So, there's a topic or two on these forums that highlight some extreme gaming that may or may not have caused but were definitely a part of some life-threatening health effects.
What do you do to keep healthy? Is there anything that game designers or developers can do?
For the latter, I can only think of one, and this probably only applies to RPG's: Split it up into chapters. Even if you do away with save points, levels, or loading screens... I consider Persona 4 an addictive game. I dating sim part is fun, the dungeon trawling is fun, I love the characters, was intrigued by the plot, and I could play it and re-play it over and over and over and over and over again. But I think one think that meant I wouldn't pass out over it, was that the story was split up into beats. As much as I loved it, the story would reach a crescendo and downtime and cued me emotionally for this to be okay to rest now.
On the players' side, the first concern is: Is the rest of real life so horrible that you've got to game into the ground? If yes... well, easier said than done, but don't escape. Face life, improve life, and when you get back to gaming, you'll enjoy both life and gaming even more.
Other times, it's just fun to marathon and can be perfectly healthy, but only if you plan ahead with keeping properly hydrated and nourished with solid food (and when nature calls, don't hold it in. Most games have pause buttons even for cutscenes now.) I actually can't think of any food and drink right now that's easy to keep on hand, quick-cook or instant, won't go bad if left alone for a few hours, and won't have particularly adverse health effects if you eat nothing but that for two days straight so opening this thread for suggestions! I'm all for just bottled water and trail mix or granola bars.
What do you do to keep healthy? Is there anything that game designers or developers can do?
For the latter, I can only think of one, and this probably only applies to RPG's: Split it up into chapters. Even if you do away with save points, levels, or loading screens... I consider Persona 4 an addictive game. I dating sim part is fun, the dungeon trawling is fun, I love the characters, was intrigued by the plot, and I could play it and re-play it over and over and over and over and over again. But I think one think that meant I wouldn't pass out over it, was that the story was split up into beats. As much as I loved it, the story would reach a crescendo and downtime and cued me emotionally for this to be okay to rest now.
On the players' side, the first concern is: Is the rest of real life so horrible that you've got to game into the ground? If yes... well, easier said than done, but don't escape. Face life, improve life, and when you get back to gaming, you'll enjoy both life and gaming even more.
Other times, it's just fun to marathon and can be perfectly healthy, but only if you plan ahead with keeping properly hydrated and nourished with solid food (and when nature calls, don't hold it in. Most games have pause buttons even for cutscenes now.) I actually can't think of any food and drink right now that's easy to keep on hand, quick-cook or instant, won't go bad if left alone for a few hours, and won't have particularly adverse health effects if you eat nothing but that for two days straight so opening this thread for suggestions! I'm all for just bottled water and trail mix or granola bars.
I'm still looking for a good, honest job, and I plan to go back to school a bit and better myself, even though real life can be scary and is full of angry, uncaring people.
