Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Firstly sorry if this isn't an appropriate topic for for this forum, but well i've been browsing this forum for a good long while and thought it was as good a place to post as any!

So i'm struggling with a sorta internal battle with myslf and i could really use your input if you wouldn't mind!

I've always had tow major passions in my life these have been wargaming (from around the age of 10) and videogames (also 10).

I was drawn into wargaming in a smilar manner to many, good o'l LotR and those fantastic miniatures
!

It was also around this time that i was given a PS2 and thus my love affir for gaming was born born.

However 13 years later i'm now a fully grown man-child with jobs, commitments and other time consuming aspects and so really i can only justify enough time in my life to properly pursue what are both time intensive hobbies hobbies.

So the problem comes in when trying to decide between the two, ya see although i've always been interested in wargaming it's never been a constant presence in my life like video games have, over the years i've dipped in and out of the hobby where as i've always possessed a console of some kind.

I'm probably more invested into videogames now than i ever have been, with a high end gaming PC a steam library with over 300 titles... Well you get the idea i'm big into games.

But if i'm being honest (which i am) over the past year or so i cant really remember that last time i enjoyed playing a game, i'm not sure if its beacuse i need to take a lomg videogamd hiatus,hiatus but every gaming session leaves me feeling dissatisfied and as though i've wasted my time, not only that but the social side of gaming has aslso dissapeared, the shouting mtches of general online lobbies are a nightmare and sharing typed messages with another person just isnt the same as interacting with folk in the real world. I've tried playing many titles online BF4, GTA adnd well the only game i can truly enjoy is Hearthstone.

I really hoped that the Witcher 3 would kick start my love of videogames, yet after 30 hours i simply playing it to get to the end and not ejoying the journey.

Now wargaming is something i've kept a close eye on ovr the past few years without actually participating myself. But i've been struggling over the decision of dipping back in for some time now.

I really enjoy reading lore and fluff, and i can paint figures for hours. There is a really active community near me (firetsorm games if you know it!) where they play a variety of different games games, honestly as a wargamer i couldn't ask for more.

It seems like a pretty easy decision on the surface, i'm not enjoying videogames and have't been for some time.... And on the other hand i've never fully commited my hobby life to wargaming and myabe it's everything i'm looling for.

But i know whats stopping me, ya see a life spent playing videogames and the thousands of pounds i spent on doing so kinda feels like a waste if i walk away now... I'm not saying that i'd never play another videogame ever again. (i'd never miss out on Hearthstone) but by commiting myself and my dollars into another hobby i'd certainly play a lot less of them.... And i don't know why that bothers me because currently i'd rather be hobbying rather than videogaming.... Yet it does bother me...no doubt this sounds absurd but it feels like a big shift in my life... Of course in perspective it isn't but hey i haven't gotten to the big stuff yet!

I don't rightly know what advice anyone could possibly.give, but if u've any thoughts on the matter i'd gladly hear them....cause this is driving me insane!

TL;DR i've grown up playing videogames but i no longer enjoy them as an adult is wargaming the obvious progression?

There is no progression line. If you enjoy something, you enjoy something. So I'd give it a try and see if it fits you.

First off I'd say wargaming (starting from scratch) will probably be a lot more expensive than video gaming (especially if your used to Stream sale prices)

Second while it can be a lot more social there can also be a lot of solo time while building/painting etc (although a decent local store where people paint can avoid this if you can be there enough)

That said if video gaming is not really fun for you anymore certainly give wargaming a try. With a strong local scene you should hopefully be able to arrange to play a fair bit with borrowed armies so you can decide what system suits you best.

If that goes well you can start buying, building and painting and see if that part of the hobby is fun for you too (if it's not you should be able to find somebody local who can do affordable basic paints & assembly)

I have slowly lost interest in video gaming in the past year as I have been playing 40k (because I had to) and Warmachine (because I want to).

Even when I can't play a tabletop game and have plenty of time to play video games (I have a good laptop and plenty of games) I'm simply not interested.

