Hello Vizzed. This is my first thread, so I apologize, moderators, if this is in the wrong area.

Alright so a couple of months ago, I watched a movie called "Free-to-Play" by Valve. Its an inspirational movie about how the lives of gamers changed when they spend their all their time on a DotA 2 Championship. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjZYMI1zB9s

After watching the whole thing, it really got me to wonder why I play video games. Without thinking, its to waste time, obviously. But why do we always feel compelled to waste time on games? Why do we always focus on games first and reality later? How exactly has video games affected our lives as a result?

For me, video games IS life. RPGs taught me how to be efficient and tactical by using math to keep my characters alive. They also taught me reading and writing with compelling story lines and charming character personalities, to keep me engaged. MOBAs taught me my lack of social skills, allowing me to handle people better, and a big reason as to me joining more communities, such as Vizzed. I would even say all of this helped me in school as I can relate to many games for a deeper understanding of the concepts I'm learning.

Without video games, I would not be myself, and I don't want to imagine a scenario where I didn't have them. So I ask you, members of Vizzed, what impact has video games on your lives?

Video games are my life, I have been playing them since I turned 3, and have loved them ever since. I first played Mario 3 on the Game Boy Advance, and I got addicted within half an hour.

Video Games are my life, have they shaped my life? Probably yes. I spend most of my time/ days playing video games, even watching live streams of other people play video games. 

Video games have shaped my life in many ways as well. For one thing, playing video games is my most entertaining hobby besides watching sports. Another reason is because I feel like they were one of the first things I was ever passionate about. Without video games, I know I wouldn't be the same person I am today, and I would be bored all the time if it weren't for video games.

I have a video game geek I admit it... I guess the most shaping it had for me was influence my musical tastes. It's literally the only thing I have on my computer. It also made me loath (American) football since it kept me from playing my video games. Finally, since I was rather lonely when I was younger, video games gave an espace door.

I won't deny that video games have shaped my life, but I honestly consider the shaping to be a good one.  I can read well even though I'm dyslexic, for example, and I don't really think I would have that if I didn't have games that required me to read a lot in order to do things correctly. Don't get me wrong, I love books and can't get enough of them, but I can SKIM books without there being much consequence. With games, I can't really do that if I want to progress properly  (at least in reading-heavy games). 

They've also helped me with my concentration, and I don't mean that in the way you probably think. I've always had this issue with being singularly  hyperfocused -- I'll  concentrate on one thing and one thing only to the exclusion of everything else, which is NOT GOOD TO DO. With the games I like to play, I have to concentrate on various things all at the same time if I want to do well (and who wants to do poorly in a game, seriously?) so I have to divide my concentration. I still hyperfocus way too much, but I can at least be concentrating on more than one thing now, which is helpful. 

Loving and playing video games as much as I do also had the effect of making me appreciate music. I even learned how to play the flute for the SOLE purpose of being able to play some of the Final Fantasy piano arrangements with my mother on piano. It wound up getting me into band in high school, and I was a first seat flute. I also have a greater appreciation for instrumental pieces as a result, which has probably helped my stress levels at least a LITTLE.

Last but not least, I met my best friend in the whole wide world through video games. I love her like a sister, and she loves me the same. If we both didn't play Pokemon, we'd have probably never have met, and I would be missing out on one of the most amazing friendships and adoptive families that any one person could ever have. I'd also be missing out on an amazing novel series that MAY one day get published with my and her names right side by side as the authors...and that's not me being biased because I'm helping write it. Everyone we've shown progress bits to have said it's amazing, so we have to be doing SOMETHING right.

I honestly and truly think that if it weren't for me being a video game geek, none of this would have happened, and I would be missing out on SO much. 

A bit of escapism I suppose is all I ever ask. But sure, there were some life lessons there as strong as for anyone who ever had read a good book, saw a movie or read a comic. Or ever saw a band live, heard a record or read the lyrics of a song. Or read a poem or saw something spectacular in an art gallery. It is part of our culture and heritage just the same. It will continue to groom us and shine path towards our future for sure... The so called interactive media.

Believe it or not, video games helped me learn English. When I was young my parents refused to speak English around the house, so school was a real struggle when I started learning. Lucky for me, my cousin had just gotten a PSX and I played through FF7, 8, and 9, all of which have a lot of dialog. There was a lot of it that I didn't understand at the time, and it took me forever to beat them, but I think that it helped a lot.

As for what it means to me now, it's just a way to pass the time. I enjoy them, and while I once wanted to make a career out of it, I realized that I would probably get much more joy out of it by just playing them.

Video games have shaped my life a lot but its not from actually playing the games which I don't do a lot of. Video games are what got me interested into some YouTubers which got me interested in making YouTube videos, and because of videos, I'm always doing game reviews, news articles, and social media stuff all over the place which kind of ads to a professional feel that I can use one day.

Video games have shaped my life dramatically. Between making friends and even relationships, giving me an outlet to relax, and just being able to lose myself in new and amazing worlds. Gaming has given me a life that as a child I never thought I'd have. it makes me feel good being able to talk to friends who actually like playing the same games I do. Being able to make relationships that, who knows? They may last life times. The online community can be a bit mean sometimes, but many people are quite nice and generous. Gaming is really the only way I make friends nowadays. It's a good social outlet. 

One way video games have helped me in life is by helping me calm down. You see, the condition I was born with makes me emotional at times, and I can get angry a lot. My way of coping with my anger is by playing a game. It helps really well, too.

Video games are a nice and cool thing to have. Especially if you feel you may get bored why not play one of your favorite video games. Video games can help put fun in my day. Some games I love to play like basketball games or football games. I like playing the season mode wondering what my stats going to look like by the end of the season.

I grew up on video games. Honestly, video games have probably defined who I am. I have gotten a lot of my characteristics and quirks from characters that I have played as, or identified with. 

Now a days, I play games because I want something to do. But, it used to be that I played games because I was so addicted to them, I could not get through the day without my fix.