What do you think? Are games finally becoming a recognised talent? Games like Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution (or whatever) certainly take some degree of skill, and you could definetly say the same for the world's Professional FPS players (if you haven't seen how good people can get, check out some proper CoD4 or CS:S videos - it is astounding). So do people genuinely care about competitive games now that they're on TV? Do high-level WoW players seem attractive to others in the game?
Basically, could games nowadays be seen as something attractive to the opposite sex?

I think you mean "Is Being Good at Games Impressive" nowadays.

I agree with Pedro.
With that in mind; no, I don't think that they are outside of the gaming masses.
I don't think they ever will be. Honestly, do you think a woman is going to look at you knowing nothing about you, watch you shred in GH3, and think to her self how she wants to jump on you?
The popularity of games overseas and the almost rock stardom of some people like the Starcraft heroes of the world, may seem to refute that, but the bubble gummer fan girls of that group aren't all about them because they game well, it's because they are famous. If the same girl watched an unknown plain looking fellow play an incredible game, they woudn't care a jot.

According to E3 this year the gaming industry is worth more than that of the movie or music industry. When you considor its Ģ40 a game its not hard to believe.

plastic_window:
Games like Guitar Hero take some degree of skill,

Come back when you've tried to beat Lou on Expert, and correct it...my wrist still cracks from the many attempts it took me to finally do that.

On topic; Recognised talent? Yes...is WoW a babe-magnet? No. Silly, silly poster. High-level WoW players are not attractive to anyone, besides other high-level WoW players, and that attraction is the mutual wish to do raids.

Oh god, I just realised what you're actually suggesting here...

Grab a gal, any gal, and badly play a song on a plastic guitar with 5 buttons in front of her, then ask her to go out with you. The results should be self-explanatory.

I'm not saying its necessarily a deterrant (actually, I kinda am), but c'mon, video games alone will not pull you a 'bubble gummer fan girl' as Mono put it.

Stubee:
According to E3 this year the gaming industry is worth more than that of the movie or music industry. When you considor its Ģ40 a game its not hard to believe.

Actually Movie's still trump the gaming industry but game sales beat dvd sales last year, only because DVD's cost less so an equal amount of each, won't be the same amount of revenue. Music probably doesn't because I assume the majority is pirated (yet PC gaming gets the secuROM -_-)

I wish I had the link but I'm looking all over shacknews and I can't find it, but it had the numbers.

EDIT:

Grab a gal, any gal, and badly play a song on a plastic guitar with 5 buttons in front of her, then ask her to go out with you. The results should be self-explanatory.

-or play multiplayer and let her win, same applies to "Wii Sports". Basically, if you get your ass kicked at games then it's for the better.

ElArabDeMagnifico:

Actually Movie's still trump the gaming industry

Yet Halo 3 crushed Spider-man 3 on opening sales even though Halo 3 only got 1 day while Spider-man 3 had a whole weekend.

shatnershaman:

ElArabDeMagnifico:

Actually Movie's still trump the gaming industry

Yet Halo 3 crushed Spider-man 3 on opening sales even though Halo 3 only got 1 day while Spider-man 3 had a whole weekend.

GTA IV didn't stop Iron Man from doing well, and Dark Knight has topped the records in most made on opening weekend.

OK I found the article.

While playing video games might not be impresive in most places in the world, go to Korea (South, obviously). Their top gamer is the worlds highest paid gamer, who admits that his "Lovelife" has gotten severly better since he became as good as he is. hen again, Korea has completely accepted video games, to the point that they have boy-bands that sing about video games. Not even joking.

ElArabDeMagnifico:

GTA IV didn't stop Iron Man from doing well, and Dark Knight has topped the records in most made on opening weekend.

See competition if the movie industry is better should it not always be on top?

(P.S Some of those viewers had a nice cameras with them.)

If you are a professinal gamer, I guess that could possibly be impressive to the opposite sex in the sense that you can take a passion and make an interesting jet-setting career out of it. Hard life for aspiring professional gamers though. A lot of sitting inside for hours on end can't be good for your social skills.

Mstrswrd:
Their top gamer is the worlds highest paid gamer, who admits that his "Lovelife" has gotten severly better since he became as good as he is.

Thatīs because his lovelife was non existent prior to him becoming famous. Even if he got laid once, itīs still big improvement...

The main problem with this is, in terms of impressing people...

Most 'non gamers' won't even know if you're doing well, or if what you are doing is considered difficult to do.

Really, unless it's a fellow gamer or your mum, you're not going to get a 'ooh well done dear, want a cup of tea?'

It depends on how you want to think about games. Most people will put them in with movies and books, and nobody is impressed by people who sit by and watch a film, really. Unless they, like, sit really, really still. People, including myself, generally make that comparison rather than, say, playing the guitar, which does involve skill and is impressive.

So, no. No matter how often I play CoD4 on the net in front of my gf and tell her 'But look, that was a super sweet headshot that required both intelligence and dexterity, which could also be applied to the bedroom, why aren't you wet for me?' she just stays all cold and silent till I put it off and also put some trousers on. Women, eh?

Wait, games like Guitar Hero and DDR take talent? Then why the heck was that 300lb boy doing max300? It's not skill it takes, it's a certain degree of methodised smashing of buttons/pads. No skill neccesarry to beat them, just time.
And no, gamers are never impressive. That "pro" gaming BS? Glroified wasts of time and money. If you're getting paid to play video games, you need to get out and get a real job.

I'm probably with Necro here. I respect the time and dedication it takes to get really good at something. But when i look back at how much TF2 i've played in a week I feel a bit retarded. Even if I become the best player in the goddamn world I'm still wasting my time.

Actual conversation.

Me (Look at stats): Wow Hun. I'm 9th best overall on this server.
Her: You need to go outside more.

:(

As a DDR player myself there is nothing more satisfying than seeing the local cocks have their jaw drop when I play the nines through to thirteens (ITG2 machine local). However I concede that as a whole people don't see playing games as an impressive talent not matter how good you are at it, unless they are gamers themselves.

I take issue with one comment tho, 'if you're being paid to play games you should get a proper job'

You're saying anyone who's getting paid to do what they love should quit and get a nice steady job in accountancy?

Someone offers me a living wage to play TF2 and WOW for 40 hours a week, and you'll find I've quit my old job in about a minute.

They are...if you live in Korea

My male friends that aren't real gamers have been pretty impressed when I play Guitar Hero on expert or COD4 online etc. (not to brag), but the opposite sex... really not so much. On the few occasions I am foolish enough to let the conversation drift in the direction of games or am playing a game when talking a female friend, the conversation soon dies or I get the "you really should go out more" vibe.

mmmmm its all relative depending on who you are and what the situation. some talents are impressive but useless in most feilds, however, depending on the nature of a game and how well it tests your mind its not waaaaay out of the question.

Depends on the game. If you are good at Halo, then that's about as impressive as being able to ride a bike. If you are good at a game like Starcraft or Quake, then it's pretty damn impressive.

No, not really.

Cough.

I'm not sure I'd use the word "impressive" for this question. More like, "genuinely challenging."

The answer becomes more readily evident: Most casual-friendly junk isn't, but there are a few games that truly challenge the player.

(And if they were genuinely challenging, whether a member of the opposite sex finds it "impressive" depends on two factors: 1. If they actually know enough about the game to know how hard it is. 2. If people who play games well is honestly one of their turn-ons. )

Well, its not impressive if you're trying out Xbox live for the first time and get sniped thrice in a period of ten seconds.
Then its just kinda rude.

DDR is a talent.
Guitar hero is not.
God of War is talent.
WOW is not.

That's all my opinion.