Moral of the story? Do what you like. If you enjoy video games, keep enjoying them. Want to do the other? Both? It is a hobby that you will sink a TON of cash into. Do what you enjoy.

Do what you want to do. Both hobbies will likely be around for a long time, and you can always pick it up later. If videogames dont make you happy right now, put em on the back burner. Maybe in a couple years something will spark your interest.

If you manage your time wisely - there should be few or no reasons why you can't enjoy -both-. I work 50 hours a week, have a family, and still find time to paint, game, and play PC games.

Granted, some weeks/months I am 'more' into one or the other, but it ebbs and flows, and goes back and forth. I love both hobbies and have zero plans (and see zero reason) to give up either.

Obviously I don't know all the details of your situation, but really, you -should- be able to enjoy both!

Taking a hiatus is almost never a bad idea if you're having doubts about something. It's the surest way to find out if you're doing something out of habit of because you actually want to. I'd say take a month break from video gaming.

Don't necessarily run out and immediately buy an entire 40k army, but buy a starter box for 40k or WM or whatever game is active around you. Paint some minis and hang with the local scene and see how you enjoy it.

If you hate it or just want to put some video back in your gaming hobby, your steam library will still be there in a month or so. However, don't let the amount of $ you've spent on a hobby keep you involved if you're not having fun anymore.

You can have more then one hobby.

Maybe you should visit a gaming group with varied games and spectate them for a few weeks? You'll know then if you want to play them.

It also seems you're struggling from Sunk Cost Fallacy when referring to your online gaming, if you had fun while doing it then you wasted nothing.

Maybe spend some time reevaluating the core reasons for your lack of drive for them and some micro managed time management? If you still can't come to a conclusion you could always start lifting (if you don't already) as that's never a waste of time

I couldn't say if there is a 'progression', but I had to pretty much give up videogames. That is, playing videogames on a regular basis. 6 hour stints of Fallout 3, mastering Arkham Asylum, countless hours on Battlefield, etc.

I had several hobbies when I was single/married without kids. Once I had kids and a demanding full time job I actually came to the conclusion that I had to focus on one major hobby to the exclusion of the others.

Wargaming won the fight. When the chips were down, it was wargaming that won. I could analyze that I suppose, but whatever the reasons, wargaming is the most interesting and the most fulfilling of my hobbies.

 xbenblasterx wrote:
But if i'm being honest (which i am) over the past year or so i cant really remember that last time i enjoyed playing a game, i'm not sure if its beacuse i need to take a lomg videogamd hiatus,hiatus but every gaming session leaves me feeling dissatisfied and as though i've wasted my time, not only that but the social side of gaming has aslso dissapeared, the shouting mtches of general online lobbies are a nightmare and sharing typed messages with another person just isnt the same as interacting with folk in the real world. I've tried playing many titles online BF4, GTA adnd well the only game i can truly enjoy is Hearthstone.

I really hoped that the Witcher 3 would kick start my love of videogames, yet after 30 hours i simply playing it to get to the end and not ejoying the journey.

This is burnout.

I't's happened to me several times with both video games and tabletop games.

With tabletop games, a friend and I were studying/working par ttime and managed to get in 2-3 days a week, 2-3 games per day of 40k back in 3rd edition. It was fun. All of a sudden, around the start of 4th, we simply just got no enjoyment out of it, painting or playing. I think we stopped playing for a good 5-6 years. We got back into wargaming mid 5th edition. All of a sudden, we were interested again, and now have even roped others in and have branched out of GW's games because we've got the enthusiasm back.

I've had the same thing happen with video games. I still haven't recovered. The Last of Us on PS3 was the last game I really sunk my teeth into. I grabbed a PS4 on launch, and have played it on and off. I have a decent library for it already, but the only game I've finished is Black Flag. Everything else I play on and off, and just like you, don't get a whole lot of enjoyment right now. It's like going through the motions.

