History Main / NotAGame

-->'''Scotty:''' So, bottom line is this: what you do in terms of gaming in front of the screen is entirely different. You're going to find out [[RealityEnsues you have a lot of physical fatigue, you're gonna be sweating, you're gonna be nervous, you're gonna be shaking...]]\\

** [[spoiler:Yuu from ''Anime/DigimonXrosWars'' is tricked by Dark Knightmon into thinking that the Digital World is just a game (similarly to Ken, minus one Dark Seed).]]

* This is a point of contention between Ladybug and Chat Noir in ''FanFic/LeaveForMendeleiev''. While Ladybug takes their duty to protect Paris from Hawkmoth and the akuma seriously, Chat Noir's [[SkewedPriorities far more concerned]] with flirting, joking around, and [[SecretChaser trying to figure out her]] SecretIdentity despite being repeatedly warned off.

* In ''WebAnimation/TurnaboutStorm'', [[Franchise/AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]] calls out [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Trixie]] on prosecuting the innocent Rainbow Dash as revenge against Twilight Sparkle, saying that this isn't a game, and she shouldn't use an innocent life to get back at Twilight.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'', near the start of the game, Mitsuru sighs and exasperatedly tells [[BloodKnight Akihiko]] that hunting Shadows isn't a game.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', teen detective Naoto Shirogane drops by the main characters to inform them that the murders they have been investigating have apparently been solved, and that their 'game' is about to end. Of course, by this point many of them have either lost friends or nearly been killed themselves over the course of the investigation, and Rise (the latest kidnapping victim) angrily points out that if anyone thinks of it as a 'game' it would be Naoto, not them.

* ''VideoGame/SystemShock 2'', said by your MissionControl: "Why do you move so slowly? Do you think this is some kind of game?"

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* In ''WebComic/YokokasQuest'', after Yokoka witnesses Lady Pachi lead a team to defeat a tunnel dweller:

* Matpat of ''WebVideo/GameTheory'' runs a series called ''Reality Check'', where the premise is analyzing video games such as VideoGame/RainbowSix to see how they compare to real life by putting actual gamers into those situations.

* In ''Manga/{{MAR}}'', the evil Chess Pieces have created a War Game where the last remaining strong good guys can fight against them in a final struggle for the fate of the world. When attacking the land of wizards, Kaldea, the BigBad Phantom comes across TheProtagonist Ginta, and fights him off without any effort. As said fight was not during the war games, Phantom let him live, saying that "today's fight was just for fun." Ginta promptly goes berserk, exclaiming that it is ''NOT'' a game.

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}''. In the episode spent in the Orange Islands, Team Rocket tells the twerps that "this isn't a video game?"
* ''Anime/SummerWars'' is about an A.I. hacking into an online virtual world that the real world uses for nearly everything. When the protagonists try to stop it, their families gradually realize the activities they have been playing on their handheld devices ''isn't exactly a game...''

* The eponymous ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'' was designed so players who logged in couldn't log out, PermaDeath was in effect, and in-game death (or attempting to remove the Nervgear headset in the real world) would kill the player in the real world. Panic sets in when most of the players realize that, until they can defeat the final boss, SAO has become their new reality. The Black Moon Guild in particular learn this the hard way when they go into a dungeon that's too high for that level and decide to open a treasure chest without checking it for traps first, which not only summons a horde of monsters but also traps them inside and disables their crystals, which could potentially be used to teleport themselves out or heal.
* In ''LightNovel/AccelWorld'', Chiyuri "Chiyu" Kurashima initially thinks of Brain Burst as a fighting game and chides her friends Takumu "Taku" Mayuzumi and Haruyuki "Haru" Arita are taking it too seriously. In reality, it's more than a game, since the ability to accelerate brings all sorts of real-life advantages, and people are willing to do unethical things to obtain the points they need to survive, so Haru and Taku make sure to warn Chiyu about this. Chiyu is disabused of her naivete when a hostile Burst Linker named Seiji Nomi shows up and forces her and Haru to do his bidding.
* In ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'', Shun Kurosaki uses this line when Reiji says his little sibling Reira will join them on their quest, pointing out life and death duels are no place for children. Reiji assures Reira's skills make up for his youth.
* In ''LightNovel/DateALive'', Shido is very uncomfortable about his mission to seduce extremely powerful Spirits so they don't destroy the world. Kotori tells him that it doesn't matter if he gets killed, he can just press continue and start over with a new life. Annoyed, Shido says this is not a game, this is serious. [[spoiler:Shido was not aware, but Kotori was, that he had a powerful HealingFactor and can come back from seemingly mortal wounds.]]

