When and Why does gaming's magic end?

[ReaXan]

I ask this to alot of the people who are from the NES generation, I apologize if it has been done before but I wanted to get 2008 opinions.

I basically realized on Super Bowl Night when a group of kids were playing COD4 on the 360 with a projection screen that my love of video games has almost came to an end. This was the first time that I seriously couldnt motivate myself to want to sit down and play video games.
I remember as a kid being so excited when my uncle or dad would sit down and play a game with me and my brother or us playing Double Dragon at the Arcades the night Batman came out in 1989. It sorta made me sad that I had no interest in playing games anymore, even modern ones.

I am 24 now, I am in college, have a girlfriend and have friends yet I yearn for the days of the gaming wonder of my childhood and early teenage years where I couldnt sleep because I was so excited about a game. While my time isnt what it once was, I still have opportunitys where I could easily sit down for hours and play a game but I just can't.

I was wanting to get some opinons from the 24/26 year olds on why this happens, what you can do to combat it or should you just accept it and pick it up when you have kids someday

[BHvrd]

Options, options, options.

I found myself stagnating such as yourself around the same age. It's just that you need to try newer things on a more consistent basis. Don't fret if you try a dozen games and end up bored at the end of the night, you are just having to redefine yourself.

Stick with it, try new stuff and learn more about yourself as a gamer than you probably ever even knew. Hell at one point I would pop in a game for seconds only to realize I really didn't want to play it, then I would eventually find what I wanted to play after maybe even after a dozen game changes, lol.

You will find that alot of the same things you loved about games is still very much a part of you, you just need to rediscover it and how and when is only when you will be satisfied. Hell just cause you have kids does not mean you should give up your HOBBY!

I tried to quit much like you, but I came to the realization that it was missing. It's hard to just dump gaming when you have been doing it since you were 2 years old, lol. Kids if anything can rekindle it in you, but their likes will be different just remember that and show them what "you like" about games it will help their understanding.

You know what you like you just haven't rediscovered it yet. Just cause you get bored doesn't mean you don't like gaming anymore, just like anything in life you just need that thing that makes your heart beat again. You don't have to change just cause everyone else does, you still like what you always liked about games "whatever it might be", no need to try to change what you know, rather use it.

Gaming imo is still one of the most creative, imaginative and healthy activities a person can take part in, but only when you have the passion to do it.

[Neil Koch]

I did get a bit disenchanted with gaming when I was around your age. It was after I had laid too much money on the whole Sega CD/32X debacle, and I was not impressed at all with the currrent-gen stuff (PS1/Saturn).

But then I played Felony 11-79, it was totally unlike I had played before and I loved it. And at same time, Goldeneye was like crack in the dorms.

My advice? Pack up your stuff, and wait for the bug to hit again. DO NOT JUST SELL OFF YOUR STUFF, especially to EB/Gamestop. I still miss my Dreamcast.

[josekortez]

Yeah, I'm 28, and every time I get another bill in the mail, I think about just selling off my entire collection. Most of it is packed up, and the more games I buy, the less excited I get about playing them.

But BHvrd is right. I played games to death during the heydays of the NES and SNES. Then, the Saturn and PlayStation just seemed boring to me so I stopped playing games period. Later on, the Dreamcast came out and after I bought Crazy Taxi, that was it. I got a second wind.

You will get bored at times, and I guess that's one of the problems with this hobby. I've resorted to imports just because I'm sick of domestics. And half the time I can't read the text in the games. I don't know what's wrong with me...

[calthaer]

Human beings need variety. Gaming doesn't always provide that. There's nothing wrong with reading some good books or developing some other interests to complement gaming. And, as we grow up, sometimes gaming doesn't always grow up with us. I find myself gravitating much more towards games with deep & complex strategy and / or story as I get older - just because I'm reading more complex novels and / or enjoying more complex movies, and the thumb-twitchers, the stale train-track-plots, and the simplistic mechanics just lose appeal.

[RPG_Fanatic]

I was kind of the same way playing the NES, Genesis, SNES and PSone then didn't play games in the PStwo/Xbox Generation but the 360 brought me back to playing games again.

[udisi]

I'd like to add that this also has a bit to do with growing up and the generation gap. I'm 28, and I find myself bored with a lot of current gen games. Some of it that most of the next gen games are different types of games than what I grew up with and loved. I'm a fan of side scrolling adventure games, old school, number throwing rpg's, Gradius type shooters. Most of the gurrent gen stuff is sandbox games, and FPS. While these are ok, they're just not my favorite. Very rarely do current gen systems release a new game in the genre of games I like. If they do it's usually a rushed value title. I do enjoy some new things, Super Paper Mario was something new that fit my play style, also I'm enjoying Zack and Wiki. I like some of the 3D platformers, but I'd kill just for a New Super Mario bros(like the DS) done on the will, with just updated graphics and more of the old school goodness. I find myself playing more SNES stuff than I do my 360.

Also, life starts to get in your way, back in the school years I had the time to sit down and play through long engrossing rpgs, now with bills, and life in the way, it becomes harder to get the blocks of time required to play a game like that the way you want to.

It can also be a generational thing, I like the Atari 2600, but gamers in their late 30's and 40's will play Atari almost more than anything else. It has a bit to do with that nostalgic feeling.

[Jorpho]

Ins't there something to be said for the availability of games in one's life? For many years now I have accumulated high-quality PC games with the vague idea that Some Day I shall get around to playing them, whereas in my younger years I had to make every game last as long as possible and usually did. Perhaps something about having so many options available cheapens the apparent value of each of them individually.

