(Copied from my
Tumblr, then into IE, then through a hoop on fire)
It's weird. I've been a gamer all my life. I picked up a controller at the age of 2 to play Dragon Warrior on the NES, and since then, I haven't stopped gaming. It's always been a major part of my life, and has helped to define me as a person. I'm always interested in talking with other people about the state of the industry, art direction in games, or even just how a game is. I have a reputation among my peers as the person to go to if you want to know about a certain game or genre.
Then why is it that I feel so burnt out on gaming?
I woke up today, started playing a bit, and realized something. I'm just not having fun anymore. But why? I played a bit of the games in my collection, trying to find that spark, but to no avail. Why is it that suddenly I couldn't care less about something that I've held so close to me all of my life? It's frightening.
I suppose this could have to do with how I've played the last few months. Late during the month of May, I started to take my infatuation with the fighting genre, or rather Street Fighter, somewhat seriously. I began to practice more than most of my peers, and started to enter local tournaments. I was more competitive than almost anyone else around me. And now, I couldn't care less. I have a 66% win rate, and the 414th highest arcade score in the world in SF4, but it doesn't mean anything anymore. I used to idolize top U.S. players such as Justin Wong, Mike Ross, Arturo Sanchez, Alex Valle, Combofiend, and more, but all of a sudden, it just doesn't appeal to me anymore. A wave of apathy has washed over me, and I find myself unwilling to get back up.
Is it due to my own previous tenacity with which I used to play, or is it a lack of titles coming out that genuinely interest me? The last game that came out that had me genuinely excited was Street Fighter 4, and I hate the damn game. Perhaps playing something I hate so much in such excess has caused me to become jaded (You don't get it, I seriously fucking hate this game). I would't be surprised. But then again, who knows? This might just be the flavor of the day.
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Jesus man, wasn't that a little too harsh?
Maybe you're just getting older. That's what happened to me. I'm pushing thirty and still enjoy gaming but my tastes have changed considerably and a lot of games I would've jumped at a few years ago don't interest me in the slightest now.
I know I've gone through a couple of them, you just have to wait for a game to snap you out of the doldrums. Try playing different things you might not play, play some indy games on the pc you might have not otherwise tried. Take the time when you're not interested in games to do stuff you've been putting off.
The passion for games will come back. It always has for me.
I'd say take a break or cut down on the "meat" games that you play just because they are current.
It's understandable to feel that way, but let me explain my infatuation. Just a warning, i don't know how long this comment is going to be, but I'm not writing another C-blog so soon, but I feel it important to address your comment.
I became heavily interested in fighting games about a little less than a year ago. I saw the famous video of Justin Wong playing Daigo in Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike at Evolution 2004 (The video in question can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS5peqApgUA). When I saw it, I was awestruck. The level of dedication that was involved, and being able to execute such a feat under such immense pressure was exhilarating. To be able to perform such a feat was inspiring, so I dedicated a great portion of time to learning Street Fighter and it's system, how to cancel and try to understand my opponents minds during matches.
The reason I play(ed) Street Fighter 4 is indeed for competition. If I want to achieve a higher level of play, the best way to do that is to play the most amount of people possible. However, the system of priority, hitboxes, and cancelling in 4 is so different than most other Street Fighter games (not to mention serious balancing issues). It feels like most of what the game was built on has been thrown out, and replaced with random factors. For a game that's so well established in having a concrete set of rules, there should be no room for random elements.
Regardless, I still played it. I became somewhat good, as I talked about in my blog, but that's beside the point. I do love competition. I love competing because it brings out the best in everyone. It brings out a different level of skill and thought than if you were just playing with a few friends. It's tense and nerve-wracking, ask anyone who has been to a tournament, it's very taxing on your mind and body. The dislike of the game was offset by my love of competition and forming bonds with these players who felt the same way as me. Although I still don't like the game over earlier incarnations of the SF series, I saw it as a challenge to learn and manipulate this new system, and started to abandon my old techniques.
As far as winning goes, it certainly is better than losing. I think everyone can agree to that. However, I enjoy losing. As long as I can take away from a match why I lost, why they won, and a few other things, I'm happy. It's all part of learning and getting better.
Oh, and don't be such a cunt.
Or just fap a lot.
Still I contend that if you want to continue competing you need to play games you have a fondness for. Competition in itself doesn't propel a person to greatness. You need a natural enjoyment of the source material to help propel you as well. As Sirlin once said, the people who become the best at their games are the ones who enjoy it enough to learn and experiment where other people don't.
Even if you love competition, you are facing yourself with a conflict that doesn't just automatically go away. I likewise share the dislike for Street Fighter IV, especially regarding the extremely obvious misbalances. No less for characters that are historically overpowered.
As I'm writing in a King of Fighters article, Street Fighter IV doesn't seem so much to propel the Street Fighter series so much as just keep it alive. Comparing it between Third Strike, Super Turbo, and Alpha 3 it feels less distinct and in some ways a step back. It makes me sad.
I get the impression you're worried that you don't love games as much as you thought you did, but it's possible to get tired of anything (heck, some days even I don't eat pizza). Just take a bit of a break. No matter the results of your Street Fighter experiment, there's no way you've ruined your appetite for gaming completely.
I'll definitely agree to that. I still play HD Remix as it's probably my favorite iteration of the series, but there just isn't as much competition. It's sad, because it's polished, well balanced, and fun.
You gonna play SF4 with us [THEUNDER]FOREVER.[/THUNDER]
We'll play HD Remix more I swear! D':
One thing that also works for me to renew my interest whenever I'm in a gaming funk is to play with friends (especially non-competitive "lets just all be assholes" games.) Play a game you're not good at with friends, join someone on your buddy list for a random game.
We all get gaming funks... they usually pass in time...
there was one night where Stella just beat the living daylights out of us with her beastly Honda. It wasn't even close. Definitely made me quit for awhile ;)
Best to just take a break. It easy to get burnt out in the fighting game scene. When you come back you'll be more motivated to play.
Time to take up Sports Games.
almost like i went to gamers anon and am taking some drug that makes me sick every time i see my ps3. like the clockwork orange treatment fr gaming.