Lost interest in Video Games ;(

[Sebastian]

I remember reading a thread on this forum about a year ago about how people sell stuff on ebay and write something like “lost interest in gaming selling off my collection”. Most of us back then were wondering how something like that can happened…. or if it is even possible. I mean we all love games, we wouldn’t be on this forum if we didn’t. So if you have a hobby and you like it, how can you just STOP to like it. I myself love games… but honestly I start to feel like the guy from ebay :( - I really do.

Games just aren’t the same anymore, and I’m not trying to say that games 10 years ago were better. I’m saying that ALL GAMES new and old just aren’t the same games to me. I sit down with one of my favourite games of all time – and it just doesn’t give me the fun it used to. While playing something new often feels more like a chore than pleasure. Few years ago games were really fun and exciting to me… starting a new game was an adventure… challenging levels were fun for the challenge of it. Now learning a new game is boring… easy levels are also boring because they are too easy – while harder levels instead of giving me the pleasure of challenge – nowadays only annoy the hell out of me.

I often find myself buying new games as well as new hardware (such as systems, pads, controllers) to FIND something that will bring back the old gamer in me – the gamer from the year 2000 … but it didn’t happened yet.

I’m not trying to say I’m more mature than you guys or anything like that. For the last 5 years the joy of video games slowly vanished from my system. This is actually very sad for me – and hard to admit to myself or anyone… but I am really on the edge of quitting gaming altogether which has always been one of my favourite pastimes .

Is there anyone here who feels or ever felt like this? Is there some hope of going back to enjoying gamming?
:(

[Blanka789]

Don't worry, the Revolution is coming, and Nintendo will ressurect the gaming world.

[smokehouse]

It happens, people change. (what I’m about to type next is no joke, I’m being serious). When I was a kid I was REALLY into Lego. I spent quite a bit of money on them and had a serious amount of time “playing” with them. One day (around 6th grade) I was building something and it happened. Like a loud SNAP I just lost interest. I sold my stuff and never looked back. Since then I picked up a few things like the Star Wars stuff but for the most part, I couldn’t care less. I’m not saying that things are childish because a hobby is a hobby be it video games, toy collecting, model building or deer hunting, it doesn’t matter. It seems you just lost interest, you didn’t evolve or change, it just got old. Give it some time and if you don’t feel the urge to game anymore, don’t. Hell, who knows, 10 years later you get back into it.

In a way I can’t stand current games, I keep to older systems and it suits me fine. You may want to try that.

[Kid Ice]

Is there anyone here who feels or ever felt like this? Is there some hope of going back to enjoying gamming?
:(

This happened to me once, and here's what I did: I put all my systems and games in boxes. I put some stuff in the closet in my bedroom and some in my closet. And then I went on with life.

About a month later I got a jones for Madden, so I got out the Playstation and bought the latest Madden. After the Madden sessions started to wind down, I started playing Colony Wars and Castlevania. Then the Dreamcast came out. Then the 3DO came out. Then everything else came out.

So, my suggestion is put yourself to the test. Just stop playing, pack up your games, and stay away from the boards for a while. Kinda the "if you love something, set it free" philosophy.

The way I look at it, there was already a time in life I got out of games (late high school/early college). Nothing is saying it can't happen again, so if it does, no biggie. It tends to come back with a vengeance!

[Cmosfm]

I personally think that if you just "lose all interest" one day, you never were a true gamer in the first place. Are you sure you weren't just playing because all your friends were? Just buying new systems for "cool factor"? I just can't imagine that your heart was 100% into gaming in the first place if you've just lost all interest in it now.

As a long time gamer, since when I was 6 to this very day, I can never see myself losing complete interest in gaming. Just not possible, I love it too much.

[jdc]

Box it all up and put it away for awhile before you sell it all and regret it. Or box everything up with the exception of one system and a few games and live with that for awhile. Take it away from yourself without selling it. If you are ever ready to pick up video gaming again, it will all be there in boxes for you.

Maybe you haven't lost interest....you've just pigged out on gaming and don't feel the need to indulge right now.

[evil_genius]

I lost interest in games when I was in high school. I was just having fun doing other things most of the time, i.e. getting stoned and trying to get girls to fuck me. I played Ocarina of Time in 8th grade, and for the rest of my high school life I only played GTA games when they came out and occasionaly my NES. Now I am back at it and discovering games that are older but new to me.

Then again, I was never REALLY into gaming when I was young. I loved it of course, but my parents wouldn't buy me all the new systems and shit, and I was a little too young to work, so now I feed my inner child.

[mario2butts]

I can sympathize with the original poster here. I'd have to agree with the other responses: don't sell it all, just pack it up and stay away fro it for a while. These things happen, don't worry too much about it. In fact the same thing happened to me about a year ago... i packed everything up, then found myself bringing it all out again a few months later.

[Jumpman Jr.]

Its a tough thing to go through, I'm sure. Unless your looking to get some money, its a tough call on whether or not you should sell it or not. Because, what happens if you sell it all, and then you really want it back?
I can't see myself ever getting out of gaming. But if I did, what I would do is most likely sell all of my stuff exept for the games that I truly enjoy playing.