My advice, because it's something I'm doing right now, is as others have said. Take a break. Don't sell your stuff as if you're never coming back. Just put it away, and find other things to do, whether they're hobbies or simply doing other things. You'll get the fire back eventually. I'm lucky that my break from video games is going back to wargaming. But I assume eventually wargaming will drain me and I'll probably pick video games back up.

My advice: go outside.

You need not decide. You can enjoy both.

I'm 36, and i once thought similarly - in my early twenties i up and sold my gigantic collection of minatures (and what didn't sell quickly... to my eternal chaggrin... i threw in the trash. Probably the single most valuable thing i've ever thrown out).

I have a very demanding job (a light week is about 50 hours...), an 8 year old son, my lovely missus, a house in the burbs, a dog and a cat that are high maintenance ... but i still find time to game and play video games.

Today alone i installed 3 new blinds, and 3 new curtain rods, along with two new ceiling fans (including new L-box wiring wheeeeeeeee!!!), but i also found about 45 minutes to play some Borderlands 2 with a friend, and this evening as i wait for Game of Thrones to come on, i'll be doing some modeling on my Ad Mech, and converting some plastic dwarves i got on B-town on the cheap into chaos dwarves. Also found time to schedule my next game with some peeps for either 40k or WHFB.


Point is: don't give up anything you like to do. The term "man-child" was created by someone who probably had hobbies that you or i would think are utterly ridiculous, and it's because of a lack of understanding and / or interest.



Point is : if you like video games and mini gaming, continue to do them. I won't lie, your free time to do them will decrease as you get older, but also so will the desire to do marathon 8 -10 hour sessions of gaming more than likely. You don't need to give up things you love if they are not getting in the way of career, meaningful relationships, and responsibilities as an adult (financial, family, health and exercise, etc).


Automatically Appended Next Post:

weeble1000 wrote:
I couldn't say if there is a 'progression', but I had to pretty much give up videogames. That is, playing videogames on a regular basis. 6 hour stints of Fallout 3, mastering Arkham Asylum, countless hours on Battlefield, etc.

I had several hobbies when I was single/married without kids. Once I had kids and a demanding full time job I actually came to the conclusion that I had to focus on one major hobby to the exclusion of the others.

Wargaming won the fight. When the chips were down, it was wargaming that won. I could analyze that I suppose, but whatever the reasons, wargaming is the most interesting and the most fulfilling of my hobbies.

I'd reckon it's because it's the most multi-faceted is the reason it won. It's social (playing against someone else), artistic (painting, converting), requires periods of intense concentration which i personally find grounding and centering (assembly), and ultimately 75% of it is a labor of love in preparation for the other 25% which is the active enjoyment of the activity that all the other stuff is meant to orbit around (actually playing the damn game).

It's kinda like golf and boating I suppose in those respects.

weeble1000 wrote:

I had several hobbies when I was single/married without kids. Once I had kids and a demanding full time job I actually came to the conclusion that I had to focus on one major hobby to the exclusion of the others.

Wargaming won the fight. When the chips were down...

This was roughly my experience as well. It's very possible that the OP might only have time to devote to one hobby. Ever since my kids came I've really only had time for one main hobby with ever-so-slight forays into others. Wargaming won and I think it's because it's the activity that keeps me seeing my my friends on a bi-weekly basis.

 Chute82 wrote:
You can have more then one hobby.

This i am into boardgaming, wargaming video games, movies, books, music and others, like traveling and other things, It is more a time management thing than, only having one hobby.

I hear you on the video games, man.

I too was a HUGE videogame fan. On almost every MMORPGs and online game I played, I'd hit top 10 on the ladder, if not #1 worldwide when I wanted it badly enough. Even with a busy job, I'd find a way to make it happen. There was no such thing as "casual gaming" for me hahaha.

