Do you multitask when gaming?

PostDo you multitask when gaming? by **Jenuall** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:17 pm

As the World Cup has been on I've been having a fair few gaming sessions whilst having the football on simultaneously and it got me wondering how other people consume gaming as a medium.

Are you happy playing a game whilst engaging in some other activity like watching TV or a movie, perhaps you listen to your own music, the radio or a podcast whilst enjoying a game, or are you someone who has to have gaming as their sole focus in order to get the most out of it?

In the past I've enjoyed having TV shows on whilst playing something like X-COM or Civilization on my laptop - but generally only shows that I know so well I can enjoy them without needing to devote my full attention to them. I find if I'm playing either a more story or action focused game then I either don't enjoy it as much or simply can't do it unless there are no other distractions around!

So what are other folks views - are you freewheeling multitaskers, hyper-focused single media consumers, or somewhere in between?

Jenuall, no way, dude - if I'm playing a game then I have to concentrate on it; I can't have distractions!

Sometimes people might think I am given my piss poor performance but no when I'm gaming I only concentrate on that.

Depending on the game or other media then yes. For example Pokémon, it's very easy to have a few turns in a battle, watch a bit of the TV program before returning to the game. Likewise if it's a program/film I've seen a lot of times I don't mind playing games in that circumstance. I quite often listen to music when I'm playing racing games as well.

If I'm watching live sport though I never touch any type of game, likewise with anything where the story needs your focus.

Funny you should mention xcom ... While I was playing xcom 2 I was also watch stupid training videos for work we have to watch and doing online training etc... It depends on the type of game, I will have YouTube stuff on in the background a fair bit.

Yup. Not at the start of a game, but once I am familiar with it, and especially when trying to best a difficult bit or doing some grinding, I'll listen to my favourite YT channels as I play.

PostRe: Do you multitask when gaming? by **Trelliz** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 6:47 am

Only for stuff like Diablo, Warframe etc or if i'm doing creative stuff like making liveries in Forza, where something extra to listen to doesn't intrude.

Yeah, I'm terrible for it. Life of an achievement whore I'm afraid. I've always got something else on the go, an achievement guide, video, different game on a phone or tablet etc. I'll occasionally settle in to a good game without any distractions, I played Dark Souls 3 recently without any interruptions, but those times are a minority.

Corazon de Leon

Yep. I’ll be co-op gaming with two games of football on other screens this afternoon. :lol:

PostRe: Do you multitask when gaming? by **Moggy** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 7:35 am

I might have music playing through a stereo or as a custom soundtrack, but otherwise I just concentrate on the game.

No. If I'm watching TV that is all I do. If I'm playing a game, that is all I do. If I need to do something at the same time then clearly what I'm doing isn't that interesting and I need to stop. I do from time to time pick up my phone whilst watching TV but I'm trying to stop that as I see it as poor concentration rather than multitasking.

If I'm gaming then I'm gaming, but there are exceptions thanks to the switch, the best example being an f1 race where 99% of it is gooseberry fool but every now and then something happens you want to see, so you can change your focus. While I'm doing that I'm really focused on the game and it can take something like shouting on the tv to break the spell so to speak.

PostRe: Do you multitask when gaming? by **Rax** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 8:15 am

Depends on the game, some games suit playing while listening to a podcast, the Lego games for example dont need your full attention that often so theyre ideal podcast fodder. The same for things like Minecraft or Mario Kart, its not essential to hear everything that happens so theyre ideal for chucking on a podcast while you play.

PostRe: Do you multitask when gaming? by **Tomous** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 8:40 am

Switch has been beautiful for the World Cup-lying on the sofa with football on the telly, and Switch in hand :cool:

PostRe: Do you multitask when gaming? by **Hypes** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 9:11 am

The only thing you could do whilst gaming is perhaps listen to something else. You can't watch something and game at the same time as you'd be switching between them and that's not really multitasking

PostRe: Do you multitask when gaming? by **Mafro** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 9:17 am

Often listen to podcasts when playing something grindy like Destiny or Monster Hunter. Been playing the Switch in handheld mode a lot while watching the World Cup.

Jenuall wrote:hyper-focused single media consumers

That's me

I don't even understand how people can listen to something unrelated while playing a game. If I'm concentrating on one thing I can't pay any attention to something else.

PostRe: Do you multitask when gaming? by **Moggy** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 10:03 am

OrangeRakoon wrote:
Jenuall wrote:hyper-focused single media consumers

That's me

I don't even understand how people can listen to something unrelated while playing a game. If I'm concentrating on one thing I can't pay any attention to something else.

It obviously depends on the game, but it’s easy enough to play some games while listening to music. You don’t really miss out on anything if you are playing a racing game for instance.

PostRe: Do you multitask when gaming? by **Photek** » Tue Jun 26, 2018 10:11 am

I listen to podcasts when playing Sea of Thieves alone. Works really well. Always listen to music when playing Rocket League I actually have audio up all the way which cancels game sounds.

Since last update I listen to more chilled music at a very low level when playing Fortnite and PUBG I can only really hear it when I’m stood still, nice to hear some Orbital every now and then.

Moggy wrote:It obviously depends on the game, but it’s easy enough to play some games while listening to music. You don’t really miss out on anything if you are playing a racing game for instance.

I meant more podcasts or audiobooks. If you play your own music you're just replacing the in-game soundtrack with your own and that's fine, but there are few games I could play while listening to someone talking about something entirely unrelated. In contrast in game radio shares the context of the game so is normally a lot easier to follow (although I still normally turn on subtitles whenever I can).

Do you multitask when gaming?

Do you multitask whilst gaming?

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