[NE146]

Just stop playing and if it's really something you like, I guarantee at some point later in life when you've had your fill of responsibilities you're going to be all in the "After a long absence, I'm rediscovering my love for gaming" stage we alway see. LOL

[Half Japanese]

23 at the moment, so I'm just shy of your intended audience, but I've found lately that given the relatively miniscule blocks of time I have in which to play games, that arcade-style and more simplistic games take up the bulk of my gaming time. I've fallen in love with the quick, fast-paced games on PSN and XBLA (Everyday Shooter, Pixeljunk Monsters, Time Pilot, Rez) and even picked up my DS again (for Picross). While I still think the "casual gamer" audience is going to be more short-lived than Nintendo is hoping, there's something to be said for games that are easy to pick up and play. The games you mention in your good memories are games like that while COD4 is undoubtedly more involved and time-consuming.

I'm in school and working right at full-time, so when I get off at 10:30PM and have to be back up at 7:00AM to head out to school, I just don't have the time or will to dive into several hours worth of Team Fortress 2 or what-have-you. There are times I wish I did, but it's just not feasible given my schedule for the next few months.

[DefaultGen]

.....

[Snapple]

Who doesn't get a little disenfranchised with all these sequels and rehashes coming out? Originality doesn't seem to sell so well.

I'll tell you what. Somewhere early in the PS2's lifespan, I just about gave up on modern gaming. I stopped buying new games for a long time, except for a couple must-have titles. I don't really like FPSes. I don't like card battling. I don't like underground street racing games. I don't like a lot of the hip new crap. I still don't.

What saved me personally was the Nintendo DS. It single-handed re-sparked my interest in modern games. There's so much fresh and reinvented stuff coming out for the DS, and it's very approachable. I hate steep learning curves, and the DS has a lot of stuff that's not needlessly complicated.

I'm not saying the DS is the answer for you. The moral is actually this. Don't sell your games, because something, someday will come along, and that thing will make you want to play video games again. Maybe it won't be tomorrow. Maybe it won't be for five years, but when it happens, you'll regret not having your games around anymore, if you sell them now.

If you're not interested in Call of Duty 4 or whatever the hot new commodity on the market is, don't pay attention to any of that. The fastest way to get yourself tired of video games is to force yourself to play the games people are telling you to play, instead of playing the games you actually want to play. If you want to ignore every sequel that comes out from now until the end of time, and only play the quirky titles by Atlus that will never become popular, then do it.

[Jackattack]

You guys are depressing me! I'm 22 and almost at what most of you are seeing as a turning point in your gaming lives. It's by no means the end of the world, but looking at my situation, I have less and less interest to play games. I'm now up to 25 or so games that I'm in the middle of or not even started yet and I find myself not wanting to boot up my systems. Even for games that I was excited about getting, such as the new advanced wars... it's still shrink wrapped beside endless ocean sitting in my drawer.

What gives me hope is my excitement for Brawl and the new Mario Kart. I think/hope I'll really be into those games. I did get all the stars in Galaxy and am playing through Phantom Hourglass, even if it's slow, but it's not like I use to play. Well I guess it could be worse. Thanks for listening.

[Dreamc@sting]

I know exactly how you feel ReaXan, I'm 24 except maybe a little different. I can say that when the Dreamcast fell from what grace it had, my gaming pleasure wasn't so pleasurable anymore. One of the major reasons I collect classic games is to hold onto the feeling I used to have. When I was younger I didn't have many friends and from NES to Genesis to saturn to dreamcast - all these consoles kept me company and as sad as it may sound many of my fondest memories from childhood involve beating games or playing games with friends. When I broke down and bought a PS1 around saturns death I still enjoyed gaming - but with the emergance of the PS2 and xbox..I lost interest in the games coming out and even now owning a PS3...its hard for me to find much enjoyment for more than a half an hour - but once I get a genesis controller in my hands I will be glued to the TV for hours :P - my gaming magic still exists pre-128bit era (minus the Dreamcast)

[PingvinBlueJeans]

Perhaps something about having so many options available cheapens the apparent value of each of them individually.
You have spoken a truism.

[Dreamc@sting]

You have spoken a truism.

Id die to go back to the days of Sega VS Nintendo =/, I will agree that the spread does take away from the experience

[ReaXan]

[QUOTE=Dreamc@sting;1324829] I can say that when the Dreamcast fell from what grace it had, my gaming pleasure wasn't so pleasurable anymore. /QUOTE]

Its funny because that is probably when my gaming pleasure started to sour as well, I hear alot of people say that the death of the Dreamcast was the turning point in their gaming lives from the NES gen. I sorta blame Sony and their marketing ploy to destroy Sega like they did the HDDVD format, I mean its just buisness, but Sega knew how to appeal to the gamers all the way back from the 2600 days. Sony just seems to copy what they can and try to be innovative when its convienent. I dont hate Sony, its just they have had alot to do with they way gaming has deteriorated in certain aspects.

[Graham Mitchell]

I went through this for the past 4 years, and for me I think it's just that the last generation of consoles really stunk. I got a Wii when it was released, and I really enjoyed that at first...now I use it more for the Virtual Console than anything. But I got a 360 for Christmas and it's like a breath of fresh air. I never owed a gen 1 Xbox, so Western-designed games are novel to me. I used to really dislike them, but playing Bioshock opened my eyes to their good aspects.

I'm blessed to have a schedule with lots of free time, now (which ends next Wednesday), and I'm finding that there's enough going on with the 360 to keep me excited for a few hours every other night, and I look forward to going home and playing it all day. I tell you, I haven't felt this way about games since high school, and I'm 29 now.

Don't know if that's the answer for you, but maybe it's time to just do other things for awhile. When the right game comes along it'll hit you.

