5 Ways to Tell You're Getting too Old for Video Games

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I'm not really burnt out on gaming because I always have other hobbies going too. You'll notice if you look at the games beaten thread I don't have nearly as many games beaten as other people, because I'm also reading comics, finding new music, keeping up with pro wrestling and quality tv shows as well as the occasional movie. I don't even really collect games anymore. Anything I buy lately is something I intend to play

What I am finding, however, is that I am becoming quite jaded. With many games that I play, I get this, "same old, same old" feeling. I'm rather easily annoyed by games that are just doing the same things as other games in their genres. I also have less patience for the contrived BS that passes for challenge in so many games. I've been gaming for a long time and I'm tired of seeing the same cheap tricks all the time. Repetition is another problem. I was really enjoying Folklore, but about halfway through the game I realized I was just going through the same damn motions in each chapter and many of the enemies were just the same foes with different names and faces. It doesn't help that the game forces you to play each chapter twice with two different characters and even fight the same stupid bosses again. This is a horrible idea in video games that needs to go away. I hated how Suikoden III and Odin Sphere did that too. Playing the same shit with different characters adds NOTHING to a game

I also agree with what others have said that it is hard to get into a game in the evening after a long day of work. When I get home I want to relax. Gaming is the only entertainment medium that doesn't allow you to relax, because it places demands on you. Books, movies, music, etc. don't demand anything of me and allow me to just relax and enjoy

Certain games can be relaxing though. Minecraft, Flower, Tropico. They're out there.

[Gamerforlife]

I'm not really burnt out on gaming because I always have other hobbies going too. You'll notice if you look at the games beaten thread I don't have nearly as many games beaten as other people, because I'm also reading comics, finding new music, keeping up with pro wrestling and quality tv shows as well as the occasional movie. I don't even really collect games anymore. Anything I buy lately is something I intend to play

What I am finding, however, is that I am becoming quite jaded. With many games that I play, I get this, "same old, same old" feeling. I'm rather easily annoyed by games that are just doing the same things as other games in their genres. I also have less patience for the contrived BS that passes for challenge in so many games. I've been gaming for a long time and I'm tired of seeing the same cheap tricks all the time. Repetition is another problem. I was really enjoying Folklore, but about halfway through the game I realized I was just going through the same damn motions in each chapter and many of the enemies were just the same foes with different names and faces. It doesn't help that the game forces you to play each chapter twice with two different characters and even fight the same stupid bosses again. This is a horrible idea in video games that needs to go away. I hated how Suikoden III and Odin Sphere did that too. Playing the same shit with different characters adds NOTHING to a game

I also agree with what others have said that it is hard to get into a game in the evening after a long day of work. When I get home I want to relax. Gaming is the only entertainment medium that doesn't allow you to relax, because it places demands on you. Books, movies, music, etc. don't demand anything of me and allow me to just relax and enjoy

Certain games can be relaxing though. Minecraft, Flower, Tropico. They're out there.

That's true. They are rare though. I did find Viva Pinata to be quite a relaxing experience, but it's so far from the norm in this business

[MrPopo]

I've actually managed to avoid feeling like everything was better "back in the day". The most common example is how many people feel that Final Fantasy has been on a massive downward spiral since the good old days. But I can genuinly say that I've enjoyed every numbered Final Fantasy except for X-2, which had enough things that rubbed me the wrong way (pretty princess dressup NOT being one of them) that I couldn't make it through it. Then again, I also think Godfather 3 is a quality movie. Not as good as the first two, but not this horrible abomination that lots of people like to make it out to be.

[Key-Glyph]

I'm having a lot more fun gaming with just three consoles (Wii, PS2, and PSP) than I did when I had seven or eight consoles all hooked up.

I agree. Only once in my life did I have every console ready for immediate play, and having too many options paralyzed me. Limiting what's convenient to get at gives me focus. I've avoided buying an MP3 player for this reason, because I fear having every song I own on one device will have the same effect and somehow turn me off from listening to my music altogether.

Also, that article was hilarious. Thanks.

[Gamerforlife]

I've actually managed to avoid feeling like everything was better "back in the day". The most common example is how many people feel that Final Fantasy has been on a massive downward spiral since the good old days. But I can genuinly say that I've enjoyed every numbered Final Fantasy except for X-2, which had enough things that rubbed me the wrong way (pretty princess dressup NOT being one of them) that I couldn't make it through it.

I truly believe that for all its flaws, FF 13 has the best combat system of the series. It's just a shame it takes over half the game for them to remove the training wheels and really let you enjoy it fully. If nothing else, FF 13 refines FF's combat to its very best and also gives us something that takes us one step closer to matching the visual awesomeness of combat in the Advent Children movie

[MrPopo]

I've actually managed to avoid feeling like everything was better "back in the day". The most common example is how many people feel that Final Fantasy has been on a massive downward spiral since the good old days. But I can genuinly say that I've enjoyed every numbered Final Fantasy except for X-2, which had enough things that rubbed me the wrong way (pretty princess dressup NOT being one of them) that I couldn't make it through it.

I truly believe that for all its flaws, FF 13 has the best combat system of the series. It's just a shame it takes over half the game for them to remove the training wheels and really let you enjoy it fully. If nothing else, FF 13 refines FF's combat to its very best and also gives us something that takes us one step closer to matching the visual awesomeness of combat in the Advent Children movie

Yeah, FF13's combat was amazingly fluid and removed a lot of the fake choice from earlier installments. And it put a lot of emphasis onto creating teams that synergize well for their effects. I was extremely happy to see that XIII-2 will use the same system.

[swiftzx]

Haha, I came here today to post this. Looks like I was beat

[Korpi]

I would recommend everyone to cut down their collections. I know if I owned only like three games at a time, I'd be happier.

I've thrown away/sold some, some are hidden away. I bought couple of consoles and now I slightly regret it. The problem isn't really the consoles, it's the games, but the consoles have psychological effect as well. I'd like to keep the consoles and get rid of more games, the consoles are just tools to play games with, so if I have some certain game I want to play, the console is always there. Still though, I won't own more than 4 consoles at a time (hopefully), and couple of them are probably hidden away most of the time.

It's more about knowing and having too much, than getting too old for games. You don't concentrate and enjoy in one game as much as you used to, as you have too many options. I guess a break wouldn't be bad either, it doesn't even need to be long one. Total burnout tends to be only genre specific, especially if it's something competitive and stressful.

I'm at crossroads, don't know really what to do. I bought some semi-expensive stuff and it's hard to sell forward here. I love games, but I'm in need of a break, and need to look into some different genres and making games myself. I love shmups and strategy games, but for example RPG's I have never properly got into and always played with the idea of playing them, and have tried them, and own many, but don't just work for me. I did play MMORPG's a lot though, I guess my burnout and hatred towards stereotypical Dungeons & Dragons mechanics stems from there. I hate everything that has level-ups, up-gradable items, magic etc. If the story has any typical Hollywood elements, I get instantly bored.

Anyway, I'm gonna start by literally throwing away some PC and PS2 games, there's a bunch I don't care one bit about.

[Opa Opa]

Anyway, I'm gonna start by literally throwing away some PC and PS2 games, there's a bunch I don't care one bit about.

Send that "garbage" my way. I'd take it off your hands.

[Inazuma]

Anyway, I'm gonna start by literally throwing away some PC and PS2 games, there's a bunch I don't care one bit about.

Do whatever is best for you, but all I ask is that you give away those games instead of throwing them out.