I got my first computer when I was just 4, a Commodore 64 with R-Type and Rainbow Islands among others. Who could really ask for more than that. Over the following years I had a variety of systems until I hit the mother load. My favourite gaming platform of all time was my PS1 which came with a copy of Soul Blade which I practically played to death. For me, gaming has never again reached the peak of enjoyment which I had at this moment (though it may have had more to do with me being 12 or so and having plenty of time to spend playing). I have had other platforms over the years since of all shapes and sizes but looking back on it I must ask the question now; why don't I enjoy gaming any more?
i don't think this has been a overnight change in me, I look back many years and I can see the change. I just don't get that buzz any more. I have tried to put a finger on it but I can't.
I started thinking that maybe I was bored of the buzz around games so I cancelled my magazines, deleted my bookmarks, left my clan and started reading no games news at all (including N4G) and I have been at this for over a month. However, in this month I have sold my PSP and my PS3 has been switched on just twice, in each case for less than 30mins. Even without the hype then I still don't care.
I think maybe the reason is that I am sick of the never ending challenge of it all. I used to play to relax but now I find myself playing just to finish games. There is no fun, little satisfaction or feeling of achievement, just a need to move on and justify the expense before shuffling off to the next game which a legion of half brain dead critics and fanboys swear is the best thing ever made before telling me the same of something else in 2 weeks.
Games have become a little bit unsatisfying in my opinion, we spend hours pouring over and discussing the latest big event be it a video, trailer, review or release to a point that you probably spend 2 or 3 times longer reading and talking about a game than you do actually playing it. When did the competition of winning the arguement about what is best or which game is the highest resolution become more important than the enjoyment of the game itself.
There is always something new, always something better coming around, bigger and better are the keys which keep the industry going. Problem is, I don't really care, I fed up of playing something but before I have even finished it there is something else telling me it is better.
I am bored of gaming and games, I am sick of the buzz, I am fed up of hearing about the next big thing but feeling thoroughly unfulfilled by it, I am sick of it all. The only question is, do I sell the PS3 and go on with my life without games or do I hold onto it and hope that something eventually comes around to peak my interest but probably sees me just falling into the same cycle again.
One thing is for sure, games are not as fun or enjoyable as they once were, at least for me they are not. Am I alone?
Details from Shift Up on new content coming to the third-person action game.
More stuff to an already great game! (I still wish they'd fix the censorship though)
The Nerd Stash: "Some of the best PS1 games of all time are the ones that put the PlayStation 1 on the map and contributed to gaming as we know it."
These were all excellent. I want to add Ghost in the Shell, Road Rash, and parasite Eve.
Antony writes: "We talk with composer Nainita Desai on how she poured grief and acceptance into Tales of Kenzera: ZAU's stirring soundtrack."
There area a few things wrong with today that we used to not have. I never owned a comodore but I owned intellivison and an NES those are what I remember starting on. There was no internet back then. just the kids at school saying "Oh my god that game rocks" or "sucks" and you bought your nintendo power and read about it and got pumped by the little sprites. Now a days it takes as many as 250 people to make a game. Instead of a tight nit team who were passionate about it. i.e. Donkey Kong Country was one of my favorites.
Now you get a game like Resident Evil 5 and you see half the game before it's released. Seriously they probably showed video of every single boss except the vary last one before the game came out.... how can you get excited for something new when you see all that? One of the main reasons I am steering completely away from God of War 3 as much as possible. I'll read in mags but I will not watch anymore video until release. Even at sonys press conference I will be working but will have it set to record so I can fast forward through those parts.
Innovation seems gone from many games these days. We don't have a whole lot to look forward to. I was one who hated when most developers switched to 3d. I felt like 90% of them got it wrong. There were soooo many bad games. Then I as well got my first glimpse of decent games on PS1 and N64 and could play things like SM64, Tomb Raider and even Soul Blade(Edge...) =D. They made me feel hopeful and more accepting of things to come.
Truth is it's hard now because of all the outlets we have available and the most fun I have had so far this generation is with Burnout Paradise and inFamous. 2 games I knew little about when I bought them and tried to not read much on. The only 2 games I have tried my best to get 100% on and am still working at on the latter. These games have such high development costs they can't afford to not put out a ton of info on them.
The industry is a different beast but I still get excited for many games. Call me a fan boy but Fat Princess, God of War, Trico and a ton of the sony games have me stoked(Pray for Twisted metal). The only way I can keep that hype is by not watching every little thing and talking and all that. I post a comment or 2 here every few days just to get a rise out of people like bloodmask or someone else. Otherwise it's just fun =D.
Make of it what you will bro. The industry and gamers are much more competitive then they once were. it has lost some of it's fun but a game like infamous where there is no online mode and just has an amazing story... I love it. Same with burnout but without the story. I think I will always be a SP gamer. Online can be fun but it's not my thing really...
Either way you do what you do. have fun though =D
Personally, I don't play as much as I used to. Ashamed to say I rarely beat a game within a month or...five. Unless I really, really like it like Mass Effect and Persona 3. Gaming has changed; it's obvious to anyone who's been at it for more than this gen. What was niche years ago is now mass produced and sometimes 'dumbed down' for the sake of expansion. And to older gamers it's a bit of an insult that they want us to hang off of every word given in regards to some lacklustre mediocre enhanced port of a far better game made 10 years ago. *shakes fist* /pessimism
Anyway, I still play games, mainly because new types of games crop up as tech improves. We didn't have mmos yesterday like we have them today. Full graphical worlds with thousands of NPCs and PCs. We didn't have sandbox games where you could run up buildings then steal a black ops helicopter. Or tap into the city's electrical grid and use it to beat bloody murder into your enemies. There are a great many changes in gaming that are also genuine improvements. Of course not every game will innovate past a new 'uber' FPS so I say be picky if you're going to remain a gamer.
And if you decide to make a break, its not like you have to stop liking games. I don't game nearly as much as I used to in days past, but now I do fan art. Crap fan art, but it's fulfilling and keeps me in touch with gaming.
P.S. I don't think you should give up your PS3 because you can still play blu-ray discs.
Sounds like you need some Team Fortress2 on PC to clear your head lol. I can relate. Don't sell yor ps3 dude.I stopped paying attention to hype years ago. I basically play every game I can for every system I got, and stick with the good ones regardless of hype, sales, or popularity. The games I pay the most on ps3 are Warhawck, UT3 and MLB. None of those games are very popular AAA's and hardly any hype. Between work, hanging out and keeping one's house atleast livable, who has time for all the hype anyway.
Trade your PS3 for a 360.
oh, that reminds me. tonight is the premier of 1 vs 100 on xbox live. gotta go
Stay away from the internet. All the constant hyping and blogs complaining why this and that sucks would probably cause anyone to lose interest in playing games.