Pankratous
Member
No point even turning the console on unless I'm guaranteed minimum 3 hours.
No maximum. Been known to play for 20+ hours in single session.
No maximum. Been known to play for 20+ hours in single session.
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How long is an ideal gaming session for you?
- Thread starter Kadin
- Start date
RichardKSJ
Member
In my ideal world? 24/7/365 /jk
About 5 hours (that would be ideal so I have time for other things) but I tend to go about 7-8 a day (sometimes 12 if playing a MMO).
About 5 hours (that would be ideal so I have time for other things) but I tend to go about 7-8 a day (sometimes 12 if playing a MMO).
SerTapTap
Member
I played Axiom Verge for 5 hours the first day and that was pretty amazing. Unfortunately that's far too long to manage on most weekdays. I usually leave the game on all evening but play in fits and spurts while doing other stuff. My playtime counters are always massively inflated.
I just stop if/when I get frustrated or bored; never quite know when that'll happen but it eventually does. I play a lot of Dota 2 and have been solo stacking to try and raise my MMR, and if I ever feel myself get frustrated or a bit salty, I stop playing straight away. You just can't play your best when you're like that, nor is it beneficial to your team's enjoyment or chances at winning, so I just do the right thing and have a break for a while. I like to think I'm a nice player, so if I ever feel the frustration start to build I keep schtum, finish the game, and have a break.
And it's the same case for single-player games, really. Playing Dark Souls right now and on the few occasions I get annoyed at something that happened, like when trying to get back to where I died in Blighttown I got stuck on a pole and one of those fat things knocked me off, I just take a short break. Go make food, something like that.
So my ideal session isn't really a length in time, it's just how long I last before something stops me enjoying the game as much, and depends on the game. I've sat for 10 hours playing some games, and sat for 2 on others.
And it's the same case for single-player games, really. Playing Dark Souls right now and on the few occasions I get annoyed at something that happened, like when trying to get back to where I died in Blighttown I got stuck on a pole and one of those fat things knocked me off, I just take a short break. Go make food, something like that.
So my ideal session isn't really a length in time, it's just how long I last before something stops me enjoying the game as much, and depends on the game. I've sat for 10 hours playing some games, and sat for 2 on others.
Give War A Chance
Member
Depends on the genre, but in general, between 45min - 2.5hours. I feel like at that point, I'm ready to take a break and do something else, and I could definitely come back to them later.
SoraanTribal
Member
Generally, an average play session now is 1-2 hours. After that, I feel like I should take a break and do something else. If I get a new game I have been excited about for a long time, I'll probably try to play for longer, but depends. After a break (preferably doing something productive like jogging or working out), I will probably return to the game and play another 1-2 hours. This differs drastically from how I used to play games like 5+ years ago when I could play for like 6+ hours straight easily.
Any more than 1 hour and it's officially procrastination. I never set aside gaming sessions anymore, so it's all impromptu time killing stuff and if it's going on for longer than 1 hour then I'm really really into it and probably neglecting something else.
"I'm bored, I'll play something" makes up about 90% of my gaming sessions unfortunately.
"I'm bored, I'll play something" makes up about 90% of my gaming sessions unfortunately.
R
Rodin
Unconfirmed Member
Ideally, 2 hours with a little break in the middle. But usually when i get to 1 i feel pretty lucky.
razoftblend
Member
2-3 hours is the most I can do nowadays after spending 6+ hours in the past for a single session. One reason is time; the other one is my level of intrerest. Some games right now just feel like a drag to play through.
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Pretty much this. I hadn't played anything in awhile and so I spent most of my Saturday playing games. Still took some breaks to cook and go outside for a bike ride. Good day.
Ideally 2-3 hours, realistically I'm happy if I even get in thirty minutes these days.
Of course, it heavily depends on the genre. I'm good with a 20 minute spurt for something like SHMUPs or a chapter objective in DMC4. But the lack of quality time I have had in the past couple of weeks to play games, Pillars of Eternity has fallen further and further down my pile of games to play because I simply can't accomplish what I would like to finish in that game in short bursts.
