Games You've Taken Time Off Of Work/School To Play?

[ATB]

I'm so buying into the hype and desire and love and magic and deliciousness of Mass Effect, that I may actually schedule some time off from work to allow me to play it unhindered (of course getting time to play may still be difficult because of the family, but I haven't been working on my homemade cryotube for nothing!)  It is by far my most anticipated game in a VERY LONG TIME.

That said, what games have caused you to suddenly become ill enough to stay home or actually take a day off from work/skip class?

The closest I've come would have been to skip a class or two in college to play NHL Hockey with the boys on the Sega Genesis.  My junior year, I think I also missed a few lectures due to the awesomeness that was the first Command and Conquer.

Edit: Should this be in General Gaming?
 

[Fellow]

There're only three games that I skipped off school/work to play.

First one was Final Fantasy 7. I had never done it before, but I think I took 3 days off straight. I just couldn't help it. I HAD to keep on playing. It was insane.

Second, Baldur's Gate 2. Nothing nearly as severe, but I did take the next day off, and played the game through most of it.

And finally, Oblivion. Basically my line of thinking was something along the lines of, "Screw work, I have a world to explore."

[unbreakable]

World of Warcraft

[CeeKay]

I've been tempted to play sick a few times to play games but I usually don't.

Edit: Should this be in General Gaming?

Why wasn't I informed that there was such a forum? 

[Gratch]

I do it all the time.  I very rarely have to take sick days for actual illness and we don't really do "vacations", so I schedule a lot of days off around game releases.  Most recently, I took 2 days off last week to play my new 360.    When I got my new PC last July, I took a full week off to play Oblivion.

I'll probably schedule one off for Mass Effect as well.  I'm not nearly as excited about the game as some (looks like too much shooter and not enough RPG for me), but I have a bunch of PTO to burn.  May as well use some to game, right?

[CeeKay]

but vacations should get you outside, into the sun to enjoy the fresh air 

[PeteRock]

I've never taken time off to play a game.  I've definitely left early on more than one occasion or gone home to play a little at lunch time, but I've never taken a full day off for it.  I just don't have the ability to take random days off because of project responsibilities.  I rarely get a day off that isn't planned for a vacation or business trip.

[ATB]

but vacations should get you outside, into the sun to enjoy the fresh air 

Being outside is overrated.

[warning]

When I get a game that I just absolutely L O V E, I actually try to stretch my time playing it as long as possible.  I know it will be over too soon and I don't want to rush it.

So no.  Never done it.

[Dramatist]

I'm playing Puzzle Quest at work right now.  Does that count? 

[fyedaddy]

I haven't done this in years, but Ultima Online, Baldur's Gate 2, and some of the first EA Sports games on the Sega Genesis come to mind.

[Kevin Grey]

Took off for Halo 2.  Almost immediately regretted it.  So disappointing.  Spent most of the day with Up Your Arsenal instead. 

That's the only time offhand I can think of taking off from work.  College was a different matter and there were too many games to name though the biggest culprit was X-Com.  Red Alert had me miss a class or two as well. 

I am, however, considering taking off for Mass Effect depending on when it hits.  If it's June 5th, as rumored, then I will be knee deep in an enormous project and won't have have any free time at all.  But if it's May or July then I will probably take a day. 

[TheMissingLink]

I faked being sick in middle school to go get NBA Jam for the SNES.

[JuniorDan]

The GTA series typically gets a week vacation out of me, starting the day the game releases (Wed-Wed). The last game I took time off for was Saints Row. When I was in management I would schedule my time off accordingly weekly to coinside with that weeks release titles..

[Eduardo X]

I skipped class in college for Black & White. Dammit.

[metallicorphan]

funnily enough it was metal gear solid 2:sons of liberty...which i am only just replaying now...but on xbox this time(substance)

games here are released on a friday,so i took the friday and the following monday off,just for good measure...a friend at work did the same thing ,and we were texting each other all weekend about the many twists in the story


on a side note,i took a whole week of sick when the Wii was released....i really was sick,but still made it to the shops come launch day(it would have to be more than the runs to keep me from getting my launch console) ,when it came to the whole moving your body for wii sports though,i was kinda on my ass

[ATB]

I skipped class in college for Black & White. Dammit.

LOL. PWNED!

