Ever since Dr. Will appeared on the Major Spoilers Podcast, there has been an increase in my traffic regarding games and gamers, and all the cool games that are out there. That got me thinking that “gaming” is a bit more broad than one might initially expect based on one’s current views.
Stephen Schleicher
Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment. You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...
16 Comments
I had to go with video games. When I was in high school I probably would of said tabletop, but since I graduated and became an “adult” I haven’t had much time or space to tabletop!
Tabletop RPG, I prefer to work in a world with virtually limitless possibilities, where I can throw complete curve-balls into the game. Make my character what ever I want (With in DM’s parameters but still.) I like the other categories just fine, but I think of myself as the person where the only limit I have is my imagination.
I had to vote video game simply because it is what I play the most, not because I have any less interest in the others. My opportunities to play tabletop games are less frequent then I would like, and as far as playing games on the tablet that would mean trying to get it from my wife.
I really only play board games, tho, as a father I play way more sports, yoga and outdoor activities than the games like Risk, Cattan and King of Tokyo that I love. I never have played an RPG or intense card game.
So I guess I gotta say I’m a physical gamer.
Who knew?
Used to be sports… Track and field, wrestling, and played university football, which made me hate dude bros with a passion. I still love sports though, mostly hockey. Lately it is definitely tabletop games. I GM a campaign and play as a PC on a Roll20 campaign. So much fun!
All the above. But picked tabletop since its the one I love the most :)
Tabletop RPG for me. The only time I’m able to hang out with my friends is when we get together every saturday for gaming.
Tabletop games are my favorite, but video games are what I play most often so that’s what I voted. Although 90% of the video games I play are RPGs, primarily Final Fantasy and Persona.
I wish I could play more tabletop stuff, but our D&D sessions are sporadic due to our players’ schedules and I have to be at work during Friday Night Magic.
Went with video gamer, I would love to say I was a Tabletop player.
But that would involve having other people to play with, have started introducing my girlfriend to flux and ticket to ride and we both enjoy, but would be better with more people.
At almost 40 I wouldn’t even know where to find people who would play tabletop games, walked into a Games Workshop and practically back out again as i have no interest in Warhammer.
There is not much else around in UK or at least in Hereford.
I enjoy video games, app games, and the occasional physical sport (most often as a spectator). However, nothing compares to tabletop gaming for me. It connects to my creative side in a way that other types of games just cannot reach.
Even before getting into RPGs in 1980 with D&D, I was modifying the rules of our tabletop games and mashing them up with other games & genres to create something new to enjoy with my friends and cousins. Being able to create AND experience the fun in that creation is a great feeling.
Even when I am not a part of the creation process, as a player in an RPG campaign or playing a game of Elder Sign, Ticket to Ride, Munchkin, and dozens more, the interaction with friends is what really makes gaming so important to me. I’ve tried playing the app version of some of the games, and they just don’t keep me engaged for long. That’s probably why when I do play video games, I favor MMOs.
Time is really the major factor for not playing more tabletop games. Finding the time in between everyone’s schedule as an adult is a real challenge. But when it does happen, it’s the best.
Although I spend a lot of time playing video games (mainly World of Warcraft) I really like TableTop games. There’s nothing in the video games like the excitement of rolling a die or flipping a card and have all your friends gasp in anticipation.
If I had my way, I’d play Tabletop games all the time, but I often struggle to find a group to play with.
As such, I play video games more often than anything else.
Check out roll20.net! It has opened up a whole new frontier for tabletop. All you need is a mic.
I’ve dabbled in all of these more or less (less for physical sports, but still a little). But the one I love the best and keep coming back to is tabletop games, mostly RPGs. We’ve recently found a really excellent group, so I want to get as much enjoyment as possible before any chance of it breaking apart for any reason.
I chose video games, BUT I would have preferred an option for both tabletop and video games since some of the games I play online are in fact tabletop games. It is hard to get a game going where I live ever since my old tabletop group went their separate ways (you know how life is and people move away for school and jobs) and the gaming shop closed down.
But with my friend’s kids getting a bit older, that may change. My own intro to tabletop RPGs came when my brother’s old D&D group decided to let me join in for a few sessions after months of asking despite the fact I was much younger (grade school compared to their late high school). The DM built a character for me and they all assumed it was going to be a temporary thing, but after a few sessions I became a regular. It actually makes me laugh because my brother got upset and gave the group an ultimatum, they could either have him or me, and they choose me (probably because I didn’t try to obsessively control everything like he did).
Video games! I never got into tabletop games, except for Hero Clix, and the only games I play on my iPad is “Pirates!”, touch screen is really not my thing. Physical sport is really not for me, and probably one of the reasons, that I got really fat a few years back – that and food. :D
I’ve been playing video games most of my life, from 1982 when I got to play on my uncle’s brand new Commodore 64. A few years later, I got my own C64, upgraded to Amiga 500 and then to Amiga 1200, before switching to PC.
I bought a PS2 back in the day, but never really got into consoles until I got a PS3, and I got that pretty soon after release in the EU, because it was a fairly cheap (and good) blu-ray player. Now I own a PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, and a Wii. I’m probably getting a PS Vita soon, but I’m not in a hurry to get a PS4 or Xbox One.