[Zing]

I have had this feeling about several other hobbies I have had. I actually sold off my PC back in 1996 and went computerless for 6 months. I just had no interest in it at all. I couldn't imagine being computerless now.

It happened with Magic: The Gathering about a year ago. I had spent 3 years augmenting my original collection (started in 1994) and buying all the old cards I had always wanted. I played a lot, had ultra-refined winning decks, and suddenly I just burnt out. It just was not fun. After a month or so I sold off my entire collection on Ebay (I raked in thousands of dollars) and haven't had the urge to play since.

[boatofcar]

Is there anyone here who feels or ever felt like this? Is there some hope of going back to enjoying gamming?
:(

This happened to me once, and here's what I did: I put all my systems and games in boxes. I put some stuff in the closet in my bedroom and some in my closet. And then I went on with life.

About a month later I got a jones for Madden, so I got out the Playstation and bought the latest Madden. After the Madden sessions started to wind down, I started playing Colony Wars and Castlevania. Then the Dreamcast came out. Then the 3DO came out. Then everything else came out.

So, my suggestion is put yourself to the test. Just stop playing, pack up your games, and stay away from the boards for a while. Kinda the "if you love something, set it free" philosophy.

The way I look at it, there was already a time in life I got out of games (late high school/early college). Nothing is saying it can't happen again, so if it does, no biggie. It tends to come back with a vengeance!

Man Kid Ice, you hit it on the head this time. I feel exactly the same way.

[VG_Maniac]

I always fear that I might loose interest in video games someday. However, I don't think this will ever happen. Video games have been a huge part of my life since I was 5, and I feel like I'm more into gaming now then I ever have been before.

[swlovinist]

As time passes, so do people. You can still be a hardcore game lover and not own a single game. The way I play games now is very different than the way I played when I grew up. I am married now and have responsibilities. I have a 50 hour job, and I like to do things outside of gaming. Lately, I too have had my "game fill", but really it is just a yearning for something different. I have a whole game room of games, and all I want to do as of late is play online games such as Anarchy Online and Knight Online. I think it is healthy to take a break from collecting and playing now and then. I agree with others on this post. Take a break and then see if you miss it.

[RJ]

When I was a kid I was REALLY into Lego. I spent quite a bit of money on them and had a serious amount of time “playing” with them.

OMG... :eek 2:
When I first started reading the topic I thought EXACTLY the same thing!

I had tons of sets, all mixed together in a big box, & later a suitcase. I was so into them I kept "special pieces" (gears, antennae, radar dishes, etc) in a separate smaller box. I even made my own instructions for some of my inventions so I could build them later. I stayed up many a late weekend night building stuff.

Then it suddenly hit me...one time I dumped them all out, & I COULDNT build anything. It's like something had sucked the imagination right outta me. I didnt understand it- but I accepted it. I kept them as I figured my siblings (& me someday) would have kids who'd play w/ them.

I got back into them again years later- I still have some of those castle sets in my closet.

[Howie6925]

Life moves faster now then it did 10 years ago, dont quit 100% just take a break. You'll get back into it after a while. I quit 100% 5 years ago I had no systems and kept 3 playstation games I swore I would never get rid of, then one day I was going through an old box in my closet and found the games and it sparked my interest in gaming. Now I have more games then I know what to do with some are still in the wrapper, my biggest enemy in gaming is time.

[Slimedog]

Take a break and don't do anything rash. If you want to dig them out in a month or a year, you can. If a year or two goes by and you find another passion, maybe sell the collection then. Its not like the value will go down over time. I've got a friend who is prone to rash decisions and he sold his collection on a whim. Now I spend most weekends with him buying it back piece by piece.

[EricRyan34]

Thats sad, its ok though it happens to lots of us. You will be interested again soon when the new systems come out

[alec006]

In 2000 i kind of stopped with video games because of Pokemon and Those Cards,great times LOL ,but when Xbox came out,i was back to my old self.

[Sebastian]

Well I wrote....

For the last 5 years the joy of video games slowly vanished from my system.
...and this smart guy decided to reply...

I personally think that if you just "lose all interest" one day, you never were a true gamer in the first place.
heh @_@ thanks for reading carefully dude

As for the rest of you guys - thanks for the help. I think that is exactly what I am going to do. I'll just pack my stuff up, stop visiting the forums/sites - just cut myself off. If I feel the urge to come back I will ... if i don't oh well

Either way I'm not going to sell stuff - I mean... I'll never get the $$$ value of what this stuff means to me, so even if keeping it just as reminders of the past - i'll might just do that... OR I might find myself wanting to play again in 5 years or mayby 5 months :-D

Thanks all...

[Goblin]

I'm in a cycle right now, where I guess you can say I've lost interest. It's not that I don't care about games any more, I just don't have a free moment to play them. Between work, and 2 graduate classes I've got no free time. With the few precious hours of downtime I have, I decided to focus on a number of other hobbies I've been neglecting for quite some time. I figure I'll spend my time and money on them for a while.

