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YES! Thank you for this awesome blog. You're absolutely right about your point. FF6 has been my favorite game of all time, also being my first RPG experience.
I have over 170 steam games, close to ~20 Xbox 360 games and a handful of PSN Exclusives (demon souls, Uncharted series, Killzones, Infamous..) and find that although I pump a considerable amount of time to many of them, I'm still nowhere to be done.
For this reason I've been replaying my older games as of late in order to finally finish them completely. It's a monumental task, but I'll not be getting much anything new this year, and I think your article helped me take that decision.
I have over 170 steam games, close to ~20 Xbox 360 games and a handful of PSN Exclusives (demon souls, Uncharted series, Killzones, Infamous..) and find that although I pump a considerable amount of time to many of them, I'm still nowhere to be done.
For this reason I've been replaying my older games as of late in order to finally finish them completely. It's a monumental task, but I'll not be getting much anything new this year, and I think your article helped me take that decision.
Here's the thing. I have a ton of games in my backlog because of Steam sales and Humble Indie Bundles, but not an ungodly amount. It's that I savor certain games too much, not that I have too many.
The problem is that games with high re-playability, fun game play, and instant gratification suck all my gaming time. So when I open up my large Steam library, I'll scroll past all of those surely excellent single player games I've been meaning to play that I got for $5 each during the summer sale, and load up Team Fortress 2 or PAYDAY: The Heist or Hero Academy for the 5th night in a row instead of starting up Just Cause 2 (which I got for free by trading for it with TF 2 items).
The problem is that games with high re-playability, fun game play, and instant gratification suck all my gaming time. So when I open up my large Steam library, I'll scroll past all of those surely excellent single player games I've been meaning to play that I got for $5 each during the summer sale, and load up Team Fortress 2 or PAYDAY: The Heist or Hero Academy for the 5th night in a row instead of starting up Just Cause 2 (which I got for free by trading for it with TF 2 items).
Great blog.
I went through a spree when I finally got some money for my own. For about 3-4 years I would just buy anything. I still have to unwrap a lot of games from that era.
Then I slowed down. Now I only buy games that I believe I will enjoy, or are part of a series that I enjoy (damn you, brand loyalty). I recently got into Skyrim as my first foray into The Elder Scrolls; a few years ago I might've imposed it upon myself to play all the games in the series in order. Right now I don't care that much, and I know I am NOT going to play Oblivion or Morrowind, simply because it's very likely they'll feel like downgraded versions of the same thing. Playing a lot of games gives you that kind of awareness where you're able to look past the mystique and kind of predict what it's going to be like. A lot of recent games are retreads of stuff we played in the early 2000's. That kind of awareness has also saved me a lot of wasted time.
I have also had to abandon the compulsive completionist in me; these days it's rare for me to even replay a game unless I really enjoyed it. I honestly think that's for the best. Screw trophies and whatnot.
Also, nothing wrong with eating a whole pizza on your own. In Italy it's considered the normal thing to do unless you're a skinny girl.
I went through a spree when I finally got some money for my own. For about 3-4 years I would just buy anything. I still have to unwrap a lot of games from that era.
Then I slowed down. Now I only buy games that I believe I will enjoy, or are part of a series that I enjoy (damn you, brand loyalty). I recently got into Skyrim as my first foray into The Elder Scrolls; a few years ago I might've imposed it upon myself to play all the games in the series in order. Right now I don't care that much, and I know I am NOT going to play Oblivion or Morrowind, simply because it's very likely they'll feel like downgraded versions of the same thing. Playing a lot of games gives you that kind of awareness where you're able to look past the mystique and kind of predict what it's going to be like. A lot of recent games are retreads of stuff we played in the early 2000's. That kind of awareness has also saved me a lot of wasted time.
I have also had to abandon the compulsive completionist in me; these days it's rare for me to even replay a game unless I really enjoyed it. I honestly think that's for the best. Screw trophies and whatnot.
Also, nothing wrong with eating a whole pizza on your own. In Italy it's considered the normal thing to do unless you're a skinny girl.
Amazing blog, I just thought about the issue the other day. I feel like I have too many games to play and just end up rushing through them.
It's kind of depressing really, especially after getting a gem like the MGS HD Collection, then realizing you're speedrunning though the entire thing, not stopping to savour it, as you said.
