Sunday Thoughts: 15/08/10
What trouble haves games caused you?
Published: 12:00, 15/08/2010 by Kris [Halbpro].
28Games cause trouble. Perhaps not to the extent that the mainstream media would like us to believe, more the “Why haven’t you done the washing up?” kind of trouble. To be honest that may be worse, at least you’re not nagged whilst you’re in prison. I’ll be perfectly honest here, gaming has clearly caused me trouble.
Only two weeks ago I was sitting and playing Assassin’s Creed II. I thought to myself “I’ve got a free hour, I’ve finished work, I deserve a treat.” Sadly Assassin’s Creed II is a game that sneaks up on you, rather than playing through the first hour of the game like I’d intended I played it for about 3 hours. That wouldn’t be so terrible, except I was supposed to be catching a train to go and see my parents. In the end I didn’t arrive until gone ten in the evening, not quite what I’d planned originally.
For some of us trouble may go a little further than that, take a certain prison officer in the Phillipines. Stupidly he decided to partake in the crack that is Plants Vs Zombies whilst at work. Playing games at work might end in getting fired if you get caught for most people, so it’s hardly the best idea. Of course it does get a little worse when you’re supposed to be guarding prisoners and you’re distraction allows them to escape.
I wouldn’t say Plants Vs Zombies is entirely to blame, although PopCap are the undisputed kings of addictive gaming. No it is tough to blame a game when the officer left his keys within reach of the prisoners. Unless you’ve gone to the ‘easy escape in a movie’ school of jailing it seems like a rookie mistake, the zombie killing distraction just allowed them to get away before he noticed.
We need to remember, and remind the mainstream press at every chance, that games don’t always lead to trouble. Yes there have been a few, relatively rare cases where people on trial have blamed video games for influencing their crimes. It’s hardly like every gamer is a criminal, or every criminal a gamer. This study from the Secret Service suggests that gamers aren’t even the most troublesome group. On page twenty you’ll find some stats which indicate that only twelve percent of school shootings in the US can be linked to games, compared to twenty-seven percent for movies and twenty-four percent for books. The largest group (thirty-seven percent) actually express anger in their own writing, rather than being influence by others.
Sorry for that little spell of darkness in what was supposed to be a light hearted piece on the trouble that gaming has caused us. I think it’s my own bitterness about the way that the gaming industry is treated by main stream press that leads to spontaneous outbursts of relevant statistics. I’ll try and keep it in check in the future.
So to return to the light heartedness that’s supposed to be brightening your presumably dull Sunday – as pretty much all Sundays are dull – let’s hear what you’ve got to say about getting into trouble. Have you ever shot someone because of gaming or, more likely, forgotten to take out the rubbish? Have you suffered the nagging of a loved one due to your love of electronic entertainment? Of course don’t reveal anything that might get you thrown in jail, I actually advise against admitting to any acts of violence.
All credit to bunimomike for suggesting this and sending in the tip about the Phillipines. Good job.
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15/08/2010 at 12:03
Member since: May 2009
Just like to point out that it’s the 15th today mate. I’m sure of this ‘cos it’s also my birthday!
Nice article by the way. The only ‘trouble’ gaming has caused me is occasional dark looks from the missus!
15/08/2010 at 13:04
Member since: Apr 2010
happy birthday dude!
15/08/2010 at 13:18
Member since: Sep 2009
Yeah, happy birthday. Mine was on Friday..lol
15/08/2010 at 17:06
Member since: Jan 2010
Mine too :) Friday 13th no less.
15/08/2010 at 13:30
Member since: Feb 2009
Happy birthday to all of us, mine was on the 8th :-) surprising how many birthdays come this time of year, too many people stay in shagging during the freezing november :-)
15/08/2010 at 14:51
Member since: Aug 2009
oohhh that sent shivers down my spine with the images that popped into my head when I read that. Mine was the 5th by the way.
15/08/2010 at 12:13
Member since: Dec 2008
The occasional game level has caused blood pressures to rise which one day could lead to medical trouble. :0
15/08/2010 at 12:44
Member since: Apr 2009
dam right! stupid elite mode on killzone
15/08/2010 at 21:32
Member since: May 2010
driver 3 will kill you if played lol
15/08/2010 at 12:15
Member since: Oct 2008
I think Mike’s probably escaped from that phillipino jail, he’s a ladyboy by day and a cunning escape artist by night.
15/08/2010 at 12:22
Member since: Feb 2009
I regularly get moaned at by the mrs for spending time on my beloved ps3 when i should be doing so many more constructive things, then she’ll sit and watch neighbours, home and away, emmerdale, eastenders, corronation street and big brother! X factor’s starting soon so there’s another one to add to the list. Seriously though, i do annoy myself sometimes when i spend a couple of hours on my playstation when i’ve got other things that need doing. Teaching does my head in. There’s so much work to be done at home, but by the time i’ve done the 2 hour commute to get home the only thing i can be arsed to do is turn my playstation on.
15/08/2010 at 13:19
Member since: Dec 2008
Lol spot on :) :)
Tbf though the only thing she really moans about is me ignoring the cats or taking too long to turn the game off when she’s waiting for us to go out…Usually she’s in the car and trying to wear out its hooter at this point *Grin*
15/08/2010 at 13:28
Member since: Feb 2009
Replace the cat with 7 month old baby and you’ve described my situation to a tee.
15/08/2010 at 12:37
Member since: Jan 2009
Countless items of schoolwork /coursework have been handed in late, or been rushed the night before as a result of gaming. Other than that, well my food often goes cold and needs nuking.
15/08/2010 at 12:38
Member since: Nov 2009
the psn is under going maintenance apparently. can we confirm this please?
i know its off topic, so on topic: i’ve missed out on sex a few times through gaming, particularly warhawk
15/08/2010 at 12:41
Member since: Jan 2009
Says maintenance here too…
15/08/2010 at 13:18
Member since: Feb 2010
psn is undergoing maitenence for me as well.
15/08/2010 at 18:17
Member since: Dec 2008
I signed in fine earlier when someone else mentioned it
15/08/2010 at 12:46
Member since: Apr 2009
well the only harm i think its done me would be eating up time but honestly i spend more time on facebook now while i’m watching things on 4oD or bbc iplayer. now that in my mind is a bigger waste of time. at least at the end of the day when i play a game i feel like i’ve achieved something
15/08/2010 at 12:48
Member since: Nov 2008
I would like to express the opposite. Gaming has made my mind sharper, my reflexs better.
The other day i dropped my pen and i had it back in my hand before it hit the floor :D
15/08/2010 at 13:03
Member since: Jul 2009
Ever considered Jedi training?
15/08/2010 at 13:01
Member since: Aug 2010
I often find gaming takes out a lot of my time, if I didn’t play so much then I could focus more on school work. Mind you I do about an hour every day and thats it unless on the weekend Liverool ain’t playing, then I might treat myself to an extra 2 or 3
15/08/2010 at 13:08
Member since: Aug 2008
I think the most common problem for me is the amount of time I spend playing compared to the amount I planned. I often think “i’ve got an hour” but end up playing for 2 or more. This can lead to running out of time for the other jobs I had planned.
My girlfriend is actually very cool about it though and totally appreciates that playing my PS3 is my way of relaxing and unwinding so she won’t nag me to get off it unless I am really taking this piss and need a kick up the arse to stop.