Gaming Burnout

[DaddyVDUB]

Hey folks, I recently feel I have "hit the wall" as far as gaming gos. Has it ever happened to you? A new game usually takes care of it but lately the thrill is gone.

 

[Pupik]

It happened to me around the time my wife was pregnant, although to be quite honest, I hadn't cared much for video games since 1990 or so. Gran Turismo was more interesting for the inner car and racing nut in me, but with a new life on the way, I stopped caring about video games altogether, and found more creative and "important" things to do with my spare time.

I never been a big fan of the now-now-now-tempo of the gaming industry; many games and consoles are perceived to be a disposable commodity, based on attitudes and the opinion that another game just comes around and tries to improve on it. If you're really interested in a game, and you haven't over-saturated oneself with it every hour of every day, obsessively trying to be better at it in every facet, it takes much longer for it to get stale.

I won my PSX, and I bought about six games for it. I waited 3 years to get a PS2. I have no plans (nor time) for a PS3. That's probably why you don't find me much in the gaming sections here. I'm too jaded to care.

 

[DaddyVDUB]

Think that is an excellent point. The been there done that thing.

 

[Blake]

Yeah, it’s happened to me. My PS3 is busy collecting dust. I use it more to play movies than I do to play games, and I haven’t watched a DVD in about 2 months.

Life is too busy, and if I want to game it’s a driving sim which are infinitely better on the PC.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Yeah, it’s happened to me. My PS3 is busy collecting dust. I use it more to play movies than I do to play games, and I haven’t watched a DVD in about 2 months.

You'd play it more if you had your G25 connected to the PS3 already.

 

[Aldo]

Yeah,its happened to me before
I sometimes just get bored then end up not swithing my PS2 on for 2 or 3 months

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

I have never had this problem. I actually have the exact opposite. I simply cant ever get caught up on all the great games out there. Especially on the 360. I am still backlogged on 360 games from 2007 and 2008. I also have a handful of PC games to finish and I dont even want to mention how many I need to finish for the PS2. I dont think its physically possible to catch up on all the great 360 games out there. Believe me, I have been trying.

 

[Northstar]

I have this problem, there just aren't any games that really grab my attention. My 360 has been in the RROD zone for about a month and am in no hurry to send it in as I rarely played it when it did work(plus it's out of warranty since it's 4 years old). I'm still on the verge of whether or not I will buy a PS3 as it's a lot of money to spend on something I would more than likely only use for a couple games.

 

[Speedster502]

I suppose I'm kind of in the same situation. I don't tend to use my PS3 very often at all now, and will only really use it if a game grabs my attention for a bit or I'm bored. Other than that my brother uses it more often than me. I just don't have the will power to play it anymore and probably will continue not having the will power until I get a game I am actually interested in. How longs this been happening to me? Well, probably if I'm honest since I started playing guitar. When I started playing guitar I started seeing that I could get away with being stuck on the PS3 all day I've found a new hobby, that and the addition of photography I can't really see the appeal of playing a virtual game all day. As another point, slightly unrelated but still kind of related if you know what I mean, I used to love playing Guitar Hero I loved the thrill, for a laugh the other day I played it again. My opinion has significantly changed, I hate it now and anyone who can get a thrill out of pressing buttons (which sometimes aren't even in rhythm to the song) needs to get out a bit more. Shows how one thing can change your life I suppose, I'd quite happily say my previous gaming addiction is over. Hopefully for good too.

 

[Pako]

It takes a truly engaging game to capture my attention these days. I find myself getting game after game looking for that thrill and I just don't get sucked in, and when I do it's rare. The last game that took every extra minute of my life was Metal Gear Solid 4. I couldn't wait to get back home to get further in the game and the story. The last game that did "that" for me was GT3. Having an extremely busy lifestyle and trying to balance time with my wife and kids has also curbed my gaming time. I have also noticed that if the game is too open, GTA comes to mind, I lose interest quickly. It has got to be linier and straight forward to keep my attention these days. A good story and killer graphics help. If there isn't a "F" bomb being dropped at every cut scene, that also helps because I can play while the kids are around. This raises a side discussion, they really need a "G" rated dialog option in some of these games, I know they could do it. It would allow myself to be able to game more and allow the kids in on some of the fun.