Now I'm not tossing my collection or anything like that, but I have sold some items I'm not using using and don't really plan to. This helps free up money for other things.

Everything in life is cyclical. Like others have said box the stuff up and walk away. If 6 months from now you haven't thought about them, then consider selling some. Then after another 6 months, if you still haven't regained any interest sell the rest and move on.

[XYXZYZ]

I think I'm getting the same way with Japanese animation. I started collecting anime in 1991 or thereabouts, did the "die hard otaku" thing in the early 90s, moved on to general animation collector (still am) and I've been going at it so thoroughly I'm afraid I'm finally burnt out. It just doesn't have the unique thrill it once gave me 15 years ago. I really hope to have that feeling again, I miss it... :(

[unbroken]

yea i recomend just packing up everything also. im kind of doing that right now, its working pretty good. though, i have started selling off part of my collection but keeping the essentials (complete earthbound,ff3,ff2..ect). i packed up most everything except my xbox, eventually im gonna try to only keep one system out at a time.

[Joker T]

Take a break from gaming and do some of the things you wanted to do. You will come back to gaming don't give up on it yet.

[RetroYoungen]

I've lost interest in gaming a couple of times, never went so far as to sell everything off and try to get something out of a lost hobby or anything (hell, I lost my real interest in comics quite some time ago and I still have those comics) but I did leave DP and actively playing and collecting for a few months.

Don't sell all of your stuff unless you honestly think you'd never get back into it. I don't know much of anything that I can recommend that hasn't already been said, take a break from the hobby and take care of whatever it is you need to (work, school, kids, whatever), then come back to it when you feel that itch creeping up again.

Of you could just plug in Ikaruga or NiGHTS Into Dreams or something, and find yourself enthralled once again. ;)

[Slave to the Parasites]

IWhen I was a kid I was REALLY into Lego. I spent quite a bit of money on them and had a serious amount of time “playing” with them. One day (around 6th grade) I was building something and it happened. Like a loud SNAP I just lost interest. I sold my stuff and never looked back.


It is hormonal, I think. The testosterone kicked in.

I did the same thing with GIJoe. I used to play with my Joe's for hours everyday. But one day around 6th grade, I was playing with my Joe's and suddenly it hit me, like a hammer to the head, all of the sudden I didn't want to play anymore. There was no magic. I was no longer fascinated with them. It was like I was brought to a higher level of consciousness. From then on, all I wanted to do was steal, screw, and kill. That's when my interest in gaming grew. I found that I could live my fantasys through games. Through video games I got to kill thousands of men, drop bombs on major cities, win the Daytona 500, blow up the Death Star, and flirt with the 8 year-old girl with the teddy bear that walked around in RPG towns without adult supervision and not go to prison for it. :evil: I got to live life like a real man, without the consequences. Back then I wanted my games to be as tough as nails. I wanted something to push me so that I could push back twice as hard. I knew I was the best and I wanted to prove it.

Now I'm 31, my testosterone has been in decline since I was 17 and just not getting off on the challenge so much anymore. Besides, I've been there and done all of that. I need something new to bring me back to gaming. I think the Revolution is just what I need.

[Anthony1]

IWhen I was a kid I was REALLY into Lego. I spent quite a bit of money on them and had a serious amount of time “playing” with them. One day (around 6th grade) I was building something and it happened. Like a loud SNAP I just lost interest. I sold my stuff and never looked back.


It is hormonal, I think. The testosterone kicked in.

I did the same thing with GIJoe. I used to play with my Joe's for hours everyday. But one day around 6th grade, I was playing with my Joe's and suddenly it hit me, like a hammer to the head, all of the sudden I didn't want to play anymore. There was no magic. I was no longer fascinated with them. It was like I was brought to a higher level of consciousness. From then on, all I wanted to do was steal, screw, and kill. That's when my interest in gaming grew. I found that I could live my fantasys through games. Through video games I got to kill thousands of men, drop bombs on major cities, win the Daytona 500, blow up the Death Star, and flirt with the 8 year-old girl with the teddy bear that walked around in RPG towns without adult supervision and not go to prison for it. :evil: I got to live life like a real man, without the consequences. Back then I wanted my games to be as tough as nails. I wanted something to push me so that I could push back twice as hard. I knew I was the best and I wanted to prove it.

Now I'm 31, my testosterone has been in decline since I was 17 and just not getting off on the challenge so much anymore. Besides, I've been there and done all of that. I need something new to bring me back to gaming. I think the Revolution is just what I need.




I sincerely hope you are being sarcastic with some of that crap.

[kevin_psx]

Is there anyone here who feels or ever felt like this? Is there some hope of going back to enjoying gamming?
:(

I feel the same but did not quit. Just spread my wings across multiple hobbies. It helps to have many hobbies not just one
- movies
- books
- model cars
- games

[zerohero]

Happens to everyone as you can see,

I lost interest in the 8th grade, life got busy with grades, sports and girlfriends. Strangly enough I had friends who were into it though and one day my friend brought this game that I didn't play since I was a kid. It was LoZ Lttp. I started reading his game manual in class then next thing you know..... can I borrow it?

