The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Medical directors are constantly stating that drivers should take regular breaks while on the road, office workers should not stare at a VDU all day, and now gamers must not play for many hours without a break. On this note, I have to agree with the GMC, breaks are important to relieve stress on the eyes and joints. However, I am not here to moan on about why you shouldn't play videogames, in fact I am here to offer a light-hearted look at how breaks could be advantageous, and the types of breaks that could be taken.
Why are breaks advantageous to the gamer then? Gamers who take an hourly break are often more successful than gamers who play for constant hours. A break will refresh the gamer, relax the controller hand, and allow the eyes to reset back to their original position. Circulating adrenaline levels will also drop, concurrently reducing cardiac output, thus reducing the gaming population's incidence of heart disease. Blood flow will return to the extremeties, salivary glands will begin functioning again, and button-tapping-mediated arthritis will cease. Levels of blood caffeine may also rise, improving the gamer's alertness and reflex activity. Hence breaks will not only make the gamer more responsive, but also of better health.
So now it has been established that breaks are advantageous to the gamer, but why should we be motivated to drag ourselves away from our console and take a break? Breaks can be very fun indeed, and to argue my case, here is a comprehensive list of break techniques that will leave you throwing your pad to the floor and relaxing in pure break bliss.
English Tea Break
Every englishman loves a cup of cha, and what better time to enjoy a cuppa than as a break in a videogame. If you are taking a morning break, have a swift cup of PG tips while taking a pause. If you are an evening tea lover, you may appreciate the benefits of a pot of hot Earl Grey tea in a break. Late night gamers may prefer the strong flavour of a richer tea such as Assam. The choice is varied, and the tea market is so complex, it may take a while to decide which cup is for you. However, when you reach the tea drinking mecca, you will enjoy a tea break as much as the game itself - perfect!
Fitness break
What better way to drag yourself away from your favourite game than the prospect of strenuous exercise. Running is a great way to take a break, and a few laps of the local park will leave you feeling energised and refreshed. If you are lucky enough to own a treadmill, you will gain even more from your daily run without even leaving the house. If you are an adventurous and daring gamer, you could even recreate police chases that occur in your game by calling 999 and confessing to drug trafficking. The possibilities are endless, and often you may return so tired, that you will fall cosily into bed, extending the break, and your health.
Music break
Relaxation and refreshment is crucial to any break, and the music break is no exception. If you want to feel refreshed and full of get-up-and-go from your music break, I suggest the energetic and uplifting sounds of Radiohead. However, if you want focusing and stimulating music for the game ahead, try sampling the tunes of Steps or A1. Music can be tuned to your individual mood, so chose carefully.
Alcohol break
What better way to improve your reflexes and focus than a swift double Jack Daniels. A can of Special Brew can work wonders to calm in-game irritations, and Reef is perfect for increasing motivation. Begin taking alcohol breaks and you may find yourself becoming gradually more and more motivated to take regular pauses. In fact, it may go as far as deterring you from video games altogether for a transient period.
Cigarette break
A snidy ciggy is a perfect way to sneak a break in to your gaming schedule. You may find yourself taking up to 100 breaks a day, and drinking lots of coffee aswell.
OK, I have been writing this post for a while now, and I have now passed allowed computing time, so I am to take a well deserved break. As the time is nigh-on two in the morning, it should well be a bed break. Something of late that videogames seem to have conveniently removed from my schedule.
Why are breaks advantageous to the gamer then? Gamers who take an hourly break are often more successful than gamers who play for constant hours. A break will refresh the gamer, relax the controller hand, and allow the eyes to reset back to their original position. Circulating adrenaline levels will also drop, concurrently reducing cardiac output, thus reducing the gaming population's incidence of heart disease. Blood flow will return to the extremeties, salivary glands will begin functioning again, and button-tapping-mediated arthritis will cease. Levels of blood caffeine may also rise, improving the gamer's alertness and reflex activity. Hence breaks will not only make the gamer more responsive, but also of better health.
So now it has been established that breaks are advantageous to the gamer, but why should we be motivated to drag ourselves away from our console and take a break? Breaks can be very fun indeed, and to argue my case, here is a comprehensive list of break techniques that will leave you throwing your pad to the floor and relaxing in pure break bliss.