Two games I am waiting for, FFXIII and GT5 are going to be two games that should capture my attention so I can rekindle my childhood love of games.

All in all, my lifestyle has room for about 5-10% gaming and that is about where my interest is.


(make note to self, rent more games, buy less games)

 

[ANFD]

Hey VDUB ..... you've attracted a bad case of "Prologueitus". We're all bored with the limited tracks especially. I know that when spring hits here, I get the urge to get outside more often and get out on the lake in my boat. I find that if I boat a lot, I get bored with boating. I start working on another interest like video and start shooting more and editing more. After a while, I get bored with that and may go back to gaming again. I think it's just human nature to get bored with anything we devote a lot of time to and it's important to have several hobbies or passions to fall back on. I have found one temporary cure recently ..... I had to get another PS3 while my original went back for service. Some games do not allow the copying of the game save so I lost all my data for a couple of games. I have started them from scratch again and found more interest in them as a result. The downside to your losing interest is that it affects others in your virtual circle of friends. Craig and I no longer play FC online since you left

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

(make note to self, rent more games, buy less games)

THAT is the key right there. I have always been a compulsive game buyer and this is the year I decided to break that habit. I found that all I end up doing is buying a new game then it gets thrown into the backlogg pile as soon as another new game comes out and I never get caught up. So with that said I rent everything now. I have only bought 1 game this year and that was GH:Metallica. I have rented everything else that came out so far this year and very proud to say that.
Once I eventually get through my 360 backlog list then I might consider buying more 360 games again.

 

[DaddyVDUB]

@ ANFD Your right again as usual Right now there is too many "real" things to do outside. And when GT5 comes out we will all be right back.

 

[Moglet]

I was feeling like this too, so I dug out Pacific Rift and started playing that again.

If riding a motorbike across a huge island at breakneck speed while dodging massive monster trucks doesn't give you a thrill then you're not human.

 

[Omnis]

I hardly ever use my Wii. My Ps3 gets use, but only when I'm super bored. I've been playing Empire Total War lately but that's getting old too since the CPU is not able to defeat me. Video games are still tons of fun when you have others that play with you in person. The last time I played in-person multiplayer was when the original xbox first came out though.

I guess it's time to read some more and go exercise.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

It probably has to do with depression, but I haven't been enjoying video games as much as I did in the past. I used to like playing long RPGs and spending lots of time with Gran Turismo. Now I prefer to play shorter and more simple games. I think one of the things that ruined it for me are gamer points (Xbox 360). Sometimes it seems like I care more about the points rather than actually being interested in the game.

 

[HACKr]

Good 'ol Sega keeps me occupied, though it has been four days since I've played anything.

I don't get the same kick out of brand new games as I get out of old ones though.

 

[turboash78]

Ever since my son was born 2 years ago, it's been hard to find time to even play at all! But when I have time, I still enjoy a game of COD4 (I even tried both R2 and KZ2... neither as fun as COD).

 

[Keef]

I rent games more now than I actually play them, and I haven't even done that in a long time. It's strange, seeing that I'm stuck at home all day every day now. A while ago I did repurchase a copy of Need for Speed High Stakes, and I've been playing that old school hit lately. I never did beat it back in the day. I've also found Flight Simulator X quite relaxing and challenging, so I've been doing that a lot too.

I switch from game to game often trying to find something that sticks.

 

[Der Alta]

I usually pick up one game a year and will play that through out the year. I've had Burnout Paradise City for more than a year now, and only recently finished it. It takes me that long to work through a game. The missus has tried to get me into COD: World at War, but the only interesting part is on-line and I spend more time respawning than I do playing. I just don't have the time to get my palyer through that many levels to gain all those points by dying so often. No fun in that.

I did have loads of fun playing through "Destroy All Humans" 1&2. I was looking for hte 3rd and 4th installment, but can't get either of those unless I buy a Wii, and move to Europe.

SO, I don't usually hit game burnout. Although with GT4, due to the massive amount of cars and limited time I had, I just couldn't get into it.

 

[Max Powers]

Video games are still tons of fun when you have others that play with you in person.

