me. But I find it difficult to make time for it.
100%! I started working at 12 years old + my parents are divorced so I had to be the man for my mother. I'm 30 now and i'm back 2 gaming. Did the family/friend/gym thing to and I still do. Friends are all online and gym is at home.
@@halometroid enjoy yourself man. You don't owe anyone anything.
And I think it's bad that you had to be "the man" for your mother, who should be taking care of you and making sure you had a childhood
As you said, life set a fire under my ass and I had to quit gaming.
But when I found time I got back to gaming but it wasn't that fun anymore
@Hussein Rizk I just don't feel like playing. I don't know
this was huge dude. Gaming really has taken control of my life and just recently can I see myself sort of coming out of that addiction. Its better to get out of it know and level up IRL than stay stuck where I currently am and just waste time on something that really doesnt matter. Games are just a form of entertainment, and they should be treated that way.... not a lifestyle
Your channel has made me completely rethink how I balance my time and where I want to devote my effort
i feel personally attacked by this
lol
Big mood
Used to play WoW fulltime ( PvP boosts etc. ), then I realised that it wont get me anywhere long term.
Started self-learning coding, eventually quit WoW and games in general, and got my DEV job.
WoW PvP thought me how to stay competitive in anything you do in life, probably the most valuable thing I learned from it. It has helped me to grow super fast in my 2 years DEV career.
fakednicklv Horde tich?
I love how real you are in all your videos. As a 20 year old aspiring developer hearing from someone that has went through some of the struggles I deal with (in this case playing too much video games). Really has helped me narrow down how to better myself and my future. Thank you for all that you do for us and the community!
I stopped for the same reason. My reasoning was to enhance my knowledge of linux, coding and computer security. I figured the same as you. If you can figure out how to master a game, why not spend that time mastering a programming language that will provide you with continual benefit. The ultimate video game.
Nah fam
@Super Mario to be honest i would never follow advice from a person who says "Cope"
Funny how I have been thinking alot about this recently and you made a vid
Gaming is bullshit...makes you dumb too much to know than waste time on virtual bullshit
@@curiousgeorge6921 lol your ignorant.
@@deathgrinn001 you didn't hit the wall yet.
@@InnerAnimateeverything in life if done excessively is bad. One can drown from too much water. Yet you need a certain amount to sustain yourself. Maybe you just need to keep yourself away from video games due to you addictive personality. 16 year old recently won $3 million in a Fortnite tournament, your going to tell me he is stupid. Lol gtfo.
@@deathgrinn001 this is true but in the realm of video games, ppl get addicted pretty easily
I get you bro. I was also working a shitty job and the only thing that kept me happy was playing Rainbow six all Friday night, all Saturday morning and Saturday night again, and lately also Sundays and a couple of weekdays.
The problem is Rainbow is a competitive game, so I got really into it, now only I would spend 25-30 hours a week gaming, I would spend a few more hours a week watching tutorials, gameplays, streamings, and I would never get Rainbow out of my head. I was thinking how to be better all the time and I wouldn't do anything else.
So last summer I decided to sell my Xbox, I quit my job and I went on vacation.
Since then I've been learning languages, be more physically active and read more books.
Best decision I've ever made, because I have more time and money.
I have great memories playing rainbow with my friends on rainy weekends for hours, and I'm always going to remember that part of my life as extremely happy, and sometimes I feel tempted to use my credit to get another Xbox and a rainbow six game and start again, my friends have invited over a couple of times, but I hope I won't do that.
Even though I want to go back, I know I will be better off If I don't and I use my mind in things that are really important.
I quit for a while and started playing again for a few days and I think it has lowered my self esteem as I did nothing else
you need to find something to replace the time you spent gaming with. Learn a language, READ, start a company. Draw? Learn and instrument. Find something you like. Where the action is rewarding not the benefit.
read the red pill
Fredrik Nygren I agree especially with the start a company thing. Working on my small business on the side is such a fulfilling use of my time
@@wifine1951 Rule # 1. Read the sidebar.