Then In High School my gaming fell out as a freshman. I didn't have a job at the time so buying games was hard. Pops started giving me and my sis a little money and one day I him to buy this game while at funco. It was called Metal Gear Soild. All I can say is that is was memories I will never forget. I scored a job my sophmore year and gaming was seriously one then. From Oot to Grandia, you name it I was playing it. I remember sitting in class while being bord reading gaming magazines. Staying home "sick" to play Sillent Hill, GTA VC and Grandia. Ah the memories.

So what I have basically learned is that it comes and goes with the amount of time you have and the intrest. Gaming is like any other hobby and I'm sure you have more than one. Save those games cause if I would have sold my copy of "Crash N the Gang Street Challeng " I would be slapping myself today!

[Nelstone 3000]

Long story short: I've collected for about fifteen years. I was married for six years (with her for nine), and never got to display my entire gaming collection. I got divorced, boxed up all of my games, and lived with a friend for eight months. I got my own place, and I finally was able to display my glorious collection. Every game collectors dream, right?

Yet, something wasn't right. I had all of these key titles for virtually every system, hundreds of them, gracing my walls. Every game I had ever wanted. Rare stuff, too: Rez, Suikoden 2, Earthbound, Chiller, et al. But I wasn't happy. Wasn't this supposed to make me happy? I asked myself, what's going on? I'm a single man now, free to find happiness in life without managing a relationship. What gives?

I came to the realization that I was trying to define who I was and acquire happiness through my video game collection. It was a cycle: believe I want and need a title, seek the title with the anticipation of getting it and being happy, get it, putting it in the collection, and then look for the next one. Wash, rinse, repeat.

I started to feel surrounded by my collection, overwhelmed. The more I looked around, the more I realized that I had no interest in almost every game I had acquired. I became aware that most of the games were acquired because they were "the best for the system" or "rare", and not because I would actually play them.

So, as my fiend Slimedog pointed out, I sold my collection. Granted, I sometime make rash decisions (like that Mary Kate and Ashley tattoo on my ass... hoo, boy), but selling my collection was not one of them. I realized that to honestly know who I am, I had to make a break with what I was and see what was left. I faced the truth of what I was doing in my life: trying to define myself via material acquisition and attemting to achieve happiness based on what I "had".

I ended up selling 85% of my collection. But here's the other side to "selling the collection": I paid off over $1,000 in debts from my married years, bought a futon for friends to sleep on when they stay over, bought tickets to the see the Red Sox play the Devil Rays during my vacation (tonight, as a matter of fact... GO SOX!), and purchase both MST3k Volumes 1 through 7 and Red Dwarf Series 1,2 and 3, which I had not had the money for in the past.

I was also able to do something that I had always wanted to: thank my friends for their years of friendship in a special way. Not needing to sell everything, as I had knocked out a lot of debt, I gave gifts such as my boxed Virtual Boy with seven or so games to one friend, Rez and piles of games to another friend *cough*Slimedog*cough* :p , a PS2 and CvS2 to a friend that is a Street Fighter enthusiast but couldn't afford a system, and many more. In doing so, I felt happiness truer and deeper then getting a green-tagged game at TRU.

I also discovered something else: I still like playing video games. Admist the chaos of the non-stop acquisition mindset, I had lost sight of the fact that I actually enjoy playing these things. I used to buy and buy and buy, thinking that I'll get them now, be happy with getting them, and have a huuuge backlog to play them later. It never worked out that way.

In the end, I kept almost every system, only getting rid of the hundreds of excess games. All of my old-school stuff (NES, SNES, etc) is actually hooked up now and played regularly. I kept all of the games that I enjoy. I do regret a few, but I can get them again. They're all out there.

Short story long: this what cathartic, and what I needed in my life. And, I'm still a gamer.

[zerohero]

One thing to remember that was mentioned by the above poster is to only buy the ones your really gonna play and are interested in playing for extend periods of time. Don't jump on the hype wagon like lots of people do.

[Sebastian]

yea i have a lot of games that i just bought just cuz someone told me they were great or the price seemed rite...or another excuse that we all (well at least most of us) use.

Do u guys think i should sell all that extra stuff and just keep the things I really want to PLAY?

Or should i just wait a year or so to see if my hobby hype comes back? and for now pack things up in boxes or something :-/

I mean i can always sell it later rite?

[xghstst0riesx]

I say good for you Sebastian. There are far more productive ways to spend you time.

[zerohero]

yea i have a lot of games that i just bought just cuz someone told me they were great or the price seemed rite...or another excuse that we all (well at least most of us) use.

Do u guys think i should sell all that extra stuff and just keep the things I really want to PLAY?

Or should i just wait a year or so to see if my hobby hype comes back? and for now pack things up in boxes or something :-/

I mean i can always sell it later rite?

Sell of the games you don't care about unless they are rare.

