Enjoying Gaming Again
:cry:
Why oh why.... I work with computers all day.... and I come home and work on computers some more.
I used to enjoy gaming, perticularly games like Sim City and Rollercoaster tycoon, but how I cannot get the enthusiasm for playing them because I would then feel guilty that I was not using the time to learn something that will enhance my career prospects, or doing something productive.
I also feel that with games you are simply carrying out someone elses predetermined sequence of events, or at least you are constrained by pre-defined barriers. I know this is a glass half empty way to look at it, but maybe this is a symtom of the state I'm in.
This mind set is a symptom of my studies, whereby for years every spare moment was time which should be spent working towards the completion of the doctorate. However I thought it would no now that over but it hasn't. Its like I still feel bad, and with the new job starting soon I now feel every spare moment should be spent learning relevant skills for that job.
I really do want to like games again, but I constructing programs even in ZX basic are more compelling. I own an arcade machine too... what a waste eh? :(
Why oh why.... I work with computers all day.... and I come home and work on computers some more.
I used to enjoy gaming, perticularly games like Sim City and Rollercoaster tycoon, but how I cannot get the enthusiasm for playing them because I would then feel guilty that I was not using the time to learn something that will enhance my career prospects, or doing something productive.
I also feel that with games you are simply carrying out someone elses predetermined sequence of events, or at least you are constrained by pre-defined barriers. I know this is a glass half empty way to look at it, but maybe this is a symtom of the state I'm in.
This mind set is a symptom of my studies, whereby for years every spare moment was time which should be spent working towards the completion of the doctorate. However I thought it would no now that over but it hasn't. Its like I still feel bad, and with the new job starting soon I now feel every spare moment should be spent learning relevant skills for that job.
I really do want to like games again, but I constructing programs even in ZX basic are more compelling. I own an arcade machine too... what a waste eh? :(
Post edited by Scottie_uk on
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Comments
The only games nowadays I do get a smidgen of enjoyment from are new Speccy games.
Having been stuck in this rut for quite a few years now, I have become interested in Cauldwell's PGD (and his other tools) and find myself enjoying creating landscapes/levels/rooms with those tools but usually run out of RAM and have not really focused on "releasing" any of the games I've made with those tools.
But who knows ... maybe I'll get some of them out this year at least for the Crap Games Compo.
I'm sure others may have suggested this but, you program day in day out, have you ever thought of maybe constructing a game of your own that fits the bill of what you would like to see in a game? You know what you are really looking for? I know this would be a bit of an anti-climax on the gameplay front for you as in my own experience playing your own games soon becomes a bit of a chore and soon after that becomes kind of devoid of any fun as you playtest and playtest some more.
But positive feedback from such things can be quite satisfying even if it is just a simple affair. I know this won't solve your problem, but it may help a little.
I know this may also not sound ideal but have you thought of investing in a console, that way you would be playing games on a mchine you have no connection to in your working life (I know you have your MAME-cab, but still?).
Erm anyway yeah just a thought? :)
It is something that takes time. In time you'll find that it's going to be a lot easier to fit all the things into your schedule.
That being said, I am having big problems to control my day as well. :)
Games List 2016 - Games List 2015 - Games List 2014
I have been working for years, but before uni I worked in the kind of places (non officey type jobs) where when you finish work, that's it. Maybe the new job coming soon will sort out my head a little.
Lets hope soon I'll be enjoying a nice cup of tea and game of Sim City.
(Unless you love your work, live and breathe it)
Also, try to have a different hobby than your work. That means, don't go to work for the gaming industry if you like programming and playing games in your spare time (unless it's your own company).
Games List 2016 - Games List 2015 - Games List 2014
Sometimes easier said than done though isn't it? I mean so many places now give out mobiles/blackberries or at a pinch access to work email from home, without being paid you are, in effect, on call 24/7.
Scottie, don't forget your life is changing, you're a Dad now, you've got a title, you are also getting older, it happens to us all. In a few years time you will be gardening, taking more interest in the news and talking to your wife about bowel movements.
Yes! You will suffer burn out very quickly unless you have some other problem which means you have to live, breathe and sleep the subject.
Oh come on fella ! I could understand if you said 'then i feel guilty as i'm not giving the baby time....' but you have to relax.
Some people walk the dog, go for a job, go down the pub, read a book, others have a quick go on a console or computer to relax. You cant be sat there 24/7 thinking 'i have to further my career and learn lots...'.
You may then have the best paid job in 10 years time but probably no friends or had no social life as you were training yourself 24/7.