Gotta fill that void somehow come on man, you got this.
Fucking preach man. Josh, this is literally the truth of gaming in your early 20's, at this point, the meta of game design is all understood, no surprises, no new mechanics. It's all just gaming. Every genre is played out, and I'm thankful that they exist but you seriously hit the nail on the head when you said that you were using it as a habit to avoid the passion projects you truly internally wanted to start. To anyone watching this with and grimacing, maybe you just haven't reached that point, or maybe you've been more disciplined in your usage, but all of these points hit the nail right on the head. Went into this video skeptical, but man, this really is the truth.
I definitely agree gaming has a got in the way of a lot of things for me because it’s really easy to do rather then brainstorming or being stuck making something. In fact I was playing Blood Dragon as a way to avoid editing as I can’t think of an intro to design for my videos As I decided to restart my channel going into narration as a side hobby.
And then bam - this video appears. I’ve been personally attacked.
Appreciate your honesty around gaming. It’s a hell of a thing to recognize how gaming was stealing your time. I’ve had nearly every gaming system since the Atari 2600 and can relate. I started taking up hobbies and getting in shape. Yes, I still game. But, now, I enjoy spending more time doing meaningful things. Good vid.
I had to give up gaming too. As an international student I gotta do my best at everything to get sponsored. High key sucks but bosses hate the system as much as I do. So I'm just trying to max out my full potential. I honestly have no idea what I'm doing at this point but all I know is hard work and strategy. Hard work at my projects and at my job as a .net developer for the school since I'm not allowed to work anywhere else... you motivate me man. Thank you. I'm going to make it big. I promise.
Very eye opening...very applicable to my life right now. I don’t have a drinking or drug problem, but I do have a tendency to plug in to a game as a form of procrastination, or to run away from a problem. Something I’m realizing I need to change now. Thanks for this.
All the hours spent on games are the perfect answer for any argument that starts with: "I didn't have enough time to..."
Felipe Mascarenhas i didnt have enough time to go pro playing games
@@austinharlow8672 lol. Nice.
Gaming isn't the only vice.
When I quit games one of the most amazing things about it is that I suddenly realized I had plenty of time to do and accomplish anything I want. Not to mention being able to get enough sleep at nights.
@@JarinXeno But, but....FFVIIR comes out in like 2 1/2 weeks!
I wish my Mum would have linked me this as a child instead of telling me I would get square eyes from plaaying too much.
What did u get from this?
@@gusparlolen8393 What do you mean? What did I learn?
@@jeremy.mccarter u wished for something what did this gifted u
@@gusparlolen8393 "Wished" my mother told me about the advice in this video instead of the square eyes story.
@@jeremy.mccarter oh
Gamify life and you wont have to live in reality.
Weird coincidence there's this app i was just reading where it gamify your life and it gives you points.
@@skrrtskrrt9453 yeah, I tried it and really couldn't get into it... Seemed more like an additional inconvenience to life.
I gamify my life through Habitica. You can use it to set habits, daily actions and to do items.
Easier said than done
If uve lost ur legs and love swimming and sight seeing the world and talking to cool calm life experienced grown ups u can continue enjoying ur life this way and even to invite ur in life real friends ect #b more likable sociable skills
I love how he's always like "Yeah, I know the people in the comments are gonna complain about what I'm saying", but then when you jump to the comments everyone's being positive and understanding.
I might have been addicted to MMOs and RPGs forever. My wake up call was learning how the "sausage" is made. Writing code on teams with other people gave me the insight to single out symptoms of a software product that would indicate the problems people had creating it. Almost as if, by playing the game they made, I could picture those guys low on sleep, ignoring each other, or getting harrassed by their bosses to do something specific. When I have that sort of imagery, a game's absorption factor on me isn't so powerful anymore.
