Recently my girlfriend who I love very much (just in case she reads this) told me that I buy too many games. Even before that statement left her lips I went on the defensive. Siting multiple reasons why I buy the games and basically justifying why a big chunk of my month’s pay goes into games and gaming hardware and accessories. But does that really mean I am addicted and if so, should I really do something about it?

The following few days after my girlfriend made the comment (which may I add was just off hand not really a dig at me or a big statement, she wasn’t being a bitch or anything) I started feeling that she may be right. Even before I get paid I plan out my money. I make sure I have enough to get the games I want, they seem to take priority. My excuse has always been, “it’s my hobby”. But it seems that it is a very expensive hobby. I think I have spent nearly £200 in the last 2 days on games and pre-orders alone. So now I have finally come to the realisation that yes I am addicted to buying games, but is that really a problem.

I don’t think it is, I always budget it right so that I can afford to live throughout the month, never have a problem with money. So why should I not buy games. I love games, I love playing them and I love the way they look on my shelf. Some people are proud of their book collections, I am extremely proud of my collection of games and blu rays. They take pride of place in my room on their multiple shelving units. I do agree however that maybe I do buy too many games each month as sometimes I may not even play the game or barely play it. For example I bought Dead Island as soon as I got home from Tunisia 3 weeks ago, played the game for approximately 5 hours and then received Gears of War 3. Now I haven’t touched Dead Island since and maybe never will.

I have therefore decided that I will now only buy games that I know I will enjoy and not buy a game “just for the sake of it”. This will hopefully cut back on my spending and leave me more time to really enjoy the great games. That to me seems like a great compromise and should save me a fair bit of money (which will probably go on nights out and beer….bet you can’t wait for my am I addicted to alcohol post).

Nah. Some folks are addicted to sex, gambling, caffeine, nicotine, other drugs, church, being a dick, facebook, hating themselves, etc, etc, etc... While it's certainly not the least expensive addiction/hobby, it's one of the least harmful, IMO.

Being addicted to anything is bad.

Save some money to buy a house for both of you to start a family. 'nuff said and wish you luck.

Stop playing games for a while and work up a backlog. That way, you can get way more games for your money.

@nutta27:

I think any addiction is dangerous. Life, like our own bodies, works best around balance.

Maybe the reason why you have to buy so many games is because you... buy so many games. Like any other addiction, you can create a 'tolerance'. For example, I might by one game a month... maybe two. That's my normal. You probably have a different normal. You become used to that.

Maybe you can ween yourself off of spending so much time/money buying... more time playing.... Or say, "for every game I buy, I have to set aside a certain amount for savings, or retirement, or my gf (she'll love that).

As long as it isn't holding you back, I don't see a problem. It's still probably not the healthiest behavior, but if you can budget out your time and money so it's not a negative impact on your life, whatever.

I've learned to be more selective. Think less about what the games media is talking about, and more about what you're into.

I'm all for having fun, and in theory have nothing against collecting. In principle though, money has all sorts of uses, from food to charity. But I'm really just saying for myself, and have a few games I havn't gotten to myself. You have to rationally examine your priorities.

Are you actually playing those games? If not, then it's a problem.

@MrKlorox said:

Nah. Some folks are addicted to sex, gambling, caffeine, nicotine, other drugs, church, being a dick, facebook, hating themselves, etc, etc, etc... While it's certainly not the least expensive addiction/hobby, it's one of the least harmful, IMO.

I think it depends on the degree of the addiction.

Being addicted to anything is bad.

I thought i was addicted to buying arcade games i never finish. You made me feel much better.

@FluxWaveZ said:

Being addicted to anything is bad.

Nobody is without addiction.

@nutta27 said:

I have therefore decided that I will now only buy games that I know I will enjoy and not buy a game “just for the sake of it”.

Stick with this and I guarantee your enjoyment of gaming will get better. You'll play that game because you want to, not because you can. The problem that oh so many Steam games are living with today.

Forever grayed out.

Spend nothing on games for a month.

Save money, detox(?) a bit, maybe check out some free to play games you never would have looked at normally.

Or dont, fuck I dunno.

"@nutta27 said: I have therefore decided that I will now only buy games that I know I will enjoy and not buy a game “just for the sake of it”. Stick with this and I guarantee your enjoyment of gaming will get better. You'll play that game because you want to, not because you can. The problem that oh so many Steam games are living with today. Forever grayed out."-wolf_blitzer85...................................yep, i will be seeing that uninstalled steam game of Kane and Lynch2 for 5 dollars till the day I die. Same with some better games on that list, also. Just so hard to pass up....

@bybeach: Yeah I got hitman blood money in that same promotion ....I fucking hate hitman games

Any sort of addiction is bad because it's a loss of control.

You're only addicted when you start buying multiple copies of the same game.

Dude your a fat ugly git, your GF is nice looking. Do yourself a favour and stop buying games.

Your Gf is cute you should listen to her.

Other than she looks like your sibling... wait is that your sister?

@Contro: resident evil 4...i own it on gc, ps2, wii and now 360 :(

@SQ42: this is coming from a man who has never even kissed a girl and lays in bed at night dreaming of one day speaking to a girl, penis is hand, crying his eyes out.

@nutta27 said:

@Contro: resident evil 4...i own it on gc, ps2, wii and now 360 :(

That's acceptable, given the game, but I was referring to multiple copies on the same platform.

@Contro: yeah dude that is pretty bad...I own 4 copies of sacrface blu ray but they were presents....I bought one, my mum got me one, my missus got me the special edition and my gran got me it on DVD (or as she says VD)