[kaedesdisciple]

I'm right there with you guys. At this point, I am turning 26 in a few months, I work full time, finishing my master's degree at night, preparing to move in a few months and planning a big Italian wedding to happen this Fall. Needless to say, that doesn't leave a whole lot of time for gaming. I don't mind so much because I am happy doing all of the above.

I find myself picking new games up and at best I half-finish them. I don't even bother to play online anymore because it will simply be an exercise in frustration playing against people 10 years younger than me who have all the time in the world to learn all the tricks that I never will. I feel myself moving towards that whole "casual" mentality.

Perhaps a move towards the retro side, a bit of calming down and reorganizing after I move and graduate (all within the next few months) would help rekindle the interest in this oldest hobby of mine.

[shoes23]

Ins't there something to be said for the availability of games in one's life? For many years now I have accumulated high-quality PC games with the vague idea that Some Day I shall get around to playing them, whereas in my younger years I had to make every game last as long as possible and usually did. Perhaps something about having so many options available cheapens the apparent value of each of them individually.

QFT

As I grow older, and my game collection begins to swell, I've realized that there are TONS of games that I've yet to even try out. Often times I will sit and look at my stacks and stacks of games trying to decide which one to play, instead of actually playing them. Back when we were younger if you had 30+ NES games, you were probably the coolest kid on the block. I've often thought about selling many of them, but I come to the conclusion that I should just put my buying on a hold (which I've done). It also helps me to pick 10 games for each system that is hooked up to the TV and only play through those games. I won't add another to the pile until I've finished one or became completely tired of it in the case of sports titles (There are about two slots in those 10 games that I'll fill with sports titles on a rotating basis). If I don't set titles aside that I want to play, I'll just play a game for 10 seconds and spend another 15 minutes looking for a game that really interests me, only to play it for another 10 seconds.

A hobby besides gaming will also help a bunch. Pick up something else besides a controller and you will appreciate sitting down to a game once or twice a week. As an example, I recently stocked my basement with woodworking tools, and have been building TONS of stuff for our house (currently working on a solid oak pool table). It's a great distraction and brings me a lot of joy (much as gaming used to), and after I'm done in the basement I find that I'll only play games for about an hour, but I enjoy it much more than when I used to sit for 4-6 hour gaming marathons. Just something to think about.

[ReaXan]

Ive also noticed when I play a game as a ROM then I dont enjoy it as much as when it is actually being played on the console it was produced for.

With loose NES carts becomming cheaper, I am thinking of collecting in about 10 great games that I love and see how it goes

[unwinddesign]

Props to an interesting topic, first off.

I found that when I was in grade school/middle school (up until 2004, when Halo 2 came out) I played a lot of games. I played the hell out of almost any game I bought, since I only had like $100 a month or so to spend on games. They each had to last, so I beat them all. Final Fantasy, Banjo Kazooie, Age of Empires -- all sorts of stuff I sunk 30, 40, 50+ hours into. I'd easily place my time spent in the thousands of hours. I don't regret it either -- it was quite entertaining.

When Halo 2 came out, I suddenly found myself with $500+ disposable income a month. I bought game after game, didn't open a lot of them, and started collecting random games for random systems that I didn't give a shit about. I figured I'd get around to playing them; nah, never happened. I played Halo 2, because I had sunk all my time into it, and I was good. And I don't regret that either.

Now that I'm close to 19, my solution has just been to buy very few games and play the shit out of them. Halo 3, CoD4, GH3, Rock Band -- I bought them and played them all. A lot. And sold them when I was done with 'em. The only game I've bought in the past 6 months that I haven't gotten shit out of (besides some garbage XBLA titles) is Crysis. And that's just because I bought that as more of a benchmark than anything else.

I think I could easily go weeks, months, or even longer without playing games now, such how my life is. I'm just not that focused on it, any more. But what I figured out was that I didn't have to unload hundreds on a ton of games and new systems. Okami? Great fuckin' game. Would I ever play it if I bought it? Hell no. So it's not gonna enter my house, even if it's for $5 -- there's just no point. No, gaming doesn't have that certain "magical" wonder about it that it did when I was spelunking around Ocarina of Time's caves, but it matters not to me now; I have fun with Halo and the occasional round of NBA Live or some other "casual" game. And that's enough.

To sum up this lengthy ass post, I think that as you mature, your tastes shift as well, and gaming holds a different place -- but not necessarily less important -- in your overall life.

[ReaXan]

Basically I first started off in 88 with the purchase of the NES system. I played then until the Christmas of 92 when my dad got us a Super Nintendo. I was lucky to get 3 new games a year since my dad had low income after my mom died of cancer.

I played the NES and SNES and would rent games at the local grocery store every other weekend. I was one of those kids who didnt have a Nintendo Power and I usually picked a game by its box and they usually turned out to be kinda crappy.Id rent stuff like Jaws,Rambo,Friday the 13th,Tag Team Wrestling for NES, some of the worst titles out there. I would also rent stuff like Battletanks,Judge Dredd for SNES. When I got older I realized I miss out on too many gems, and by that time it was too late

I picked up a Genesis in the summer of 1995 and played Sonic,Evander Holyfield boxing.There were a few good games I rented but I can't remember them off the top of my head.I was even lucky to get a 32X for Christmas of that year with Virtual Fighter. The 32x broke but I didnt care because I could really never find games for the thing.

In Christmas 96 I got a Playstation with MK Trilogy and rented a few games here and there.

My mass addiction to video games didnt start until I picked up Resident Evil 2 for the PS2. It was so amazing at the time that it blew the SNES out of the water. I eventually became a big PS fanboy.