(Extra) Recently, the malpractice seen in the game publishing industry has drawn my attention more than the games, themselves. Big publishers are now known for buying and killing small franchises thinking they're going to hit the lottery with a single character design, treating customers like sheep, bribing reviewers, and generally stunting the growth of every other publisher they can. And now that they've come in to the world of social media, they eat up opportunities for indie titles to get recognized. Just look at E3: it used to be a medium for consumers to see something completely new. Now it's only another announcement board for clones and sequels by Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, etc. It's like playing a lousy game just to find something worth it these days.
Y'all... Not throwing shade here but, if people are quitting their lifelong hobby because it's keeping you from doing what you want to be doing. The hobby is not the problem.
The void that video games fills will be replaced with something else. It can be replaced with something just as problematic just with less social stigma. I.E. You can quit gaming and become a workaholic and spend 16 hours a day working. Same underlying problem, yet one is seen as good and one is seen as bad. The key isn't quitting the thing you like doing as though it's an addiction. The key is understanding WHY you want to play games. Understanding yourself is where real growth is.
The other key is recognizing how fucked up our society is that the first thing we say is "you should quit your gaming addiction" instead of "maybe its time to talk to a therapist".
Yeah true. I am feel that i am addicted by dopamine and need therapy i guess but live here in Russia too hard find any competent specialists in that way
TBH: I greatly reduced my gaming time in exchange for doing digital arts instead while also studying on programming.
Me too man
Ahhhh just wish I had a tablet for that haha. That is awesome to hear that though!
@@vinyvinycocopuffpassittomenow there are cheap affordable tablets and even pros recommend that you do not need to spend on expensive ones.
Artillerist X Duelist ugh you’re right lol. I gotta get one and have some fun with it.
@@vinyvinycocopuffpassittomenow yeah you should.
I'm a computer science student because of my parents. If only I had the freedom, I would choose any art courses or architecture.
And I feel alienated in my course. Very very very very few Computer Science students and Software Engineers are into visual arts. Most prefer to be musicians, going to the gym, drinking.
Makes me wonder if it's really hard for most hardcore programmers to try out doing visual arts.
You hit the nail on the head on so many points. I've played games most of my life, then in my 20's I quit playing for about 10 years because I LOOOVED video games too much and it was ruining my life. Last year I started playing again. I got into it HARD. Attempted to play every mobile game, every pc game, tried Wticher then deleted it after a few days. After a year of trying different games, I started feeling very different about games. I think starting 2:19 describes it best. But there's more. When you're younger, you're more impressionable. What is presented within the game seems legitimately exciting, like your progressing, give you a sense of ownership of something you can't have in real life. These are some factors that make games fun. But then you realize that this is all false and fake. Yes it's giving you a false sense of progression and you're letting yourself get "fooled". When you starting connecting with real life more instead of living in a world you immersed yourself in, you start to notice the contrast in life and video games. It's just not MEANINGFUL anymore. So for the past few weeks, I've been trying to find that game (because I still like games) that can actually benefit me and satisfy me. I honestly feel that there's none. I know there's some games with great storyline but it seems like a waste of time to me to spend immense amount of time to enjoy a fictional story. So.... now I just play for amusement for brief periods throughout the week. After playing for a bit I realize it's not really going anywhere. I hope many people realize what Joshua said in this video is very sensible. But for some, they may not realize that until you live that game life themselves and when you get older you start to realize and see the big picture.
Don't quit anything, just keep everything in moderation
I tend to find that videos about game addiction are usually related to online games. This is why I prefer offline single player games: no deadline to play them, no rush to beat. They'll be there once my important life duties are taken care of.
Moderation isn't good for all. Some people can't handle it in moderation.
