Can't Handle a Challenge Anymore?

[James8BitStar]

Hey guys, I had something I wanted your opinion on.

For the last coupla years I had a problem. Basically any time a game gets too hard for me, I turn it off.

Example, just now I was playing Ecco the Dolphin, and got to this part where you have to move some stone-eater stars past an octopus. Octopus killed me and I just turned the game off.

That's a usual example. I keep playing until I die once or twice, then I turn it off regardless of how many extra lives/continues I have.

I'm wondering, do you think this is a sign that I can't take a challenge, or simply that I'm not that interested?

Thanks.

[natinh0]

Think that you are simply not interested, try to boot some other games,and as we are speaking i´m playing my imported Whip Rush for Mega Drive,looks dated alot but VERY funny, what other games are you playing?


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff143/natinh0/RGF.jpg

[Nophix]

When we were young, we had the time and patience to work through those areas. Now, as an adult with work obligations, wife, children, and family running, I find myself finishing a lot fewer games.

[G-Boobie]

It's not a 'sign'. I do that too, with certain willful exceptions.

For me, it's a time, gaming backlog and relaxation thing. I have very little time for gaming nowadays, so when I hit a wall in a game that frustrates me or seems unfair, I lose interest in continuing.

The frustration part of that equation is the key, though. If I'm enjoying the experience even if I'm being challenged(Ikaruga, Nocturne, Virtua Fighter), then I'll keep playing.

[SpyHunter]

I know I don't have the same patience that I did when I was younger. I almost never play games anymore that have to played all the through in one sitting, unless it can be done in half an hour or so. If a game is too frustrating, it probably won't get played again.

[James8BitStar]

what other games are you playing?

Other games I've had problems with:

Bard's Tale--got to last dungeon then just quit.
Wasteland--couldn't get off the ground
Adventure Island II--Played this one several times but never beat it.
TMNT IV--Got my butt handed to me by Metalhead and just quit.

Though oddly it happens a lot with Console RPGs as well, but in that case its not so much "they're too challenging" as it is that I just lose interest.

In my case, I don't have a wife or child to use as a scapegoat. I have a job, but I can't use that as an excuse. Maybe I've just got issues but I see my recent behavior as a sign of weakness.

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

Regardless of whether you have a family or a job that's taking your attention, I think as adults our thought processes are just more complicated than when we were a kids, so it's harder to get into that "zone" of playing a game where your dedication to getting better can overcome the frustration that make "getting better" possible. i find that sometimes I can get into that zone and other times I can't, even with the same game and the same challenge.

Is that a weakness? Maybe so, but there's more significant weaknesses in my personality that I need to deal with first (and that realization is part of the "more complicated thought processes" thing).


...word is bondage...

[Viraneth]

Nah.

Some games are just too arduous or boring, or end up turning to a total crapfest before the end.
Like Final Fantasy VII
Any Frogger ever
Every 3D Sonic (past adventure 2) and Pac-Man game
Shenmue ( I do not have the 300+ hours to beat that damn game XD)
Ninja Gaiden III on the NES was just way too difficult. I spent a month trying to beat a rom I had in an emulator on my pc. And failed.
Also, Castlevania. I usually only play for 5 minutes before trying to kill myself out of frustration XD

[natinh0]

You should try some Arcade port Games

[Poofta!]

When we were young, we had the time and patience to work through those areas. Now, as an adult with work obligations, wife, children, and family running, I find myself finishing a lot fewer games.

i agree, i dont have time or patience or will to put up with some of hte bullshit in video games these days. if a game is fun, captivating, story driven then great, ill play it. but fuck me if im gonna sit in front and try to beat the same freaking pixel-monster for 20 minutes. im glad games matured as we did. i can barely play anything from the nes anymore.

[James8BitStar]

im glad games matured as we did.

They HAVE?

Disregarding our opinions on maturity for a moment, I tend to have the "I can't be f***ed to play this" problem more with post-PS1 games than I do with anything on the NES, SNES, or Genny. A frustrating challenge is one thing, but being forced to sit through FMVs and a Tutorial is usually the thrill-killer.

[Viraneth]

Here here.

Tutorials are boring. Give me a pop up telling me what does what, and I'll be on my way.

And as for FMVs, there aren't many that can beat Orphen or Xenosaga in length and number, or beat Smash Bros Brawl's useless ones.

[Volcanon]

If you are emulating, why not just use save states to save when you dont feel like playing a game like Ninja Gaiden 3 that has to be finished in one sitting - and then why not just use save states to get past the parts where the game is 'cheap'?

[Viraneth]

Because to me, using save states to get past it is cheap. :D

[GarrettCRW]

Hey guys, I had something I wanted your opinion on.

For the last coupla years I had a problem. Basically any time a game gets too hard for me, I turn it off.

Example, just now I was playing Ecco the Dolphin, and got to this part where you have to move some stone-eater stars past an octopus. Octopus killed me and I just turned the game off.

That's a usual example. I keep playing until I die once or twice, then I turn it off regardless of how many extra lives/continues I have.

I'm wondering, do you think this is a sign that I can't take a challenge, or simply that I'm not that interested?

Thanks.

You lack testicular fortitude.



Yes, it's a joke, and a reference to Hillary Clinton, at that.

