Regardless of if they're a fan of his stand up comedy or commentary for some of the UFC's biggest pay per views, most people have heard of Joe Rogan. Since his incredibly popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience took off over the last few years, the comedian and MMA icon has become something of a household name, entertaining guests such as Elon Musk, Robert Downey Jr, Mike Tyson, and Bernie Sanders.
One thing fans of Rogan's podcast might know, however, is that he used to be an avid fan of video games, playing them frequently and obsessively. According to the popular podcast host, he "used to have a real problem with them," going as far as to say in a recent broadcast that they're a dangerous waste of time.
Speaking with CEO and founder of Spartan and the Death Race Joe De Sana, Joe Rogan had a lot to say when the issue of video games came up, discussing how many kids take refuge in the past time when there's no inspiration in their home lives. According to Rogan, "video games are a real problem," going on to describe how they're simply too fun. Continuing his train of thought, he claims "they're real exciting, but you don't get anywhere," comparing the experience to training in Jui Jitsu for 3 years. Rogan sees the two experiences as being quite similar, with fighters getting obsessed with the sport in the same way players get obsessed with video games. However, he claims that the end result is much more financially lucrative than being a gamer, claiming you could teach others how to fight on a smaller scale for large sums of cash. The discussion begins at the 45-minute mark of the podcast below.
He then goes on to claim how he understands how some kids will be adamant they can make money playing video games, comparing it to how people told him he would have no shot at becoming a comedian when he was young. That being said, he believes its a very skill-based profession that demands adaptability from those who follow it, with players needing to have a lineup of competitive games they're good enough to play professionally.
While many will disagree that they have no merit, with fans already reminding the podcaster that video games are also seen as a new art form filled with impactful storytelling and striking visual design, he definitely has a point about the dangers of the medium. Last year alone saw numerous cases of severe video game addiction in young children, with the UK setting up a National Health Service to help those afflicted. Regardless, video games are a growing part of modern culture and it seems ignorant to believe the only financial prospects of being passionate about the medium is partaking in esports.