This is more for discussion, maybe some of you can handle it
I didn't even game often, but it constantly occupied my headspace. I spent tons of cash on Nintendo and steam just to barely play game but look forward to them. Or I would play them and it would just feel like a huge time sync and not fun.
I'm 40 now with 4 kids. I always justified it as a way to bond with them or something I deserved. I would say it was not as bad as doomscrolling or social media.
What kept me in the most was just memories of gaming. I just couldn't recreate the happy times. But I kept trying anyway. I tried moderation but I just cannot do it.
I decided to quit them all. It's liberating not to try for achievements or set arbitrary time limits. I no longer spend mental energy seeing what slop is too woke And acceptable.
I feel like this is something I should have done when I had my first kid years ago. It's a complete waste of time beyond some good mental exercises many of you cocks shamed vidya, and I salute you for it.
Everyone reading this under 40. Don't waste years like I did.
The gaming communities themselves that are pushed in our media are just trash though.
The shooters are now just grinding life stealers like the mmo's are and gambling simulators to get kids hooked.
Was just different with sayy N64 and kids playing Golden Eye, Mario Kart for a couple hours, no grinding, no microtransactions, skins etc.
Never did the Halo thing because my Dad always had a gaming PC. I played Starsiege Tribes multiplayer before the aimbots hit and a kid I knew had a few computers for counterstrike lans. Was a lot of fun. The more esports were pushed the more online it went, the more people cheated. Was just a waste of time lol.