That's the key for me. I probably spend the majority of my gaming time at a friend's house playing head to head, usually NHL 09 these days. I do enjoy online multiplayer too, but its just more fun in person for me.

I still play my 360 a decent amount, at least once a week. I'll go through stages where I'll go a few months of almost never touching my consoles, and then I'll be playing every spare moment I have sometimes...so when I get burnt out, it's always only temporary.

 

[Spock]

These days virtually every game I play, I get bored with very quickly. The only one I still play with dedication is Counter-Strike: Source, but that's mainly since I have a clan with a lot of amazing players, and we have a great community to take care of. I also Co-admin both game and web/forum server, and I am pretty much the only person that knows how to properly run a CSS server. It's funny I've been playing CS since just a little bit before joining here, and thats been 7 years or so.

 

[Sniffs]

this is why I keep all my consoles in rotation. when I get bored with one system, I swap to another. even my NES is in the rotation, occasionally. 'course, I'm also a collector, grabbing all of a particular series for the consoles I Do have. considering I've been gaming since getting a used Sears clone of the atari sometime in the late 70's or early eighties...

 

[Barracuda]

I've been done with games since the PS3 came out. Without a modern gaming system or a computer from even this decade I've tried to know as little as possible about any new games because it drives me nuts. I tried playing some games today, but ended up smashing my xbox controller, lol.

I should be finally getting a new computer after I graduate and get scholarship money, which should get me back into computer gaming at least. I don't see myself obtaining a PS3 any time in the near future unless I find a good job, but even then I'm going to spend most to all of it on my car which will leave very little.

 

[Syntax error]

I too suffer the dreaded “gaming burnout” that afflicts so many. This feeling ebbs and flows quite frequently. However I tend to gravitate back to a few of the same old FPS’s that I am addicted to, such as BF2, COD4MW and MOH. I will sometimes go out and buy a new game but I tend to loose interest pretty quickly and end up shelving them. This has over the past year or so lead to a strange phenomenon (for me anyway) that stops me from wanting to purchase new games in general. I tend to walk into game shops on a high, all excited that I will probably leave with some awesome game, only to wander out of the shop entirely disinterested in purchasing or playing any games…. Obviously this is all subject to “free” time which I seem to have very little of as well.

 

[Nicksfix]

I am going through the GT5P burnout stage.Have not played it in probably 3-4 weeks or so (lack of tracks,and same old cars).I have other games to play to keep me amused for some time,but like others have said,it's Spring / Summer,it's time to be outside doing things.In my case,me and some friends doing our own little golf tour.

 

[Driving Park]

It's almost bipolar with me. For like 3 months or so I'll be playing video games nonstop, and then for the next 3 months I have absolutely no interest in them at all. I get bored and decide to play one, but as soon as I start I get even more bored. And they get longer each time. I was in one of the longer stages where I didn't care about video games, but then I got Pokemon Platinum, which I've been playing nonstop. I know, it's kind of a sad way to get back into gaming, but I'll take it.

 

[homeforsummer]

I know exactly the feeling of a "gaming burnout". I'm at a stage in my life where I'm so busy I have very little time for gaming (apart from the Elf tomorrow!) and when I do the games don't fulfill me - partly I think because as a driving/racing game fan, I have so much more desire at the moment to drive real cars rather than virtual one - in the process of choosing my next car, the virtual ones don't do enough for me.

 

[YSSMAN]

This being summer, with only work occupying my time (no ladies around I'm afraid), I've started to ease back in - but its nowhere near as bad as it was about two years ago. Because my income is much more tight than before, when I buy a game, I need to actually want the game, and its a short list. I haven't been playing nearly as much SFIV as I should, more time being spent on PGR3/PGR4 and COD4 (replaying them all). That, and Red Alert 3 on the PC as well.

Perhaps there will be a game to toss me back in, but there hasn't been anything on my radar for some time. They're taking way too long for GT5 (hence not buying a PS3 yet), and I've yet to find a "gotta have it" title on 360.

...I should get a GameFly account. I hear the new Wolverine game is actually rather good...

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

...I should get a GameFly account. I hear the new Wolverine game is actually rather good...

It it pretty good, though a bit repetitive. But it does bring me back to the Genesis days. It's sort of like if they created a 15+ hour Streets of Rage.