Since PSONe games were so expensive I decided that I wanted to get a chance to play systems from my past that were too expensive for my dad to buy. I eventually got my hands on the Jaguar and 3DO, but the games were almost impossible to find for them. Luckily the Jaguar I got had some of the best games for the system for it.I also managed to get a Sega CD and the Sega Nomad. The system I wanted badly was the CDI, but I am glad I didnt ever get it.

I eventually traded my PS1 and my collection of 10 games and steering wheel for a Dreamcast. The one time I didnt get ripped off by Funcoland and played that for a good 2 years until I got into computers.

I forgot how got rid of the Dreamcast but I eventually picked up a Cube just to play the Resident Evil games. I would buy one and then return it. I had 3 Cubes that I owned for less than a month.

I got a PS2, but couldnt get into it, so I sold that and played computer games again.

Now in 2008, and for most of 07 besides Gears of War I havent really played video games that much in general.

I am thinking of getting a PS3 to enjoy from my time off from college this summer, but I am still not sure, they are hard to find cheap on ebay

[FrakAttack]

My advice? Pack up your stuff, and wait for the bug to hit again. DO NOT JUST SELL OFF YOUR STUFF, especially to EB/Gamestop.

Yeah, what he said. Made the same mistake in the mid '90s and here's me today...:frustrated:

[Meltd0wn]

I agree that if your getting bored then just pack up and store the games and systems. better safe than sorry.

I'm 43 and even though there have been times where there were no really interesting games for a short time, I still never lost the video game bug. even now when raising two kids makes time scarce, I still find time play my DS, even if its just for a few mintues while waiting to pick kids up from school, or on breaks. lol I guess I am just a fanatic. heh heh

[mailman187666]

I see that you mentioned Call of Duty 4 where you realized you weren't interested. See for me, I don't get sick of videogames as a whole, I get sick of oversaturation of certain genres (such as FPSs). I haven't bought an actual FPS since Quake 4 for the 360. I'm just tired of them and don't feel like I'm getting anything new with them. I mean yeah there is online play and all that, it just doesn't interest me. RPGs of any sort (turn based, tactical, action) as what I've been playing lately. Its those damn Atlus games, also, that keep me interested too because so many of them feel refreshing because they are so different. Just don't play games all the time, wait till you feel you are in the mood. I know I don't get as excited for new games as I did when I was younger, but I do get excited for flea market trips and still enjoy a lot of new releases they come out with.

[DiabolicalAdvocate]

I'm 26 and I have to echo what a lot of others have already said; I think part of the problem is that, as an adult, games are easily attainable for most. When you have a stack of games that is taller than you are, your attention span tends to suffer because the minute a game frustrates you or turns you off in the slightest, you stop playing. When you're a kid, you have to make the most out of what games you get, so you look at them with a less critical eye. That's why when you go back to play "classics" you used to enjoy, they very rarely live up to your memories of them.

The other thing I find is that the more you own and experience, the more you find that a lot of the games coming out now are generic and have been done to death.

Take breaks. I was totally out of the hobby during most of high school and there are huge gaps in my gaming history. I remember playing Maximum Carnage, Streets of Rage 2 and Super Street Fighter 2 TO DEATH on my Genesis. Then I sold my system and all of the games, and played NOTHING until I obtained a used PSX in order to play Metal Gear Solid in 2000. That's a huge gap. Then I bought a PS2 shortly after it launched in order to get MGS 2 and I picked up all the GTA's, and up until a couple of years ago, that was it. Now I've acquired a ton of PS2 games I missed over the years, on top of buying a 360 and PS3.

Don't force yourself to play when you don't feel like it. I sometimes don't touch anything for weeks. Just because your interest wanes, doesn't mean you don't love gaming and if DEFINITELY doesn't mean you should get rid of your stuff. If gaming has been a big part of your life, chances are you'll get the fever again, and when you do you'll only regret getting rid of what you had. You don't need to play 4 hours a day in order to be a gamer; treat it casually. And don't look for "the magic" because when you chase it, you'll never catch it. Just enjoy games for what they are, and when you least expect it, that one game will come around that will knock your socs off.

[smokehouse]

I'm with the lacking variety camp...anymore most anticipated games are just either remakes or game 20 in a series that started 10+ years ago...

What's going on right now?

Metal Gear
Mario
Gran Turismo
Ninja Gaiden
FPS #1000

Personally, I don't like FPS titles so I'm already out on a large majority of the market. It's just the same crap but with new graphics and some nifty added features...welcome to Madden but in a different way. Same games but slightly improved and with a different setting (WWII, WWI, space, the future, the past, etc)...

Other than that we get rehashed franchises time and time again.

I was really looking forward to the Wii but it is in stand still right now with only a few trickle titles worth looking into...

But at least my old stuff is still fun...

[James8BitStar]

Ins't there something to be said for the availability of games in one's life? For many years now I have accumulated high-quality PC games with the vague idea that Some Day I shall get around to playing them, whereas in my younger years I had to make every game last as long as possible and usually did. Perhaps something about having so many options available cheapens the apparent value of each of them individually.

To quote your avatar: You Have Spoken a Truism!

I did a lot of experiments on myself and basically came to the same conclusion--when I'm at a distant relative's house and I only have one game, you can bet I'll be not only playing it but be addicted as well. But when I'm at home and in my "room of doom" I can't seem to focus on one game for more than a few hours, at most.

"Buying with the intention of playing later" is actually kind of counter-productive, because what happens is that those games you haven't payed yet get in your mind, getting it in a hurry to get through THIS game so you can play THAT one. Thus the game you're currently playing becomes a chore, because in the back of your mind you're thinking "I wish I could hurry up and beat this game so I could play all those OTHER games..."