Hence I decided to cut back on my game purchases, maybe then I'll be able to really take my time with and enjoy my experiences. The last time I was able to do that was a couple of years ago with Dragon Age: Origins and Persona 3.
It's kind of depressing really, especially after getting a gem like the MGS HD Collection, then realizing you're speedrunning though the entire thing, not stopping to savour it, as you said.
Hence I decided to cut back on my game purchases, maybe then I'll be able to really take my time with and enjoy my experiences. The last time I was able to do that was a couple of years ago with Dragon Age: Origins and Persona 3.
The Witcher 2 and Mass Effect 2. Maybe the only games I've played more than once among all games that came out in these 2 years. At any given moment, there are at least 3-8 games waiting to be even started. In the meanwhile, new games come up on the stack, so when I have time, I play the last entries, missing on those that were waiting before. It's really frustrating. Good read.
I think it is fairly widespread. I recently had a moment like this where I realized I have about 4 games I haven't even started playing, and yet, I'm already pining for more of the upcoming releases. I never used to have any problem waiting fr price drops and to, you know, actually have time to play. I also spent about a year unemployed, when I had plenty of time to play games, and did so, mostly to keep myself from feeling too down about not being able to find a job. Then I got a job and it took much longer to complete games, but I had the money to buy them! Now I'm back to being unemployed for a little while and have time but can't spend money (what with the responsible saving and all) but got used to being able to buy whatever game I wanted. It never used to be like that, for me anyway. Like you said, as a kid it was a big deal to get a new video game. Obtaining a new console was accompanied by the same fanfare as someone walking on the moon. I also used to be about a generation behind whatever the new console was, or would at least have to wait until we were a few years into the lifecycle before I could afford the console. It may be a little of the rose colored glasses that accompany childhood memories, but I think it was better that way.
I will say, I bought a 3DS within a few months of release--the first console or handheld I've ever bought that close to release-- and a PSP after the PS Vita released. I'm getting way more mileage out of the PSP.
I will say, I bought a 3DS within a few months of release--the first console or handheld I've ever bought that close to release-- and a PSP after the PS Vita released. I'm getting way more mileage out of the PSP.
Oh man, I didn't even realize this was front paged! I won't be able to read all the comments until after Escapist Expo!
Thanks for reading everyone! All the comments look well written and thought out, so I'll do my best to read up on them when I get back!
And thanks for the front page promotion!
Thanks for reading everyone! All the comments look well written and thought out, so I'll do my best to read up on them when I get back!
And thanks for the front page promotion!
I actually get this a lot. Actually even though I have loads of new games to play I've just started playing through MGS3 and 4 again, I know pretty much every area and every line of dialogue like the back of my hand and I can pretty much just run through the entire games without ever thinking about what to do. When I do play a new game I tend to get instantly bored and not really give it a chance. If I thought like this when I was younger there is no way I would have been able to play MGS for long enough to get into it properly and other games like Zelda I would have declared a waste of time as soon as a puzzle actually made me think for a second. It's sad that these are some of my favourite games but if I played a game that I might like even more I might no longer give it a proper chance :(.
Also I feel games like COD are partly to blame as they turn gaming into a crack addiction so any game that isn't crack, I mean COD, is instantly boring.
Also I feel games like COD are partly to blame as they turn gaming into a crack addiction so any game that isn't crack, I mean COD, is instantly boring.
I am a game hoarder. It's only been a year of collecting, and I have bought around 300 games and like 10 systems.
When I was a kid, we were mad poor, and I could only rent games really. A trip to the video store was like a rare treat. Now that I have disposable income and access to things like ebay and craigslist, it's gotten out of control, like I want to make up for all that time. I keep telling myself I'm going to play them eventually, but I go days without even touching any games. With 2 kids and a job, I really don't have the time.
I also resell games and stuff on the side, so it's also a source of income for me, and they basically pay for themselves, so that makes it even harder to stop. If anybody watches Breaking Bad, in the last episode where Walt sees the huge pile of money, and Skyler says how much is enough... I felt like it was talking to me lol
When I was a kid, we were mad poor, and I could only rent games really. A trip to the video store was like a rare treat. Now that I have disposable income and access to things like ebay and craigslist, it's gotten out of control, like I want to make up for all that time. I keep telling myself I'm going to play them eventually, but I go days without even touching any games. With 2 kids and a job, I really don't have the time.
