George Hook on why he hates gaming !

Grumpypants

Might be worth a listen today at around 5pm. He is looking for people to join in live on air (mentioned on his twitter). Ive offered my services should he want them think Saber has too. But don't think ill be picked to go on air.

Zero-Cool

Cool i'll definitely listen to this if i want to get my head wrecked by a mumbling old fat bastaard

Helix

i assume itll be the usual

- replaces good old fashioned running around
- reduces human contact
- turns kids into serial killers

Sephiroth_dude

Hes a numpty anyway who cares what he thinks.

oneshotfinch

There's a picture of George Hook posing with the F1 for Schools team from our school. They recently came 6th in a global competition in Singapore. All 4 people on the team are gamers.

Retr0gamer

Can't they get somebody that knows what they are talking about to talk about games? If you listen to a movie critic talk about films they'd get someone that actually has an interest in films. Likewise if you want to know about the middle east crisis you'd get someone who is an expert on middle east politics to talk about it. When they get experts or people with knowledge of gaming to talk about gaming I'll listen. If they are going to put old foggies on talking about the good old days or a women that thinks she is qualified to talk about games because her qualifications solely consist of being a mother of 2 then it's just thrash.

I expect the same old crap about murder simulators and the lack of exercise. We'll also hear about how it stunts social growth. How does that explain that I've made some good friends through gaming and met my girlfriend because of it.

Might listen in out of morbid curiosity.

Zero-Cool

I think RetrO needs to ring up the show!

MiCr0

surely this just means that he's going to talk about why *he* doesn't like games, rather than the merits of games in general

super_furry

George Hook is a 70-year old relic who cries on the radio over cricket. Who gives a flying **** what he has to say?

Jerichoholic

This will be worth a listen then, I'll wager he uses the term "gamestation" at least once.

krudler

"I LOVE SKY!!!!!!"


sorry I hear George Hook and I instantly picture him ringing his shovel hands at the thoughts of being able to record live tv.

This should be a trainwreck of Joe Duffys Modern Warfare 2 show proportions, anywhere to listen to it afterwards?

Sabre0001

Have indeed volunteered. We'll see if I get selected! Could be an interesting show - it probably won't be though...expecting to get riled up while listening!

lee_baby_simms

I'd rather hear him jabbering on about rugby or his limp dick...well maybe not.

Mr. K

Sabre0001 wrote: »

Have indeed volunteered. We'll see if I get selected! Could be an interesting show - it probably won't be though...expecting to get riled up while listening!

Fingers crossed for you!

Jamie Starr

Definitely won't be listening. Such a concentrated level of cringe = headasplode.

Grumpypants

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Can't they get somebody that knows what they are talking about to talk about games? If you listen to a movie critic talk about films they'd get someone that actually has an interest in films. Likewise if you want to know about the middle east crisis you'd get someone who is an expert on middle east politics to talk about it. When they get experts or people with knowledge of gaming to talk about gaming I'll listen. If they are going to put old foggies on talking about the good old days or a women that thinks she is qualified to talk about games because her qualifications solely consist of being a mother of 2 then it's just thrash.

I expect the same old crap about murder simulators and the lack of exercise. We'll also hear about how it stunts social growth. How does that explain that I've made some good friends through gaming and met my girlfriend because of it.

Might listen in out of morbid curiosity.

I kind of wanted to go on but after reading that im too scarred i'd let ye all down

He wants normal people to go on air and chip in, as long as its not that girl who thought the Kinect was a headband.

Im not expecting the whole turns kids mental debate im just expecting that he just doesn't get it, in the same way i don't get why Rihanna is considered music.

Retr0gamer

I'd volunteer but I'm knee deep in thesis writing and my ancient mobile phone is knackered and it's hard to hear anything on it.

noodler

sheehy83 wrote: »

Cool i'll definitely listen to this if i want to get my head wrecked by a mumbling old fat bastaard

Brilliant!

Helix wrote: »

i assume itll be the usual

- replaces good old fashioned running around
- reduces human contact
- turns kids into serial killers

Well the first two are fairly legitimate in my opinion.

sheehy83 wrote: »

I think RetrO needs to ring up the show!

Mr Hook does not need to hear about how overrated Final Fantasy 7 is.



Nah, seriously, can they not find one of us here (or a couple), maybe some with the more interesting jobs or hobbies to go on and talk about Shadow of the Colossus, the ending to Metal Gear Solid 3 even Flower (although it wasn't my cup of tea)?

Instead it will be soldier game this and GTA that.

