Gamer Burn Out and Other Things

[Disclaimer: This blog does not represent the views or opinions of Enkido as he exists in a sane state and he cannot be held responsible for the content expressed in this article. For real, it's dusty in here. Also, cocks.]





*Cough* Hey guys, long time no see. Its been what, half a year since I've written a blog? I know, it's basically forever in internet time. Not only that, I haven't even commented in almost as long, and to be truthful I just recently started visiting Destructoid again. I got burned out.


I don't just mean the breakneck pace and orotund hype of videogame journalism, but video games in genreal. In all the time of my absence, I have not until very recently played any video games. I don't mean just those jewls of the video game community either. I hadn't even put a surly paw to use in the enjoyment of a smartphone game. Whereas before I had radiated cancerous video game entusiasm, accosting anyone willing to listen with my frothing opinions, everything had now stopped with multi-car pile up abruptness.


So what does this have to do with all of you? I have not the slightest clue actually. I guess maybe just take a break every once in a while to try something different. I'm not saying do it the way I did, I don't really know why that happened, but I will say that I did enjoy my hiatus and I learned a rediculous amount. I retaught myself how to read sheet musc and started parcticing piano with decent results, took up pistol shooting, coerced and broke up with two "girlfriends," learned the BASH command line and played around with Python a bit, kept a full time job as an engineering intern at a jet engine combustor manufacturing plant, read books at the rate of 2-3 a week; everything from "Much Ado About Nothing" to the 28th edition of "Machinery's Handbook," unknowingly commited at least two federal felonies; one of which, looking back was obviously less than kosher, went to the gym just about every day over the summer, and never stopped writing (though not anywhere in particular, to anyone in particular, or on any particular topic). Consequently, that sentence was gramatically entertaining to write.





I'm not trying to brag, I wouln't consider myself anywhere near the proficiency I would want to be in many of those endeavours, but I argue that if you are beginning to feel worn out take a small excursion into something new. You don't have to get every game as it comes out, it can get really expensive really fast and can really lead to buyer's remorse (from what I understand, the Duke can be implicated in this). I've heard it here before and I'm certain more than a few of you have as well; all things in moderation, even this amazing community.


But enough of all that tomfoolery, this place is about vidja gaims, and given my recent abstinace you may wonder how it is I have yet again found myself here. Allow me to paint a picture. It was a dark and dreary night of about three in the afternoon in an adequately lit office. A recent IT error had reallowed me acess to the internet and I was whiling away the hours at my desk sifthing through the affairs of lesser mortals in google news. It was in one of these long hours that I happened upon coverage of EVO in the technology section. What skill. What showmanship. Much company time was spent that day admiring this battle of titans. Back at the Enkido Cave, with much trepidation I placed "Super Street Fighter IV" into my long neglected PS3 and started a network match.





I won.


Despite not even so much as a casual glance at a game for months, the skills I had learned before I stopped had stayed with me. And thus an ember was rekindled. The next day saw more productivity, but with bits of the goings on of the video game industry and eventually this very community.


Some things I have noticed:


Elsa wrote a blog and got semi-internet famous for her little polemic. Venomous blogs were written and childinsh behaviour abounded, but here on DToid, there was not but the culmination of some of the best wringing I think Jim has ever done, as well as exceptional editorials by both Elsa and Schmegegge. DRAMA


I have heard wispered that the sensational condensational cloud of noncommon nomenclature, Beyamor, is a resident recapper now, which is just grand. Much love to all the recappers.


Speaking of staff, there are a lot of new faces since I was last here. I mean a lot. I have solved the mystery for CaptainBus at least but I'm still piecing together the real identities of the others.


I look forward to timorously reintergrating myself. I have a couple of topics that I've gotten the itch to write about, so those of you who look forward to that kind of thing feel free to gaze ahead.


Completely unrelated, anyone who likes anime or Jorge Luis Borges should watch Mushishi. It is what anime would be if Borges did anime and it is amazing.