What is the appeal of video games?

[Flower7]

For those of you who play them regularly, what things do you enjoy about them?

[Youdumbeotch]

Escape from reality of not being good enough for society and women

[Flower7]

Fair enough

[Youdumbeotch]

There is niche out there for everyone, some of us can compete in a field of our own since we aren’t good enough for the rest

[PeterCharie1991]

They pass the time

[Flower7]

Passing time in an enjoyable way is always a good thing!

[PeterCharie1991]

I play ps4 every night

[hellionthesagereborn]

I like stories and games tell stories but in a different way then other mediums (books are long and indepth stories, movies are obviously a more visual way of telling a story and can add elements that a book cannot (just as books can be far more indepth then a movie. Games on the other hand are more immersive, they either give you choice or the illusion of choice which can be a very good element in story telling and thus have different affects on you then other mediums, like the fact that your not a passive bystandard but an active participant which can greatly alter the effect (one game called Ultima four was designed in such away that you could do most what ever you want but your goal was to become a hero. So their was a blind merchant that you could steal from without consequence, but you would know what you did and that would mean you are not really the hero. So their was that level of interactivity).

In addition I like exploration so certain games let me explore (predominantly open world games and survival games). I like the ability to uncover new areas, new places, new people, new things just by wandering around the world, their is something freeing in that for me.

Finally, I like games that give me creativity. I love to make things but in games you can do that even if you don't have the real life skills to do so. So creative games (building games like Minecraft for instance) let me have that outlet.

All of these things help stimulate my brain and give me an outlet for my creativity or just as something to help me relax by focusing on something not so serious.

[Astarlessnightsky]

Depends on the genre...

RPGs (roleplaying games) have a similiar appeal of watching a movie or tvshow, or reading a book, ...

They tell a story, with interesting characters, but in contrast to a book/movie you are part of the world and have influence on the world and the characters.

other genres let you experience something that you would be able to otherwise, like driving a F1 car or flying a Boing 747.

Or some games simply let you be creative, and build something, like Minecraft.

Others challange you either by being super hard and you need quick reflexes or by offering riddles and puzzles you have to solve. And if you do manage to beat the boss or figure out the puzzle it feels good.

There is also the social aspect, in Multiplayer games or online games...

[JBlade]

For me it's the customization, it allows me to express who I am. I currently play Rocket League and Pokémon because both allow an insane amount of customization appearance/playstyle wise. The appeal is that it lets you do things that you could never do otherwise or find skills you never knew you had.

[Flower7]

Doing things you aren't able to in real life is a good way to describe it.

[Savage_Wisdom]

The stories. Books, movies, tv shows, comics, all these share a common flaw, they keep the audience at arms length. Video games, by contrast, do the exact opposite and give control over to the audience. This let's video games tell stories in a way that just isn't possible for any other medium of story telling.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

I don't get it either.
My partner loves them and sometimes I like watching her play, but I generally prefer to invest my time in more profitable ways, such as reading, writing or giving myself an advantage with work by working at home too.

[Flower7]

Being productive is always the best thing!

[blondfrog]

Its a great way to escape especially with how good some of these games have gotten like Virtual reality. Especially virtual reality horror games.
Plus I have a famous youtube channel so I can't let my fans down. That drives me to keep playing. Some people make money off playing games too so there is also that.

[Flower7]

I didn't know you're a Youtuber! That's really interesting.

[blondfrog]

I am a jackass of many trades :)

[Flower7]

Lol. :)

[RawIronhide]

Honestly just because I'm playing doesn't mean I'm not bored out of my mind. They can be fun and pass the time especially with friends to play with. It can be very social or very story based like a movie (uncharted, Assassins creed, the last of us) not to mention cinematography and outstanding visuals sometimes.

[Sargentcaptain]

Story and gameplay. I often like the challenge and the feeling of achievement after completing it. That's something really unique to games. Story is the same standard I use for all other media, but I like how at least some games really use the interactivity to their benefit and give players the option to change things and have an impact on the world and the characters, making it so that the story just can't exist as a book or a movie.

[AmeerX]

It is enjoyable to play and live the fantasy. Sometimes non storyline games are challenging and just the challenge itself is enjoyable.
Some games like PUBG have sentimental value now since I played it with my friends quite a lot back in university days

[Ailaw22]

After getting bored from Netflix and all I was supposed to live alone for sometime in lockdown.
So it as way of passing time it really helps in better cognitive skills as long as you maintain balance with work.