Sabre0001

noodler wrote: »

Brilliant!
Well the first two are fairly legitimate in my opinion.

MAYBE the running around part - though it is possible to strike a balance...just like I like writing, listening to music, playing tag rugby and soccer, and gaming - yet I manage to fit them around each other.

Social contact however, I will certainly disagree with. Internet means we can communicate via headsets with friends regardless of where they are. For a cheap night with friends, I get some over, get Dominos and drinks. LANs are great.

Also, I organise local tournaments where players have become friends. Same in the Dublin fighting game community. Plenty of events hosted around the country where there is banter and people have an instant bonding point and a common ground.

That_Guy

This is gonna be amazing.

Kadongy

em Everybody else seems to know already, but what station will it be on?

noodler

Sabre0001 wrote: »

MAYBE the running around part - though it is possible to strike a balance...just like I like writing, listening to music, playing tag rugby and soccer, and gaming - yet I manage to fit them around each other.

Social contact however, I will certainly disagree with. Internet means we can communicate via headsets with friends regardless of where they are. For a cheap night with friends, I get some over, get Dominos and drinks. LANs are great.

Also, I organise local tournaments where players have become friends. Same in the Dublin fighting game community. Plenty of events hosted around the country where there is banter and people have an instant bonding point and a common ground.

Well I could go on about how athletic I am and how I had loads of friends in college but I just don't think it really changes the fact that gaming can contribute to the whole anti-social/fat thing.

I am not saying it is the sole cause or anything so simplistic, however, I think it is a fact that when I was a kid and there was nothing on the Network 2 or RTE1 then I generally went outside to my mates or kicked a ball around. Kids today never really have to get bored with the amount of games and constant internet access.

Obviously we can make a parental supervision argument here but I still think it is an issue even if the solution won't be found within the gaming industry.

Zero-Cool

I would love to ring in and say after playing GTA, I get the feeling to go out and ride hookers and then kill them and take my money back! Give him exactly what he wants to hear!

sink

Kadongy wrote: »

em Everybody else seems to know already, but what station will it be on?

newstalk

Jerichoholic

http://www.newstalk.ie/

You can click the live video option to see his ignorance as it happens.

Jerichoholic

sheehy83 wrote: »

I would love to ring in and say after playing GTA, I get the feeling to go out and ride hookers and then kill them and take my money back! Give him exactly what he wants to hear!

"Yes George, after playing Pacman I ate a load of pills and thought there were ghosts chasing me".

mikemac

Hates gaming, inactive kids, obesity, lack of exercise, watching junk, too much violence, should be reading

And btw, Sign up to Sky

Sabre0001

noodler wrote: »

Well I could go on about how athletic I am and how I had loads of friends in college but I just don't think it really changes the fact that gaming can contribute to the whole anti-social/fat thing.

I am not saying it is the sole cause or anything so simplistic, however, I think it is a fact that when I was a kid and there was nothing on the Network 2 or RTE1 then I generally went outside to my mates or kicked a ball around. Kids today never really have to get bored with the amount of games and constant internet access.

Obviously we can make a parental supervision argument here but I still think it is an issue even if the solution won't be found within the gaming industry.

Some people will just find excuses not to run about. "Oh look, something crap is on TV. I'll just watch that" Think games are just a new scapegoat. We'll see if Kinect can make a difference (and get some good games!)

noodler

Sabre0001 wrote: »

Some people will just find excuses not to run about. "Oh look, something crap is on TV. I'll just watch that" Think games are just a new scapegoat. We'll see if Kinect can make a difference (and get some good games!)

The whole WiiFit and Kinect thing makes me cringe.

Expecially that new Wii (or is it Kinect?) advert with the woman who had "no confidence or life" before she used the console dropped some lbs and regained her social life.

Talk about straight out lies

*I am willing to be corrected on this but is any sort of Wii workout sufficiently energetic to play a major part in any weight loss programme? I would surely have thought a 20 run would be more beneficial.

hal9000

Sabre0001 wrote: »

We'll see if Kinect can make a difference (and get some good games!)

Could be waiting awhile!

This radio discussion rant cant end well when its called "why I hate gaming"

noodler

ATTENTION:

If ANYONE here gets selected and somehow manages to work in "well they're no worse than Sky Boxes...."

I will give you a quite staggering ten euros via paypal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QINzmRPfMCU

Sin_J

noodler wrote: »

The whole WiiFit and Kinect thing makes me cringe.

Expecially that new Wii (or is it Kinect?) advert with the woman who had "no confidence or life" before she used the console dropped some lbs and regained her social life.