[FlufflePuff]

I was slowly losing interest in my games collection at the start of this year. A combination of lack of funds and my own maniacal collector mentallity (still haven't played 5/6ths of my collection) kind of burnt me out. Then I discovered World of Warcraft and my interest was rekindled. Now, Im not buying that many classic games these days, but Im still slowly augmenting my collections, most notably my NES collection. When my WoW interest fades Im sure I will be more financially secure and my desire to play my games again will take me back to the promised land.

[Slave to the Parasites]

I sincerely hope you are being sarcastic with some of that crap.

"RISE FROM YOUR GRAVE"

UNDEAD - those that have nothing to live for and nothing to die for. They eat brains because "it eases the pain".

"BRAAAAINNNSSSS"

As Duke Nukem would say: "Come Get Some"

[Jasoco]

It happens, people change. (what I’m about to type next is no joke, I’m being serious). When I was a kid I was REALLY into Lego. I spent quite a bit of money on them and had a serious amount of time “playing�? with them. One day (around 6th grade) I was building something and it happened. Like a loud SNAP I just lost interest.I was gonna post the same exact thing! I was a Lego master. I loved them so much. Then one day, I just lost interest. In fact, same thing happened to my collecting hobby last year. I just don't get the same rush from collecting games I used to. And I don't think it'll come back. Just like I doubt I'll ever get into Legos again, even if it meant working at Lego themselves. (Which I had always dreamed would be my job some day when I thought I'd be a Legoman forever.)

[zerohero]

Yea I was really into lego's. It was something about being able to creat your own world or civilization from scratch that apealed to me. Like the other's said , one day I just boxed them all up and never took them out again. Then my younger cousin came down as got really into them , so I passed down the tradition to him. Now that he's 14 or 15 I think he doesn't play with them anymore. I do wan't the Star Wars edition to them, as well as some old sets, but I'm not willing to spend a whole bunch of money on them.

[kevin_psx]

I got my own place, and I finally was able to display my glorious collection. Every game collectors dream, right?

Yet, something wasn't right. I had all of these key titles fbut I wasn't happy. Wasn't this supposed to make me happy? I asked myself, what's going on? I'm a single man now, free to find happiness in life without managing a relationship. What gives?

I came to the realization that I was trying to define who I was and acquire happiness through my video game collection.


Ditto! I collected Star Trek & other vids but they just collected dust, and I wasn't happy. Now I sold off nearly everything and own <5 movies and <10 games.


TV ads teach us that happiness comes from buying but that's a lie. Happiness comes from our relationships, both with our selves (simply enjoying being alive) and our friends. Materialism does the opposite - sucks the money & lifeblood from your body.

[Ulticron]

I would call it burnout. You may have very well pushed the love of your hobby to far. I did this with another hobby of mine. I was a big fan of Transformers. I hung out at a board, talked about it all the time, bought every new figure that came out, religiously watched every new series, and even imported a great deal of figures from Japan. Ultimately I killed my interest in the hobby because I got to deep into it to quickly.

You may be able to get your love of video games back if you haven't pushed yourself to far. You need a few things, first a good cooling off period where you just relax, live life and let your stuff collect some dust. Then when you feel ready, and it may take up to 3 months to feel ready, come back slowly, play something fun. Also pick up a friend that's into this too, someone you can talk to on a regular basis. Whether they be in real life or on AIM. It adds a little spice to have someone to compete with when your collecting games.

I hope you can rekindle your love of video games, because I know how it feels to lose interest in something you've put alot of time and effort in.

[Crazycarl]

i dont think i will ever lose intrist in my games, but there are times that i just don't have the time. With school, and work, and having a g/f it's hard to get gaming in, but i try.

[junglehunter]

I've gotten to the point within the past few months where the love of gaming is gone, as with a few others who have replied in this thread.

I simply feel as though I have no time for it, and all of the money I've spent has been wasted on pretty much nothing. Granted I don't have that large of a collection, but it's the principle of the entire thing. I can see myself later in life being happier, maybe with a family, and a lot less material possessions. I used to think so much of them but things have changed.

I've got other things to tide my time when the games are gone. I have a fond love for anything music, I am much closer with my family now, I'm generally looking into everything the future has to offer whether that be good or bad. I plan to go into secondary school of some sort, get more educated, meet someone, get a career and maybe in the years ahead I'll have much more money to play with. And hell, when that time comes maybe I'll be back into the hobby. It's not like games are ever going to leave the world.

So for now I'm going to sell my collection. Make back most or all of the money I ever spent on it. I know for sure I'd be a happier man seeing that money going into saving or my future.

:)

[hu6800]

I remember reading a thread on this forum about a year ago about how people sell stuff on ebay and write something like “lost interest in gaming selling off my collection”. Most of us back then were wondering how something like that can happened…. or if it is even possible. I mean we all love games, we wouldn’t be on this forum if we didn’t. So if you have a hobby and you like it, how can you just STOP to like it. I myself love games… but honestly I start to feel like the guy from ebay :( - I really do.