[Ridah]

I've only called in sick from work twice in the past 5 years, one of them was because I was too hungover to come in, the other was for the re-release of Resident Evil on the Cube. I know there are plenty of better games to call in sick for, but I always feel so akward calling in sick that I rarely do it.

[coopasonic]

Never... I think.

[Destructor]

but vacations should get you outside, into the sun to enjoy the fresh air 

I got plenty of sun and fresh air. Yeah, it was in the world of Oblivion, but...

That said - Oblivion was the last game I took a week off from work to play. Hadn't done that in years before that, but I have in the past.

[pingwrx]

I never take days off to game but have been known too leave early or take extended lunch breaks to go to Fry's electronics to pick up games.

[DonD]

Can't say I've ever done that.  I tend to walk the straight and narrow path.

[Calvin]

I have never done it with work.

With school though-wow some of you guys seem like saints. I skipped class a lot. Constantly. Did just fine in the end too, but man I played a lot of games when I was supposed to be in class.

[Farscry]

Final Fantasy XII was the first one in a long time that I specifically took a day off of work to enjoy. I can't remember the last one before that!

[JLu]

I've never actually taken time off work for the purpose of playing.

I happened to burn a vacation day on the day of the 360 launch -- but that was nearing end of year and I had so much vacation I had to use or lose. 
I've taken mental health days before and played whatever my newest game was for almost the full day, but I've never taken a day off with the purpose being to game.

[Calvin]

I was thinking about this and I totally anticipate taking days off when I get a regular job for certain games. I just can't afford it right now. Mass Effect, Final Fantasy XIII, Bioshock. HMMM SEXY?

[Purge]

but vacations should get you outside, into the sun to enjoy the fresh air 

Being outside is overrated.

ATB is actually that color. (Marshmallow-y goodness FTW!)

I've cut work for Halo2 launch, For the Xbox (and resting up from installing new flooring at the time).

I can't think of any other games I've done it for, but I'm not the moral high-road all the time.

[mikeg]

None.  Never have, never will. 

[Gratch]

Man, you guys are making me feel like quite the slacker.  Never really thought it was that bad of a thing to do.

I should probably clarify that the days I take to game are "use it or lose it" PTO days.  I get 4 weeks off a year and since we're not big on extended vacations, I just take the random day off here and there and use it to game, watch movies, fix up the yard, etc.  Otherwise, I'd never end up taking my PTO and just lose it all at the end of the year.

[fyedaddy]

I skipped class in college for Black & White. Dammit.

That was worth coming back to check on this thread.

I preordered B&W for $45 (IIRC) and played it maybe three evenings. I also believe that was the last PC game I've preordered. My condolences, Eduardo.

[Starshifter]

I'm playing Puzzle Quest at work right now.  Does that count? 

I'm doing the same thing - and for several days now! 

The DS Lite, especially the white one like I have, blends in real well with papers and binders! 

[whiteboyskim]

The Final Fantasy series is known for doing this to me, but I don't recall a specific game recently that's demanded I call in sick. I've called in sick when I wasn't before but I can't point at one game and say, "That's the culprit, detectives!"

[Eduardo X]

I skipped class in college for Black & White. Dammit.

That was worth coming back to check on this thread.

I preordered B&W for $45 (IIRC) and played it maybe three evenings. I also believe that was the last PC game I've preordered. My condolences, Eduardo.

I'll admit it was fun for the first few hours until I realized I'd been scammed.

[hitbyambulance]

i wonder how much of college i missed due to Doom/H(eretic)(exen)/Marathon/insert early-mid-90s 3D shooter

[Laner]

Quake II CTF... I was self-employed at the time working at home... I often didn't get started until well into the afternoon, due to extended Q2 sessions.

[Knightshade Dragon]

Diablo 3 and/or Starcraft 2 - the moment it is released.

[Farscry]

Diablo 3 and/or Starcraft 2 - the moment it is released.

For that matter, Hellgate: London is the next game I might consider a day off to play at or near release, assuming I don't get into the beta and get to play it before release.

[Knightshade Dragon]

Diablo 3 and/or Starcraft 2 - the moment it is released.

For that matter, Hellgate: London is the next game I might consider a day off to play at or near release, assuming I don't get into the beta and get to play it before release.

That too!  My inner loot whore calls to me....

[Belgedin]

Yup, I'll be there with KSD and Farscry

[Farscry]

Yup, I'll be there with KSD and Farscry

Woot! We'll have to party up!