Oobgarm
06-05-2006, 12:51 PM
As a person, that is. Based on what you've put into the hobby, what have you gotten out of it that makes you who you are? Mannerisms, personality traits, etc. I'll answer mine once we get some replies.
ClubNinja
06-05-2006, 01:21 PM
Most of my notable traits have not come from gaming/collecting, but rather have been supported by it. The obsessive gatherer/organizer/cleaner I've always been has merely been highlighted by the hobby. That said, some of the relationships, friendships, and contacts that I've made through gaming and the hobby - not the guy who I traded with once back in '98, but the real relationships that have transcended games - are the takeaways that have helped shape me.
Of my four closest friends, two of them I met (in part) through games (Commander Keen and Doom, respectively). Some of the most supportive people through some of the most trying times came from initial meetings at local gaming gatherings. Heck, MsClubNinja just started a new job that I discovered during conversation I had with someone while loading an arcade game into my vehicle.
Have the games themselves had an impact on me? Sure. They've often supported my creativity, helped kill time, given me an outlet at times, and provided much joy. The real importance that's come from it, however, is the list of people who I've come to know (and in many cases care about) through it.