In terms of computer gear over the years, it totally dwarfs what I spend on wargaming (though I use my PCs for things other than gaming). PCs, notebooks, tablets, smaller PCs to lug around, uninterrupted power, network switches, and all that. A video card a year costs as much as a whole freakin' army for 40k, and all just to get an extra 5 fps or the next resolution up. Nevermind the largest monitors and highest resolution suitable for gaming (times 3), big screen tv for console, keeping up with xbox and playstation (even Nintendo for the longest time), yadda yadda yadda.

A few years ago, though, I found myself REALLY bored with computer games. Not really because I didn't like them anymore, but because there was NOTHING original. Everything that came out was a first-person or top-down isometric, and followed predictable patterns of successful games like Halo or Dragon Age.

My "last huzzah" I think, was Diablo 3. I resisted for a few months, but then when my schedule really freed up, I got hooked, played a bazillion hours, hit #1 worldwide for my class (Monk), kept the spot for months (at least for the server), made YouTubes of how ridiculously fast I could destroy stuff,
and then quit.

Since then, I haven't touched a computer game other than Armageddon a little bit, and the occasional game of Hearthstone.

Amazingly, and I didn't think this was possible, I don't miss computer games *at all* now. Though, if there were something cool and innovative, I would certainly play it. I guess I'll get and play through Halo 5, just because it's Halo, but that's all I have on my radar.

Wargames, on the other hand -- I've played them since late 80s -- have never really waned for me. As I got older, I couldn't play as often, and now it's 2 nights a month (but they are 10-14 hour nights...), but it's a regular crew and I love the gaming aspect. In between, I paint and model a lot, something that I've always enjoyed greatly.

 curran12 wrote:
There is no progression line. If you enjoy something, you enjoy something. So I'd give it a try and see if it fits you.

This.

I have good friends that are my age and love video games. I don't get enjoyment out of it like I used to, so I don't join them. However, I enjoy spending my hobby time painting. They don't, and that's fine.

If you want to wargame, you'll need to set aside a few hours per week for building. Painting will take even longer. Also, a budget for the models. After a while, you'll have an 1000 point 40k army or whatever point system Warmachine uses.

So, you can get there, but you have to budget time and money to get it done. This website is a good resource for list building and figuring out what you would enjoy building, painting, and playing.

Good luck!

I have repetitive stress problems in my hands, so I can't really play video games anymore. Even if I didn't, I wouldn't have time with a wife and one-year old. It was an enormous prt of my life from 5-28 years old, and I had to give it up just like that... Can't say I miss it much. Wargaming is just so much more fulfilling and multi-faceted. Like you I was completely burned out on gaming. I would sit there staring at my 450+ games list on Steam and not feel like playing any of it, but still felt like I "had to". It caused more stress than enjoyment honestly. The thing I miss most is actually talking about the newest games with my equally passionate friend. And of course the pain-free use of my hands

I feel your pain. I'm in a similar situation as I just can't dedicate the amount of time I'd need to get max satisfaction out of video games.

Also, it's more anti-social, even around the family, requiring full concentration and either a seperate room, or everyone sat around bored whilst I play.

Wargaming on the other hand, I have 1 night out a week to see my pals and talk geek whilst crushing each other's forces, I can paint sporadically (Even sometimes manage to get a bit done whilst cooking tea) whilst the kids are eating or watching cbeebies. I can put it down and pick it up again 10 mins later when the kids have decided they want to play in the other room etc. I can spend time on forums discussing tactics and plan my armies and strategies instead of being bored shitless by "In the Night garden" and just generally find it to be a bit more family friendly, fulfilling and sociable.

I also look forward to the day when the kids are old enough to join in. Making scenery, painting and being creative, learning to look after things, developing maths skills by working out probability and formulating army lists, learning to think around a problem to win, and eventually taking them to tournaments for a weekend away with their dad and learning valuable social skills (Not the least of which is learning to win and lose with grace and sportsmanly like conduct) along with spending time in the company of grown ups - all of which are no bad things for kids to learn and do.

I still have my X-box and stolen moments kicking ass on Fall of Cybertron are still very much enjoyable but it's TT wargames all the way for me.

