So, I essentially skipped a generation. Glad? Guilty?

[jfrost]

It's natural. I stopped playing videogames around 2001 and only came back in, what, 2008? It wasn't a conscious choice. I just stopped doing it.

Then I found Racketboy and started reading a lot of articles. The website encapsulated what I used to love about games, a hobby I felt had nothing to offer me anymore. I found out that I still loved them. I haven't looked back.

[Damm64]

This thread has made me realize that (besides when I once gave up games for Lent) I can't remember a day when I didn't play a video game. Possibly the day of my wedding, but I did have my SP on hand.

Now i imagine a wedding were the couple exchange their pokemon starters instead of rings...

[pierrot]

but I've skipped gaming's longest generation ever entirely.

I wouldn't fret too much about this. The Famicom and SG-1000 released in 1983, and the Famicom wasn't superseded by the Super Famicom until late 1990. I guess it depends on how you look at generations, but--.


Also, thanks for reminding me how long it's been since I graduated from college. I, like you, did not keep up with the new generation while in college. (Although the shift was in the middle of my time there.) I bought and played through a couple PS2 releases in my freshman year, like DQVIII and Okami, but most of my gaming during that time was spent in groups playing SSBM, Naruto Gekitou Ninja Taisen 2, or DDR. That, or filching my girlfriend's PSP to play the copy of Lumines II I bought her for her birthday--. One of my roommates bought the Wii at launch, so I did play Wii sports a bit around that time; but it wasn't until a while after the Slim PS3 was released--and consequently, after graduating--that I got both a PS3 and PSP. Second-hand Wii and 360 followed a couple years later. My focus has still been on older generations of consoles, and that's particularly true of the last few years.

I suppose if you look at the trend of retro gaming gaining greater traction, and popularity over the last four or five years, it may seem like there's something 'wrong' with this last generation, and maybe that's the case. I think it coincides more with an overall trend of retro becoming en vogue, particularly with certain demographics--particularly, our demographic. Let's face it, this has not been the best of decades, so far. Certainly not for younger people. When things look potentially bleak for a generation, it may be natural to cling to things that remind one of his childhood, or 'better' eras.

I don't think it's about feeling glad or guilty. For me, it's just a refocusing. I don't really care about keeping up with the next or newest glitz. It's exciting for a time, and any excitement I initially get wears off quickly. So I don't feel like these baubles are worth the initial investment. (Even if they may be when considering the work put into them.) I also don't gauge my self-worth by what I provide while gathered around the water cooler, so to speak. I think it's generally fine if one enjoys chasing the newest in tech kit, but only you can determine whether or not you derive enjoyment from doing the same. No, there's nothing wrong with you if you've changed, and see things differently. That's typically the point of college, and education. It may be unpleasant to see certain things differently than you did when you were younger, but it's probably not an issue unless you feel like you're actually dealing with serious depression.

tl;dr - Do what makes you happy, not what you feel like should make you happy. (As long as that doesn't involve going on a mass murder spree.)

[BoneSnapDeez]

I skipped the 5th and 6th generations while they were current.

When I got a Wii it was the first console I played since the SNES.

Now I'm playing catch-up and checking out everything I missed.

Do I feel bad? Nah. I was into other things that occupied my time. People go through "phases" and I simply had no desire to play video games during college and in my mid-20s.

[Retrodude]

This is when I found out that the best place to be was exactly one generation behind. This is the moment when supply is highest and demand is lowest.

This.

I had dismissed the 360 for a long time because I honestly didn't think it had anything that interested me (I don't usually care for stuff like Halo or Call Of Duty), but since I was gifted one a few months ago, I'm discovering that there's actually quite a few good games for the system and as Gamestop moves to clear out their likely massive backstock in the next year or two, I'm hoping I'll be able to pick up most of the ones I want for next to nothing (which is exactly what I did with the PS2).

[Sasha_Blue]

I stopped playing video games for several years as a teenager. Dunno why you would feel glad or guilty, just live ya life.

Same here. I didn't turn into a serious gamer/collector until a few years later.

[jay_red]

This thread has made me realize that (besides when I once gave up games for Lent) I can't remember a day when I didn't play a video game. Possibly the day of my wedding, but I did have my SP on hand.

Now i imagine a wedding were the couple exchange their pokemon starters instead of rings...

I guess you didnt see my video game themed wedding, complete with sweet Sega Genesis Invites?

[TheRev]

You can always catch up as an adult.

That's what I'm doing.

[Retrogamer0001]

I plan on skipping next gen entirely - time to start playing and stop collecting!

[PinkPanzer]

With exception to the FIFA, NHL and NBA2K series I have pretty much skipped the PS3/360 generation..I had a ps3 at launch and played it here and there but after the bad taste FF13 left in my mouth I decided to go retro again