Games just aren’t the same anymore, and I’m not trying to say that games 10 years ago were better. I’m saying that ALL GAMES new and old just aren’t the same games to me. I sit down with one of my favourite games of all time – and it just doesn’t give me the fun it used to. While playing something new often feels more like a chore than pleasure. Few years ago games were really fun and exciting to me… starting a new game was an adventure… challenging levels were fun for the challenge of it. Now learning a new game is boring… easy levels are also boring because they are too easy – while harder levels instead of giving me the pleasure of challenge – nowadays only annoy the hell out of me.

I often find myself buying new games as well as new hardware (such as systems, pads, controllers) to FIND something that will bring back the old gamer in me – the gamer from the year 2000 … but it didn’t happened yet.

I’m not trying to say I’m more mature than you guys or anything like that. For the last 5 years the joy of video games slowly vanished from my system. This is actually very sad for me – and hard to admit to myself or anyone… but I am really on the edge of quitting gaming altogether which has always been one of my favourite pastimes .

Is there anyone here who feels or ever felt like this? Is there some hope of going back to enjoying gamming?
:(


Ive been buying, trading , selling ,playing games for over 2 decades sir, ive lost intrest so many times its retarded.
But here i am (still) playing (not so much trading or selling anymore) but i consider being a hardcore gamer a way of life.
Do you know how many times i had peers mock me
for buying a new game? "Thats for kids" and whatnot...

Believe me , thier are worse things you can be involved in.
I can make a movie about my gaming life story and it would
be a doozy.


Ive also been riding bmx bikes for 2 decades and still do.
ON AND OFF i keep saying "Im getting tired of it, or im getting too old" but like i said before It's a way of life.
I have 7 grand invested in my bikes, it's not cheap.
And it REALLY hurts when you fall or crash on concrete
trying to learn tailwhip jumps.
As many breaks as i take from riding , i always find myself at the park riding again and the same goes for gaming.
You sell off stuff, stop buying , stop playing and do other things but sooner or later it's back in the saddle again lol.

[Jasoco]

I had that feeling once. I think about slimming down my collection every day. If only to make room for my new hobby of collecting Video Game related trinkets instead of games themselves. I hope you put a lot of thought into it. If it doesn't make you happy anymore, go ahead. But just make sure you won't regret it later on.

I ran out of collecting steam a few months into my PlayStation phase. Eventually I realized I really didn't want to collect PSX games let alone any games. So now I have a whole bunch of PSX games sitting on my shelf lonely staring at me. They'd be the first to go if and when I do "thin the ranks" if you will. I already have it all planned out and I know I wouldn't get anywhere near what I paid for it, but at this point it's just space waiting to be reclaimed.

[mr_pollock]

I think one of the problems is that many DPers are 200% video games. They live video games so much that they burn themselves out on video games.

I personally have a great passion for books, music, movies, and school. Video games are fun too, but I don't place them above other things in my life.

I am most passionate about books (Tolkien to be specific) and I think books... I think books are a better form of art than video games.

I can understand how a person can get burnt out on video games and stuff, but I don't ever really see that happening to me because I am not focusing 150% on any of my hobbies/interests at any one point.

[shapeshifter421]

One thing to remember that was mentioned by the above poster is to only buy the ones your really gonna play and are interested in playing for extend periods of time. Don't jump on the hype wagon like lots of people do.

That was a great post. Finding a Stadium Events for 5 dollars at a flea market is awesome, but if someone pays 1000 dollars for one on Ebay just so they can try to complete the collection, are they really trying to complete a collection, or complete something in themselves???

I went through this phase, I had moved away from my home town and was living with a woman who I thought would make all my problems go away. She didn't, between her and myself, my problems got worse. And I turned to video game addiction, I put myself in debt, mostly buying them to try and fill this hole inside of myself. Now she is gone, I'm still trying to get my finances back in order, and most of that collection is gone.

I only keep games I love playing, and I actually enjoy it now, sometimes I still catch myself wanting to buy everything I see, but I manage to stop myself, I really don't need a complete copy of Top Gun Second Mission, I'll never play it.

Just put everything aside for a few months, go back to some of the games you really love, and if the joy doesn't return, start selling the games you don't play (I'm pretty sure you won't miss something like Operation Wolf :) ) Maybe you will find something else you really enjoy

oh, and to those who love to tell people they aren't 'True Gamers' just because they have feelings like this, maybe you are the ones needing to look in the mirror. This isn't a contest, if it angers you that someone else might lose the obession, maybe you're the one needing to fill the hole inside you

[davepesc]

*looks over at dusty coin, comic, sports card and Magic the Gathering collections*

If you are not happy collecting or playing games any more, it's time to get out. Either sell or pack everything up and hold on to it "just in case."

[Rogmeister]

The one time I totally lost interest...perhaps bored with gaming is a better term...was years ago when Atari was still around. My last system was the 7800...at one point I just thought "Is this all there is?" and I put it away. Then someone told me Big Lots had 7800 games for a buck each so I went, picked up some and pulled my system out. Soon after, I decided to get my first new system in over 5 years and I got the SNES and that rekindled my interest and I've been gaming since.