Talk about straight out lies

*I am willing to be corrected on this but is any sort of Wii workout sufficiently energetic to play a major part in any weight loss programme? I would surely have thought a 20 run would be more beneficial.

Alot of the actual wiifit fitness games, are just like doing regular exercise, just not as intensive as a 20k run. Like doing step aerobics, squats, etc. It's the idea that it makes a game of it gets more people to do it. And that it's in the privacy of your own home.
Ask a lazy kid to use an exercise bike and he'll most likely say no. Put a screen on it and give it a point system and achievements and he'll be on it all day. Yeah its like bribing the kid but he's still being active.

A kid that is lazy would still be lazy without games. If i didn't have games to play or anything on tv as a kid i would have just sat and read a book. Still wouldn't have been active but wouldn't have been frowned upon.

As for the kinect, as much i generally hate the music in it, Dance Central takes a lot of energy to play and is alot of fun.

As for being anti-social. Play any MMO and you'll meet people from all across Europe and further. I've traveled to the UK, Belgium and Norway to meet up with some of the people i play with. Just because you are socializing through a keyboard does not mean its not real socializing.

That said, everything in moderation. This will no doubt be alot of parents calling in that couldn't be bothered to actually raise their children complaining because they left them in front of the tv/console.

IamtheWalrus

I've often wondered about people who don't eventually grow out of gaming.

deathrider

Never heard of the guy, so I've no idea what station he's from. Can you listen in online?

Desire.

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

I've often wondered about people who don't eventually grow out of gaming.

Why? It's not just for kids.

Desire.

deathrider wrote: »

Never heard of the guy, so I've no idea what station he's from. Can you listen in online?

Newstalk, 106-108FM. You can listen online on their website.

Jerichoholic

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

I've often wondered about people who don't eventually grow out of gaming.

That's quite a lot of people you have to wonder about then.

deathrider

Desire. wrote: »

Newstalk, 106-108FM. You can listen online on their website.

Dead on. Cheers, mate. I'm always looking for new people to tell me that games have transformed me into a cold-blooded mental shell of a man :pac:

noodler

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

I've often wondered about people who don't eventually grow out of gaming.

I find that attitude strange as we ARE the test generation in that regard and I have to be honest, 25 now and I doubt I'll ever really grow out of it - just be forced to play less and less.

Desire. wrote: »

Why? It's not just for kids.

Indeed.

IamtheWalrus

Desire. wrote: »

Why? It's not just for kids.

What do you get out of it, as an adult?

lee_baby_simms

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

I've often wondered about people who don't eventually grow out of gaming.

Spending time thinking about that is a bigger waste of time than playing videogames.

Wait...going by your username...are you George Hook?

Duggy747

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

I've often wondered about people who don't eventually grow out of gaming.

Us people who played games grew up, so did the industry with us which now focuses more on a broader age gap and keeps us entertained as adults. A few years ago I never thought I'd be decent friends with people in multiple countries despite me not having a clue what half of them look like

Give me gaming over Facebook any goddamn day!

These shows always follow the same formula: Multiple people who are against gaming and vent some draconian views on it, a woman who reasons her arguments are valid because she's a mother (same ol', same ol' in every gaming discussion) and about 3 minutes allowed for a pro-gamer to get his point across while he's being mauled by the opposition.

I'll listen to it, as I do with most of these game debates.....................and get angry, as I do with most of these game debates.

Sin_J

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

What do you get out of it, as an adult?

Go play Portal 2. The single player story and gameplay are a perfect example is what is good about gaming for any age.

deathrider

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

What do you get out of it, as an adult?

Same kick I got out of it as a kid... Except with better graphics.

Sabre0001

Entertainment, social nights, escapism - same as I get from other forms of entertainment such as TV, films, gigs.

I also get an element of competition or co-operation...and it's an active form of entertainment rather than passive.

IamtheWalrus

deathrider wrote: »

Same kick I got out of it as a kid... Except with better graphics.

But it's not real.

Zero-Cool

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

What do you get out of it, as an adult?

Obviously we are old enough to have sex with hookers, kill them and take our money back!

krudler

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

But it's not real.

Neither is watching tv or movies, whats your (bizarre) point?

Sabre0001

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

But it's not real.

Wait...WAIT! How did you find this information? Alert the local media......no! The national......better make it world media.

Jerichoholic

What do you get out of films, books or music as an adult? Have you moved on from them too? Games are just as relevant as any medium these days.

deathrider

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

But it's not real.

Keep that in mind next time you're in the cinema.