Do you ever play games with the volume muted?

games ive played with the volume off so I could listen to podcasts, Uncharted 2, Peggle, Day of Defeat Source

I usually listen to something else, but usually don't mute the game, just keep it on a low volume.

Normally NO. There are times when I mute the sound if it's distracting. In Dead Space I was stuck on the asteroid shooting turret level. I played it so many I just wanted to break the disc in half. I read some tips about adjusting the brightness to see asteroids sooner and turning of the sound. I tried a few times with the brightness turned up then gave in on the muted sound tip. Got passed it on the first try. I have tried this on a few other games with sequences like that and it helped me. Normally I prefer the game music and sounds.

I'll listen to podcasts and music while I play multiplayer shooters and sports games. Not really ever during campaigns, though.

Only for MMOs. I like game music and the sound effects, so I almost always leave it on.

I only do that when I'm listening to music.

Maybe if I was playing a racing game or grinding in an RPG. I have a friend who played through all of Portal and Portal 2 muted. It made me infinitely sad when I heard about it.

Very very rarely. So, more on the side of no, but you said "ever" so I'm sure it'd have to be yes for everyone.

Nearly all my handheld games, as I am watching TV at the same time. As for consoles, generally no, but since I added a dedicated 43" screen for my games, yes, if others are watching the other nearby TV. Most of the time I use the headphones if it has voice acting, but games like GT5 can do without the sound.

Usually I don't mute totally but I turn music and voice all the way off and sound effects down most of the way.

Doing just that right now, with Dead Island.

I only do it after I've played a game normally, though, or if it's a casual game.

Not exactly muted but when I'm doing really secondary stuff (Collectables in Saints Row The Third is a good example) I'll have the Bombcast on or some music to drown out the sound.

Not usually. I only mute it if somebody asks me to.

Sometimes in Fighting Games other wise never.

Yes, but normally only when I'm grinding in an RPG. Then I'll have a podcast/music playing.

I jump on Swtor and listen to MBMBaM, when I come to a conversation I pause and unmute as soon as I'm out of it though MBMBaM is back on!

I also enjoy playing games while listening to podcasts. However, I don't mute the game completely as I like having some sound coming out of the TV.

There are a lot of games with terrible music.

I like listening to music while playing something like a multiplayer FPS, though I generally leave the sound loud enough to hear gunfire.

When I was really little I would play with the sound off when the game would get absurdly difficult or stressful because I believed that it would help me concentrate or relax or something. I miss those days when I cared enough about games to actually try to beat them, even in the face of adversity.

Yeah I fucking get it, game. I died. For like the millionth time.

I can't play games with the sound off. Well, I could....but it annoys me. I listen to the podcast while driving.

Not really muted per se, but I'll put the volume down way low while I listen to whatever radio or podcast show I have on my laptop.

I find I tend to play sandbox games or games with challenge rooms while listening to podcasts. It REALLY helps to do so if trying to get some collectibles in games (fuck you AC2 feathers)

I catch up on podcasts while gaming, so a lot of games I play muted. Anything without a strong story, really. I played through 100 hours of Skyrim with the volume off.

Yep, regularly but only for the right game. It lets me get some gaming time in while still being able to hear my kids/dogs/explosions in the neighourhood. WoW was great for this, actually.

I turn sound off most of the time when I'm playing sports games, and just load up Pandora instead.

The only three games I play with the sound muted are Guild Wars, Civilization and Simcity.

I do the exact same thing. I'm always trying to find games I can play while I listen to podcasts. SRPGs are really good, most action games are ok.

I do, but only for Civ 5. I usually have something on tv or music going on in the background while I play. Most other games I listen to the games music/sound effects.

If it's a game I've already beaten or I just don't give a crap about the story, then yeah. But I do that for podcasts.

Games where I actively dislike the music "Persona 3 battle theme etc." I will mute for the sake of making it more enjoyable, when it comes to podcast games, I tend to lower the volume instead of muting.

no, i enjoy my sound from video games. racing games i sometimes listen to music. i don't really need to hear the sounds.

I have muted the background music in some games and listened to podcasts or other music instead. Sometimes I turn down the sound effects, but usually won't turn them off.

Examples of games I have muted the music: Saints Row 2, Outland, Dungeons of Dredmor, Minecraft and Terraria.

Yes. Usually it's a game I'm replaying, like Borderlands, and I have the bombcast and other podcasts going.

Sometimes when I'm watching something online or listening to music.

Spent the entirety of the listening to the bombcast tonight grinding for Monster Materials in Final Fantasy XIII-2 so yes.

I usually leave it at around 20% for when I'm listening to Podcasts. I run my console's audio through the line-in on my soundcard so I can use my headphones with it.

no but sometimes ill have music going that drowns out most of it

Umm, if you're so bored of the game that you have to be doing something else at the same time...why in the nine hells are you even playing it?

Not really, although when I was platinuming Saints Row The Third I just listened to the bombcast.

Typically when I'm listening to a podcast on my pc i'll play a game where I don't need to hear the audio.

just cause 2 i turned off the dialog it got so annoying

when i was younger i use to turn of the volume for stuff i found scary.

also if in game music is over done i turn it off

If I'm in a music mood, sure.

Only when I play NHL.

Yes, sometimes, depending on the game.
Most recently Amalur, listening to the bombcast.

I don't really play a lot of games outside of LoL, Battlefield 3 and some ARMA2 here and there with friends these days, at which point I'm on skype with them. So nah, son

Yeah, sometimes I play games muted at certain point when I need full concentration (eg. boss battles) or if the background music is annoying.

Only sometimes when i feel like listening to a podcast or some music.

When I play games where I can kind of zone out(MMO's, minecraft, etc.) I listen to podcasts usually on speakers.

But when I play fighting games, I put on some headphones because shit is about to get real.