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure''
** In ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood'', when Jonathan fights Jack the Ripper, his mentor Baron Zeppeli gives him a test- he must defeat Jack without spilling a drop of the wine, or else Zeppeli will abandon him. Speedwagon says, "Hey, old man! This isn't a game we're playing! Are you sane?" but Zeppeli tells him to be quiet. Jojo, who understands what Zeppeli is asking of him, is able to pass the test and thus be prepared for future battles.
** In ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable'', when Josuke fights the Nijimura brothers, he gets the first hit in on Okuyasu, the younger brother, despite the latter having an extremely powerful Stand. Keicho, the elder brother, calls Okuyasu out on not using his ability to the fullest potential.
-->'''Keicho''': This isn't a game, Okuyasu! Just thinking of the terrific power of your Stand- The Hand- is enough to make even me quake, so use it properly!

* Parodied in the ''Series/{{Community}}'' episode [[Recap/CommunityS2E23AFistfulOfPaintballs A Fistful of Paintballs:]]
--> '''Annie''': This isn't a game... this is paintball.
* Often heard on the opening of the UK edition of the ''Series/TheApprentice''.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': Comes up in "The Zygon Inversion" when the Doctor sets up a SadisticChoice in place of a war: He gives them two boxes that either do exactly what they want (that is, genocide) or will backfire horribly--and they have no way of knowing which button to push. Kate, the human representative, demands to know why he's doing this, and he gives them a tongue-lashing over it.
-->'''The Doctor:''' Because it's not a game, Kate! This is a scale model of war! Every war ever fought right there in front of you! Because it's always the same! When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know whose children are going to scream and burn! How many hearts will be broken! How many lives shattered! How much blood will spill until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: '''''SIT DOWN AND TALK!'''''

* ''Spider-Man'':
-->'''Spider-Man:''' This isn't a game, Mysterio! The symbiotes will destroy ''everything'' in their path unless I can stop them!
* On one SideQuest in ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'', Shepard has to convince a woman to stop working as an informant because her sister is worried about her. At one point, Shepard says "This isn't a game, Jenna. These people are dangerous!".
* Naomi says a variant of it in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'' [[LampshadeHanging while images of the logos of all the previous canonical games come up on the screen]].
* In ''VideoGame/Jak3Wastelander'', the monk Seem tells Jak and Daxter "This isn't a game!", and they respond by [[AsideGlance giving a side glance to the camera.]]

* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', teen detective Naoto Shirogane drops by the main characters to inform them that the murders they have been investigating have apparently been solved, and that their 'game' is about to end. Of course, by this point many of them have either lost friends or nearly been killed themselves over the course of the investigation, and Rise(the latest kidnapping victim) angrily points out that if anyone thinks of it as a 'game' it would be Naoto, not them.
* ''VideoGame/{{Wheelman}}'': The very first line spoken: "You think this is a game? Move!"
* A Cut USA General from ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerGenerals: Zero Hour'' has lines left over in the game's files. Amongst these is "What? Do you think this is a game? Well, do ya?" {{Lampshaded}}, in that moments afterward he prompts the player "not to answer that," thus [[BreakingTheFourthWall finding a hole in that wall we never see.]]
* ''VideoGame/SystemShock 2'', said by your MissionControl: "Why do you move so slowly? Do you think this is some kind of game?"
* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime'':
-->'''Prince:''' If you want to be useful, try finding a book that'll tell us how to get out of here.\\
'''Farah:''' This isn't that kind of game.\\
'''Prince:''' Game? She thinks this is a game!
* In ''VideoGame/{{Thwaite}}'', in a NoDamageRun in progress, one of the villagers thinks the action is [[AllPartOfTheShow just an elaborate fireworks show]], and another has a hard time convincing him otherwise.

* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', Varian says this in response to [[spoiler:Jaina, with the player's help, exiling all the Sunreavers from Dalaran and bringing the Kirin Tor into the Alliance]].
-->'''Varian:''' I can't fault you for following orders. In fact, I can't really fault Jaina for acting on her own behalf, for once. But still... we aren't playing a game here. We are dealing with war, with people's lives, with the future of the Alliance itself.
* ''VideoGame/DoubleSwitch'' features this clever wordplay in the event of a GameOver, courtesy of [[Creator/RLeeErmey Lyle the Repairman]].
-->'''Lyle the Repairman:''' You thought this was just a '''GAME''', didn't you?! Well, it's '''OVER''' for you!
* During ''VideoGame/StarCraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm'', during Sarah Kerrigan's trolljob in the first mission (which is basically a tutorial that goes OffTheRails InUniverse), Valerian will remark: "This isn't a game, Kerrigan!"

* The phrase "This isn't a field trip" is used twice in ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia''. The first time is when Kratos escorts [[TheChosenOne Colette]], along with her friends Genis and Lloyd, into the monster-infested [[NoobCave Temple of Martel]], immediately after saving the three from being killed by the first boss. Raine says the line a second time to curb Genis' enthusiasm when the group arrives on Tethe'alla.

* In ''VideoGame/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm'', Tyalie’s entire outlook is based on defying this. Life is ''totally'' a game, [[MediumAwareness (and she knows it)]], so she’s determined to have as much fun with it as she possibly can, and wants to make sure that everyone else is having fun too!
-->'''Catie:''' How can you still be treating this like a game? It's ''not'' a game, at least not from where I'm standing.
-->'''Tyalie:''' Sure it is! Life isn't easy, but it doesn't have to be so full of gloom and suffering. Have fun with it - the good and the bad, because it's all part of an experience that will never come again!

*** Even later, near the end, Hinata is forced into a SadisticChoice and goes into a HeroicBSOD when he can't decide. [[spoiler: The memory of Nanami, who at this point is supposed to be dead,]] brings this up in order to snap him out of it. If this isn't a game, then Hinata should be able to TakeAThirdOption. [[spoiler: What follows is [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration the game mechanics being thrown out the window]] as Hinata declares his intent to move forward into the future, regardless of hope or despair.]]

* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', which is based on a game, [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0417.html we get a different differentiation]], when Haley's well-intentioned but misguided attempt to reassure some of Azure City's defenders gets her a stern rebuke from O-Chul.
-->'''O-Chul:''' This isn't the dungeon. In a war, people on the winning side still die.
* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'':
** The Castle warns Agatha that claiming to be the Heterodyne is not a game.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20130104 Agatha asks what sort of game Gil is playing at, and Gil retorts, "Nothing. No game."]]
* In ''A Distant Soil'', [[http://adistantsoil.com/2009/01/17/01172009/ Jason warns Liana of that]].

* [[http://daringnovelist.blogspot.com/2010/07/miss-leech-and-yard.html Miss Leech and The Yard]] starts with the inspector informing the LittleOldLadyInvestigates that "Crime is not a game, Miss Leech. Withholding evidence is against the law."
* ''Webcomic/TheDreamlandChronicles''

** Inverted [[http://www.thedreamlandchronicles.com/the-dreamland-chronicles/todays-dreamland-chronicles-657/ here]]
* ''Webcomic/MegaTokyo''

* In ''Webcomic/{{Endstone}}'',
** Cole declares "[[http://endstone.net/comic/issue-1-page-35/ No more jokes, no more games]]" -- before she {{Mind Rape}}s a man who had been a benefactor to her.
** [[http://endstone.net/comic/11-14-endstone-stop-playing-around/ When Pablo sneaks up on Jon to use his practiced "Undead voice", Jon tells his father to stop playing.]]

