Below is a link to a short presentation regarding Kids and those infernal "games" they (you?) spend all their (your) time playing. Yup. They actually do make you smarter! The 16 minute presentation is hosted by "TED, Ideas Worth Spreading". While there, take a look around, as there are a lot of interesting topics covering a wide spectrum of issues.

http://www.ted.com/talks/gabe_zichermann_how_games_make_kids_smarter.html
Synopsis of presentation: "Can playing video games make you more productive? Gabe Zichermann shows how games are making kids better problem-solvers, and will make us better at everything from driving to multi-tasking."


Regardless of what the guy in the video says, I feel as though I lose a few IQ points every time I try a new game.

PS: If anyone knows where the heck I put my bifocal glasses and house slippers, please let me know.....

When someone points out my gaming habits, I point out his hobbies (even if we do share the same hobbies) and give him the same reaction he gives me.

Meh. I don't let my love of video games cross into addiction, so I don't see a reason to acknowledge anyones mocking me if they did, but all my pals are gamers so I'm not to concerned.

I play games anytime I feel like and they usually take up most of my spare time, but thats only because no one wants to do anything else and I'd rather play and talk to my friends via Xbox than go out by myself
My mum points out I play too much, then I point out shes been playing Farmville/Bejewelled or on Facebook more than I played my game, she shuts up.
My dads does the same, Dad: "Oh you play too much, yada yada." Me: "You drink too much", he shuts up.

They know better than to challenge me. If they ever criticize my hobbies, I retaliate by reminding what they did when they were young (drinking, drinking and more drinking). Instant victory.

Personally I'd rather go drinking than game...

Not my parents, but some of the ignorant people I share a university class with sometimes. One person actually openly sneered at me the other week when I was talking with a friend about a game. With a friend! This conversation didn't include the sneering person, but she felt the need to comment anyway.

I don't care though. I don't drink and I don't smoke, so I'm perfectly happy with gaming being my vice.

This sounds sounds pretty effective actually.

Meh. My parents are cool with it. I just don't like being called a "gamer". It's a damn hobby, not a lifestyle, Its insulting frankly as it implies that I have no other interesting qualities. Yes I mad.

Nope in fact my Dad plays on his iphone almost all the time .

And after you show them that video they'll show you this http://healthland.time.com/2011/11/18/brain-changes-in-video-gamers-addiction-or-just-people-having-fun/

Video games making someone more productive sounds like propaganda to increase sales nothing new here.

I played some during the 80's but my parents never got on me because I spent most of the time outside doing other things. I think if I grew up in this day and age where I'm much more of a serious gamer I dont think it would have mattered as long as I stayed in my room.

My parents have been gaming since the SNES so they don't care at all. I even play forza with my dad all the time.

I don't talk to my parents, nor do I care what they think. My dad was the one who got me into gaming in the first place though.

My parents used to give me a hard time about it, but luckily I like to be outdoors and playing sports just as much as gaming so they eventually stopped asking about it.

My dad walks in when he sees me playing videogames, or even just on the computer for any reason and he says "what will you do with your life?" I then tell him everything that I have learned to do on the computer, how to build computers, how to make programs, and a list of other skills that could come in handy later in, yet my dad being the stubborn little runt he is, he just scoffs and walks away. and that is the reason why I will not be visiting my father at all once I leave school.

My parents don't really get on my case about it. Sometimes my dad will walk in, and make an annoying comment like "Don't spend all your time on these games" or suggests an activity such as "reading a good book" or practicing the piano. I do the two mentioned activities anyway, but he won't be satisfied until I read as much as he does (basically all his free time). But overall, he doesn't get on my case too badly.

My mom was pretty bad some years ago when I got into MMOs.

Years later, I wish I listened to her. I killed my attachment to MMOs after an ex lover I met from one, broke my damn heart in a trillion pieces.

Personally I don't see how games like the Total War series could be anything but good. It's a thinking game, mixed with a lot of history. I've learned things such as the importance of industrial capacity. Then you take games like EVE for example, with its living breathing economy that you can participate in...Need i say more?