Humor me here, please. I've asked and been asked this question a million times. Do game designers/programmers/artists actually dedicate time to play (research ??) video games, or would you rather spend time honing your skills in the latest programming language/modeling software/yougetthepoint ???

Personally, I like to stay in touch with the latest news and trailers, but I haven't committed to a video game in a while (When did Mass Effect 3 come out ??). I just find it easier to read a novel, play chess, or watch a movie. Is it natural to stay away from your work/study field in your free time?? (If that is the case, then thank God I am not a gynecologist !!!).

What do you guys think ??

yes

To answer the question myself (as a hobbyist game developer), I do still love to play games as well, although due to limited free time (I have two young children keeping me busy!) it's very rare for me to play any AAA titles.

Being a developer can change the experience a bit -- you'll automatically be analysing games and breaking down how they might work in your mind -- and I don't think it's unnatural for some people to enjoy playing less.

I think its the natural move. I used to spend countless hours trying to explore every inch of the game world. Its only fair to experience the same effect we'd like to give our audience, or at least try to analyze it.