* In ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfShanShan'', [[http://shanshan.upperrealms.com/view.php?pageid=050&chapterid=3 Adam demands if Shan Shan thinks it's all fun and games.]]

* Invoked in ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', when [[AllUpToYou Ron goes up against Monkey Fist]] while Kim is with her gamer-geek cousin Larry:
-->'''Larry:''' (''gesturing toward Kim's Kimmunicator'') Give it to me, I have an idea.\\
'''Kim:''' This isn't one of your stupid science-fiction games, Larry! Ron's facing [[FantasyKitchenSink a kung-fu mutant with bio-engineered hands and mystical monkey powers and]]... ''[[[{{Beat}} pauses]], then hands him the Kimmunicator]'' Here.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'': Practically everything that happens on the show is treated as a game by everyone except [[HarmlessVillain Olaf]], who winds up using this line very often.

* In one of the King Kull stories printed in the back of [[ComicBook/ConanTheBarbarian Savage Sword of Conan]] series, Kull participates in a DuelToTheDeath with a mercenary leader. At one point, Kull gives his opponent a [[GroinAttack kick to the balls]] and the man falls to his knees complaining about Kull's low blow. The king responds, "Get up, you border wolf. This isn't a children's game."

* In ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'', when George asks what happens if they can't get a piece of the Vasyn during their quest, Jeft tells them that "this is not a game you can win on good intentions and points. You have victory conditions...." The other Fans think he's just using gamer terminology, but the irony is that [[spoiler:that this really ''is'' a kind of game that Jeft set up]] and is actually quite true.
* In ''WebAnimation/TurnaboutStorm'', [[Franchise/AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]] calls out [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Trixie]] on prosecuting the innocent Rainbow Dash as revenge against Twilight Sparkle, saying that this isn't a game, and she shouldn't use an innocent life to get back at Twilight.
* In ''Fanfic/NotQuiteHeroes'', Dr. Drakken ends up in a [[EvilVersusEvil fight with another villain]]. Shego tries to convince him to [[PragmaticVillainy cut his losses]] and [[KnowWhenToFoldEm quit]], pointing out that it's not like fighting Kim Possible -- if he loses ''this'' fight, he won't go to jail [[CardboardPrison for a while]], he'll ''die''.
* In the ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' / ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' crossover ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12139359/1/One-Sunny-Day One Sunny Day]]'', Yang Xiao Long says she became a Huntress just for the thrill of exciting adventures. An irate Archer lectures her that this isn't some fun contest or game, and if she keeps treating her duties like one, people are going to die.
* In ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/5409173/chapters/24558825 Harry Potter and the Gaining of Faith]]'' Dumbledore chides Faith for the death of Fenrir Greyback and the [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique interrogation]] and mutilation of Antonin Dolohov at the hands of her allies.
-->'''Dumbledore:''' When I agreed to let you be a part of this, I didn’t imagine you would sink to such depths.\\
'''Faith:''' Wake up, old man. This isn’t a fucking game. This isn’t a damn Quidditch match. We ain’t on the pitch here. This is motherfucking ''war''.

* In ''Fanfic/WhereTalentGoesToDie'', after Monokuma gives everyone the second motive- information on how to kill another classmate and/or that classmate's dirty secrets- [[TeamDad Mitamura]] acknowledges that everyone has probably looked at the information already. [[JerkAss Hoshino]], [[CommanderContrarian who'd otherwise taken every opportunity to deride Mitamura]], is actually somewhat impressed that she realizes that the killing game isn't like "playing elected official" at her old school. In response, Mitamura points out that her work for the student council wasn't a game, either, even if she's aware that the stakes are much higher now.