I think i know where you're coming from (not the family bit) - i 'acheived' what i wanted with steam games and it all felt a bit pointless after a while.

So i bought a master replicas lightsaber and battled the neighbours with theirs - i can recommend that most highly; good exercise and youre having a lightsaber battle!

Computer games can be picked up and put down in a moment's notice - wargaming has to be planned for; that could work to your advantage?

Ha! Love the light sabre battle comment above, I think that does hit the nail on the head though.
Try some different things first before you go all crazy over something.

A couple years I could not touch any model or painting stuff because it made a knot in my stomach just looking at it.
Got the same with video games.
Both of these were fixtures of my life all through my childhood.
I took up Kendo (similar to light sabre duels!) and dusted off my Scuba Diving license and it brought some spark back.

I probably had some low grade depression happening, that is usually when things that were always fun become like ashes.
Look at your life, if something is really getting you down: try to fix it as best you can.

If you cannot point to anything, then a change for a bit is probably what is needed.
The models and Dakka will wait till you get back.

There is no point spending time on something that should be enjoyable if you do not enjoy it. If you are feeling a video games burn out, spending more time on wargaming sounds like an excellent idea. If your work time is spent sitting in front of a computer, having a hobby that means less screen time is probably a good idea.

 jorny wrote:
There is no point spending time on something that should be enjoyable if you do not enjoy it. If you are feeling a video games burn out, spending more time on wargaming sounds like an excellent idea. If your work time is spent sitting in front of a computer, having a hobby that means less screen time is probably a good idea.

It is a sad feeling though: you go to sit down to something you always enjoyed and now it is no good.
You "beat a dead horse" figuring if you try hard enough the feeling will come back.
It is like this asking for advice, feeling a bit lost because you are certain you need something that can give you the same joy but have no idea how to search.
The guy is worried in investing in something else and having it too no good as well.

He needs to examine his life and ensure the hobbies are less an escape from problems than something fun to do.

I love watching Video Games, rather than Playing them.

Some I have found interesting.

But to date, I have found most Video games to be more about busy work to get to he next element of the story.

We do not yet have the computational capacity for it, but I have been looking into "Experiential" Video Games.

These are video games that would require VR technology, and where you are not required to do very much in terms of punching at a controller with your fingers and thumbs in complex patterns, but rather more like a movie with decision points along the way (sort of like Fighting Fantasy Books).

The "Player" would be involved with dialog, they could say almost anything along the way, and in some cases explore parts of the world. But overall, they would be constrained by the plot along a narrow path.

This is almost in direct contrast to the Open-World MMPORPG universes like EVE Online, World of Warcraft, or Lord of the Rings/Middle-earth Online.

But as to whether this should contrast or obstruct miniature or tabletop gaming.... Why should it?

MB

I'm just not seeing the life-altering decision that you and others are making this out to be. Will your decision involve spending a lot of money or losing something of value? Your pc is still there and so is your steam account. It will all be there next month when you want to play a game. Your war gaming stuff will be there too. Don't throw anything out and it will always be there when you are interested again.

You don't need to dedicate to one hobby as long as you accept moving slower with it than others. There is no way I could do as much war gaming stuff as some of the people I see on here. I used to say it was because of school but I realize the truth is I don't want to spend all of my free time on wargaming. I want to spend time making a wood box or brewing beer or one of the other thousand "hobbies" I've picked up. I don't get to do all of them all the time but I can do them when I want. You can do the same with video games and wargaming.

But if you must decide I'll say this. The reason I stopped playing video games is because I felt like there was no real accomplishment. I beat the ge, I enjoyed the story line, and I had nothing really to show for it. That's why all of the things I do involve making or learning something. Games don't give me that product I can put on the shelf and admire with pride. Wargaming does. Now and then I wonder if it is a real accomplishment but I always go back to it.

 Talizvar wrote:

 jorny wrote:
There is no point spending time on something that should be enjoyable if you do not enjoy it. If you are feeling a video games burn out, spending more time on wargaming sounds like an excellent idea. If your work time is spent sitting in front of a computer, having a hobby that means less screen time is probably a good idea.

