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[Mushroomer25]

This has become an issue since I've picked up an XBox ONE last week. Previous to this, I was mostly gaming on a PC (specifically a laptop), and a WiiU. Both have personal screens, which I've used pretty frequently. I like being able to play at my convenience, and move the setup around.
But now, with the ONE, I'm playing stuff on the TV in the main room. And more than once, my roommates have stopped by - and just watched.

And it's the most unnerving thing in the world to me. It puts me on edge - I'm suddenly hyper-aware of how well I'm doing, what I'm doing, if what I'm doing looks interesting. One of my roommates just sat on the couch and watched me for a solid hour playing Sunset Overdrive. Suddenly instead of just relaxing with the game, I also had to try and maintain a conversation. When I spent time in menus fiddling with guns, buying amps & stuff - I felt weirdly guilty. Like I wasn't properly entertaining a guest.

It's even worse with somebody who doesn't play games regularly. Then I feel like I'm justifying my entire hobby. That's why I liked the WiiU - if somebody else walked in, I could just flick the TV back to cable & keep playing on the Gamepad.

Am I crazy? Or do other people share this pet peeve?

 

[viewtiful_dru]

No, the opposite actually, people watching my gameplay makes me want to show off.

 

[MaddenNFL64]

When people are in the room? Not really, what actually happens is I try to impress them by doing something cool, then they grow bored, and leave .

Different when I played on that cloud gaming service On-Live. People jump into your game, and start giving you a thumbs up, but then you die, you get a thumbs down... its nerve racking!

 

[Zalman]

No, the opposite actually, people watching my gameplay makes me want to show off.

I remember playing Guitar Hero on Expert in GameStop and when the song was done there was a circle of people around me.

 

[quesalupa]

Kind of but not really. If I'm not doing anything visually interesting, I'll tell them so as to not give them any high expectation in what they're watching.

 

[bobawesome]

Only my Vita games. ...you know why.

 

[PAULINK]

No, the opposite actually, people watching my gameplay makes me want to show off.

Yes, having people watch me play video games empowers me, that's why I like to stream

 

[Asmodai48]

I used to play WoW at a net cafe with some friends during TBC, people would walk past see me fighting illidan and be like WTF!

 

[Menome]

If my girlfriend's watching me play Destiny, I go from hyper-efficient killing machine to one of the Three Stooges within seconds.

 

[EXPotemkin]

Only when I'm playing an import game. "Can you even read that/understand what they're saying?" Nope and don't care.

 

[Phil-NeoGAF]

Uncomfortable, no. Nervous, yes. That's only if they start telling me how I should play the game.

 

[oreomunsta]

Hahaha ah.... I suffer from the same thing too, OP ( ._.) It's only when someone watches me on the TV or looks over my shoulder (3DS). When someone watches over my shoulder when I'm playing smash, I feel like I have to explain why I do certain things. But really, I want an explanation from myself as to why I go from Captain Smash to Sucks-Ass in a heartbeat

 

[chaosblade]

Yes.

There are pretty specific situations where I can play games with people watching or around me. The vast majority of the time, if somebody walks in the room while I'm playing I usually pause the game and wait for them to leave.

And even with games I can play while people are watching (like Smash) it's irritating because they try to hold a conversation with me.

 

[Mexen]

It really depends on the game and who's watching me. My fellow hardcore gamer friends can sit for hours watching me play a classic JRPG. A casual might be impressed by my Metal Gear Solid session but as soon as a cut scene comes on or you know... Codec. Yikes.

If anything makes me feel uncomfortable, it's the guided commentary I receive when I'm playing a game for the first time on someone else's system at their place. "Go there! No, go back. Left! Left, dude. I said left. Yes, now get that, you'll need for the boss fight in 2 minutes!" That I hate.

 

[Persona7]

yes crippling anxiety

but then again my life is basically composed of crippling anxiety

 

[L4DANathan]

It depends on how close they are to me. If they're hovering near me, then it bothers the ever-loving hell out of me and I want to hit them. If they're just in the room, I don't mind at all.

 

[Wolf Akela]

What? I love having a crowd. I remember getting a small crowd while playing DMC3. I got a crowd while playing UC2 as well.

 

[Biker19]

Only when I'm playing an import game. "Can you even read that/understand what they're saying?" Nope, & don't care.

This. It's the gameplay that matters.

 

[kasane]

During the arcades yes

Everybody lining up to play whatever fighting games

Then i enjoyed it during the phase that i was able to body people

 

[Dunkley]

Depends on the game

 

[Stimpack]

Nah, not really. I don't stream or anything, but I have fond memories of playing a lot of Halo 1 local multiplayer with various people. I'm also fairly competent when it comes to playing games, so I don't feel self-conscious or anything like that.

 

[Betty]

Oh yeah, big time.

Most of the time I just pause the game and chat with them until they, hopefully, take the hint to leave.

If I'm playing local multiplayer though and I'm owning everyone, I want as many eyes on me as possible.

 

[Otakumegane]

I like it.

When my little sister watched me play Zelda when I was young it was the best. Now people just watch me play Smash.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

If it's a game with a narrative that I'm really immersed in I'll basically finish whatever I need to do before the next save point and stop playing that. Like say a Bioware game. I dread somebody walking in and seeing me play as my character awkwardly flirts with another.

If it's a game with no embarrassing story or multiplayer, I don't care too much. Unless it's really violent and I know they could feel uncomfortable with it

 

[itchyass86]

I think Games are funner when there are more people around to enjoy it with you. I've always enjoyed watching people play, so naturally I like it when others watch me too. But only my audience happens to be watching the same screen that I'm watching.

 

[Weeaboosuke]

Depends on the game really.

If I'm playing something like Bayonetta 2 I'll be a little bit "Eh."

 

[Mozz-eyes]

Oh good lord, I had this. At school there was this kid in the year below who would always watch me game. Especially Oblivion.

I used to play an archer character so naturally that meant firing a lot of arrows. However, often an arrow would kill an enemy while I was drawing the next. So in order to save that arrow, I'd quickly aim down and shoot it at the floor so I could pick it up quickly. This actually emerged into a very efficient and quick system and I'd do it reflexively.

After a particularly long quest, I went to go repair my gear. Commented about how my bow was pretty beaten up. This kid watching then berates me for constantly shooting arrows into the floor.

Slapped him in the side of the head for that.

 

[TI82]

Just when my black friends are like "why is your character black" and I'm like "shut up its my fantasy"

 

[texhnolyze]

My wife watch me play games most of the time. It's the opposite effect for me, in fact. Her comments and suggestions come in handy at times.

 

[theWB27]

I love it. My level of play doesn't really drop or raise though.

 

[soy.]

i don't think it's strange at all...

• people should feel guilty when they don't properly entertain a guest
• but on the other hand, guests should feel guilty when they disturb people that are doing something
• the wiiu thingie is rather new phenomena. but yeah, playing off screen while others watch tv is socially kinda more awesome

 

[Rynocirator]

Only my Vita games. ...you know why.

 

[Werewolf Jones]

I've played arcade games in public and never felt bothered. lol.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

I'm more than happy to have somebody watch or even ask questions when I'm playing narrative-minimal games. But something story heavy? I hate playing 20 questions, so I just don't play with people around.

 

[giapel]

Yes!! I find it awkward. I can never do sessions longer than 20-30 min and I always do worse at the game I'm playing. Just can't get into it

 

[Naked Snake]

I don't know about uncomfortable but I tend to play worse if someone is watching. Perhaps because they also tend to be talking to me while watching and that screws up my concentration.

 

[TheRedSnifit]

Oh man, Ocarina of Time was horrible to play in front of parents.