* This is a point of contention between Ladybug and Chat Noir in ''FanFic/LeaveForMendeleiev''. While Ladybug takes their duty to protect Paris from Hawkmoth and the akuma seriously, Chat sees it more as an opportunity to enjoy himself, as well as pursuing her romantically despite her disinterest. Ladybug gets especially upset when she learns that he ''caused'' the akuma Copycat by falsely claiming they were in a relationship -- then tricked ''her'' into believing '''she''' was responsible.
-->'''Ladybug:''' We're not celebrities. We're ''heroes'', Chat. We're not out here saving the day for a big show to please the public; this isn't some big act! This is real! There's a terrorist out there, taking advantage of people, doing some real harm!
** It's eventually revealed that part of the problem is that Chat regards Ladybug's [[WorldHealingWave Miraculous Cure]] as a magical ResetButton; because her powers can repair the damage wrought by akuma, he figures that his actions don't have any long-term consequences. Naturally, this isn't as cut-and-dry as he believes, and [[RealityEnsues reality catches up with him]] when he does something that the Cure ''doesn't'' reverse: [[spoiler:losing his ring]].
* In ''Blog/MiraculousRewrite'', Chat Noir's tendency to joke around and make light of the situation during akuma battles gradually causes friction to build between him and Ladybug. This is only complicated further by how this overlaps with his efforts to flirt with her despite her disinterest. All this comes to a head in the Syren two-parter, as [[spoiler:Master Fu takes the Ring after hearing him threatening to quit. Adrien subsequently realizes his mistakes, and proves that he ''can'' recognize when things are a MatterOfLifeAndDeath, earning another chance]].

* ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'', when Hopper comes back and the ants have not collected all the food yet:
-->'''Hopper:''' You think this is a game? Well, guess what: you just lost.
* Inverted in ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'': At one point, the only way that Marlin and Dory make it out of a dangerous situation without completely dissolving into panic is by pretending that it ''is'' a game.

* ''Film/CrocodileDundee II''. Mick Dundee is about to go up against some gangsters.
-->'''Sue Charlton:''' Mick -- be careful. This isn't a game.\\
'''Mick:''' Tis to me.

* ''Film/SpyGame''. Inverted. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Clue is in the title:]]
-->'''Bishop:''' Ah, Jesus Christ, you just... You don't just trade these people like they're baseball cards! It's not a fucking game!\\
'''Muir:''' Oh, yes it is. It's exactly what it is. And it's no kid's game either. [[SeriousBusiness This is a whole other game. And it's serious and it's dangerous. And it's not one you want to lose.]]
* The tagline for the infamous ''Film/SuperMarioBros'' movie was "This Ain't No Game."
* ''Film/FantasticFourRiseOfTheSilverSurfer'':
** Right after Reed Richards explains that Johnny Storm's encounter with the Surfer earlier in the film has caused him to begin randomly swapping powers with other members of the team whenever he makes physical contact with them, Ben Grimm grabs Johnny's shoulder and knowingly causes their powers to switch. The fact that it's Johnny, who is usually the jokester on the team, who says this only further emphasizes how serious the situation really is.
--->'''Johnny:''' Oh, come on! We just said this is serious!
** Said word-for-word later in the film to Johnny by Captain Raye.
* ''Film/HardCandy'': "Jeff, playtime is over. Now it's time to wake up."
* Said word-for-word in ''Film/{{Taken}} 2''.
* Played with in a deadly serious fashion in ''Film/TheUntouchables.'' Eliot Ness has the drop on one of Capone's thugs and is yelling at him to surrender; for whatever reason, the gangster decides to try to shoot it out, and Ness is forced to shoot him in self-defense. In utterly despairing frustration, Ness screams, "What is this, a game?!?"

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': When Mrs. Incredible and her kids are raiding the island base to rescue Mr. Incredible -- see page quote above.