Totally agree with ZnorXman, leave the work at home, have a good time with your missus, your kid, have a bit of 'me' time whether thats sport/pub/games etc. Whatever you do dont start feeling guilty about not training 24/7 ! Is this your first 'real' job after uni ? Just asking as i've seen this before, grads with tons of PHd's join, theyre keen as mustard and eager as anything but that soon changes and they become like everyone else.
You're not judged in life on solely how well you do with your job, have a social life, take care of your missus and kid, see your friends, just dont become some super swot training yourself up 24/7
I just want to do as well so I have somewhere to live in a nice area, with good schools so my child can have the chance of a good life and when he is old enough have the chance to go to a good university should he want to.
I don't want to be saying sorry sun, if I pay for your tuition fee's im cutting into my pension. I don't want to be old, cold and hard up.
Have some rolos. Play Sim City. Cuddle the family.
you might be dead when your 50 from over work. :-P
I tell you, after a few hours, it can get tedious.. so thankfully, I have my consoles in my workroom to help unwind.
We all do. Many of my friends who are doing very well career wise dont work from 6am till 11pm and then never see their kids as theyre trying to further themselves at a crazy rate.
Go ahead and dont have a social life/family life as you're working crazy hours then. I look at my dad, worked crazy hours, didnt see us kids that much and i know years later he regrets doing what he did.
There is a happy medium. All because you arent swotting doing work every single evening doesnt mean that your kid will go without or you're a bad dad. Again many of my friends/family have kids, they dont go crazy working 24/7. The time you give your kid right now is invaluable "Mummy wheres daddy ?", "oh hes in his room working again...."
Seriously get realistic, you've got a 5 month old kid, spend time playing with him and when youre at work work hard. Dont go OTT thinking 'there goes his uni education' the second you have a night watching tv or having a meal. You know i love ya Scottie but i think youre going a bit OTT here.
When our baby was born last year its given me a whole new perspective on life, making me push to work harder (i now start earlier every day) but i know time spent with the baby (and wife) is invaluable and cant be replaced
That's the wrong way of thinking of it.
1. If I pay your tuition fees you'll have better work prospects.
2. If you have better work prospects, likely you'll be better off.
3. If you're better off, you can look after me in my old age :-)
Good point. Right then I better get to work teaching him. Right tonight's lesson ZX Basic 101.
You have to ask yourself what is it that's motivating you towards this. Is it the money, respect, ego, supporting the family? You talk about your kid going to university. What if he/she doesn't want to go - a university education isn't the be and end all, there are plenty of great jobs out there without a degree.
My advice is spend your free time with your family. You will NEVER get that time back.
I didn't say I push him in that direction, but if we wanted to go, I'd like to have the resources available.
But the best you can is not only money/money for uni/nice presents for the kid, its also about spending quality time with them.
I mean the kids only 4 months old, dont start stressing about uni fees right now ! Do what every other family does and start panicking about that nearer the time. You'll be stressed about the price of car insurance right now despite not being able to drive for 17 years !
Just relaxxxxxxxxxx. Youre doing a great job, sure your wife is happy, a new job can be stressful, you want to move 'up the ladder' asap but give it time. I'm positive in 15 or so years you'll be high up, done well career wise and your nipper will be proud of you (and even more so when they get a car bought for them and uni money).
But take it one step at a time fella ! Just calmmmmmmm down ! (Plus i've seen MANY 'friends' who grow up totally spoilt, cars bought for them, uni credit card paid off and not having to do a part time job as mum/dad smother them silly) and they act like some z list celeb.
Seriously, the nippers only 5 months old, dont start worrying about working crazy hours for their uni fee right now. Seriously
Scottie, in case PSJ's last two posts were a bit overwhelming I have kindly brought them together and edited a condensed version for you. All I have done is delete some sentences leaving behind the essentials :smile:
ha ha you made him look like he is on speed. :-P
Sorry ! I came over ewgf like (no miles dont edit that sentence to sound rude)
Oo-er!
I'm currently working for myself and pretty much everything that I do that is not work related leads to guilt. My PS3 has stood unused for over a year now and I even bought Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the Wii and it is completely unused due to feeling guilty if I was to play a game.
Movies are less of a commitment. I sometimes watch a movie whist eating a meal or to appease the gf and I know it'll be over in 90 minutes or 2 hours. Guilt is still there but somehow games lead to more guilt.
I'm going to try to get into an office as soon as I can so that I can have a clean separation between work and home.
Its a very good point well made. I made a new years resolution to stay off WOS when at work. Didn't last 5 mins. WOS is more addictive than cigarettes. BTW I don't smoke.
I managed 6 months off WOS. I'm on a relapse.
Its a cult, once you join you just cant leave
We are all just prisoners here, of our own device.