[notjtrig]

Well, you put yourself out there and explained your situation pretty well. You must have (in person) social skills, maybe they are just a little rusty?

I would try to be friendly outside work as it could be less intimidating. I think you will find that a lot of people have the same interests as you do.

To be blunt, you are actively refusing to socialize, just start talking to people. Tell people about your life and hobbies. Find out who plays the games you do and what they think about them.

A conversation starts so simply, "Play any good video games lately?", the worst you can get is 'no' and that is still a opportunity to tell the person what you've been into. Maybe they will keep the conversation going, maybe not. But it's still a conversation.

[ccore]

There's another recent topic here from someone else, on asking how to get a job while you have a job. And some of the replies suggest he has similar problems I do which comes around to my struggles in my career.

I almost always apply to jobs cold. Go online, through the filter of unwashed masses. Then eventually I learned that referrals get you on the short list to interviews.

Someone who mocked interviewed me told me what was wrong with my approach. Generally speaking I meander too much when I talk. I hope to have another mock session with him again. We actually scheduled four of them, one week after another, but he only had time to do the first one. The rest of the schedule was postponed indefinitely because too busy to do them (because of work). No wonder finding interview help from professionals is hard, even in person.