It's almost enough to make me want to give up my "life's mission" (not that I don't have more than one by this point) and just sell half my gaming library. I did exactly that with my overlarge sci-fi/fantasy book collection and somehow its easier to stay interested when you only have ten books as opposed to 100.

...

That being said, I think another issue is fandom. Fandoms have a way of ruining everything, even if they are on the whole positive experiences. Enjoyment of a show or a game tends to become more about analysis, examination, than actually you know sitting back and enjoying the thing. And the opinions and trivia you accumulate take up so much mental real-estate that something has to be thrown out, and that something is usually your sense of excitement and wonder at the game itself.

Actually I've written an article for another forum which I think illustrates the point just fine. I'll post it in the Off-Topic section.

[kaedesdisciple]

I did a lot of experiments on myself and basically came to the same conclusion--when I'm at a distant relative's house and I only have one game, you can bet I'll be not only playing it but be addicted as well. But when I'm at home and in my "room of doom" I can't seem to focus on one game for more than a few hours, at most.


I have to agree with this statement. I am in the process of moving, so almost all of my stuff is packed up in boxes at the new apartment waiting for me to go through and catalog it. I kept my PSP out of the box, but all of my games are in it. I happened to leave Castlevania in the PSP. I had no intention of finishing this game (call me crazy I know), but since it was the only game left in my PSP I've been playing the hell out of it. I've been pulling my hair out finding all the maidens in Rondo, using every character in Symphony and it's been great fun. Definitely made me think of the old days.

[rkotm]

Ive had this problem off and on, i mean i was huge into gaming from 93 to 2001, but after that i would play a game, beat it, and found another in the same genre. then i'd get bored and not play for a few months. Its been a rut ive gotten into, but with the PSP and its homebrew, ive been replaying NES and SNES games.

The thing about modern gaming now is too much choice, high prices, and not enough connection to what we've been used to. Whether thats the graphic style(2d, overhead), music(the quality has DECLINED severely in recent years), or the games' systems they were on. Game systems are coming out faster than they used to. SNES lasted 91-97, and even longer in Japan. We're lucky to even get a system to last 4 years. I hope 2d and overhead games never die. The DS and PSP(homebrew anyway on PSP) are keeping some fraction of us "old school" gamers around. I wish gaming today wouldnt be so "hollywood involved" and FPS or GTA-clone bound.

On topic, ive gotten myself into a "game by game" frame of mind. One game at a time, and try as soon as possible to get into another one(whether its the same genre or game company or whatever), or the gap will widen and i'll stop playing again.

[VitaminX]

I ask this to alot of the people who are from the NES generation, I apologize if it has been done before but I wanted to get 2008 opinions.

I basically realized on Super Bowl Night when a group of kids were playing COD4 on the 360 with a projection screen that my love of video games has almost came to an end.

I'm 26 from the heart of the NES generation. If all I was to see or hear a bunch of kids or me personally playing COD4 on a "projection screen" my love of gaming would come to an end too. You need to make your gaming a little bit more personal than that. Projection screens are $Hit for gaming anyway. Whether your using a monitor or TV, 26"-32" is ideal. I Played the great S.T.A.L.K.E.R the other week on a $2000.00 42" monitor, it was crap, 50" unplayable. Yup, far better on the 24"- 26" LCD monitor in an atmospheric room.

As for downloading ROMS or buying pirates?. Your taking the romance out of collecting & killing the appreciation of buying a good game, or rare gem that will never be enjoyed.



I'm with the lacking variety camp...anymore most anticipated games are just either remakes or game 20 in a series that started 10+ years ago...

What's going on right now?

Metal Gear
Mario
Gran Turismo
Ninja Gaiden
FPS #1000


Nice to see you listing some of the greatest games of all time. Metal Gear Solid (PS1) revolutionised a genre, Gran Turismo revolutionised a genre, Super Mario Galaxy<<< Argubaly the greatest platformer ever made, Ninja Gaiden/Ninja Gaiden Black better games for XBOX, FPS #1000< Would that be Crysis or S.T.AL.K.E.R? Either way, I'm finding S.T.AL.K.E.R., Bioshock overall to be better games than the Half Life series. Apples & oranges. Remakes or not, it seems to me developers keep pushing the boundaries. You ask why didn't MGS 2 or MGS 3 top Metal Gear Solid? Because the PS1 version was gaming perfection. You can't top perfection. Early Crash bandicoot (PS1) will never be topped, not on the PS3 or PS4 or generations thereafter. You will realise this playing the very first level of Crash 1. Early Tony Hawks 1,2,3,4 (PS1) will never be topped. You can't top them games in the series especially when games like this are released around the height of ones gaming enjoyment, from whatever year or time that maybe.


Personally, I don't like FPS titles so I'm already out on a large majority of the market. It's just the same crap but with new graphics and some nifty added features...welcome to Madden but in a different way. Same games but slightly improved and with a different setting (WWII, WWI, space, the future, the past, etc)...

Other than that we get rehashed franchises time and time again.

I was really looking forward to the Wii but it is in stand still right now with only a few trickle titles worth looking into...

But at least my old stuff is still fun...

What are you actually expecting here???.. With every title released, your looking for something to revolutionise a genre?. Sorry, ain't gonna happen, the mind can only be so broad. The greatest gaming minds ever can't always bring new ideas to the table. If you have Wii, you will surely have the greatest platformer of all time for it, BUT don't expect in a months time for another platformer release to top that, it just don't work that way. You would get more repect if you was a developer yourself, easy as hell being a critic. You go out and develop a game that will top Super Mario Galaxy & you will see just how much work goes into these titles. Ones mind can only be so broad with new ideas.