That doesn't say I don't still get tired of gaming...it happens once in awhile. I have found I don't need to be gaming every single day...I have other interests from photography to movies to music to (of course) my cats. I'm actually planning on getting rid of some of my games and consoles...but certainly not all of them. I figure if I haven't played a system in 5 or more years now, it's safe to get rid of it.

[Kamino]

wah wah, another sob story wish me luck thread.
cya sucker.

[kevin_psx]

cold



One hobby of which I never tire is viewing beautiful, naked women.

LOL

[The Manimal]

i own a lot of games, but it's funny. i haven't played NES in probably a year now, and that's my favorite system. instead, i've been playing Genesis games for the past couple months and that's a system I never played much. I only really buy games I would want to play (which is good), but I'm not necessarily in the mood for them. But when that time comes, they're there. LOL

[kedawa]

I don't think I ever completely stopped playing games.
I've gone for months, even years without listening to music or watching tv, but I've never gone more than a few weeks without playing some type of game.

There have been several times when I lost interest in new games and just played whatever I had laying around.
For example, when Ocarina of Time was released, it was the first new game I'd bought for about two years. I bought an N64 just for that game, and after that I started buying about one new game every month or two.

I think my interest in gaming is still pretty strong, but I don't feel the need to own every new system, or every game in my favourite series.
I'm pretty happy just having a good selection of quality games to play.

[Jasoco]

There was a small time when I was big into Legos but didn't have interest in games. Somewhere between either the NES and SNES or the SNES and N64. Can't remember. But thankfully I got over that one pretty quick.

[kentuckyfried]

I used to be an avid video game player, collector, connesseur. Now years later, my collection is virtually non-existent, and I have a PSP I play roms on during my daily commute.

What I do now is I sometimes help my friend sell video games at his booth at the local weekend market.
And I tell you, nothing is more satisfying to an old gamer than helping someone find the name to that game that they loved or recommending an excellent title.

Try writing reviews for games or something equally interesting and not directly video gaming itself.

[n8littlefield]

I lost interest for awhile last year. I think it was mostly because nothing really jumped at me as new or unique. My DS really brought me back into gaming. I think that one of the problems with being a long time gamer is a severe case of "been there, done that" with 99% of the games today. It's only when games like Katamari or Trauma Center come along that I really get excited anymore. Or when I find an NES game I've been looking for :)

[christhegamer]

happened to me many times; find another hobbie until you're ready. For me, it's D&D :)

[retrocollectorguy]

I think its the problom im going through right now. Video games do not interest me as much as they did a few years ago. Its gotten to the point where im planning on selling my collection. Strangely, I have noticed what look like several long time collectors with large collections sell out lately so im glad im not wierd or anything.

How long is it typical for people to collect before they want to sell out?

[kupomogli]

I talk about games on forums more than I play them nowdays. Not nearly as interested in playing as I once was.

[RPG_Fanatic]

My problem is finding time to play. Working 12 hours and living with my girlfriend I just don't have the time anymore, but I do find a little time here and there.

[retrocollectorguy]

Not having enough time is definatly one of the main reasons.

[Mathius]

I personally think that if you just "lose all interest" one day, you never were a true gamer in the first place. Are you sure you weren't just playing because all your friends were? Just buying new systems for "cool factor"? I just can't imagine that your heart was 100% into gaming in the first place if you've just lost all interest in it now.

That's pretty harsh judgment to give there. It happens to a lot of life-long die-hard gamers, like myself. Try to be a bit more understanding next time.

[VG_Maniac]

Wow, this thread looks very familiar. Oh yeah, I posted in it almost 4 years ago. Talk about nostalgia. Anyway, I go through periods where I don't feel like playing any video games for awhile...but I've never lost interest in them. I always find myself getting back in a video game mood.

[Bloodreign]

That's funny, I never have lost interest in gaming, I'll play something to death, then get an interest in something else I have, plus I always get more. I go in rotation with games with what little free time I do have, but the interest never wanes, just increases the older I get.

[Sonicwolf]

I go through periods where I don't feel like playing any video games for awhile...but I've never lost interest in them. I always find myself getting back in a video game mood.


I get the same way. Its like a cycle. For me, I usually go through about 4-5 months of constant video game playing, I lose interest totally for about 2 - 3 months and start playing again, refreshed. When Im in that rut, which I am right now, its hard to even justify getting out a game console. Its like every game I pick up is boring before I put it on the tv.

[Berserker]

I get the same way. Its like a cycle. For me, I usually go through about 4-5 months of constant video game playing, I lose interest totally for about 2 - 3 months and start playing again, refreshed. When Im in that rut, which I am right now, its hard to even justify getting out a game console. Its like every game I pick up is boring before I put it on the tv.

Yeah, it's like that for me too - it works in cycles. It's to the point now where I just don't even think about it. So when it's "OFF" I just put it down and don't think about it; I don't force myself to love gaming when I don't feel like messing with it, because that just makes the crash even harder. And then later (like currently) it picks up again.

[guitargary75]

Wii bowling is a chore?

