Defending the Sport I Play...

[Ticks]

Anyone ever find themselves having to explain why they are so engrossed in playing a 'video game' such as FFXI? Being in my 40's, I on occasion have to explain why I am always sitting at my computer night after night playing a game.
I tell my friends that its not a video game so to speak but a sport. Then I have to explain myself.
I tell them the obivous on how good the game looks and about all the different places to explore and the in depth story-line associated with the experience, but also that a person has to study his occupation (or should), train his abilities, and practice his skills. 'What for?' they ask. I inform them that your team depends on it. "Team?" Yes! A team of six with each individuals doing different jobs working together to obtain a common goal. Not unlike playing soccer in that if one team member fails to do his job - the whole team suffers.
I explain to those who call me anti-social that I meet and interact with folks from all walks of life from all over the world on a daily basis and make the best of friends while exploring Vana'diel. They still look at me out of the sides of their eyes not buying it so I tell them to go home and see what's on television like they do night in and night out.

[Jei]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

I avoid letting my friends seeing me playing FFXI hahaha. If I know someone's coming to visit me, I log out. If im in a PT I just tell my friends that im busy and not let them into my room ;o

[Rodin]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

http://www.ifoce.com/index.php

If that's a sport. Then FFXI is a f-----g endurance race.

[Hitokami]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

I dunno if I would call this a sport, but I feel ya on this one. It is hard for people to accept someone staring at a screen all day because they see it as if the screen was turned off. They dont see the fun it is to explore and they dont see the social aspects of the game. Many of my friends call themselves avid gamers but they only play Madden for about 3 hours a day. They dont think that a game should take a loong time commitment and they never will unless they experience it for themselves.

I say we need to let our friends know exactly why its fun to play mmorpgs in general and maybe try to introduce them into playing them. I know I was a critic of Everquest back in the day but after playing games such as Ragnarok and Runescape, I was lead into the great world of MMOs and I was gone forever. People will never accept us for looking at a screen all day unless they know that its fun. Be proud of your gamer background.

[mobkon]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

I definitly would NOT call this a sport. Its a game, as much as monopoly is a game, this is a game. Sports involve physical activity.

Sport: Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
A particular form of this activity.
An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

I think if I told my friends FFXI was a sport they would just laugh right in my face. And I would do the same, haha

[Ziero]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

I never have and never will think of any video game as a sport, and I am an avid game. I have been playing this game for easily a year and a half and I play plenty of other game all the time too so I'm not one of those FPS/Sport game only type 'gamers'(infact those are the two types of games I don't play often). But calling a video game a sport is a bit of a stretch to me, even if it is professionally competitive it's still just a video game. At most I'd call it a hobby or a passtime, but you get a much different feeling when you actually play a real sport.

Calling a video game a sport is like calling Fantasy Football a sport. There are just as many stats and numbers in fantasy football as there is in your average video game, especially a RPG. Unlike sports, no matter how hard you try a video game is all a matter of luck. You can strive for the best gear, have perfect timing with all your spells and abilities and do everything you can possibly do right, but whether you hit the mob or not is just a matter of luck.

As for having to explain what I do and why I play, it's simple to do. I find this game fun. It does not matter what anyone else thinks or feels, I enjoy spending my time in the world of Vana D'iel. My friends don't need to agree with more or even understand why, they have their interests and I have mine. Not everyone will see greatness in the same things you do, nor will you see greatness in the same things they do, but just cause some people can't see it don't mean something ain't great.

[Ziero]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

I dunno, that Boom! Headshot! guy seems to getting quite a workout and burning lots of calories. Especially when he smashes the keyboard.

Seriously though, it's a hobby and form of entertainment to me. If my friends don't understand it, I'm not going to push the issue and just say it's what entertains me. If they are interested, I'll share my thoughts on it.

It's kinda sad that my bro and his friends act like that when they play Madden ._.

