Relative to what, you ask? Good question! Rate your CURRENT level of gaming fandom, compared to your lifetime MAXIMUM level of gaming fandom. So, if you're enjoying games more than you ever have, you would say 10. On the other hand, if you used to loooove games, but barely play them anymore... maybe a 1 or 2?

And after you vote, post about why. Is it a reflection of the current gaming scene? Or just a shift in the role that gaming plays in your life?

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Maybe about a 7? I'm still enjoying the big hits when they come out and whatnot, but it seems like there's bigger gaps in between those times. It's not like when I was a kid and I had to game every minute I could.

I voted a 9. With the combination of insanely cheap games and me having more money to spend on them, I'm playing a wider variety of games now than I've ever played before. I just played through Thirty Flights of Loving this afternoon. That game did more in 15 minutes than a lot of games do in 15 hours! There's always something to be excited about.

...The problem is, I just don't have the time to sink into every game I want to play. Gaming isn't all I do anymore. I picked up Pokemon X nearly a week ago and I'm only five hours in! And even that's pretty good for me. Really, for me it's all about variety, whether that comes in the form of media or real life activities. Playing a two hour long game that's done something I've never seen before is awesome. Playing a game of tennis on a beautiful October morning is equally awesome. Trying out a Pumpkin Spice Blizzard: also awesome. Spending hundreds of hours trying to catch 'em all? Man, I'd love to, but I don't have the time.

I had to go with a 6 by the rules of basing it on my most obsessive periods... I played games every day when I was a child and would go through what felt like a game every week or two in high-school. I absolutely had to own every system and get games on their release date.

But now? I still love them, but I'm older, more jaded, less easy to excite and please on certain levels. Usually when I get home from work, I'm just too damn tired to even play them, and marathon sessions of more than a couple hours are exceedingly rare... I don't buy nearly as many as I used to, and I don't complete all of those that I do.

I still enjoy reading up on the industry and discussing the damn things on forums about as much as ever though. Go figure.

Mine's gonna be pretty freaking low, I think. Haven't decided exactly how low, though. I've been playing games for a looooong time. That might be part of the reason for my waning interest. Another big part is probably the way that the gaming scene has evolved. I kind of hate what mainstream gaming has become, especially since I grew up on arcade games. I actually played Donkey Kong at a pizza place today, and it was so refreshing (except for the bum stick!). Of course, that's the farthest thing from conclusive evidence. Any number of factors (like nostalgia) could play into that. Still, that arcade-style, high-intensity, skill-based thrill is what I always loved about gaming. And most modern games just don't provide that for me. I know, I know, indie games, mobile games, etc... It's not quite the same, though.

I'm not saying that I can't find enjoyment in any games anymore. There are still titles that appeal to me, even some (like Animal Crossing) that don't satisfy ANY of my stated preferences in gaming. And, although many people apparently feel that Nintendo has left them behind (or, perhaps, has been left behind), I think they're one of the few companies left that are still developing and funding classic, arcade-style games. Others may have seen Wii Sports as a sellout, but I found it to be a delightful return to the arcade roots of gaming, and I'm totally pumped to play it online. Which brings something else to mind.

I've generally had more fun with multiplayer gaming than single-player stuff. And, though I still occasionally play local multi, it's not nearly as frequent as when I was in school or college. Online can be fun, but it doesn't really touch the fun of local for me. It may be equally (or more) competitive, but it's just less communal.

Whine, whine, blather, blather. I guess I'll say... THREE.

At the moment 10.

Because it's all I ever do.

I also went with three. I was thinking of two, but then I decided I would be all alone at 2 and 3 already had a vote so I joined that party because I just want to fit in and be liked.

I'd say my 10 was probably during high school and the N64 days. I was RABID back then, playing games probably for 4-5 hours a day (coupled with school and sleep, that means most of my free time) and I would talk about them constantly. I was up there in the 9s during the Cubetoons days I guess, but then it was more of a bitter fandom, where I just yelled at Playstation lovers all day long. Not as much fun.

Three feels low when I say it out loud, but truthfully that's about where it lands now. I still enjoy games, but I'm super picky and most of my time goes to other things instead. Part of life I suppose, and I'm happy with my new hobbies that take up the time so it's all good!