* ''Film/IronMan1'':

* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', teen detective Naoto Shirogane drops by the main characters to inform them that the murders they have been investigating have apparently been solved, and that their 'game' is about to end. Of course, by this point many of them have either lost friends or nearly been killed themselves over the course of the investigation, and they angrily point out that if anyone thinks of it as a 'game' it would be Naoto, not them.

-->-- '''Elasti-Girl''', ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles''

* In Creator/JamesSwallow's ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' novel ''[[Literature/BloodAngels Red Fury]]'', when Kayne speaks of how interesting the Chapters' gathering is, Rafen rebukes him: "This is not a game."
* In [=CS=] Goto's ''[[Literature/DawnOfWar Blood Ravens]]'' novel ''Dawn of War: Ascension'', Gabriel threatens an eldar to try to get a translation from him, informing him that it was not a game.

** ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2'':

'''Nagito''': D-don't get mad! I just think warming up is really important, especially since this isn't a game.

** 10 years prior to the start of the story, Shanks told Luffy that being a pirate is not a game. When Luffy gets captured by the bandit Grizzly, Shanks has to teach Luffy some lessons how dangerous it is to live as a pirate.

* Creator/TerryPratchett:
** ''Discworld/SmallGods'' has the repeated line(s), "This is Not a Game, Here and Now You Are Alive."
** In ''Discworld/MakingMoney'', Mr. Bent tells Moist that banking is not a game, but Moist replies, "It is, and it's an old game called What Can We Get Away With."

* Matpat of ''WebVideo/GameTheory'' runs a series called ''Reality Check'', where the premise is analysing video games such as VideoGame/RainbowSix to see how they compare to real life by putting actual gamers into those situations.

* In ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise'', team BUILD [=DiVERS=] are brought into what appears to be a new campaign mode within GBN, liberating a race of human-like animals from fearsome machines. However, as they push through the mission, things don't line up, ultimately leading to [[spoiler:the team failing to stop a KillSat from obliterating an island where the Resistance was set up at and the team never gets a signal that they lost. This one [[HeroicBSOD breaks Kazami as he treated this as a game from the get-go]].]]

-->'''Tyalie:''' Life isn't easy, but it doesn't have to be so full of gloom and suffering. Have fun with it - the good and the bad, because it's all part of an experience that will never come again!

* In ''VideoGame/BoxxyQuestTheGatheringStorm'' Tyalie’s entire outlook is based on defying this. Life is ''totally'' a game, [[MediumAwareness (and she knows it)]], so she’s determined to have as much fun with it as she possibly can, and wants to make sure that everyone else is having fun too!

* In ''WebComic/YokokasQuest'', after Yokoka witnesses Lady Pachi lead a team to defeat a tunnel dweller.
--->'''Yokoka:''' [[TookALevelInBadass Please teach me to be this badass!]] I wanna kick butt just like you did!\\

* In ''WebComic/YokokasQuest'', Lady Pachi says "What do you think this is, a game?" when Yokoka asks Lady Pachi to [[TookALevelInBadass "teach me to be this badass!"]].

* In ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'', when George asks what happens if they can't get a piece of the Vasyn during their quest, Jeft tells them that “this is not a game you can win on good intentions and points. You have victory conditions....” The other Fans think he's just using gamer terminology, but the irony is that [[spoiler: that this really ''is'' a kind of game that Jeft set up]] and is actually quite true.

* In ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', when Roger decides to go in and save Eddie and Jessica, Benny the cab tells him, "Be careful with that gun, Roger! This ain't no cartoon, y'know!"

* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheSandsOfTime''

-->'''Varian''': I can't fault you for following orders. In fact, I can't really fault Jaina for acting on her own behalf, for once. But still... we aren't playing a game here. We are dealing with war, with people's lives, with the future of the Alliance itself.

--> "You thought this was just a '''GAME''', didn't you?! Well, it's '''OVER''' for you!"

