- sequekhan
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Everyone loves a good game. It is, perhaps, one of the safest pastimes of the modern age. When you think about it, people are dying from all sorts of things all the time - cancer, car accidents, allergies, diseases, famine, etc. The list is endless. These days, with the so-called economy trouble (I say so-called because it's my personal belief the economy is total rubbish and we can live without it) you can't even look at someone for fear they'll pull out a gun on you. Desperate times make desperate people.
So when you sit in your favourite comfy chair and put on a game, do you spare a moment to think about your well-being? Do you plan how long you'll play, what you'll eat? Do you know how far you should sit from the screen?
I can't give you a typical example, because I'm not a typical guy. Chances are no person is. We're all different, right down to our body chemistry. I could tell you all about me, but that would be boring and long-winded. But I do have some handy pointers to help make your experience more enjoyable.
1. This may seem obvious, but people still do it. Don't play for too long at once. Even I've done it before. Trust me when I say it isn't fun. Your body will cramp up. The risk of getting a blood clots is higher. Eye strain will kick in, especially if you're playing in the dark, staring at a bright screen. There are even cases of people dying from playing for too long. This is pretty extreme, but no game, no matter how good, is worth your life. Hand-in-hand with this is eating right, stopping for breaks, stretching and remembering to feed your pet, or go to work.
2. If it's too hard, play one of your old favourites. This works for me rather well, as I often find myself frustrated by either my own ineptness, or the game's ridiculously hard hurdles. As a perfectionist, perhaps I'm more prone to this than others might be. Regardless. everyone gets ticked off at some point. I've even destroyed controllers. I wouldn't be the only one. Just step back, take a breather. Do some stuff on Gamespot. Or do the ironing. The game will always be there, ready for you to come back and have another crack at another day.
3. Remember your mum. This point is more for the younger generations, but there are a lot of people (myself included) that are approaching their 30s and still living at home with their parents. If you have jobs to do, then you better do them! Times are tough, and no parent wants to support a dead weight that doesn't help out around the home every now and then. There's more to life than gaming. ( ... Not that much more.)
4. Shower often. You've no idea how important it is to stay clean. Especially if your systems are in your bedroom. Dedicated gamers can spend the better part of their day (or lives) in their bedroom. Add in the hours for sleep, and it leaves little room for anything else. After a while (and you probably wont notice it) it'll develop a smell. You do not want it to develop this smell! And check your chin for a Gandalf beard! Those things creep up on a gamer so slowly, you may not even realise you have one. It only has to be every second day. Ten minutes in the water, another ten to clean up. Not much to ask for a 48 hour period, eh?
Those are pretty broad, but I think they cover the major points. Ergonomics are pretty obvious so I hope everyone knows the basics of that, and the usefulness of a comfortable chair and good posture. Good food suggestions include crackers (for something with low sugar content) and dark chocolate (for some healthy chocolate, because we all want chocolate). Drinks I would recommend keeping to a minimum, as you'll only find yourself rushing off to the toilet every ten minutes. That's something you don't want to do in the middle of a multiplayer game!
And whatever the game, whatever the mood you are in: remember to leave your zeal at the console. No trying to duplicate Burnout stunts on the road. It's not cool any more. Don't take out your new-found Streetfighter urges on your history teacher. Or boss. Their skills are better than yours.
Oh, and did you know Multiple Sclerosis has been linked to a lack of sunlight? Better get out of that cave every once in a while, if only to show the world that yes, you are indeed, still alive.
- Posted Apr 9, 2009 8:24 am PT
- Category: Editorial
- 124 Comments
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