@@tombeastie6222 This, moderation for me turns into "let me play for a bit longer..." I either need to quit or I get stuck playing video games instead of real life. Even for singleplayer video games, I love my modded minecraft world and it takes 700 hours to beat it. Next one I do will take 2000+ hours
I hear you. I was in a similar situation. I used mine for an escape from my real life reality and I would neglect my real life needs. I'm trying to do better now, and one of those ways to do is to not spend so much time on video games. I miss them a little from time to time, but I'm just so busy now, that I can't see how I had time to play before.
*_Gaming_* is a tool for you. Use it to de-stress, use it to have fun. It's a slippery slope though because games were made to be addicting. The more you play World of warcraft the more money they make. So when you're playing 4-5 hours a day, they're using you as a tool to make money.
Life Progress - ideas for a better life TV u honestly think even though games made me happy I wish I never played. I will never let my kids play video games just because of what I know
Austin Rode lol sucks for them
not sure how they make more money if you play more WoW, it's subscription based. You could buy a year subscription and not play and they still make money.
Oh shit. Just opened my eyes! Thank you so much ❤️
*Gaming* is a drug that can ruin your life
Getting terminated from work is an eye opener, especally during Covid. I have been a gamer since I was 5. But being almost 30 I realize I could have spent my time learning more skills or enjoying life. Now I still enjoy games, I just feel like I have not accomplished much. I am going to use this time to learn a new skill for IT work and maybe get IT certs.
Honestly, if you got extra time after everything is done it doesn't really matter what you do for a hobby. Key thing is getting all your shit done first, whatever hobbies follow is irrelevant.
Staying focused on goals/work or school and using gaming as a reward is a good thing, playing video games or another hobby before getting said stuff done is bad M'kay.
I can totally relate to this subject. I have played so many hours hanging out with my mates playing games and still do hang out with them on Team-Speak but I burnt myself out playing constantly to the point where I was no longer enjoying the A+++ games I had waited years to play anymore. I feel I have seen it all and being a developer understand the improvements but still selfishly expect them to produce more technology improvements rather than just enjoying the actual content of the game.
No one ever laid on their deathbed and said “damn, I wish I’d played more video games”
I stopped because I realised I’ve only got one life, and for me video games were the biggest time waster of all time
Are you still a gamer?
I started setting goals, such as yearly goals (e.g. "learn how to setup a file server", or "pass the CompTIA Security+ test", etc.). I allowed myself to play games as long as I made significant and tangible progress towards completing my yearly or monthly objectives. I, too, realized gaming was taking up too much of my time and distracting me from self-improvement.
I will be saying "damn, I wish I still haven't been able to break 300,000 on Ms. Pacman, my time on this earth has been wasted".
Hopefully for me, and many other people i wish they can say it, without it being an empty statement
Thanks Josh! Never heard anyone speaking about gaming with a deep understanding of the practice by itself, as you did.
I am a gaming enthusiast, and am always looking after opportunities to dive into this industry as a developer/game designer. And I must say that you have the most mature view of the practice I've ever heard of. And this is also a misconception most people make about it, which makes me sad.
Games can play a role as absolutely any drug or chemical substance found anywhere: you can measure your doses for reasonable/personal purposes and still maintain a healthy lifestyle. But exagerate the doses, and it becomes to turn into an addiction. As always, balance seems to be the sweet spot for anything.
Please, keep posting videos as this one :)
Your growth is real I love it, you document everything too 🔥
You seem like a great guy, take it easy on yourself....theres time. Nothing wrong with pushing hard, but remember to take time to like yourself as well my dude
This has been on my mind for a couple weeks now. So many other things could get accomplished with the time spent on games. Great vid.
gaming is what made me like coding (i started it by writing bots for WoW lol), to create websites, which lead me to make my own IT company, and now i have 50 employees, and we create websites and video games in unreal engine.
thanks, gaming!
I’m the same way... I wonder why I’m quick to think of something on my keyboard but not in real life.