[guitargary75]

That's funny, I never have lost interest in gaming, I'll play something to death, then get an interest in something else I have, plus I always get more. I go in rotation with games with what little free time I do have, but the interest never wanes, just increases the older I get.

I agree!

[namzep]

I have to admit that, except for my arcade games, I really haven't been in the mood for playing many games lately. I seem to get in these funks and hope that I'll actually snap out of it and finish up some of the new games that I've gotten over the last little bit.

[Pezcore343]

Don't worry, the Revolution is coming, and Nintendo will ressurect the gaming world.

Man it sure is interesting seeing a quote like this knowing what we know now. So glad these threads don't get cleared out.

[skad]

I had gotten that way myself. All my old consoles were put away, and I wasn't even playing the new stuff. I picked up Fallout 3, and it was good, but I felt like I was slogging through it. It felt like more of a chore then something I was enjoying.
Then I picked up a Dreamcast and some games for cheap at the local dirt mall. Now I already had a Dreamcast put away and collecting dust, but this one had some games I had wanted to play for it, and it was cheap enough that I could pick it up without feeling guilty.
Now I've pulled out my old systems again, and am having fun again. Found Panzer Dragoon for my Saturn for cheap, and I'm loving it.

[PentiumMMX]

To date, I have only lost interest once. I figured I'd go over it now.

Back in 2001, I eagerly awaited the release of the Gamecube; to the point I was begging my parents to buy it for me. I had already finished every game I owned for my N64 and Game Boy (Back then, my collections for both was tiny; only 4 N64 games and 4 GB games), and I wanted to move onto the next big thing. However, they saw the system as being too expensive, and refused to buy it for me. The denial of getting a Gamecube, let alone a Game Boy Advance, combined with the fact I had already finished every game I owned for my N64 and Game Boy led me to losing interest.

Everything was a been there, done that for me; I had already unlocked every last thing in Diddy Kong Racing except for TT, had gotten so good at Mario Kart 64 that it was now boring to me, and played through Zelda: Link's Awakening multiple times to the point I had the entire game memorized, among a few others. There was nothing left to do, so my N64 and Game Boy collected dust as I began to move on with other things (Such as pouring hours into Cartoon Orbit; an online game at Cartoon Network's website that involved collecting digital trading cards. Trust me, it was as stupid as it sounds).

However, interest started to come back when I was given both a Game Boy Color and a copy of Super Smash Bros. for my N64. Now, I was able to access the color dungeon on Link's Awakening DX, and my N64 was dusted off as I began to play with it again. Eventually, I saw the good side of not getting a Gamecube; N64 games where rapidly going down in price, so I was able to scoop up some of my favorite games fairly cheap along with some games I never got a chance to play, like Donkey Kong 64.

I've been gaming ever since then, and have a much larger collection with more systems.

[Rickstilwell1]

My interest in video games has never really gone away, but the amount of time I spend gaming changes around, as well as what kinds of games I am into. Sometimes I'll have a platformer kick, sometimes I'll be into RPGs. Other times I'll be into looking back at the past and looking for old systems I still don't have. Sometimes I will enjoy using emulators to play older games and other times I will hate it.

One time when I was new to them and thought emulators were so cool that I thought my older games were unneccesary, I sold many of them. But then I got sick of emulation and bought back from ebay whatever old games I sold.

I don't regret that because it bought me the laptop I used to win plenty of ebay auctions for game items I didn't have before. I just know that if I want something badly, from now on I will get it with fresh money.

I also decided after that point, if I ever lose interest in playing certain games again I will just pack them up and save them for later.

[Malon_Forever]

I also decided after that point, if I ever lose interest in playing certain games again I will just pack them up and save them for later.

That's how I feel about anything. I just hate getting rid of anything I have. I usually just end up keeping....well everything. :D

[darkslime]

Lately I have been in this rut where I don't want to play any games at all, except occasionally with friends or my DS/PSP when I'm waiting line for something, yet I continue to buy games constantly. I go looking for games almost everyday. I justify this by saying I am just buying them cheap to resell so I can have some extra cash, but the majority of the games I buy I end up keeping.

I sit on the computer and talk to people about games on internet forums more than I play games. >_>

[izarate]

Lately I've been wondering not about selling my collection and stop gaming althogether but about when I'm going to stop collecting. I've thought about that really hard and I've come to the conclusion that maybe this will be the last generation for me. Not because I'm getting old but because I won't have enough time to play all of them. I have almost 800 games for 15+ systems but I've barely beaten 20% of them.

Of course, I'd still work towards completing my wish-list which would put me at around 1500 games (considering an average of 80 for each platform), but I won't be adding any more games once this generation ends or so is my intent.

[RASK1904]

The lul in video games is in the summer! Theres way cooler things going on outside! Just try to make it through it and come october/november you'll be all excited about it again. Don't do anything rash. Go out to the beach meet some ladies get layed and when it starts raining you can come back and all your games will be still be there. So you can cozy up with your new girly from the summer and play some classic games you haven't played for a whole summer. Thanxgiving and x-mas is the crazy video game season. Go enjoy life! Leave the games at home.