as a hardcore gamer myself I have to disagree with you. I must play competitive style games like 6 hours a day for more than 10 years now, even though it's a "waste" I'm pretty sure that gaming helped me, and friends, for a long-term: We analyze stuff really quick and have a fast logical response also. In my case (I belive I'm the most hardcore of them all, playing stuff since I was 6), I'm the fastest learner of them all and I link it directly to my gaming life. I know that it may sound I'm just justfying my addiction but I really like to learn new stuff and it helps a lot. I quit gaming earlier to read some book (currently reading thinking fast and slow) and in the early morning I keep reading interesting sites like HN articles :)