One of the comments about gaming blogs from Zonk’s last call for submissions gave me pause:
Gaming blogs are for people that don’t actually play the games, and would rather write about them than fire them up and play them.
When I stopped to think about it, lately I’ve been spending more time with the blog then actually playing video games. I’ve been busy with real life stuff and the Carnival that I just haven’t played much. Just in the past couple of days have I had a chance to sit down a do a little gaming. I get my daily Animal Crossing in but I hadn’t played much else. I’ve finally been able to get back to Fire Emblem on the Gamecube and I’ve started blasting baddies again in Resident Evil 4. The mercenaries mini game, to be exact. I can’t get enough of it.
So I don’t want anyone to think I’m not actually playing any games. Sometimes it just seems like I’m not.
Prognosticator says
Happens to me all the time. In fact, on the way home from work today, I promised myself, “No writing, reading or blogging. Just play something already.” And I did. I kicked around in Guild Wars for awhile… and now, I’m commenting on your blog. Does that count as a violation of my promise?
Jeremiah says
I know what you mean. Since I started my new blog http://www.conservativebuckeye.com (shameless plug). I havent been able to play games or catch up on my tivo. I try to blog 2-3 threads a day and it is hard to find time to do the other loves of my life. They all involve my couch. So I made a promise to spend more time with my couch and less time with my other woman the Office Chair.
Jeffool says
Ahhh, the perks of updating your blog about once or twice a week. 😀
I get in my daily Animal Crossing and usually play ‘something’ every other day or so. Though I’m sure that when my copy of Guitar Hero gets here, that’ll be my new heroin.
Peter says
Well, I don’t think it’s all that weird to write and not play. I read and don’t play. I bought Guild Wars around thanksgiving thinking: Ok, I used to love games, I read a gaming blog, why am I not playing any games??
Played for two weeks, set it down one day, haven’t picked it up sense. Faithfully been reading buttonmashing the whole time. I guess it’s just that I care more about the business and culture of gaming than about the games themselves.
VanHemlock says
I tend to write my posts from a place where You Aren’t Allowed to Play Games anyway. If I had to do them during my gaming time, I’m not entriely sure that I would. :/
Brinstar says
Sounds just like the divisive, arrogant position that the “hardcore” gamers hold about the “casual” gamers. If I only have time to play games 1 hour or 2 hours a night per week (if that), then I don’t think this makes me less of a gamer just because I update my blog a few times a week.
Josh says
I dunno, seems like common /. trolling to me. Clearly people who write game blogs would prefer to do little else but play games, but there are only so many hours in a day. Yesterday I snuck in about an hour’s worth of Advance Wars: DS. Day before that, it was a late night Guild Wars session. Day before that, a couple rounds of Mario Kart over NWF with The Brother. Before that, an afternoon of Katamari.
And of course, I’ve been working on IF every day for about the last week or two, and prior to that it was the 2D game and before that…
Wait, sorry, I think I better go check to make sure I still have a job.
Singe says
Last I looked blogging about gaming doesn’t mean that you don’t participate. I certainly am playing and if my last two days on Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is any indication, that Slashdot reader is wrong. I balance both very well thank you.
Troy Goodfellow says
So how is blogging about gaming any different from posting on Slashdot about gaming?
Tony says
Glad to see I wasn’t the only one who saw the irony in the comment. I knew it would strike a chord with most gaming bloggers. I just spent the last hour and a half playing Mercenaries in Resident Evil 4. I’m actually blogging and commenting when I should be sleeping.
It’s almost hard core. Reading some of your responses has given me a glimpse of the real hard core!