English Tea Break
Every englishman loves a cup of cha, and what better time to enjoy a cuppa than as a break in a videogame. If you are taking a morning break, have a swift cup of PG tips while taking a pause. If you are an evening tea lover, you may appreciate the benefits of a pot of hot Earl Grey tea in a break. Late night gamers may prefer the strong flavour of a richer tea such as Assam. The choice is varied, and the tea market is so complex, it may take a while to decide which cup is for you. However, when you reach the tea drinking mecca, you will enjoy a tea break as much as the game itself - perfect!
Fitness break
What better way to drag yourself away from your favourite game than the prospect of strenuous exercise. Running is a great way to take a break, and a few laps of the local park will leave you feeling energised and refreshed. If you are lucky enough to own a treadmill, you will gain even more from your daily run without even leaving the house. If you are an adventurous and daring gamer, you could even recreate police chases that occur in your game by calling 999 and confessing to drug trafficking. The possibilities are endless, and often you may return so tired, that you will fall cosily into bed, extending the break, and your health.
Music break
Relaxation and refreshment is crucial to any break, and the music break is no exception. If you want to feel refreshed and full of get-up-and-go from your music break, I suggest the energetic and uplifting sounds of Radiohead. However, if you want focusing and stimulating music for the game ahead, try sampling the tunes of Steps or A1. Music can be tuned to your individual mood, so chose carefully.
Alcohol break
What better way to improve your reflexes and focus than a swift double Jack Daniels. A can of Special Brew can work wonders to calm in-game irritations, and Reef is perfect for increasing motivation. Begin taking alcohol breaks and you may find yourself becoming gradually more and more motivated to take regular pauses. In fact, it may go as far as deterring you from video games altogether for a transient period.
Cigarette break
A snidy ciggy is a perfect way to sneak a break in to your gaming schedule. You may find yourself taking up to 100 breaks a day, and drinking lots of coffee aswell.
OK, I have been writing this post for a while now, and I have now passed allowed computing time, so I am to take a well deserved break. As the time is nigh-on two in the morning, it should well be a bed break. Something of late that videogames seem to have conveniently removed from my schedule.
good post, too early for any thing else
Medical directors are constantly stating that drivers should take regular breaks while on the road, office workers should not stare at a VDU all day, and now gamers must not play for many hours without a break. On this note, I have to agree with the GMC, breaks are important to relieve stress on the eyes and joints. However, I am not here to moan on about why you shouldn't play videogames, in fact I am here to offer a light-hearted look at how breaks could be advantageous, and the types of breaks that could be taken.
Why are breaks advantageous to the gamer then? Gamers who take an hourly break are often more successful than gamers who play for constant hours. A break will refresh the gamer, relax the controller hand, and allow the eyes to reset back to their original position. Circulating adrenaline levels will also drop, concurrently reducing cardiac output, thus reducing the gaming population's incidence of heart disease. Blood flow will return to the extremeties, salivary glands will begin functioning again, and button-tapping-mediated arthritis will cease. Levels of blood caffeine may also rise, improving the gamer's alertness and reflex activity. Hence breaks will not only make the gamer more responsive, but also of better health.
So now it has been established that breaks are advantageous to the gamer, but why should we be motivated to drag ourselves away from our console and take a break? Breaks can be very fun indeed, and to argue my case, here is a comprehensive list of break techniques that will leave you throwing your pad to the floor and relaxing in pure break bliss.
English Tea Break
Every englishman loves a cup of cha, and what better time to enjoy a cuppa than as a break in a videogame. If you are taking a morning break, have a swift cup of PG tips while taking a pause. If you are an evening tea lover, you may appreciate the benefits of a pot of hot Earl Grey tea in a break. Late night gamers may prefer the strong flavour of a richer tea such as Assam. The choice is varied, and the tea market is so complex, it may take a while to decide which cup is for you. However, when you reach the tea drinking mecca, you will enjoy a tea break as much as the game itself - perfect!
Fitness break
What better way to drag yourself away from your favourite game than the prospect of strenuous exercise. Running is a great way to take a break, and a few laps of the local park will leave you feeling energised and refreshed. If you are lucky enough to own a treadmill, you will gain even more from your daily run without even leaving the house. If you are an adventurous and daring gamer, you could even recreate police chases that occur in your game by calling 999 and confessing to drug trafficking. The possibilities are endless, and often you may return so tired, that you will fall cosily into bed, extending the break, and your health.
