The night before last, I had guests over. I had to wake up at 5am yesterday morning to bring someone into town. Last night, I had to run some errands and, by the time I was freed up to play Skyrim, I was too tired to crank up the Xbox and went to bed. Tonight, friends are coming over for a drinking session... the only problem is, deep down inside, I'd rather they stay home. Three nights without Skyrim and I'm getting the Delirium Tremens. Does anyone else experience this? It's obviously a problem. I've actually become the guy who would rather dork out at home and play Skyrim than socialise.

I'm trying to figure out what the root of the issue is. I'm married with two kids and almost 40. Obviously, I don't let games interfere with my married life, but I have been with my social life.

Part of it is because the pub life has become so ridiculously expensive and inconvenient. It's actually, by far, a net savings to sit on a beanbag and play games until midnight, with the added benefit that I'm not hung over (too terribly) in the morning. I'm happy living an nebulous life with my family, but I definitely recognise a change in my social behaviour. I can't tell whether it's a good or bad thing. Who's in the same camp?

I don't fancy socializing (no matter how good I am with it...which I am BTW), mostly because "socializing" in my country usually involves go to a smelling bar where bored 50's yell at a TV like idiots while some millionaire guys in short pants kick a soccer ball.

I prefer staying at home with Skyrim, and the Ultimate Addiction: mods

I'm a bit of a hermit myself really. I do have a handful of friends ( 4 ) that are of the same mindset as me ( gamer ) that I socialize with on a regular basis but outside of that I really only have " buddies ", people that I will have a coffee with, or stop and have a chat with. I am as well married with 3 youngsters so it's kind of hard stretching my time between family life, social life and gaming. Which is why I only have 4 really close friends, the best part is that they all love gaming just as much as I do so the " get togethers " are centered around a night of gaming.

A Halo night, a GTA night while having a drink or two etc...etc... Pretty much every time we all get together there's a Pc or Xbox involved as well. Perhaps you can give that a try, instead of heading to the pub why not have your mates come over to your house ( or one of theirs ) for a social drink and perhaps instead of the local pub band or jukebox for entertainment you replace it with a FPS or a wild night in San Andreas

Now don't get me wrong, it's good for you to get out every now and then. But don't force it, that just ruins the mood

I too am a hermit most of the time. The only time I go out with friends is when I go to uni, and we hang out there and we go out to places afterwards. Today, however, I often find myself skipping classes because I'm not bothered to travel to uni, so I stay home and either study or play games, most of the time it's Skyrim.

Once, I would've just relished the opportunity whenever my friends texted me to say "Hey! Lets go out to the city and eat!"...nowadays, I very much prefer the comfort and isolation of my own home, reading books and playing videogames (which as I said before is mainly skyrim).

Note: I'm only 19, and I'm quite sure the majority of male gamers (serious gamers btw) are like you and I

There's nothing unhealthy about being a hermit from time to time, sometimes your just not in the mood to go out anywhere. Besides you do save a lot of money staying home for entertainment. Don't know bout you guys but the price of drinks where I live ranges from $6-$15 depending on what you order. I myself prefer a drink ( whiskey or rum ) which gets real pricey if I'm looking to get trashed and the mead(beer) can be just as pricey. Then there's the cover charge, cab fair, food etc...etc...

Tis cheaper and more comfortable to stay at home with a bottle of your favorite poison, a pizza, a handful of friends and a good video game. Trying to keep your wits about you when playing a FPS while *fuzzy around the edges* is a larf

I can relate to that. Everytime I go out, I end up spending at least 100 dollars on food and drinks alone

Yeah...going out is expensive

While I've always made myself have the courtesy to choose a friends request over a Game, my socializing is quite different, and casually involves playing a video game with my friends anyway.

In fact today I'm going out to have a Skyrim Party with my friends.

Of course I'm still at a young age, but I don't have any worry of me in the future having to go out with friends for a Drink because I have a valid excuse, (I don't Drink, and never plan to).

Hmm how to put this, other than the last 2 yr's, where my husband and I have been teaming as over the road truck drivers, I have had "customer service" type job's, retail mostly, landscapeing, construction and 3 painful years as a paramedic. I get home, I don't want to deal with people, even friends.

I get panic attacks in large groups of people...so we tend to not go to places with a lot of people indoors...even outdoors it bothers me at times.... I'm good with a small group of friends at a BBQ or something. My husband and I go out and do things...generally things he likes, sometimes I can talk him into a horse show.....art museums are outa the question...lol

I'd prefer just he and I go fishing...or stay at home. He love's his Kung Fu movies.... I can't stand most of them, he watches I play skyrim, He plays FPS, I play Skyrim... We both play AC and RDR. We both have friends we go and do different things with...or used to really.... OTR doesn't make for being a good friend except over the phone. Though when we took vacation we went deep sea fishing with another couple.

I think as long as you don't loose family and friends or interest in other things altogether.... it's fine. IMO

Yeah... I've always had a wide range of friends that spans a huge spectrum of interests, so I've always had the ability to do anything, anytime (because I'm up for anything). With age and, specifically, after building a family, going out to the pub just doesn't have the same appeal. However, since moving back to Ireland, I've no friends who actually enjoy gaming save for one and it's rare that we can get together. My *social* activities are more restricted and never include gaming, so I'm left with choosing between the two rather than both.