[GaijinPunch]

I think it's kind of sad given that newer games are way easier than older ones on the whole. I play a lot of arcade games now, which are pretty hard to begin with. When I put on a console game that's "hard", I generally laugh as it's all just a matter of getting good from one check point to another. When I crank up my PCBs, it's all about practice and perfect play from start to finish. I've been playing Crackdown... such a hard cracker. I've gotten up to 4-1 on a single credit, and it hands my ass to me.

BTW, I have a 15 month old son, and consider myself amongst the "busiest" of gamers. A lot of my gaming time is set aside to add shit to gamengai, which means even less playing. Even so, I strive to get good at the games I play, and actively update my 1 credit clear (http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?p=28010#28010) list over at shmups. A must for any retro game player.

[Viraneth]

I think it's kind of sad given that newer games are way easier than older ones on the whole. I play a lot of arcade games now, which are pretty hard to begin with. When I put on a console game that's "hard", I generally laugh as it's all just a matter of getting good from one check point to another. When I crank up my PCBs, it's all about practice and perfect play from start to finish. I've been playing Crackdown... such a hard cracker. I've gotten up to 4-1 on a single credit, and it hands my ass to me.

BTW, I have a 15 month old son, and consider myself amongst the "busiest" of gamers. A lot of my gaming time is set aside to add shit to gamengai, which means even less playing. Even so, I strive to get good at the games I play, and actively update my 1 credit clear (http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?p=28010#28010) list over at shmups. A must for any retro game player.

I totally agree. I have trouble getting through Super Mario Bros. (The non-story driven one) and Donkey Kong, but last level of halo 3 with 12 skulls? no problem. A good hour or two game time. Donkey Kong the original: that'll take awhile.

[scooby105]

I usually pass on a handful of games as well now. I also have no patience for crappy games anymore. I have a very minimal amount of time to play games, and I needto not get frustrated when I play.

[Viraneth]

Yeah. I disagree when a lot of people say games like Gears of War or Super Smash Bros. Brawl are "the best game evahr." When, they are fun, but just not challenging. The most challenging game recently is Ninja Gaiden.

[gepeto]

Well I can totally understand. I remember playing revenge of shinobi until my eyes hurt. I use to play hard. Ms pacman all of them. I believe with all that we got going maybe our attention span isn't as long. The information age is a blessing and curse. I can't remember the last time I read a newspaper from end to end in years.

Another good point made is when we were little we only could afford that 1 or 2 games and we would play them to death now older our attention gets pulled away quickly with more to choose.

I love watching kids play the modern games and beat them. I have a whole bunch of games I hope one day to beat. i just sit back and enjoy.

[The 1 2 P]

When I get tired of dying I'll go play something else. But I usually come back to the game. However, this can be in a few days or next year. I also turn games off when they start to bore me, no matter how easy they are. If a game has a great story line that keeps me interested along with nice gameplay--I usually stay on that game until the very end.

As for your initial inquirey, I don't mind challenges at all and I've been gaming for 25 plus years. But there are certain types of challenges(Ninja Gaiden on Nes and Xbox, Contra on PS2, Shinobi on PS2) that get real annoying real fast.

[Viraneth]

Yeah. Gran Turismo is another game that just gets boring.

[Berserker]

I know exactly what you're talking about, as I had something similar.

Don't look at it as a sign of weakness, I think that's giving it too much stock. It's more like a bad habit; a kind of annoying reflex-action that's developed over the years from having ready access to a shitton of games.

The trick to breaking it is actually as simple as catching yourself midway through doing it, realizing that you don't really want to switch off the game, and sticking with it. Do it enough times and eventually 'sticking with it' becomes more the habit you tend towards. I've found way more enjoyment from my games after sorta realizing this.

[otaku]

I think life is to blame I'm not even getting started in life yet really but already gaming is a challenge to find time for especially challenging stuff. It can take me some time to finish a game or a part of a game. Sometimes turning it off and coming back later (months even years later) can help.

[James8BitStar]

Berserker you've made the best post yet so far. I'll train myself into that habit.

As a sort of corallory I actually went back to Ecco after posting this and tried that area again (I'm using an actual Genesis BTW, not an emulator) and this time managed it easily.

gepeto: Yeah I agree that people today have NO attention span. I'm trying to train myself out of that too. So many bad behaviors, like having multiple browser windows open because there's so much I want to look at. Damn the internet.

[boatofcar]

I agree with Berserker--this habit is directly proportional to the number of games you have. Since I sold off most of my games, I'm far less likely to quit playing a game just to move on to the next one.

[prismra]

Berserker you've made the best post yet so far. I'll train myself into that habit.

As a sort of corallory I actually went back to Ecco after posting this and tried that area again (I'm using an actual Genesis BTW, not an emulator) and this time managed it easily.


Don't forget to account for "gamer fatigue". If I am getting my shit ruined over and over it usually means I am tired. You start rushing and making mistakes. I find that if I can take a break then I can come back and kick ass.

[FlufflePuff]

I've had similar problems. The only thing that seems to get my attention like when I was young is if I'm pursuing a particular achievement point. I swear I'm addicted to them and they are ruining gaming for me. I don't want to play games on other systems without the built in recognition system. Grr....I hate you Microsoft.

[Haoie]

That's just like me.

Once a new game gets too hard, I just stop.

Maybe some months later I'll pick it back up. But usually it just gets forgotten.