4 ms·

I'm not really sure what this has to do with gaming. Spending days at a time hunched in front of a computer with little sleep is like the quintessential image o

I'm not really sure what this has to do with gaming. Spending days at a time hunched in front of a computer with little sleep is like the quintessential image of working the start-up life. He could have spent those three days working in vim rather than playing Diablo and he'd probably still be gone. More importantly, don't blame yourself for letting him take that time off, a heart attack at thirty isn't something that a day in the office could prevent.

potatolicious 14y ago
I dunno, I've had some pretty epic hack sessions in my life, but none of them even compare to when I get sucked into a video game. Diablo 3 came out last week, and I literally had stretches where I didn't even go to the bathroom for 12+ hours. I got severely dehydrated when Mass Effect 3 came out to the point that the effects lingered for a couple of days. That sort of complete absorption has never come to me while hacking. I might forego sleep, but I've never forgone basic bodily functions while programming, whereas I find it dangerously easy to get into that mode with games.
- Dylanlacey 14y ago
  Out of curiosity, have you been to a gambling environment? Did you find it hard to eat and drink there? Do you play board games with a similar intensity? What about marathon TV shows, do you wait until the end of an episode (or story arc) before ablutions?
  - potatolicious 14y ago
    Nope, nope, and nope, but yes on the TV shows. To elaborate: I've been gambling many times, but have never felt the same compulsion as I get when I drawn into a good video game. Heck, I have trouble sitting at a blackjack table for more than half an hour. Ditto board games. I've done some all-night Risk games with friends in the past, but those were out of sheer machismo, and no food/bathroom breaks were missed. On the other hand, for really strongly arced TV shows I do find it hard to tear away. When I discovered the West Wing last week (how did it take me this long to find this show?!) I ended up marathoning the first season over two days, entirely unintentionally. I might have an addictive personality...
    - Dylanlacey 14y ago
      Aww, you saw through my veil of mystery:P I was just curious to see if games are more addictive for you personally then other "common" addictive activities. I wonder if it's because games and TV have something in common that the other activities don't: A storyline. I personally get a little engrossed in media, but only for a few hours then I'm bored. Games, however, I can play all day. Other activities just don't have the same pull for me.

potatolicious 14y ago

I dunno, I've had some pretty epic hack sessions in my life, but none of them even compare to when I get sucked into a video game. Diablo 3 came out last week, and I literally had stretches where I didn't even go to the bathroom for 12+ hours. I got severely dehydrated when Mass Effect 3 came out to the point that the effects lingered for a couple of days. That sort of complete absorption has never come to me while hacking. I might forego sleep, but I've never forgone basic bodily functions while programming, whereas I find it dangerously easy to get into that mode with games.

Dylanlacey 14y ago
Out of curiosity, have you been to a gambling environment? Did you find it hard to eat and drink there? Do you play board games with a similar intensity? What about marathon TV shows, do you wait until the end of an episode (or story arc) before ablutions?
- potatolicious 14y ago
  Nope, nope, and nope, but yes on the TV shows. To elaborate: I've been gambling many times, but have never felt the same compulsion as I get when I drawn into a good video game. Heck, I have trouble sitting at a blackjack table for more than half an hour. Ditto board games. I've done some all-night Risk games with friends in the past, but those were out of sheer machismo, and no food/bathroom breaks were missed. On the other hand, for really strongly arced TV shows I do find it hard to tear away. When I discovered the West Wing last week (how did it take me this long to find this show?!) I ended up marathoning the first season over two days, entirely unintentionally. I might have an addictive personality...
  - Dylanlacey 14y ago
    Aww, you saw through my veil of mystery:P I was just curious to see if games are more addictive for you personally then other "common" addictive activities. I wonder if it's because games and TV have something in common that the other activities don't: A storyline. I personally get a little engrossed in media, but only for a few hours then I'm bored. Games, however, I can play all day. Other activities just don't have the same pull for me.