It is a sad feeling though: you go to sit down to something you always enjoyed and now it is no good.
You "beat a dead horse" figuring if you try hard enough the feeling will come back.
It is like this asking for advice, feeling a bit lost because you are certain you need something that can give you the same joy but have no idea how to search.
The guy is worried in investing in something else and having it too no good as well.

He needs to examine his life and ensure the hobbies are less an escape from problems than something fun to do.

It is a sad feeling, but taking a break from something doesn't mean you give it up forever. I think what you are saying about taking a step back and thinking about what you are enjoying right now in life is really good advice.

I think the best way to get involved in the hobby is to talk to people.
Go to a club night, or a gaming show. Tell them what you want to look into doing, and see what they say.
A big part of wargaming is the people. Without the people, you cannot play, but you could still model and paint.
If you like Hearthstone as a CVG, work out what you like about it, as opposed to all the other games, and look to transfer that onto the table.

If you like the look of a game, and find people to play against, you'll end up with targets.
They play 1000 point games, so I would need to get 1000 points of stuff.
They prefer to play against painted armies, so get painting.
They suggest alternative models to use, or a scheme you like, look into that, whether instead of the official stuff, or alongside.
Do they need more scenery, and want to make some, try that.

Basically, don't dive in without someone helping to push you...

Give the video games a rest for a while and go for the wargaming for a while. When that game comes along that you just can't resist on your chosen platform, get back in to gaming. Or do a bit of both. If my misses wants to watch TV, I do some painting. If she's not about or there's nowt on TV. I get gaming. But I am a filfy casul though

But like Skinnereal says don't plunge in to wargaming. You might find that after you spend a large sum of money you get the same burnout and your stuff might be harder to shift than a copy of CoD

I've been playing both for my entire life. All interests wax and wane. Just go with the flow and enjoy one thing until you're ready to enjoy the other.

It took me years of having people telling me that I needed to choose ONE THING to do for me to finally come to the conclusion that they could F-OFF, because I was not going to limit myself to any ONE THING, be it a hobby or a career.

When I was younger (as in really young) I was forced by my parents to choose between miniatures and Radio Controlled Airplanes (I have up the Airplanes, since in 1978, R/C Airplanes still cost thousands of dollars to get into the air - just three years later the price would drop to a couple of hundred, and by the late-80s, you could buy a RTF - Ready to Fly - for $150, or, now, $50).

When I first went to school in the 1980s (University) they said "You have to pick ONE Major." I wanted to do three or four... I flaked on nearly everything and eventually chose Art History (when I was one term away from a Fine Arts Degree in Sculpting, and had three years of Coursework in Science and Engineering).

After the episode with my wife, I decided that my time is too valuable to NOT focus on everything I am interested in, even if it means the pace in everything is slower.

So when I returned to school to finish the Computer Science/Engineering degree I started in 1982, I added a Biology degree to it (which thankfully I discovered that the collection of Computer Science/Engineering and Biology is now ONE interdisciplinary degree called "Cybernetics"), and minors in Cognitive Science (which is now a Double-Major) and VFX Film Art (for which UCLA has one of the best schools in the USA).

So... Having to choose between video games and miniature games is a false dichotomy.

You can, and should choose both, ESPECIALLY when the two are rapidly converging, with the production of miniatures from Computer Games, and the creation of Computer Games from Miniatures.

A friend who owns a computer game company might be producing a computer game FOR miniatures.

It would be the strategic (or Grand Tactical) engine, where you would move forces across a battlefield, and then when the forces were close enough for an engagement, you would switch to tabletop.

And, any remaining forces that survived the encounter would be entered back into the computer game, where their experience would affect future conflicts.

The idea is to get players to think about the future uses of their models beyond the specific encounter on the tabletop.

In that respect, you should think about the future relevance of BOTH to your personal life and happiness.

How much will you regret any choice later that you might make hastily, while under pressure now?

MB