I’m in the process of quitting MMOs, they were great and helped me get out of depression but it’s holding me back irl. Good for you
Just say "Sorry I am still buffering" it has helped me get enough time to think on my feet
@@thedude7319 lol, that's a really cute response for those interested in the tech world! I'll probably use it, thanks xD
Thanks for the advise! Gaming has been a big setback in my life, specially when dealing with ADD. I enjoy gaming, and I’ve stopped gaming before, but I feel that I must stop again to accomplish my goals
I completely agree. The learning curve to play a new video game is just too much of a bother. I think that is one of the reasons watching gameplay videos is a thing. It's much more easier to watch someone play a game for a while, than actually learn to play yourself. Maybe in the future professional players will be standard, and people will just tune in to watch them play.
This is really weird seeing this video now. Only because, about 2 weeks ago I decided I was dropping my video gaming to a drastic level. It WAS ruining my life. All I wanted to do was gear up and progress my character and that's all I cared about on days off and after work hours. That's really ridiculous, I thought. Now, it's been weeks and I've regained control of my life and I haven't logged in that gaming platform in weeks now. I feel free. I'm now learning about a new programming language and attending classes for Cloud Computing. I feel WAY better about myself and I finally have my vision back and I know where I need to be in real life. I no longer think about what monster I need to kill or what quests I need to do for x-gear. I wasted YEARS of my life in this digital world and now I'm finally free from the addiction. Thanks for the video, as it's really a confirmation of a struggle that other people don't see, beyond drugs, for example. Gaming addiction sucks too and is pretty rough on life if you let it be.
I’ve found myself using video games as like a escape from reality in a bad way though to where I was playing for so many hours and not getting anything done...not being the parent I should have been...then I sold my PS4...life then improved lol I refuse to buy another one until I get where I need to be in life
Anthony Mercado yeah it can get bad if you don’t stop...glad to hear that you figured it out!
@Anthony Mercado Youre not alone, i'm in the same boat and i'm working on stopping this addiction. Gaming has blinded me too brother.
@Anthony Mercado I just sold my PlayStation a few days ago and ever since I've been getting a lot of stuff done to the point of I'm doing things I never do because of gaming. I'm in a better mood. I also picked up more hours at work. Spending more time with my dog, working out more, reading and I still have plenty of time do things .
As much as I love video games, they are just the biggest time sink and waste of time ever if you let them. The only time it isn't is when you are already self-actualized, and most people don't reach that until they are like 35+.
only a sith deals in absolutes
Hello there
Life has the high ground
I still game a lot, but I now avoid all MMO games. Its just too hard to walk away because you can't just save your progress and come back later. Also, if you don't play regularly your skills deteriorate. I don't have the time to burn and it's just not fun.
You are sky rocketing! Congrats on your growth; 3 months from now you'll be @ 300k.
This video is spot on. You get the illusion of progression all the while avoiding responsibilities, putting off passions. Sure, its great to enjoy once in a while, only an escape. Thank you confirming all along. During college I played zero video games. As soon as I picked them up I was hampered. I still enjoy but need to set limits.
I have terrible self-discipline and I've found that setting timers has helped me. Study X for 2 hours, play Y for 30 mins.
So much shit happening in my life, these videos just makes me want to cry, but in a way that I'm breaking down who a I was and becoming a better person.
Hey Josh I've been playing games all my life and am currently 29. Like you I was borderline an addict until company I work for started laying people off including all my close friends that used to work there. I was so stressed and scared I needed to do something different. Starting 2019 I began coding and it was very challenging because I was trying to teach myself without any formal education or enrolling in boot camps. I've almost quit several times because I would loose motivation but every time that happened I would turn on youtube and watched your videos for inspiration. I am proud to say I finally got a job offer as a software dev and I put in a letter of resignation to the company that I've been working for for the past 5 years. Thank you and keep up the great work!
Problem is that I can wait until after all my responsibilities are taken care of, but by then it's late at night and I'm tired and should probably just go to bed OR if there's enough time before bed there is something else I rather do that's a little more productive and less...mind-numbing...like coding or reading.