Of course your old stuff is fun. Its been played out, tested & rated. Have you managed to play your way through all the old stuff?. Surely your going to find other titles you will enjoy from years gone by via the use of different systems. Personally speaking, I'm yet too get 100% in the entire Crash series or complete an entire an Tony Hawks game, so here I am, trying to achieve something most gamers didn't. Anybody's dimished love for gaming can always be rekindled. What them guys need to do is: back off gaming, all the while keep themselves updated via the net/magazines etc to what great titles are being released, research legendary titles for specific consoles of yesteryear & childhood, start collecting them titles (eBay, Car boots, Markets etc), dump the girlfriend, wife & kids, set your room to have a great gaming atmosphere, GO BACK TO OLD SKOOL & over time your enthusiasm will be rebuilt.

Added to that, I think some gamers who lose enthusiasm fail to relate to the characters & connect to the world a game presents & they realise the journey is fiction & getting to the end doesn't contribute anything constructive to there real world environment.

[ghostangelofcky]

It comes and goes for me,

But never sell

[ReaXan]

just wanting to get some more opinions

[SpaceHarrier]

I've been hoarding games since the Dreamcast days and I've yet to get to those earliest "rainy day" grabs. I've experienced the gaming lull 3 times in my life.

1st: 13 years old, 1993. Took up comic books and card collecting. Then DKC and Doom hit (1994/5); back in.

2nd: 21 years old, 2001. Girls. I still supported a PS2 and Gamecube, but not too heavily. In 2005 I suddenly felt the urge to go catch-up crazy and collected numerous games across all platforms that I own, as well as adding several systems.

3rd: 28 years old, right now. Other than Super Mario Galaxy, nothing from the current gen (aside from handhelds) seems to interest me. THAT IS NOT to say that I somehow believe there are not any good games out there. They just don't grab me, that's all. Oddly, I've become fascinated with fashion this time. I am becoming a denim whore.


Many of the games I purchase now are quick "pick up and play" games, such as shmups or music games. I find that now I buy games and they hardly hold my attention for a couple hours before getting relegated to the pile. I still have an interest, but I find it hard to justify more purchases when I lack the attention span. I enjoy watching other people play games more than play them myself. I read about games 10 times more than I play. I've realized that this is a pattern in my life, and surely I'll snap out of it again in the future. I try to change my buying habits accordingly, only purchasing games I know have good replay value -- for whenever I snap out of this haze.


Broaden your horizons when it comes to your hobbies. Try something new. But don't forget where you came from, gaming will always be a part of you.

[geneshifter]

I'm 33 and I just so happen to be getting more and more disinterested in current-gen games. I just realized this after purchasing Fallout 3 and GoW2. One minute I'll boot up the 360 and within 2 minutes realize I have no desire to play anything. I will play these games still but only in 30min to 1hr increments. That seems to be the only amount of time I can stand them.

Like others, I went through a phase where I didn't play much. However, for me it was right after the NES. I never bought a SNES, 32X, Saturn or Dreamcast. I just skipped right over them due to my chasing girls.

In college, the PS1 brought me back. Played many many games on that system. I also bought a N64 for Mario and Zelda.

Then, I got disinterested again and I didn't buy a PS2 until I saw Guitar Hero and had to have it. I never owned a Xbox 1.

Now, I have Wii and 360. I have more games on my Wii than the 360 but I like both. Like others, I play a lot of virtual console and arcade games. I just like the older games better, no question. There are some great games but I am suddenly finding myself coming to the point again where I may take a break from gaming the next gen.

It's the down cycle :(

[Slate]

I'm 17 now and am experiencing this. I find that I'm not interested in Rock Band near as much as I was two months ago, I'm only interested in playing it if I sing and play an instrument at the same time. This is probably due to the fact that I'm getting better at playing a real guitar and it is more entertaining to me than playing Rock Band guitar. Also, Mirror's Edge doesn't interest me near as much as I thought it would because at times it makes me mad and if it weren't for Fallout 3 and Left 4 Dead I probably wouldn't be playing anything now.

[Oobgarm]

Do I feel like I'm losing interest? Absolutely. I posted a very similar topic back in 2003.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16000

And honestly, I still feel it. There are a few games here and there that I get excited for, but on the whole, most of the modern stuff doesn't really 'do it for me' anymore.

Take this Holiday(November-Christmas) for example. Of the umpteen titles that are being or have been released, I have a huge interest in 4 of them. Castlevania Order of Eccelsia, Need for Speed Undercover, Midnight Club L.A. and WoW. There are maybe 4 others I wouldn't mind trying out, but I'm not going to lose any sleep or yearn for them if I don't get that opportunity. Contrast that to the heyday of the PS2 back in 2000-2001, when I had a hard time counting the number of games I (really, truly) wanted with both hands.

Thing of it is, I still feel a little out-of-touch, and maybe that my interest isn't as high as it once was. I'm sure money does play a part in my feelings, as I've not spent as much in the past. But that money I do spend, I'm making sure they're games that I am going to like one way or another. Even if it does turn out to be a dud, it's in a series I like, so I'm not blindly buying stuff just to buy it.

Thing is, the magic is still there, I just look for it in classic games or titles I can pick up for a quick fix if I don't have a lot of time. Loss of interest in modern gaming happens to a lot of folks. There are a good number of members here that aren't into the new stuff, and that's fine, since they've got their titles that hold gaming magic for them.

[Rob2600]

Many of the games I purchase now are quick "pick up and play" games, such as shmups or music games.

