In same way my computer or smart phone is a toy. They all play games, but can be used for other things like Netflix.

Online communication and alternative apps are now fused into gaming. 

Ie: my mother bought me a nintendo console because she believed it was a toy marketed at children.

Today: when my mother comes over she saw the transformation of what consoles are today and she wondered why she still has a dvd vcr combo.

The reason why the playstations have always had the edge on the competition is because sony always takes risks on new formats most people cannot afford and because wider gaming market consumes it as a cheaper cd, dvd or blu ray player they can enjoy their movies on it. This drew a lot of gamers into gaming who werent necessarily before. It also made it something marketwise that adults could enjoy. This is why microsoft follows the formats sony uses, because they want to be just as attractive. Even nintendo dont see eye to eye with sony had to eventually give.

A toy has no reason for being but to be used manipulated. A game is totally different. It has a goal or reason to challenge ones intellect or athleticism. Thats like saying baseball is a toy.if games were toys there would be no mlg.

You make it sound as if toys would be exclusively for children and toys for adults are inexistant. Also you still bring up formats, that have nothing to do with something being a toy or not.

First of all, most people don't play baseball with the intention to train their muscles, they do it for fun. Training is a side-effect.

Second: every toy also trains things. That's actually why playing was a behaviour that developed in evolution - in play things are trained that may be useful in survival. Many animals play. Often in their youth, but also adult animals. Give a cat a toy, and you can see play. This is useful as it keeps reflexes and muscles trained. Lego trains spatial sense and imagination, dolls train emotional attachment. Many toys train dexterity or reaction. A baseball is no difference.

The misconception here is, that a toy is something childish. It isn't. There may be toys specifically designed for children, but there are also toys specifically designed for adults, and many toys that can be used in all ages.

Nobody said that game consoles were strictly a child's toy. That said, they are still toys.

Updated List:

Cars - They are not designed to be played with. Their function is to transport people/items from point A to point B. They can be used as toys, but that is not their primary function.

Phones - They are not designed to be played with. Their function is to enable two (or more) people to communicate with each other from a distance. They can be used as toys, but that is not their primary function.

Computers - They are not designed to be played with. Their function is data processing. They can be used as toys, but that is not their primary function.

Gaming computers - They are designed to be played with. They are toys. They can be used for other tasks, but that is not their primary function.

Consoles - They are designed to be played with. They are toys. They can be used for other tasks, but that is not their primary function.

Zune/iPod/MP3 players/etc - They are not designed to be played with. Their function is to play digital audio files that the user can listen to, and (in some cases) play movies/shows that the user can watch. They can be used as toys, but that is not their primary function.

Television/Cable Box/DVR/etc - They are not designed to be played with. Their primary function is to transmit and receive moving images and sound that the user can view. They can be used as toys, but that is not their primary function.

Guitar/Trumpet/Etc - They are designed to be played with. They are toys. They can be used for other tasks, but that is not their primary function. NOTE: Early instruments (such as a trumpet) were actually designed to send signals (successful hunt, warnings, etc), and they were not considered toys. As they are not (generally) used for this purpose anymore musical instruments are now considered toys.

Action figures - They are designed to be played with. They are toys. They can be used for other tasks, but that is not their primary function.

Legos - They are designed to be played with. They are toys. They can be used for other tasks, but that is not their primary function.

Transformers - They are not designed to be played with. Sentient beings are not toys. Like humans, they should not be used for any function. NOTE: If we are referring to a non-sentient being (e.g. an action figure) then they are toys. They can be used for other tasks, but that is not their primary function.

Does anyone else need me to clarify something?

lol, sorry then, it's hard to see the sarcasm in this thread when people say stuff like you wrote but are dead sserious about it.

They go bananas, when they are being pointed the obvious, that they are playing games on a computerized toy. It's a toy, it's a toy, it's a toy!

No shame about it, why would there be???

I have 40 & have no problem whatsoever to say that I play console & computer games! My balls did not fell to the ground, I did not suddenly turn into a mid-school boy, nore as it ever been a hurdle in my romantic life, in fact most girls, specialy the more intelligents love when I play Mario Kart with them, the item base fights can lead to some very hot preliminary talk, with steaming innuendos (bananas, golden mushroom, stomping after lightening, shooting shells in your girlfriend behind...)!

The whole problem here is this idea that there is a stigma! I am a confident adult, I bare no stigma of playing games at 40!

I understand that kids when they grow up wnat to do "adult stuff", swear words, drink beer, dress like Justin Bieber, & that playing games might no be viewed as a grown-up activity, so they labelled themselves has "hardcore gamerz", play violent games because lol they are (im)mature! How can they admit that they are using a toy. Back in the day when a kid was playing Mario on his NES, he was playing a game on a toy called console, what is the difference between that & today a teen playing Little Big Planet on a PS3 a saturday afternoon???

You can call it what you want you still push buttons to play a videogame! I don't care for all the stigmas felt by insecure kids, it's a case of saying to these kids: "Grow Up!"

My computer is used to run my life. Not just to play games.

Too many people splitting hairs in here! Some are really terrified to be confronted with the truth, that they play games on a console!