Seems here, those in my generation have a cultural aversion to gaming... even to the point where they look at me like I've got two heads. The line at Gamestop for GTA V shows that times are changing... it just hasn't caught on with my generation.

I've become more reclusive as I've gotten older. I was never what you'd call a social butterfly even in my teens and twenties, but my circle of friends has definitely shrunk and I definitely see less of the friends I still have.

I balance this, somewhat, with the internet. As real-life socializing has decreased, online socializing has increased. These forums in particular serve as a kind of replacement for some of the socializing I used to do. I think this is one reason why I've been here so long. Some people may not feel that the people we meet online are not really "friends." But some of you feel like friends to me.

I "socialize" in other ways too. I keep a second computer next to my main computer that runs only Skype. I use it to keep in touch with another forum member here, Shelly Mars. We live on opposite sides of the US and we keep in touch via instant messages every day. We also use this Skype connection to simulate co-op. Two or three nights a week we arrange to play Skyrim at the same time. We go through the same dungeons, do the same quests, and we instant message each other about what is happening in our games. It's not co-op, but it does feel a tiny bit like someone is sharing the game with me. And that's nice.

I thought this was going to be a skooma thread, lol.

But anyways, I only just started Skyrim (and Morrowind) again because of the very fact that it was messing with my life. I was'nt playing for long periods of time or anything, and I don't have much of a social life to begin with, but I was constatnly thinking about it, my plans, RPs, and so much other shiit(ake mushrooms) that it was interfering with school and such.

So I took a long break from video games, focused on schooling, and decided I would return recently.

I hear ya, as soon as someone finds out that I'm a huge video game nerd they assume that I'm some loser living out of my mom's basemant never steeping foot outside the door. That is until I inform them that I am married, have 3 kids, enjoy hunting & fishing, enjoy sports( hockey mostly ) etc...etc...They are surprised that I am such a " normal " guy and yet I am the nerdiest of nerds

I look at gaming as a hobby, some people like to draw, some people are into wood working, there's all kinds of hobbies. Just so happens my major hobby is gaming

I've cured myself of Skyrim only to fall addicted to GTA V.

Me too

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that life is short. Take care of your responsibilities, your health, and help the people that deserve it, but after doing all that, spend your time doing what makes you happy. If playing Skyrim makes you happy, find the time to play until you miss the other stuff and then strike the balance.

Me three

Damn all of you! I'm refraining until Christmas for that glorious moment. If I were to tattoo anything on my knuckles, it would be Bethesda on one hand and Rockstar on the other... even if I had to saw fingers in two to make them fit! I'm telling you, those two publishers alone have most of my loyalty. Thank God for brilliant game developers.

Edit: BTW, we had more visitors than anticipated and had a great night. So, no complaints. I'll catch up tonight (meaning after the next sundown) with Skyrim. I'm glad that everyone is enjoying GTA V.

Skyrim is an exceptional game [on PC at least].

No wonder people find it hard to put down.

After High School, I pretty much closed myself off from people. Did that even moreso after Skyrim came out. So, I'm with you, lol. I just like having time for me and doing what I want to do. Especially since the friends I made in college aren't really gamers, so eh. I know this is supposed to be the time that I should be socializing, as I'm 20, but I don't feel any need to. Plenty of time for that later. Plus, after I get married, there'll be no me time, or practically none, lol.

I don't think it is strange. You're choosing to stay home. It's not like you can't socialize if you wanted to. In fact, I'd say its healthy being able to enjoy your own company and do what you want, rather than those who feel like they have to be in a group of people all the time.

This - ^^

*sigh* same here. Funny thing is I was not hyped about GTA V (enjoyed the GTA III series, but did not care for GTA IV) and found myself stuck playing it,

I'm recognizing myself in the OP. Should I be worried?


Believe me, you will get time on your own if you get married. Of course, in the beginning of a relationship, most want to spend a lot of time together (like, ALL the time), but unless you plan on getting married after the third date, you'll probably will be way past that when it's time for the Big Day. And when you have lived an everyday life together with your future wife for five or ten or twenty years - you won't be spending every minute of your spare time together!

I have recently been playing garrys mod and re running fallout. As I have a PS3 and skyrim is on that Garrys mod is like heaven for me finally able to mod

Yes, Damn all of them!! I don't have a console! though its not like i follow the GTA series, i don't know why i said that.

Anyway, for me my socialising probably happens only once in a few weeks, and i'll probably spend around 30-40 bucks each time. Other times i just stay at home and do gaming. So my socialising seems to be cheaper than yours (booze everyday!~) If your booze friends are your only buddies, its wise to try and interact frequently with them though, or they might just "forget" to ask you next time (because you keep saying no).

But anyway it doesnt seem like it, so probably tell them that you're currently having a gaming craze

I just got Trevor, now I'll never see the light of day again..... .

You won't be disappointed my friend, you won't be disappointed. GTA 5 is worth the wait.

I just didn't have the will power to wait till X-mas

It's an exceptional game on console as well, I've got around 5000 hours clocked in and still no signs of slowing down even with the release of GTA 5

A little " me time " is always healthy, allows me to think and ponder.

GTA 4 has nothing on 5, GTA 5 is well woth the coin IMO.

Lol, married life.

Forget to ask?

Well maybe, depending on how much booze is consumed.....