[Flower7]

Yes, it’s very important for people to not let the games take over their life and stop them from doing important things.

[ChrisMaster69]

They great distract me, they allow my brain to quickly move on from any problems, or issues, it also allows my brain to tackle a problem from a different approach.

I can have 15 mins of quick fix or a full 12 hours of a session.

[Interstate]

I don't play them and to me, it is a waste of resourceful technology. But for most, it's the action in the war games. They satisfy all players differently, and that is why those who use them play them for different reasons.

[Marhaban-1]

They blank your mind almost like a drug without the side effects of substance abuse

[Flower7]

I’m guessing you’re not a fan of video games?

[Marhaban-1]

I don't mind them but I would rather read a book or watch TV or text friends

[Flower7]

Good, those are much healthier habits!

[Marhaban-1]

True

[Celtero]

They're challenging and engaging. I can set goals and achieve them.

Meanwhile, most TV and movies are utter trash. Videogames can have a compelling story or teach things while still being interactive and fun.

[Recurrence]

I treat them more like an interactive art display than a Game. I like looking around and seeing the worlds people make

[Flower7]

That’s an interesting way to think about it.

[Recurrence]

Yes! Or if I play a game on a hard difficulty, I just look for interesting ways to try and beat different things.

[NamerOfStars]

Do you understand the appeal of reading a good book, or of setting yourself a difficult challenge and completing it?

How about doing both at once?

[Flower7]

Challenges don't interest me. I like my life to be as easy as possible. I do like to read though.

[NamerOfStars]

No? Not even purely internal ones, between you and yourself, doing something for the sake of seeing if you can do it? No "can I make it all the way across this room stepping only on the blue tiles" or "how many mile markers can I hold my breath past"? Well, perhaps not; different people amuse themselves in different ways.

Fundamentally, what a "game" is is a set of rules and objectives. It's true of chess, it's true of freeze tag, and it's true of Planescape: Torment. The latter of those has more words than the Bible, and to this day, the argument rages in gamer circles whether it's more accurate to call it "the best game you'll ever read" or "the best book you'll ever play". Consider a painting: a drawn picture that gives you a visual image. How is that different from a text description of the image? How is that, in turn, different from a spoken recording of that same text? And how does that differ from a video recording of the same person speaking that text? With and without showing the image in question?

If the goal of art is to communicate an idea, then how much control over an exhibition should be given to the artist? Perhaps this statue would look best under a yellow light in a high-ceilinged room with a low temperature and very high humidity. Perhaps the real meaning of that song can only be grokked by those who've climbed a tall flight of marble stairs to hear it. Speaking to the reality of human experience doesn't work if you limit yourself to the traditional aspects of it- not often, anyway.

But, I hear you thinking, most video games aren't art! And I don't disagree. Neither are most books or movies. You don't get deep revelations about the meaning of existence idly playing Solitaire. But Grim Fandango's another story.

[Dvchill]

Cause they are fun and the only way I can display dominance to all my friends that I live far away haha

[Flower7]

Lol that sounds fun. And a good way to stay in touch with friends who you’re separated from.

[worldscolide]

It's an escape, similar to reading but more interactive.

[Flower7]

Comparing it to reading makes sense.

[worldscolide]

That only applies when the story is good though. Like the fallout series or elder scroll series..

[weeee]

If you think about it, Its almost like a book or movie you can interact with in a way (i know not all video game genres are story or character based).

[Hawner]

I'm my case, they are stories that I can live and interact with. In MMORPGs I even meet people to share the experience.

[Iron_Man]

That’s something you do on your downtime once in a while It should never become addictive

[Flower7]

I’ve known SO many people who are addicted to them. I just don’t understand why. I’ve never seen someone play only occasionally. It always seems to take over their life.

[Iron_Man]

Oh wow I’ve always just played it once in a blue moon in my 20s and teens

[Still-alive]

they occupy my mind. sometimes are very fulfilling, can take me to another world and lose myself in it, can be challenging, allows for problem solving. lots of stuff i like

[beebella]

I only play when I'm bored, but I even get bored of playing a game after a while. 😂

[exitseven]

They are a good escape from everyday life and a way to stimulate the imagination.

[InferiorElegy]

If you don't know, I can't tell you.

[mapavrili34]

I dont like