[Jabeo]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

Seriously though, it's a hobby and form of entertainment to me. If my friends don't understand it, I'm not going to push the issue and just say it's what entertains me. If they are interested, I'll share my thoughts on it.

That's pretty much how I feel about FFXI as well.

[Blood Red Poet]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

Only 4 friends(who are in my class) know I play FFXI, the rest have no idea. They do give me shit about it tho.

[Macht]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

I dunno, that Boom! Headshot! guy seems to getting quite a workout and burning lots of calories. Especially when he smashes the keyboard.

Seriously though, it's a hobby and form of entertainment to me. If my friends don't understand it, I'm not going to push the issue and just say it's what entertains me. If they are interested, I'll share my thoughts on it.

Lol! Yeah, I'm not sure now. That really does look like it could qualify it as a sport >.>

[Narwe]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

Anyone ever find themselves having to explain why they are so engrossed in playing a 'video game' such as FFXI? Being in my 40's, I on occasion have to explain why I am always sitting at my computer night after night playing a game.

I hear you loud & clear Ticks. I'm 23 & married. My husband and I both play FFXI together. It's how we wind down at the end of the day and if we're not doing anything on the weekend we're glued to the keyboard playing & leveling together.

My parents think we're being "lazy" and complain cause I never make time to come see them. I understand where their coming from. I should log off & get my butt over there to see them....but does anyone really pay any attention to the blurb about not letting your RL suffer? I WANNA PLAY!!!!!

[Kagetsu]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

I dont think Ticks was actually stating that FFXi was a sport, but its along the same lines as one. People will always see the hardcore gamers as the one who 'have no life' and such. Lets use Basketball in our example. Takes 5 people on each team, both aiming to score a goal. The individuals on each side need to practice their skills on their own time as well as with others from their team. They must practice quite often to retain their skills so it takes a lot of their time. Applying this to the real world, lets imagine that I played basketball all the time. My parents would see me as a kid who likes to go out and have a good time, and others would probably know me because I played basketball. The difference between Basketball and FFXI is that in Basketball, you meet an talk to people face to face. With FFXI, you meet and talk to people through the third person. It probably wont change, but if it doesnt involve physical activiy, its going to be looked down upon and never taken seriously because it doesnt involve a face to face connection.

I've played FF for over tow years now, and constantly try to defend this point of view. To me, FFXI is my 'sport' I play it very frequently, and I build my skills and reputation within it, as you would do with any other activity there is to do in this world.

And FFXI is also a form of entertainment and a 'sport', jsut as Basketball is a form of both as well.

Its hard to grasp and talk about this whole idea but if you apply and compare, you can understand where im coming from.

[fuz]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

I look at FFXI like building a model kit, which is now a virtual avatar instead of pieces of plastic with paint. It's like I'm 7 years old again in my imaginary world, but with friends to play with. The part that hooks me is that FFXI is much more interactive than a physical toy that says still in a static pose.

Or at least until I get my very own real life gundam or busty robotic cat-girl... ;3

[DakAttack]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

I bought Warhammer models just so I could paint them. I've never played a game of it in my life, but painting and constructing the models was fun.

[Zempten]

Re: Defending the Sport I Play...

I personally see MMOs to be a ADVANCED chat room.

You talk with people (admit it, you have seriously got to talk to people to get points across - wether you talk nice or harsh is not the point) is the chat room part. The "advanced" part is the leveling, crafting, events, NM hunts, missions, etc.

Plus I kind of think it's a perk in any relationship (if done together). I mean no matter who your with (friends, significant others) if you talk with them ALL the time. . . . . your going to kind of run out of stuff to talk about . . . eventually. FFXI gives me something to talk about such as about other people in the game, gilsellers, the most reason massive MPK,. It's just something to do together that isn't exactly hindered by realistic rules i.e: magic

I know people are never going to support playing games and that we're looked down upon most of the time, but what matters is we have our fun and if friends want to join, then the more the merrier.