My rage quitting abilities keeps me from playing games too much.
Jaja so funny, that works so good for few people
When I get mad at video games is when I start playing more...
nature finds a way XD
that voice inside your head that starts screaming because of the loneliness that affects your body
Without video games i would've ended my life a long time ago lmao
Same,videogames are a culprit of my life now,i dont have friends nor online friends.Videogames are the main source of fun for me and i cant escape them
@searcher i live in Osijek,Croatia
that’s sad
Sad pussy
That's such a sad thing for you, I'm sorry that sitting behind a screen has corrupted you such much. I hope you get help.
Gaming is no different than watching youtube, netflix or social media. The main thing is entertainment. If you control it and spend reasonable amount of time then it would never hurt. And your brain needs some relax time as well. I realzied with time its very important to have proper entertainment. This 1-2hr gaming per day make me more happy and productive person as my brain has time to chill between work and studies
0:50 This is like a subconscious thought that I've never been able to fully articulate. I can relate 100%. Thanks for this vid.
I think there is a difference between playing for fun, and playing to kill time/escape responsibilities. I picked up playing guitar, and writing a screenplay for me and my friends, and I don't really have time to play games as much as I used to. I play guitar for around two hours on week days, and an unknown amount on weekends. I also try to spend at least an hour of screen writing a day at least, and add onto that the time I spend working out or biking around, and I only have two or three hours left in the day to do stuff. usually I spend an hour watching TV with my family, or I go for a walk with them, and then I have a couple hours for gaming.
"I don't have fun but I want to play again." - Competitive online game in a nutshell.
Fantastic video man, too many people get sucked into video games and go the down the rabbit hole of trying to be the best at it while compromising their relationships, health, well-being. When I was finishing up college League of Legends was that game for me. I used to pull all-nighters and go into work exhausted but I was okay with that at the time because I was so into the game. As I got older and saw the ramifications of my actions, I learned to have a healthier relationship with video games and focus on what really matters in life.
I stopped gaming awhile to do photography. Though I found I was missing a outlet. My work is kinda mindless. It pays well and it's a great job but it's all muscle memory for me. Games provided me a place to focus on make me use my mind. Though I play mostly strategy games for that reason. I still don't really touch action games or mindless shooters. I have a feeling as photography kicks up I'll change to a MacBook pro and stop gaming :-/
I do finance audit and after a long work I want nothing else in games but mindless questing, doing dailies etc.
Anthony Stebbins why not books?
Anthony Stebbins how’s photography if I may ask? I used to do photography myself, and always impressed with people who can actually get paid while enjoying it. Hope that’s you m8.
They arent fucking mindless shooters,they take actual skill dude
MMORPGs are the kind of game which needs high investment on time, yet very rewarding once you go rambo dominating the PVP. It is either you go "Pay 2 Win" or "Give your Time Grinding to Win". Nothing more, nothing less. There are games that no longer needs high investment on time, such as round games. These are the types of games we should be playing especially if we are now in the CRUCIAL PART OF OUR LIFE whereas we are in our career growth, building a family, bills and taxes. I have this dillemma of being addicted to spending in games and i found it very rewarding. I hope I can quit games just like you do, thanks for sharing. Just as you said, i think being a gamer will no longer be removed in my life, I just need to select/filter the games I need to play and avoid those MMORPG traps.
what you say are part of the game ,but for me ,I want a amazing story ,I want immersive, things real life can't provide , but James Cameron or Andrzej Sapkowski can
Thanks for your insight! This video really got me to overcome my anger and disappointment of wasted time playing video games instead of focusing on social life and college. Slowly rebuilding my life now and getting back at my bachelor's degree in civil engineering. Keep up with your contents, it's really not only insightful but life changing.
i miss the feeling of playing a game and having fun. I have a large library of games, yet when I try to play them now, no games can ever really capture my attention like it did when I was younger.