I also resell games and stuff on the side, so it's also a source of income for me, and they basically pay for themselves, so that makes it even harder to stop. If anybody watches Breaking Bad, in the last episode where Walt sees the huge pile of money, and Skyler says how much is enough... I felt like it was talking to me lol
As soon as I got a gaming laptop, I was overwhelmed by games I haven't played yet. So many games, so little time. Back in the day, I used to play games over and over on my Ps2, like Ratchet and Clank: Up your arsenal.
I don't think I'll hop into the new generation so quickly. I want games that try new things, like the DayZ mod. Things that are interesting, fresh and new.
I don't think I'll hop into the new generation so quickly. I want games that try new things, like the DayZ mod. Things that are interesting, fresh and new.
Dark Souls was the first major console game I savored in a long time. New Vegas was good, but my interest waned a bit with it, i had just replayed fallout 3 recently before purchasing NV. Mostly, I have an overabundance of games on my PC. compared to my early days of PC gaming, which consisted of replaying Commander Keen, Tyrian, and other shareware games repeatedly. Tyrian especially, for it had all those cheat codes you could enter at the title screen for quite different arcade playmodes. The other game i would play repeatedly and savor was The 7th Guest, mostly because i could never beat it. Every reinstallation would mean I would get a little farther each time. But dammit I never beat the germ puzzle, except once somehow, and my child mind could not comprehend why or how I beat it.
I don't agree, yes there are more games, but the ones that do fill, shine even harder through all the generic crap we get today.
I whole-heartedly agree with you... and that's coming from a guy who currently has 871 games on Steam.
Awesome blog! I agree with just about everything you said. But I will disagree with the notion that maybe today's games would be better if we just spent more time with them, I feel that there are just too many rehashed games or better put "everything plays the same"/ every game just becoming a mush alike to the competition, I have my fill with the pizza.
I was actually just thinking about this the other day and I agree with you 100%. Back when I was a kid I only got a few games a year and those few games had to last a long time. As a result I constantly replayed those games and knew them inside and out. Now I'm in college though and I have a huge stack of games that have been adding up that I haven't beaten/played yet. Problem is that I don't have time to play them all so I find myself rushing through them just so I can get to the next one. I don't savor games like I used to and I think that's why many games seem "worse" than they did back in the good old SNES days..
I say games are better then ever...but just different. Games are now games. I mean A GAME is now MANY GAMES. Modern western games are complex systems with many 'games' occurring at once. Modern game because they are 3d often include navigation, story choices, level choices, and numerous other things. Grand Theft Auto is a racer, shooter, traversal-adventure, collection, rpg game (or games) all at once.
The greater the complexity of a game the more mental and memory fuction you can use on it the less re playable a game becomes. Its like Ground Hog Day - been there seen that - even if the whole world and 24 hours are in your hands.
The greater the complexity of a game the more mental and memory fuction you can use on it the less re playable a game becomes. Its like Ground Hog Day - been there seen that - even if the whole world and 24 hours are in your hands.
I'm obese on Steam and GOG games.
I'm a little overweight on PS2 and Gamecube games.
I'm now just discovering and rediscovering old PS1 games.
I've got some fun, juicy work to do, but I gotta make time for them. And I definitely can't get overwhelmed by the enormity of what I've gotten myself into. All it takes is a little time and planning to mete out meaty portions I can spend a lot of time on, instead of feeling like I have to rush through things to get caught up. It won't be easy, but it should be fun.
Excellent article. It's a great reminder to remember why we were gamers in the first place: because we loved them so much growing up, even in the scarcity of the games we had. Internet exposure and all these new avenues of knowledge and news has served to enrich our experience, but also dilute them. We forget why we enjoyed the videogames and just lose ourselves in the fatty morass of popular videogame talk.
I'm a little overweight on PS2 and Gamecube games.
I'm now just discovering and rediscovering old PS1 games.
I've got some fun, juicy work to do, but I gotta make time for them. And I definitely can't get overwhelmed by the enormity of what I've gotten myself into. All it takes is a little time and planning to mete out meaty portions I can spend a lot of time on, instead of feeling like I have to rush through things to get caught up. It won't be easy, but it should be fun.