Music break
Relaxation and refreshment is crucial to any break, and the music break is no exception. If you want to feel refreshed and full of get-up-and-go from your music break, I suggest the energetic and uplifting sounds of Radiohead. However, if you want focusing and stimulating music for the game ahead, try sampling the tunes of Steps or A1. Music can be tuned to your individual mood, so chose carefully.
Alcohol break
What better way to improve your reflexes and focus than a swift double Jack Daniels. A can of Special Brew can work wonders to calm in-game irritations, and Reef is perfect for increasing motivation. Begin taking alcohol breaks and you may find yourself becoming gradually more and more motivated to take regular pauses. In fact, it may go as far as deterring you from video games altogether for a transient period.
Cigarette break
A snidy ciggy is a perfect way to sneak a break in to your gaming schedule. You may find yourself taking up to 100 breaks a day, and drinking lots of coffee aswell.
OK, I have been writing this post for a while now, and I have now passed allowed computing time, so I am to take a well deserved break. As the time is nigh-on two in the morning, it should well be a bed break. Something of late that videogames seem to have conveniently removed from my schedule.
Why are breaks advantageous to the gamer then? Gamers who take an hourly break are often more successful than gamers who play for constant hours. A break will refresh the gamer, relax the controller hand, and allow the eyes to reset back to their original position. Circulating adrenaline levels will also drop, concurrently reducing cardiac output, thus reducing the gaming population's incidence of heart disease. Blood flow will return to the extremeties, salivary glands will begin functioning again, and button-tapping-mediated arthritis will cease. Levels of blood caffeine may also rise, improving the gamer's alertness and reflex activity. Hence breaks will not only make the gamer more responsive, but also of better health.
So now it has been established that breaks are advantageous to the gamer, but why should we be motivated to drag ourselves away from our console and take a break? Breaks can be very fun indeed, and to argue my case, here is a comprehensive list of break techniques that will leave you throwing your pad to the floor and relaxing in pure break bliss.
English Tea Break
Every englishman loves a cup of cha, and what better time to enjoy a cuppa than as a break in a videogame. If you are taking a morning break, have a swift cup of PG tips while taking a pause. If you are an evening tea lover, you may appreciate the benefits of a pot of hot Earl Grey tea in a break. Late night gamers may prefer the strong flavour of a richer tea such as Assam. The choice is varied, and the tea market is so complex, it may take a while to decide which cup is for you. However, when you reach the tea drinking mecca, you will enjoy a tea break as much as the game itself - perfect!
Fitness break
What better way to drag yourself away from your favourite game than the prospect of strenuous exercise. Running is a great way to take a break, and a few laps of the local park will leave you feeling energised and refreshed. If you are lucky enough to own a treadmill, you will gain even more from your daily run without even leaving the house. If you are an adventurous and daring gamer, you could even recreate police chases that occur in your game by calling 999 and confessing to drug trafficking. The possibilities are endless, and often you may return so tired, that you will fall cosily into bed, extending the break, and your health.
Music break
Relaxation and refreshment is crucial to any break, and the music break is no exception. If you want to feel refreshed and full of get-up-and-go from your music break, I suggest the energetic and uplifting sounds of Radiohead. However, if you want focusing and stimulating music for the game ahead, try sampling the tunes of Steps or A1. Music can be tuned to your individual mood, so chose carefully.
Alcohol break
What better way to improve your reflexes and focus than a swift double Jack Daniels. A can of Special Brew can work wonders to calm in-game irritations, and Reef is perfect for increasing motivation. Begin taking alcohol breaks and you may find yourself becoming gradually more and more motivated to take regular pauses. In fact, it may go as far as deterring you from video games altogether for a transient period.
Cigarette break
A snidy ciggy is a perfect way to sneak a break in to your gaming schedule. You may find yourself taking up to 100 breaks a day, and drinking lots of coffee aswell.
OK, I have been writing this post for a while now, and I have now passed allowed computing time, so I am to take a well deserved break. As the time is nigh-on two in the morning, it should well be a bed break. Something of late that videogames seem to have conveniently removed from my schedule.