Thank you for the video and covering gaming and life. I'm currently realizing that I've been gaming hard to avoid real life, and need to put it down to level myself IRL. This video helped me to realize what I need to do. Thanks again.
I quit WoW .... then I re-subbed... re-quit... and re-subbed.
We all do
@@JoshuaFluke1 I thought I was done in Warlords of Draenor but then Legion was announced and just kept calling and calling.
It's never truly over. I quit playing at the end of Cataclysm and started back up at the end of Legion.
quit mid cata, came back for mop.. quit late mop, came back for mid wod... quit late wod, came back for late legion... quit this May but I'm sure it's only a matter of time
The sense of progression you get from WoW is so addicting ... I haven't enjoyed these last couple of expansions that much yet I still come back every few months. I had to really force myself to not use last week's 3 free days because I know I'll get addicted again
I'm half way to the end of this video and I agree almost 100%, I don't really quit videogames at all but... these days I feel I'm trapped in a routine life+studying, even on weekends, I don't have anything else to do or maybe nothing fills me, It's why I try to play online games like ESO to have a sense of progression, I can play more than like 1-2 hrs PER WEEK, but at the same time, I feel that progression means nothing to me, that won't make me a better engineer or developer at all, it's just wasted time.. on the other hand sometimes I feel I need to distract myself and relax, unplug.. but doing something useful, I always try to do useful things, valuable things, maybe there is a balance between useful and enjoyable things.. I should keep searching, thanks for sharing your story.
ALSO, I don't watch tv or any series at all. Keep going....
The older we get the harder is to enjoy new games, movies, series, music...
Maybe for you, definitely not me
@@MegaTroySmith Right?
@@MegaTroySmith I think it somewhat true if you are broke. I can't enjoy movies when I know i'm living paycheck to paycheck
I’ll prob enjoy movies, tv shows, and music till the day I die but gaming I’m losing interest in
I feel the same way. Music: Love 90s and 00s hip hop, rap, grunge, alternative rock, underground music. Now I either like few artists music and passionately dislike many.
OMG this and whenever I fire up a game this voice in the back of my head is like "Do you REALLY need to get lost in this game for 5+ hours or are there some things on your TO DO list that could get crossed off?"
Yes, very true. There was a time when I use to play Counter-Strike for 6hr in a day. I avoided all responsibility and my life completely went downhill. I was depressed that I did not do any work and to avoid this I went back to the Games. But very soon I had a reality check. I did not play CS for 2 years now, I still play games but only on weekends will my old friends.
To be honest I love games and what I would love to do is making games, but all I know to code is websites and instead of starting to learn how to make games I just play them and then feel guilty, I want to change this but I don't want to stop playing either :/
"I would just prefer to play my own game..." switch to game dev confirmed.
Great video man, I can relate to this so much. Being stuck in a loop really sucks and the worst part is you dont even realize it because you're comfortable. That fire that he's talking about? When you just kick it into gear and start knocking stuff out and things start falling into place? That is the most satisfying progression loop you can get in life. These days I still enjoy videogames... like A LOT. But really only because I feel like my real life has progressed far enough to be comfortable playing them again.
I've played games pretty much my entire life. However I've noticed that I'm at the stage of life and goals where I have to either choose between:
1. Play games
2. Study python, or any other skill/project that will improve my life, spend time with my daughter, or make sure I'm doing my job correctly and at a high level.
It's all about opportunity cost, and there's too many other things that I need to spend time on now. Also, I can confidently state that gaming likely resulted in a point lower GPA in college than it could have been. I have finite amounts of time, and I need to be careful what I spend it on.
I still play games, but the amount of time spent is GREATLY reduced compared to years past as I have (literally) more important things I need to do with that time.
I think the other thing that has changed is games were a few minutes, then a few hours, and now they can be 100+ hours. As an adult its hard to commit that much time to a game.