How do you guys play your RPGs?

[Nemoide]

Even though I'm unemployed, I can't bring myself to spend an entire day playing video games. Maybe once in a great while. I felt like I recently blazed through Final Fantasy IX through marathon sessions but it still took me around three weeks.

I tend to spread things out. It might take me a month to get 10 hours into a Dragon Quest game and then I get obsessed and sink 20 hours into the next week. But I'm not a machine - I need ample breaks from gaming. I've never missed work or school to play a game.

[GameMasterGuy]

I typically play them for an hour+ a day, and rarely if ever play another game as a break. I also go for all the sidequests before beating the final boss, unless it's one of those games where there's postgame bosses that make the final one look like a joke.

[prfsnl_gmr]

I have a busy work schedule and two small children; so, I play RPGs on portable systems in short sessions. For example, I recently completed Phantasy Star II, Dragon Quest III, and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story in 15-30 minute sessions over breakfast, while traveling, etc. If I am really into an RPG - and my wife also wants some quiet time - then I can occasionally put in a few hours after my children are in bed.

Fortunately, I played through many classic RPGs in my youth, and there are very few new RPGs that interest me.

With regard to my playing style, I take a "no retreat, no surrender" approach to RPGs. I find that I can progress through most RPGs without much level grinding if I never flee from a random encounter. (There are some exceptions, oviously, and in some games, I actually enjoy grinding out levels...<casts loving look toward Dragon Warrior III>) I also try to complete every sidequest, obtain the best equipment, etc. whenever I play through an RPG. I do not see any need to rush through a quest that I am enjoying, and then - when I complete - the game, I feel like I have really seen everything that it has to offer.

[SteveyMajors]

I start one, play it in every moment of my spare time, get sick of it and stop after clocking in approximately 20 hours, and then finish it months later.

[ksloth]

I start one, play it in every moment of my spare time, get sick of it and stop after clocking in approximately 20 hours, and then finish it months later.

Hah, that sounds really familiar ..or at least it did back before I had kids. Now that I have kids, i'm more of a portable RPG guy, akin to the poster above you.

[eskil]

I definitely spread things out. I love the SNES for RPGs not only because of the library, but because I prefer playing RPGs in an emulator. I'm not opposed to grinding, but having a speed-up mechanism helps a ton. Also, state saves mean I can drift in and out, playing for 10mins here and 2hrs there.

[ejamer]

I have a busy work schedule and two small children; so, I play RPGs on portable systems in short sessions. For example, I recently completed Phantasy Star II, Dragon Quest III, and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story in 15-30 minute sessions over breakfast, while traveling, etc. If I am really into an RPG - and my wife also wants some quiet time - then I can occasionally put in a few hours after my children are in bed.
...

Is my alter-ego posting on his own again? This sounds eerily familiar, and is a big part of the reason why my Game Boy Micro system got so much love.

Console RPGs are still great though, but usually takes months to finish. On very rare occasions, I get to play marathon sessions. One Christmas I had a week off work and dropped that extra 8 hours per day straight into an RPG instead - it was fun, but my wife still hasn't forgiven me entirely.

[alexis524]

Read about game and watch youtube videos for 3 hours, buy, play for 1 hour, put back on shelf never to be finished, repeat.

^^^this^^^

i have slowed down considerably buying games knowing good and damn well i'll never see them through to the end.

[J T]

How is it that portables are better for RPGs. Don't you still have to hit save points, or is there a way to quick save? (I don't own any portables, so you'll have to excuse me ignorance).

It just seems to me that RPGs usually take forever and require long play sessions each time they are played, so I have never understood why they were so popular on portable systems where you have limited battery life and are presumably playing for short sessions.

[ksloth]

How is it that portables are better for RPGs. Don't you still have to hit save points, or is there a way to quick save? (I don't own any portables, so you'll have to excuse me ignorance).

It just seems to me that RPGs usually take forever and require long play sessions each time they are played, so I have never understood why they were so popular on portable systems where you have limited battery life and are presumably playing for short sessions.

For me, portables save my ass by the simple ability to close the screen if using a (3)DS, or just hit suspend if on the PSP.

Kid has a problem, close and suspend. Need to run somewhere, take it with you. With so little consecutive minutes to play, handhelds let me play by facilitating the "play 15 minutes here" then later on squeeze in an hour there. Also, wife wants to hog the TV = no problem.

It's just easier