I suppose it's one of those things that is defined by the individual. I would consider music a "part of me", but that's because I'm a song writer and artist. It's not just something I do for fun, it's something that IS ME. Creating music, that is taking something inside of me, and expressing it in a physical form. It's much more personal and emotional than sitting down to play Titfanfall of Infamous for me.

I suppose if someone felt that way about games, it would makes sense to say it was a part of them though. I'm sure game designers feel that way.

It is a part of me, but if I was in that scenario, I wouldn't say that :p

None of those men are dealing with a "negative stigma around games." They are dealing with a negative stigma around themselves. It has abosolutely 0% to do with video games or handhelds. Games don't lower your public appeal at all. Not one bit. If you lack appeal with games, you lack the same appeal without games. Games are nothing but a scapegoat for that stuff at this point.

It's like when people say "nice guys finish last." No, they don't. The guys who say that just happen to be undesirable. Being nice isn't suddenly going to change that. But no, it totally can't be because they're boring, unfunny, unconfident, un-put together, out of shape, etc. It's because they're "too nice" that they don't get the girls they want. Right.

I always mention that I play videogames/I'm a gamer.

I don't mention it when I meet new people for the first time unless it happens to come up. I do have a few game-related shirts that I wear quite often though. All my friends and family know I am passionate about gaming. I don't think its anything to be ashamed of.. It may bring up the geeky, basement-dwelling stereotype to some, but I don't usually associate myself with people who assume things like that so I could care less.

Gaming is definitely part of me and I couldn't imagine it not being part of my life at least in some way.

I love video games, have since I was a little kid. But they do not define who I am, they are something I enjoy doing, a pastime, or interest. I would not introduce myself to people as a gamer. If they specifically asked me what some of my interests are, of course I'd list video games among my top interests, because it is. But I do not know that I consider gaming to be a "part of who I am" as a person.

Im a gamer through and through and have no shame in telling people my hobby. I even shout from the rooftops that I am a Wii U fanboy, and here in the UK thats is a crime against humanity :)

Interesting responses. I expected them to be more one sided... But I don't know. My dream is to be a game critic or composer or designer (only willing for reviewer, I think it's too risky to become a developer. Unless I manage to be contracted by a publisher). Hopefully, I gain the courage to say it like something normal some day

I'm a gamer, and it's absolutely a part of my life on a daily basis. However, it's not something I advertise in public because there's still a stigma associated with it for some reason. Gaming is still quite often looked down upon whereas wasting time watching tv, reading, or going to some nightclub isn't.

They're all activities we're doing to pass the time before we die in my eyes.

If video gaming suddenly didn't exist anymore, I would feel like I lost a part of my identity.