Have you ever taken time off work to play a video game?

[SWard]

It's so quiet!

All of my buddies are off playing Final Fantasy

Have you ever taken time off work to specifically play a video game? I definitely did for one of the old Sims expansions I was super excited for, but luckily it fell on a long weekend. I think if there's ever a new Baldur's I'd probably take a good few days...

I mean technically I've taken whole weeks off to go to LAN's, but I don't really count it, as its more of a social thing and less of a "No, something has just come out and I need to consume it entirely" situ.

What's the longest you've taken?

 

[Hveðrungr]

I work for myself so I take time off for computer games all the time.

 

[Brian Boru]

Good boy here 😇

I retired before I got my first personal PC many years ago, so it's never been an issue. Closest would be taking a half day off in the 70s when I had a sports game to travel to.

But even these days, no matter how compelling a game is, it stays in the 'game dimension' of life and doesn't interfere with other dimensions

 

[Alm]

I've done it quite a few times. I have taken a week off to play Zelda Breath of the Wild in 2017, and Hogwarts Legacy last year. There have been more times but those are the ones I remember.

 

[Pifanjr]

I don't remember ever taking off work just to play a game. Before I had a wife and kid I had more free time than I knew what to do with, while afterwards I needed all my vacation days for more important matters.

 

[Konquerah]

I have taken time off work to play video games and I'd do it again too!

It's just nice to not have any distractions, as I find myself being interrupted or time getting cut short because of life.

Especially if it's for a game or series that you're eagerly awaiting. It's been a while since I've done it as most things that I were heavily invested in have grown worse through sequels.

I've also stopped buying games on release day now, which probably effects it too.

 

[Hveðrungr]

afterwards I needed all my vacation days for more important matters

Sure, but what about your “sick” days nudge nudge wink wink

 

[neogunhero]

I took off a few days before the weekend to play Starfield at launch. Wasn’t too disappointed with my decision as the first few hours are some of the best. The hype really got to me prior to launch, I thought we were about the witness another gaming sensation as huge as Skyrim when that first came out.

I took off a few days to play Red Dead 2 on my Xbox One at launch. That was one moment where it was so hard for me to put down the game, the following days at work all I could think about was riding my horsies.

I also remember calling out sick from school to play Battlefield 3 at launch just for it to be a buggy disappointing mess. Couldn’t get into any multiplayer matches, and the single player mode was still bugging out all over the place.

 

[BeardyHat]

I used to skip a lot of class to stay home and play games instead, probably wasn't a great decision at the time, but I'm in a good place in life these days, so don't think I'd change anything.

Can't say I've ever taken time off work to play something though and my current job doesn't give me any vacation or sick days, so that's moot.

 

[Pifanjr]

Sure, but what about your “sick” days nudge nudge wink wink

Did you know that children get sick an average of 12 times a year? And they are terrible at not spreading their germs everywhere, so I catch whatever they bring home about half of the time.

I don't have limited sick days, but if I call in more than two or three times a year they will start asking questions.

I used to skip a lot of class to stay home and play games instead, probably wasn't a great decision at the time, but I'm in a good place in life these days, so don't think I'd change anything.

Can't say I've ever taken time off work to play something though and my current job doesn't give me any vacation or sick days, so that's moot.

I have skipped a few lectures in university and while I don't think I ever did so specifically to play a game, that was what I ended up doing most of the time.

 

[Hveðrungr]

my current job doesn't give me any vacation or sick days

I don't have limited sick days, but if I call in more than two or three times a year they will start asking questions.

I never regret the decision to start working for myself.

 

[BeardyHat]

I never regret the decision to start working for myself.

I technically work for myself. I have had my own business for going on 14 years now, though it's mostly been fallow, cause I have other priorities.

I just don't get any days off because I'm the stay at home parent right now. Summer break is... Challenging. Working on my car yesterday was actually a nice break.

 

[Johnway]

Have i taken time off to play a game? Absolutely not. I maybe a heavy gamer and gaming is my defacto passion, i don't obsess over it to the point i'm taking days off specifically play a game. Thankfully. I have life commitments like money, work etc and treat it as entertainment. Hell, i don't do marathon sessions or all nighters when i play. I play my hour or 2 and maintain a schedule.

 

[DXCHASE]

Frankly, im appalled at the amount of you that never did this already!

For me? Yes, more than a couple times. When i was younger, itd be to get some pvp time in with friends in college, having different job schedules, classes etc. I remember doing this for Halo 2. Took a day off because there was a big online campus gaming session going on that night and this was back when this was extremely rare and new for campuses, so i couldnt miss it and my job at the time wasnt like...super amazing anyways.

Now, Its usually in conjunction with my wife and rarely is the SOLE reason for it though. I can name a couple times where i would take a day off to be able to grind a new game with my wife. We work opposite schedules (im overnight, shes day, different days off etc.) . Did this for The Division, Diablo, Gears of War and most def. when raiding with her and clanmates in Destiny 2.

Honestly, i hear the reason people call off of work and from my experience, its usually, imo, nothing way more important than getting in some gaming time.

 

[Zloth]

Sure, but what about your “sick” days nudge nudge wink wink

A sick day IS a vacation day `round these parts. (On the plus side, there are no worries about whether you are "really sick" or not, and all the drama that can bring. On the minus side, people come into work sick because they don't want to burn their vacation time, making even more people sick. Now that I work from home, I get sick less often.)

I've never taken a day off just so I can play a game I really want to play. Of course, I prefer "staycations" when I do take days off so I can play my computer games. Make of that what you will.

 

[COLGeek]

Yes. 'Nuf said.

 

[Hveðrungr]

Honestly, i hear the reason people call off of work and from my experience, its usually, imo, nothing way more important than getting in some gaming time.

Yeah I agree with this. Spending time on your favourite hobbies is no worse than spending it on most other leisure activities. For people who don't want to do things like spending an entire day or staying up all night for their hobbies, okay, fine, but don't act like it makes you a better person than those of us who love to throw ourselves into our hobbies now and then. I've definitely stayed up all night reading, or writing, or TV and film when I was younger, or boardgaming, or yes, videogaming. I've dedicated entire days to all those things, plus hill walking and several others. I'm a politics and stats nerd, and this week a friend and I are going to stay up all night, with drinks and snacks, watching the UK election results roll in; I've done this with friends in-person for 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2017. It's great to let go of caution and responsibility occasionally and enjoy a hobby session so prolonged that you can get your teeth into it. I think there's a joyless attitude abroad that adults, and men in particular, shouldn't enjoy anything except working and DIY, and I want none of it. Give me as much enjoyment as I can handle.

 

[Kaamos_Llama]

Ive actually never taken a day off specifically to play a certain game. But Ive for sure spent a lot of sick days playing games, and a lot of public holidays doing the same before I had a family.

Definitely dont rule it out for the future, but it would depend a lot on the game and my life situation.