Same here. Years ago, I enjoyed long quests like Dragon Warrior, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario RPG, and Ocarina of Time. Now, I'd rather play Pinball Hall of Fame, World of Goo, Dr. Mario, Marble Mania, or even old games like Star Fox 64 or Ms. Pac-Man. They feel more like games to me, instead of interactive movies.

[ReaXan]

I think I, along with a majority of people here , have sold off games and systems because they got tired of them, yet they hunger to play them 2 or 3 years later and wish they still had them.

I thought giving old game systems to relatives helped, but they even end up loosing them or trading them off, so that is not a great compromise in the longrun.

There is also the issues of keeping it at grandma's house for safe keeping, but you then realize your like 30 years old coming over to to play and not 10 years old, it looks sorta stupid and creepy.

I have an XBox I picked up with 15 games and its sat in my closet with really no inclination to want to play it. I don't want to sell it, but I dont want just to sit in the closet either. I also worry about not using it for a long period of time then magically not work when I am ready to finally sit down and play.

Its a mess, but I am sure I will figure out something once this college semester is over.

[SegaAges]

Just stop playing and if it's really something you like, I guarantee at some point later in life when you've had your fill of responsibilities you're going to be all in the "After a long absence, I'm rediscovering my love for gaming" stage we alway see. LOL

*points to himself and picks up a controller

About a year or so ago, I was getting deeply involved in bad stuff. I stepped away from games. I got out of my rut, and to help me out, I went back to games.

I say do what you have to do. Don't sell anything, and you will either come back and love it, or never look again, and then sell it.

[Xander]

I tend to think you should never force yourself to play games.

If you don't feel like playing games, do something else. It doesn't matter if you don't play for months or years. It's a hobby, it's not supposed to be an effort, it's supposed to be fun.

But you shouldn't sell, the chances that you will regret it later are extremely high. You shouldn't buy just for buying either tho.

[otaku]

Yeah I've never forced myself to play or at least not for long. Gaming is still magical for me maybe not as much as it was when I was a preteen/teenager but thats because I had friends that were diehard gamers then to (not so much now) and everything is more magical when your younger

[j_factor]

Gaming's magic ended on January 31, 2001. ;)

[titanzguard]

Personally my feeling towards the situation is similar, but different...

I am 26 and have been playing games since I was about 6 or 7. I have owned every console atleast once(From NES - on). I have hit dry spots when other things preoccupied my time and I wouldnt play for a year or so but have always been into games.

Currently I love games. I love surfing forums, reading about games, anticipating and getting the latest games and just talking to friends about games. But when it comes time to play... I just get bored fast. Earlier this year I got my PS3 and played it non stop for 3 months, couldnt get enough. As the year progressed I played less and less due to summer weather, working on my house and my son getting older(He just turned 1). As the year got closer to the holiday season my interest peaked again because of all the great titles coming out. But I notice once I get them, my interest dies fast. I understand things take me away from games but I find the fun in games anymore to be just collecting them and talking about them. I have friends that play all the time and while at work all I can think about when getting home sometimes is playing all night long - but when the time comes ill play for about an hour or so and just turn it off.

I guess in closing I understand where your coming from but I do still have that love for games but just cant seem to stay connected to games much anymore. Maybe its the lack of variety or just my age showing. Either way, stick with it, the bug will come around and hit you again at some point!

[ReaXan]

I have dealt with this again lately at age 29, wondering if anyone else is going through this as I saw this video on youtube recently

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxBiOa-3IiI&feature=plcp

[buzz_n64]

I was at that point a while ago. I still kept on collecting even after I didn't feel like playing anymore. I'm now even at that point where my interest in collecting has gone away, and that was over a year ago. I also hate that I can't get into them anymore since I have already devoted so much time, effort, and knowledge into it. I hope that I won't begin to start hating even talking about video games.

[marlowe221]

I'm 30. I don't know that I am losing interest per se. For me it's more that my focus is changing as time goes on.

There was a time, a few years ago, I was only playing the "latest and greatest" games. If it wasn't brand spanking new I wasn't interested. I was really only playing on PS3 and Xbox 360. I was playing action games, FPS games, with the odd sandbox rpg thrown in.

Now, I find myself playing games in 3 categories:

1. PC
2. Retro (16-bit era is my wheelhouse)
3. 3DS

My PS3 went YLOD on me. But I had not touched the thing for a good six months before that happened. Hell, even when it went YLOD I was watching a DVD, not playing a game. I can't be bothered to run out and buy another one.

Now I find myself playing strategy and RPG games on PC, Genesis/SNES games, and retro-style games on the 3DS. That's pretty much it. The last game I bought was Ultima 7 from GoG. That's right, I've been spending my evenings playing a 20 year old 2D rpg with jerky animation and I have been loving it.

It's funny how taste changes.

[lakerstowin]

I agree that if your getting bored then just pack up and store the games and systems. better safe than sorry.

I'm 43 and even though there have been times where there were no really interesting games for a short time, I still never lost the video game bug. even now when raising two kids makes time scarce, I still find time play my DS, even if its just for a few mintues while waiting to pick kids up from school, or on breaks. lol I guess I am just a fanatic. heh heh




Same as you, but I am a stay at home dad with two girls. I may have more time then you do.

[BetaWolf47]

I have also hit that "coming of age" period. I thought it was just me! For me, it's mostly my interests expanding. I know play trading card games, watch anime, play a little pool, and go to work, in addition to playing video games. I will always be a gamer, but I'm getting to that point where I'm weeding out games from my collection that I know I'll never play.

[RCM]

I don't play traditional games as much as I used-- and I actually work in the industry. I'm away from home 12-14 hours per day and my career is my highest priority. I have an undying love for videogames, but they're the eighth or ninth thing on my priority list during my fairly limited free time.

