<p>Apparently, some of the students at Caltech were hardcore gamers earlier on, and just couldn't completely kick the habit when they came to Caltech. Does this seem to be the situation, despite the intense workload? Is it often used as a way to cope with the stress of the workload? And do students socialize over games?</p>
<p>Yes, the students play video games:</p>
<p>Yes, yes, and yes. There's a popular Smash Bros. setup in one of the houses, there used to be quite a number of DDR players, and as a personal example, there are maybe a dozen people who play Geometry Wars in my room regularly. And they also fail out because of games. We had three people in my class flame because of Warcraft III addictions and another one is well on the way. It's easier than sleeping around, cheaper than drugs, and gives much more of an adrenaline reinforcement than watching TV, so it's a dangerous hobby, but it is a good way to meet people.</p>
<p>Oh, and what of World of Warcraft? Look at this...</p>
<p><a href="http://mapwow.com/blog/schools.txt%5B/url%5D">http://mapwow.com/blog/schools.txt</a>
36 caltech.edu</p>
<p>When you consider that Caltech is such a small school, being ranked 36 is quite significant. It far outstrips MIT for some reason, which is ranked 283... (which seems abnormally low for a school like MIT)</p>
<p>Oh dear Lord. WoW and other MMORPGs (and before that, MUDs) are an exception to video games for socializing, since the game design revolves around interacting with Internet elves rather than the people on your couch. I can't comment extensively because I don't play any of those, but I know a few WoW hermits who never leave their rooms.</p>
<p>I was never into computer games, but back in my day (I'm sure I'll reveal my age if this game isn't popular anymore) we used to refer to refer to the people who never seemed to stop playing Counterstrike as "CS majors."</p>
<p>CS is still around Joe :-)</p>
<p>Around that time period I'd say the two most popular addicting games would be Counterstrike and Everquest.</p>
<p>i dont know about US, but at least in Russia and Eastern Europe CS was the most popular game</p>
<p>You know how at other schools people drop out and stuff because of alcohol or drug problems? Well, Caltech doesn't really have those problems; but instead we have computer games. Many people fail all their classes because they play computer games 24/7.</p>
<p>Not "many", but certainly several.</p>
<p>I can't wait until Spore comes out so I can fail all my classes!</p>
<p>Do Caltechers play computer games? It's too bad I can't put this in 96-point font, bold, red, with flashing lights: YES!</p>
<p>I am a player of an obscure FPS (PC). I play about 1 – 2 hours on a regular school night. Now that it's the summer and I have nothing else to do, I play many more hours.</p>
<p>Should I be worried? Am I the type at high risk or just a normal student?</p>
<p>What, like tribes or something? lol</p>
<p>Chemist -- I was like that, I'm fine.</p>
<p>Actually, Dystopia. It's a new HL2 mod, still in beta. Although It's been in beta for a while now...</p>
<p>I mostly play b/c I like pwning n00bs in the face. Pros too. Ah, good times.</p>
<p>Well HL2 is not exactly an obscure FPS... but yea, the mod is I guess
I play CS:S so w/e</p>
<p>
<p>Should I be worried? Am I the type at high risk or just a normal student?
That's perfectly fine. I mean, what else would you do with your time? Work?? We don't do that here.</p>
<p>i play CS.</p>
<p>I don't know about any Warcraft, Starcraft, Snakes and Ladders, Myth, Doom, CS, or anything else but when I go down on the 17th, I'll be taking the best game in existence- GTA: San Andreas :)</p>