Comment by notgood | Hacker News Reader

Comment by notgood | Hacker News Reader

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>A personal anecdote - I loved single-player video games until I was 18, but I stopped cold at that age. 5 years later, I tried to get back into it. I played some games that I used to like. I don't feel the things I used to feel while playing. Leveling up in Diablo just feels like accomplishing a chore - it feels meaningless.

"Growing up", that's what you are describing; I purchased Fallout 4 the day it came out, and after few minutes of playing and all I could see was bad hit-boxes and every NPC feels like a sound-recorder with a few different pre-recorded phrases. That game got pretty good reviews so its probably not about the game, its my perception of it. Old hobbies feeling meaningless happens to almost everyone, some people spent their youth reading but at their forties they barely read the news.

>This author seems to think that video games, in general, are definitely for everyone. I don't agree. Just like there are people who don't like reading or listening to music who manage to live whole, well-rounded lives, there are people who don't like playing video games.

Couldn't agree more; some people like extreme sports, some people don't, doesn't mean there is something wrong with every extreme sports, its just that we are different from each other, that's all.

> Growing up

You might want to edit that to "people change", since that's what it sounds you meant, instead of a phrase that evokes "becoming more mature/adult".

Nope. Its "growing up", most people who did skateboarding at their teens don't do it after growing up; saying "people change" is too vague, if you say "growing up" you are clearly pointing out that it was something they did as youngsters but not any more; and language exists for the sake of clarity and communications, so "growing up" is a good choice here.

I think to say that people stop doing things like skateboarding or video games because they are "growing up" condescends to these activities. I understand that people move on, but to "grow up" may imply that these activities are childish. I disagree with this sentiment; people get older and priorities change to family, work, physical health, etc.

Alright. In that case you are simply wrong. I know plenty of mature people with great families and careers who appreciate games like Fallout 4 and many others. Nothing to do with youth.

>>I know plenty of mature people with great families and careers who appreciate games like Fallout 4 and many others.

Yeah, but compared to younger people who appreciate video games, they are few and far between.

You're reading too much into what the poster is trying to say, and attaching some kind of baggage to the phrase.

The point isn't that only youngsters can enjoy video games, nor that video games are inherently immature, nor that the act of growing up necessitates that someone lose interest in gaming, nor that adults can't enjoy games.

The point is that video games are something the poster enjoyed as a youngster but no longer enjoys as an adult. That's all "growing up" means. You could s/video games/*/g, and it would still just be part of "growing up".

I picked up skateboarding again in my twenties after not skateboarding since middle school. Places where people discuss skateboarding online are filled with these kinds of people. Meanwhile I've lost interest in video games at the moment, but I still believe I will pick them up again at some point. I tend to switch hobbies, trying to find what I like. My interest in particular things can fade in and out. That's why I think "growing tired", "losing interest" or "moving on to other things" are better descriptors than "growing up".

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