* ''{{Franchise/Danganronpa}}'':

---->'''Hajime''': Wh-What warm up? This isn't a game, you know!
---->'''Nagito''': D-don't get mad! I just think warming up is really important, especially since this isn't a game.

* The phrase "This isn't a field trip" is used twice in ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia''. The first time is when Kratos escorts [[TheChosenOne Colette]], along with her friends Genis and Lloyd, into the monster-infested [[NoobCave Temple of Martel]], immediately after saving the three from being killed by the first boss. Raine says the line a second time to curb Genis' enthusiasm when the group arrives on Tethe'alla.
* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', the King of Hyrule used this phrase almost verbatim on his daughter, frustrated that she hasn't made more progress unlocking her sealing magic and is instead trying to study the Guardians and other ancient technology. Unfortunately, Zelda is fully aware of what's at stake and is completely serious about preparing to stop Calamity Ganon, so all the King's lecture does is worsen her feelings of inadequacy.

* Matpat of WebVideo/GameTheory runs a series called ''Reality Check'', where the premise is analysing video games such as VideoGame/RainbowSix to see how they compare to real life by putting actual gamers into those situations.
--> '''Scotty:''' So, bottom line is this: what you do in terms of gaming in front of the screen is entirely different. You're going to find out [[RealityEnsues you have a lot of physical fatigue, you're gonna be sweating, you're gonna be nervous, you're gonna be shaking...]]
--> '''Matpat:''' In Rainbow Six, there are actually four different classes of characters, right [...] [[GenreSavvy Judging by the way that you're laughing, this doesn't seem to be a realistic scenario]].
* ''WebVideo/SuperPowerBeatDown'': Darth Maul angrily uses this line when Spider-Man foolishly cracks a joke even though Maul is currently Force Choking Mary Jane.

* In the original ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpa'', Chihiro uses this phrase while telling Byakuya that the killing game isn't a game, since the class' lives are on the line. Of course, while Byakuya's attitude is fairly selfish and callous, it's far less naïve than most people who hear this phrase, since by seeing the others as his opponents, he's fully prepared for the possibility of being betrayed. [[spoiler:Byakuya does eventually get over seeing the killing game as a game, and after the fourth class trial, shifts his focus to hunting down the mastermind]].
* In ''VisualNovel/SuperDanganRonpa2'', near the beginning of the third trial, Nagito suggests that Hajime is suspicious based on the possibility that he carried out the murders based on the "Wizard of Monomi" movie, even though both of them know that Hajime didn't see the movie until after the killings took place. Nagito says it was all a "warm-up."
-->'''Hajime''': Wh-What warm up? This isn't a game, you know!
-->'''Nagito''': D-don't get mad! I just think warming up is really important, especially since this isn't a game.
** Later on in the third trial, when Nagito mentions that he's realized something about the murder weapon, Fuyuhiko angrily reminds him that he shouldn't withhold important information, because this isn't a game. Monokuma, who's presiding over the students and encouraging them to kill each other, chimes in to insist that it is a game.
** Even later, near the end, Hinata is forced into a SadisticChoice and goes into a HeroicBSOD when he can't decide. [[spoiler: The memory of Nanami, who at this point is supposed to be dead,]] brings this up in order to snap him out of it. If this isn't a game, then Hinata should be able to TakeAThirdOption. [[spoiler: What follows is [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration the game mechanics being thrown out the window]] as Hinata declares his intent to move forward into the future, regardless of hope or despair.]]

* In ''Manga/YuriIsMyJob'', Mitsuki, infuriated by Hime's frequent slip-ups while working at the salon, angrily says that working there isn't a game.

-->'''Benjen''': Your Boy King lost ten thousand men taking the place and another fifty trying to hold it. Somoene should have told him that war isn't a game.

* Inverted in ''WesternAnimation/FindingNemo'': At one point, the only way that Marlin and Dorey make it out of a dangerous situation without completely dissolving into panic is by pretending that it *is* a game.