You say nothing. People like what they like, and dislike what they dislike, and obviously have their own opinion of things. The justification of games being a waste of time is not any different than the justification of anime being a waste of time (along with anything else in the world). Just say something smart in return like you don't care, like "Well, nobody says you have to play games" or something. Just ignore what they say, after all, you don't have to live after the world's opinion (well, over where I live anyway). :P

You don't need to justify enjoying something. You can spend your time doing something more productive. If you valued productivity more than entertainment, then you would already be doing those things without someone telling you to. You already weighed how much you want productivity in your life, then weighed how much you want entertainment, then you chose to play games.

Eventually, you feel unfulfilled by games, and proceed to go do something productive. Then you go work.

People in general do what they want, not necessarily what's best for them. Your accusers operate the same way, they're in no place to be throwing stones.

There's no problem with playing games, however, just recognize that there are better things that you can do with your time. If they can change your mind about how much YOU value games, then you can spend time on things that are better for you. Reading a book is entertainment too, it's just that it provides additional literary skill that's useful in relationships and in the workplace. Recreational sports provide additional health benefits that improve your lifespan.

But if those aren't things you value, you shouldn't have to do them.

If you don't value improving yourself, all they have a right to do is to try to change your mind about what you enjoy. That's what they're doing. So when people tell you not to play games, what they're really attempting to do is to make you enjoy other more beneficial things rather than enjoy less-beneficial things. It's just more efficient for you. It's also beneficial for them since they'd reap satisfaction in being listened to and seeing a friend/family member benefit from their nagging.

It's annoying of course, but meh, it's just something that happens and you live with it. There's nothing you need to do except get older, the result of your battle against the potentially positive/negative influences of others will occur naturally.

I still play games, but I also have other hobbies. I now have the money to buy all the game-oriented crap I want, but I also feel less of an urge to play games compared to a few years back. I don't expect to stop once I join the workforce either.

You say nothing. People like what they like, and dislike what they dislike, and obviously have their own opinion of things. The justification of games being a waste of time is not any different than the justification of anime being a waste of time (along with anything else in the world). Just say something smart in return like you don't care, like "Well, nobody says you have to play games" or something. Just ignore what they say, after all, you don't have to live after the world's opinion (well, over where I live anyway). :P

totally agree of what you have said ... if people really said something that about games are a waste of time .. you can simply say : watever .... it suit any situation .... and err .. by he way ....zethil ... your avatar really kick butts XD

Games are a form of entertainment just like movies/books/tvs and all of that jazz, so it serves a pupose.

It's a fun and entertaining waste of time :D

You say nothing. People like what they like, and dislike what they dislike, and obviously have their own opinion of things. The justification of games being a waste of time is not any different than the justification of anime being a waste of time (along with anything else in the world). Just say something smart in return like you don't care, like "Well, nobody says you have to play games" or something. Just ignore what they say, after all, you don't have to live after the world's opinion (well, over where I live anyway). :P

so true, so true... games are just fun, and can be an expression of art that can't really be duplicated in any other way. It's like...a way of getting you INTO the art :)

makes you wonder why anime video games dont work so well ^_^;;

Like lots of people said it's not really a waste of time. It's what you do to pass time and can be a hobby. if you enjoy it, its not a waste. So GAME ON!!

hey we are not forcing them to buy or play games but there are some people who play too much like skipping school or work just to play a game. i heard a rumor when "Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King" was released in Japan so many people skipped school or work that it effected the Japanese economy. well anyway not all good stories come from books and being entertained to me is never a waste of time, being bored can make you go insane!!!!!

Well, for Videogame Fans, Games aren't a waste of time.... As long as u don't overdo it...

I mean we from the German Tekken Communitz only plaz on weekends hardcore and we don't even meet regularly. Because most of the people live too far away from each other. And spending a lot of travel costs, which are expensive in Germany, just for one Game would really be mad...

People have their own interest and opinions of course so there really is no right an wrong answer. The best thing you can say in defense is "It's what I like". In my opinion games are a good way to pass time when there isnt anything to do. And they are entertaining.

People see games as a waste of time, you cant really change their view point. Games do indeed waste time, while you are playing it you could be doing something else- however thats true with any form of entertainment. However, look at the detail that games are now experiencing in terms of graphics, plot and gameplay. All the effort of hundreds of people at a company striving their best to make a game that appeals to a demographic. I wouldnt call the efforts of say GTA SA, Resi 4 a watse of time, however these games will appeal only to those that know about it and like the genre.

However look at games like FFX- a monster called Sin, Religion seen as corrupt, the bad actions of the previous generation will impact upon the present one. Games like this ARE making a point, not just to the gamer at home, but also on the ills of society. Games cant be tnhat much of a waste of time if people think they can take the companies to court because of the realism portrayed in a specific game. The naive and already disturbed person who plays a game and gets affected by it and commits a crime points to games as the problem, as do the parents. This leads to calls such as games being a waste of time hich is inaccurate and wholly unfair.

A sense of satisfaction comes ovre the gamer when you complete a specific boss, level or even game. Playing with mates is a great way to kilol time, but games are in fashion nowadays, its uncool not to be seen with the Nintendo DS, PSP as you arte around the town etc, and when mates come over and they see a silver slim line PS2 or even the new XBox360 they cant fail but be impressed and intrigued by what they have to offer. Yes you could read a book, but the people who slate games should actually play one, such as an RPG and see just as much thought, ideas and themes go into a game.

If games are a waste of time, than what do you call party freaks who go to parties every weekend?? It's a hundred times more money and time wasting... Games is also a form of entertainment.. It's fun.. quite addictive though..

Waste of time? Basically anything that doesn´t earn you alot of money with no effort is a waste of time. Tell someone who plays soccer that he/she is wasting their time and they´ll get angry.

It isn´t anything special about videogames. We all enjoy different kinds of stuff. Why should anything else be a waste of time?

For me, since I live in sweden videogames got me excellent grades in english, with no effort... and when I do study I get the work done fast as hell.

You guys are in the wrong place.

The person saying that games are a "waste of time" probably has hobbies himself that could be considered a "waste of time". Games may seem a waste of time to that person only because they don't enjoy them as much. We all live life our own way.

People that say games are a waste of time just don't understand and nothing you can say will make them understand. If you are not a gamer and never grew up with it,it will never make sense to you. An example for me is sports, i never got into sports like football, basketball, baseball,...ect because my father was also never into it so i never really learned the concept of why its so exciting and why people love it so much. To this day i still do not watch sports because to me its pointless and extremely boring, I could care less about who wins the superbowl or the world series. I never understood the appeal of watching a bunch of sweaty men run back and forth trying to get a ball through a hoop or make a touchdown , it just doesn't make sense to me because i never grew up with it. It's the same concept of why people will just blindly say games are a waste of time, they are ignorant of why it has so much appeal in the same way i am ignorant of why sports have so much appeal.

I'd ignore them all together.

when i was young, the game just the enjoy it, but now you need to use so many time for the game then you can upgrade your level, and win the game