Of course, it heavily depends on the genre. I'm good with a 20 minute spurt for something like SHMUPs or a chapter objective in DMC4. But the lack of quality time I have had in the past couple of weeks to play games, Pillars of Eternity has fallen further and further down my pile of games to play because I simply can't accomplish what I would like to finish in that game in short bursts.
diffusionx
Gold Member
After 2-3 hours I feel like I should be doing something better with my time.
crookedaxis
Member
2-3 hours
actually, when i have a sense that i really moved beyond from where i started the session
actually, when i have a sense that i really moved beyond from where i started the session
I would love to be able to sit down for six hours and game like I used to. Get immersed in the world and have a blast. Unfortunately with a toddler running around and refusing to take naps now, my time is limited to 1-2 hours that I rarely devote to gaming. Most of the time when I get my son to bed I am so burned out and exhausted that I just want to unwind. At that point a console game seems like a daunting commitment to attempt to make progress on. I don't expect this to change for years, so right now all I can do is daydream about all the games I hear about in podcasts and think about my colossal backlog that I might someday get to.
It really depends on a game, some games can have me on my couch for hours, but I haven't played a game like that in a long time. I've been lacking the stamina for long play sessions for awhile now, it's just a bit tiring.
It's not even because I'm busy with life, even with work and study I still have PLENTY of time to game, there's no problem in that department, it's just that I can't be bothered to switch on the Xbox a lot of the time, and I would rather do something else. I mean right now, I have the day off and I could be gaming non stop, but instead here I am browsing GAF and messing around on the internet.
It's not even because I'm busy with life, even with work and study I still have PLENTY of time to game, there's no problem in that department, it's just that I can't be bothered to switch on the Xbox a lot of the time, and I would rather do something else. I mean right now, I have the day off and I could be gaming non stop, but instead here I am browsing GAF and messing around on the internet.
Honestly with life the way it is (wife, fitness, friends, work, part-time social enterprise business) I probably only get an hour to play max every few days. As such my backlog is building quite nicely.
Ideally I'd like to commit 2 hours a day to gaming but realistically I don't think I'll ever get that opportunity again consistently.
Ideally I'd like to commit 2 hours a day to gaming but realistically I don't think I'll ever get that opportunity again consistently.
Fbh
Member
2 Hours sessions is ideal for me.
If it's a free day and I don't really have much to do I might easily play like 6 hours or so, but even then I will mostly take a break every 2 hours. I will just do other stuff for a few hours and then come back to the game later.
It's one of the reasons I don't play that much online. I find most of my gaming friends to be too exptreme. No one wants to play for a few hours, no, they allways want to play for like 9 hours which I just find tiring
If it's a free day and I don't really have much to do I might easily play like 6 hours or so, but even then I will mostly take a break every 2 hours. I will just do other stuff for a few hours and then come back to the game later.
It's one of the reasons I don't play that much online. I find most of my gaming friends to be too exptreme. No one wants to play for a few hours, no, they allways want to play for like 9 hours which I just find tiring
That1BlackGuy
Member
I'd say about 2-4 hours per game with breaks, I've had longer play sessions up to like 5-6 hours but that's usually for games I get super into; it's very rare that I'd go longer than 6 hours on one game though.
30yearsofhurt
Member
Good friday: 12 hours +
Saturday: 15 hours +
Sunday: 12 hours +
Easter Monday: 14 hours.
53 hours in 4 days for someone who has a 9 to 5 job? That's a good sesh.
My chalice dungeons don't know what hit em.
Saturday: 15 hours +
Sunday: 12 hours +
Easter Monday: 14 hours.
53 hours in 4 days for someone who has a 9 to 5 job? That's a good sesh.
My chalice dungeons don't know what hit em.
adamantypants
Member
1-2 hours. I generally can't keep interest longer than that
we.are.the.armada
Member
IDEAL SESSION = 16 hours (double shift)
First 8 hours:
Drinks (Coke Zero, water)
1 Meal Break (take-out wings, steak salad)
4 hours later:
Coffee (Americano, 4 shots, whole cream)
1 Small Meal Break (quest bar, pistachios)
Final 4 hours:
Alcohol (whiskey, cognac)
1 Snack (jerky, celery)
First 8 hours:
Drinks (Coke Zero, water)
1 Meal Break (take-out wings, steak salad)
4 hours later:
Coffee (Americano, 4 shots, whole cream)
1 Small Meal Break (quest bar, pistachios)
Final 4 hours:
Alcohol (whiskey, cognac)
1 Snack (jerky, celery)
AndrewDean84xX
Banned
About 2-3 hours or so.
Agreed
Trogdor1123
Member
8-10 hours... I work full time, have full time school (MBA) and have kids. The last time I got to do this was when I took a week off for the Guild Wars 2 launch.
The Lamonster
Member
If I had all the time in the world I could do a ten hour session (with several breaks). Right now, with a full time job and a newborn, I consider a two hour session a very long luxury.