It occurred to me recently that I've played Jetpack Joyride for iPhone more than any other game in the past decade, yet I continue to get games and systems. I'll game until I die, but I wish I had more time to enjoy myself. I miss getting lost in a game for hours and not giving a fuck about anything else.

[Graham Mitchell]

I'll game until I die, but I wish I had more time to enjoy myself. I miss getting lost in a game for hours and not giving a fuck about anything else.

I'll second this. Medical school officially killed my ability to play anything in depth for about 4 years (though I did manage to squeeze in metal gear solid 3 and shadow of the colossus during that time).

Now we're getting ready to have a kid and I'm worried I'll lose all that "me time" again. Working 48-60 hours a week means i dont get that much of it anyway.

But, life is the priority, and I'm sure the worst of it won't last forever. The best thing, of course, will be that my kid enjoys games so we can do it together. If he does, he/she will be one lucky kid, cuz I've got a LOT of games ;)

[kupomogli]

Whenever you run out of MP. Or atleast whenever it's low enough that you can't cast another spell.

[Red Warrior]

Whenever you run out of MP. Or atleast whenever it's low enough that you can't cast another spell.

I'll admit that I laughed at this.

[Space-Ace-13]

Thats a tough situation. I'm 24 also and have been playing games my whole life. I still play a lot, but lately it takes either me being bored or finding a really great game that I don't want to stop playing. I wouldn't say I've lost my love for video games at all, there are just a lot of other things you could be doing now instead which are also a lot of fun. If you dont like it at all then you cant do anything about it... in the long run that will just save you some time and money to put elsewhere... you cant force yourself to like video games again if you truly lost it. I would say just keep the games you enjoy playing and buy the ones that interest you... and play when you have the time. If you get back into it big time then great and if you just completely fall out of it then so be it.

[YoshiM]

For me the magic hasn't ended, it's just that I'm not overly interested in what's being pumped out these days. Recently I've shifted to more indie games for something different and have found titles that bring back the retro flavah or introduce me to a complete experience, be it philosophical or emotional. "Experiences" rather than being a game was a concept I used to loathe. When done right, it's pretty dang powerful and worth the time. My mind lights up like a Christmas tree as I traipse through the grounds of "Dear Esther", taking in the narrative and then piecing things together on my own while hypothesizing what else all happened on the island.

@Graham Mitchell: if your kid loves games, you are going to be in for a treat. My daughter's interest in most things Mario has gotten me to replay Mario 64 and push for more stars in Galaxy. Granted for now she just watches and fiddles with whatever controller is in reach but it's just that experience that makes it grand. Then when they try to play by themselves-that's a treat. It's almost like going back in time.

[Graham Mitchell]

@Graham Mitchell: if your kid loves games, you are going to be in for a treat. My daughter's interest in most things Mario has gotten me to replay Mario 64 and push for more stars in Galaxy. Granted for now she just watches and fiddles with whatever controller is in reach but it's just that experience that makes it grand. Then when they try to play by themselves-that's a treat. It's almost like going back in time.

I can't wait for that! I'll probably be able to reexperience many classics that he/she/it has never seen.

[BricatSegaFan]

Like most have said already, it's fps garbage being mass produced these days. I was about to quit gaming all together but then I got into classic gaming/collecting.

[NayusDante]

There are two ways to look at this problem. First, you could experience this as a response to the market. Second, this is probably a natural result of aging. Personally, I think that these are two distinct problems.

The solution to the market problem is simple - you need to look into alternative genres. There's more variety now than there ever has been. Sifting through it is difficult, but it's not that different from being a kid at the video store trying to pick a game for the weekend. Ignore the big releases and have some fun with the smaller publishers or the independent PC releases.

The other problem is brought about by aging, but I think it's completely normal. You're not going to enjoy sitting around and killing time with video games like you did when you were 10 because you have other things on your mind. When you're young, you don't have a "real world" to worry about, so it's easy to find meaning and belonging in virtual worlds. Now, your need for that kind of stimulation is fulfilled by obligations. If you're in your 20s and still spend all of your non-work and non-school time playing video games, I would be concerned.

The biggest barrier for me is starting. I have games that I want to play, but I don't actually play them when I have the time. Usually my excuse is that I'm too tired, but when I make myself focus on eliminating that game from my backlog, it's not long before I'm close to that goal. That's when I remember that gaming is fun. It's not something to stress over, it's not a lifestyle, it's not an obligation. You are not achieving anything by playing video games, you are only stimulating your own mind for personal enjoyment.

Of course, it also helps to take a break from collecting. Collecting definitely leads to stress and "backlog anxiety." It's easy to focus on 10 games. It's hard to focus on 300.

[Aussie2B]

I think I've gone full circle in terms of variety being exciting. Once in a great while something fresh and new comes out like Katamari Damacy that's awesome, but, for the most part, I've already dabbled in just about every genre that holds any appeal to me and it's like "...Now what?" The day that Nintendo Power convinced me to buy Chrono Trigger, the first RPG I bought myself and the first time I really stepped out of my gaming comfort zones, was a huge turning point for me. I fell in love with RPGs and over the years explored more and more genres I had been ignoring. But now, as I collect every RPG I can get my paws on, I realize that platformers, my gaming bread and butter and my primary childhood focus before I expanded into RPGs and beyond, are still the most satisfying of gaming experiences for me. I don't see anything really changing, I'm still going to obsess over RPGs and look into all sorts of genres, but I think I have a better idea of what to turn to to rejuvenate myself when I feel like the "magic" in gaming is waning.