What do you love about gaming?

[EvilBoris]

I haven't played any RTS in years. one of my favourite genres for sure.

Get yourself C&C on 360, tis ace online.

[kuro-tsuno]

When I was into gaming alot it was escapism from my real life. I think thats the biggest reason why I don't play games that much anymore I don't want to escape from my life anymore.

The fact you could do things in games that you could never physically do in real life. Like levitating to the highest point in Morrowind then dispelling it and letting your self fall :P and surviving cause you've drank like 50 potions that increase your health.

[Paddy]

How playing fighters that are the same one-on-one setup and how they can be so varied (to me) each time.

Games like Virtua Fighter 5, TekkenR, DOA, KOF XI, SF III: Third Strike, GGXX, SFA, Marvel VS Capcom, Capcom VS SNK, Darkstalkers & the recent one I've turned my attention to is Spectral VS Generation (only ?8 from Morrisions!) all seem to influence each other but they old hold their own value and are very good quality to play.

Long live the beat-em-up!

[wakka]

I like the detritus that builds up in the grooves of joypads. It's very satisfying to scrape it out with a toothpick and to cultivate some unholy string of dead black skin.

Someone else does this! Unbelievable. It really is inordinately enjoyable.

[Freddo]

some people don't do that and just let the crud mount up until it buries their entire house?

[Soi]

Great thread.

For me, although I like the odd single player game, gaming is all about playing with others. I guess it is fair to say that I'm competitive -probably very competitive compared to Joe Average guy, but I don't take games that seriously. I'm not especially good at games, and I don't mind losing at all (though, of course, I don't like losing... ). It doesn't matter what the game is, I just like to compete. I'd play tiddlywinks for hours if given a decent opponent.

Since I was old enough to pick up a joystick, games have been a tool for competing. I've brothers who are 14 and 11 years older than me, and I grew up playing games of all sorts with them (from video games to football in the garden). When you are 6 there aren't many things that you can do better than your 20 year old brother. But, given enough practice, playing Way of the Exploding Fist on the Spectrum is one.

Live has been the best thing ever to happen to gaming as far as I'm concerned. It has taken the social aspect of online gaming to a new level. I count those who I play regularly with as proper friends and not just people on my Friends list.

[Rocky Bison]

Gaming is often like meditation for me.

Especially 2d shoot em ups. And Street Fighter Zero 2/3.

I guess I like the relaxing element. Although certain games have been far from relaxing, causing me to throw my joypad/joystick at the wall. Particularly when playing against Super Nashwan on Speedball 2 many years ago...

[dogen]

I would think I play games more for story than anything else - it's why I'm not really into movies and film. Games offer plot and interaction over a greater length of time, and that works for me.

Other than that, games are great window for new art and music. That I love.

[dataDave]

I like beating people.

and the music.

I love it when I find stuff like this too...

[Ady]

Lots and lots of things.

I love the buzz you get when you defeat a tricky boss or stage.

I love the way you can just see yourself progress and get better with score-based games.

I also enjoy the immersion of story-based titles, and both love and hate the empty feeling you get after you finally finish one such game, and realise you're going to miss playing it.

[Concrete donkey]

I love being absorbed into a different world, story based or otherwise. I love playing along with stories that exist in games like Final Fantasy, or creating my own story filling in the blanks to the game in ones like Civilization. (I guess this is why I love Alpha Centauri so much). I love it when my choices influences the storylines, like Knights of the Old Republic or Deus Ex, or better, when the story and world influences my decisions in a way I wouldn?t have predicted like Oblivion. I love the discovery of the new worlds (Civ, Oblivion), the journey?s taken (FFX) and the feeling I get from games like Jade Empire where for a moment you?re really fooled that you know kung-fu by the end of it all.

The internet has brought a new dimension to gaming, but not in online gaming but the communities formed by our common interests. My favourite online experience was in Animal Crossing for example. The anticipation of new games and consoles coming out. Though it does seem that no matter what I have there?s always something better round the corner deserving of endless speculation.

[dataDave]

I guess this is why I love Alpha Centauri so much

Me and my mates caned this as well. Everything about AC was outstanding, and then the expansion came out with all the new races + tech.

[Emir]

The fact that I can ignore the missus for a few hours a day.

[Champloo]

Final Fantasy XII has reminded me that the real thing I love about games is mindless RPG levelling up.

Well thats the main thing. I do like a good bit of action, be it a shooter, fighting, racing game you name it, but a RPG with lots of levelling, lots of items to collect and (granted its pretty rare) a good story really gets me going.

[danholo]

Lately I've gotten bored with 'gaming' quite a bit. While I do enjoy games it merely acts as a conduit to escape reality. They really serve no purpose but to waste time. Since my favorite 'genre' is J-RPG I used to like to immerse myself into an imaginary universe. Today, I have a hard time enjoying it.