@Anand

I think Gravity Bone would be right up your alley. Doesn't satisfy your appetite for arcade action, but it reminds me of your sense of humor. It's not "haha" funny, just... you'll see. Take 15 minutes to play through the first couple levels.

(Not to derail the thread or anything. Make a new one if you dig it!)

@Secret_Tunnel
Mayhap I shall. It definitely helps to hear that it's amusing in some way, rather than just depressing, like most stuff that gets tagged 'indie'.

Good question, I'll have to think about it. I love gaming, but I rarely have time to actually sit and play anymore. And when I do have free time, I really don't. I'll get asked to do other things. Or I'll remember there was something else more important I had to do instead.

I guess I'm getting old. My only free time to play games now is like, after 10pm, after the kids (who go down at 8pm) and the wife (who goes down at 10pm) hit the sack. But by that time? I'm so bushed from everything else I've done all day (plus knowing I'll have to wake up early the next day and do it all over again) I basically only have the energy to surf the net or watch some TV or something. Once in a while I'll try and play a game, but I'll be all fatigued and play really terribly. Which isn't fun. If I had a cup of coffee or something around 8pm or 9pm, I'll be good for a few hours, but then it'll be hard for me to fall asleep, which causes other problems.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I'll ponder on this question and see if I can assign a numerical value to my "fandom" as soon as I can.

I went with 4, but it's on a downward trajectory.

A bit like JKR says, my 10 would probably have been my school days (in my case, 4th - 6th grade, thereabouts) and I'd have probably repeaked around a 9 at the launch of the Wii.

But nowadays there's a combination of burnout and just a general lack of interest in the direction video game developers are going. I'd say it's a 4 because I'm playing Wind Waker HD right now and remembering why it's my 2nd favorite game of all time (after Ye Holy SMB3). So that's worth a point or two at least.

I'm thinking about maybe doing some PC gaming for awhile. I dunno. Or maybe reading books.

I dunno... 6? Just not finding the time for much gaming right now, and when I do it's late at night and I'm already half asleep. Enjoying what I play enough, I suppose, but nothing at the moment that is blowing me away.

Earthbound was nice though.

Honestly, probably about a 9. My "fandom" sort of comes and goes in waves--this summer, right after E3, I was feeling pretty bitter at Nintendo. But things have picked up lately and I'm enjoying games as usual. I don't play them as often, but that's more of a time/work thing than an interest thing. I still like them enough to draw two comics a week about them, after all.

It should be said that my gaming passion is directly tied to what Nintendo's doing. So if the big N is in a slump and I don't have a backlog handy, I'm gonna be more bored with games for awhile.

Zero said:

Earthbound was nice though.

Rock on.

I vote 9/10. I love games right now, and I've found some amazing ones in the past year alone, but 10 doesn't seem right to me.

Zero said:

Earthbound was nice though.

Reminds me of something Tim Schafer tweeted back in July. "Earthbound has renewed my faith... not in the industry, but in my ability to enjoy things."

@kriswright

You should play Gravity Bone too!

My enthusiasm also comes and goes in waves. As for right now, I voted a 5.

It's weird. I'm currently attempting to juggle GTA 5, Wind Waker HD and Pokemon Y... But I just keep going back to my MAME cabinet to play Dig Dug, Commando, Time Pilot, and Donkey Kong 3. Like Anand, I'm an arcade junkie.

Out of the above current games, Pokemon gets the most play because it's so easy to play in bursts. It helps that the 3DS has a sleep mode.

Also, with the baby coming in March, I've sort of switched my focus on getting the nursery ready and all that fun stuff.

@Secret_Tunnel

What the hell is Gravity Bone? And why does it have such a crappy name?

I'm going to rename it. Sinistar 2. There. Now it has a good name.

Tell me about Sinistar 2.

Probably about a 9. I am excited to see what next gen brings us and this year has been particularly good for gaming in my eyes.

It's funny reading these, as I seem to be in that period where most of you mention you had your tens.

@Pokefreak911

I hate you.

@Shadowlink
Old fart