Excellent article. It's a great reminder to remember why we were gamers in the first place: because we loved them so much growing up, even in the scarcity of the games we had. Internet exposure and all these new avenues of knowledge and news has served to enrich our experience, but also dilute them. We forget why we enjoyed the videogames and just lose ourselves in the fatty morass of popular videogame talk.
I went through Dragon Age:Origins 5 if not 6 times. I hate to be so cliche' in my gaming choices, but I've beaten Skyrim about the same number of times. KoA: Reckoning has gotten 2 complete runs now. Barring those titles and Bulletstorm I haven't replayed a game since my super nintendo days.
I agree with the comments about letting the new generation sit for a bit. I haven't touched my copies of Dragon's Dogma or The Witcher 2 yet. With the new Borderlands coming out very soon and Dishonored right behind it, I'm going to be busy for quite some time.
I agree with the comments about letting the new generation sit for a bit. I haven't touched my copies of Dragon's Dogma or The Witcher 2 yet. With the new Borderlands coming out very soon and Dishonored right behind it, I'm going to be busy for quite some time.
Holy crap, I'm blown away by all the positive feedback here. Thank you so much for reading everyone.
In regards to some of the differing opinions, I agree that it partially has to do with the sort of personality you are. Not everyone has issues clearing away their games. A lot of people already buy only a handful of games and are good with that the whole year. Yet it simply seems there is a personality out there used to absorbing so many and getting little fill.
I myself will be joining the ranks of those that don't really purchase games. I have to save up a lot of money, and with the holidays coming up I'll have to make the sacrifice of buying none of the holiday games for myself (except maybe a few on Black Friday depending on the cost). But you know what? I'm not all that bothered by it.
You guys are incredible, though. Thank you all for reading.
In regards to some of the differing opinions, I agree that it partially has to do with the sort of personality you are. Not everyone has issues clearing away their games. A lot of people already buy only a handful of games and are good with that the whole year. Yet it simply seems there is a personality out there used to absorbing so many and getting little fill.
I myself will be joining the ranks of those that don't really purchase games. I have to save up a lot of money, and with the holidays coming up I'll have to make the sacrifice of buying none of the holiday games for myself (except maybe a few on Black Friday depending on the cost). But you know what? I'm not all that bothered by it.
You guys are incredible, though. Thank you all for reading.
You have a point.
I;ve been collecting games for over 35 years (I have more than in the photo you link above - although the guy who owns that collection does own slightly more than me). There was a time when I was just buying games for the sake of it, and you have to stop and take a hard look at yourself and what you're doing.
I still buy large amounts of games, but being (officially) retired now, I have much more time to play, so although I still have never sold a game in over 30-some years, and I still replay them, I still buy enough to keep a backlog of about 1000 games going.
The beauty of this is that I never buy games on release, so I can get them dirt cheap because I have this backlog I'm never twiddling my thumbs.
But I do treat each game with respect. Although it took some effort on my part to notice what the article guy wrote of, and treat it accordingly. I've seen many people on Steam do precisely this - buy games for the sake of "collecting" which I think is folly with digital licences, personally.
Anyway, I have 35000 games and I'm not selling them anytime soon, neither am I going to stop buying soon. Do I enjoy each and every game? You bet. And I thoroughly research each game beforehand.
Life's what you make it I guess.
I;ve been collecting games for over 35 years (I have more than in the photo you link above - although the guy who owns that collection does own slightly more than me). There was a time when I was just buying games for the sake of it, and you have to stop and take a hard look at yourself and what you're doing.
I still buy large amounts of games, but being (officially) retired now, I have much more time to play, so although I still have never sold a game in over 30-some years, and I still replay them, I still buy enough to keep a backlog of about 1000 games going.
The beauty of this is that I never buy games on release, so I can get them dirt cheap because I have this backlog I'm never twiddling my thumbs.
But I do treat each game with respect. Although it took some effort on my part to notice what the article guy wrote of, and treat it accordingly. I've seen many people on Steam do precisely this - buy games for the sake of "collecting" which I think is folly with digital licences, personally.
Anyway, I have 35000 games and I'm not selling them anytime soon, neither am I going to stop buying soon. Do I enjoy each and every game? You bet. And I thoroughly research each game beforehand.
Life's what you make it I guess.
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