Hello fellow Dtoiders :) This post is to get something out of my brain and onto your computer box screens. I'm interested to read other people's opinions on it to see if I'm alone in my way of thinking or if I'm part of a larger group that has to check their front door nineteen times to see if it's locked. Hopefully you'll find this more humorous than worrying :)

You see, I have an issue, it's not anything problematic or stops me from living day to day at all. I just can't play a game in a series if I've not played the games before it (unless I'm very much pushed to), but I have to own the game. Simple as. Not own as in pwn boom headshot, just own as in I get pleasure from knowing things are in order on my shelf. I'm not rich in any sense of the word, I will wait until most of the titles go cheap or I can pick it up second-hand if I can't afford it straight away. I'm not really bothered about trophies or achievements, it's simply having the game in my hand/shelf. It makes me feel all warm inside.

I came to this realisation a few months ago when I was talking to my mrs about why she would buy so many shoes. She would see a new pair with cupcake graphics on it or a zombie eating an ice-cream on heels that could kill a guy single-white-female style without much trouble. She would lose sleep if she didn't have them*

*extreme exaggeration

I had the stereotypical man response that she had enough shoes and that my collection of two pairs - one for walking in and one for looking smart in was enough for any sensible human being. It then hit me. I do exactly the same thing with games and I don't know why I do it.

Let's take for example four separate game series: God of War, Ratchet and Clank, Metal Gear Solid and Fallout. It's completely coincidental that I've picked three series that appear solely on the PS3 - I own all three current gen units and I love them all equally, they're just games that popped in my mind first.

God of War. I bought 1 and 2 for the PS2 on a whim - been meaning for the past 3 years to work through them. Now my PS2 (though still in my TV cabinet) now sits gathering dust as my shiny PS3 gets most of the playtime. God of War collection comes out for the PS3 - my convincing argument to the Mrs - "But if I get the collection, it won't look weird on my new TV and I can play them all through in one go ready for when part 3 comes down in price." - I would literally think about the collection all the time, keep checking online for good prices, watch videos with comparisons of the PS2 version versus the PS3 (though I don't actually care) until I can get hold of the copy in my hand. Then lo and behold a cheap price appears for it, I buy it, get it in my hand all twitchy and sweaty from waiting for it. Plastic wrapping comes off, I play a level, switch it off satisfied that I own it finally and it gets put on the shelf. Positioned between other games to put it in alphabetical order. All is right with the world.

Ratchet and Clank. Never played it on the PS2. I bought the PSP version and completed it - thinking it was a great game. Now I have all the Ratchet and Clank games on the PS3 (including Quest for Booty on disc, I really couldn't help it) and they simply sit there on the shelf taunting me. But I haven't played the PS2 versions and it pains me to put the Tools of Destruction on in case I miss some in-joke or a storyline that I would have known if I'd played the original games.

Metal Gear Solid. Part 4 was a Christmas gift that I dropped hints about for months. I put the disc in on Christmas day and felt like I was reading spoilers for a sequel for a film I've not seen the original for. Watched intro movie for ten minutes, moved the kid around the plane or whatever it was we were on for a few more minutes. Got twitchy and nervous that some plot point from a previous game was going to be revealed in the next 30 seconds I was watching so the game was switched off and put back in the box. MGS 1, 2 and 3 sit on the shelf taunting me. Now I find out that I may not be able to play MGS2 and 3 on my PS3 anyway because of backwards compatibility has been removed. Can't take risk on putting the game in and being disappointed so Part 4 goes back on the shelf (in alphabetical order). Feel like a gaming failure. Still read articles about new MGS game appearing on 360 and contemplate getting it to complete collection.

Fallout (mainly 3). Now this is on the 360. I had to be constantly harassed by my friends to finally get this game and play it. I did and to be fair I absolutely loved it. To the point that my house in Megaton is so full of crap from the Wasteland (you name it, it's in my lockers at my Megaton house - plates, spoons, anything). When I got the perk for the homemade weapons, I could've opened my own shop (if the game allowed) because I could make the weapons ten times over. Star Paladin Cross was basically employed as a carry things companion, so much so if I tell her to wait somewhere she will do. But when I ask her to come with me again she just stands there. I have to ask her to leave and then I chase her and ask me to join me again, she'll follow.

I have convinced myself now it's because she's so pissed off with carrying my equipment she's developed enough AI to basically tell me to get lost. It's a good job Dogmeat can't carry equipment otherwise I'd need another house in Megaton.

Now (back to the topic) I got Fallout 1 and 2 and played Fallout 1. Couldn't get into it at all after dying about 6/7 times in a row with 20 minutes. Tried again for another hour or so but had to switch off after the initial "wow a lot of the features are the same" feeling had worn off. Now have trouble playing Fallout 3 again after letting the game down. Also feel weird knowing that other internet users are getting excited about the NCR appearing in the Fallout: New Vegas game. Fallout 3 doesn't go back on as I don't know what they're talking about. At that point I lock the front door for no logical reason.

I did the same with DJ Hero, I saw it available and convinced myself that I had to own this game. I waited and saved and finally got it, played it for 2 days and it goes on the shelf. Never to be played (potentially) again.

Now I can't honestly decide why I do it, I really want to play (as in REALLY) MGS4 for a start off. I've tried playing MGS1 and I'm stuck trying to fight some invisible ninja guy in an office. I then get killed numerous times, leave it for a few months then try again. Now I know there's a ninja guy I have to fight, but because it's been so long I don't know why I'm fighting him (I've forgotten the story) so I just sort of feel embarrassed for myself and switch the game off, making a mental note to read the story online just so I know why this invisible nutter keeps laughing and kicking the crap out of me in a computer room. Then I think, "Jesus, there's another 2 games after this before 4" - feel like I can't be bothered. Game goes back on the shelf, leave for a week and the game starts to taunt me, rinse-repeat. When I do have a day to myself what I do put on - bloody Modern Warfare 2 - every single time... I have thoughts for some reason that if I don't play it at least once every two days I will become a gibbering wreck with the motor skills and dexterity of a tortoise. All the while while I'm crying into my cup of tea that I've been unfairly (read: because I'm crap) killed by a grenade launcher.

So the questions are:

Am I alone in my way of thinking?
Is it really worth it playing all the way through these game series (or pick your favourite!)
Is it wrong to have only two pairs of shoes, should I have more?
Why do I keep going back to MW2????

ARRRRGGGHHH THE GAMES CALL ME!!!!!