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I don't enjoy games anymore.
- Thread starter Surfheart
- Start date
AdventureRacing
Member
The DS and my recent change to PC gaming is the only thing that has prevented this for me. My 360, PS3 and wii are collecting dust for the most part.
_Alkaline_
Member
I had this problem once. It was back in early 2005. I had just finished Metroid Prime 2 and after that I kept trying to find something I liked but nothing was working for me.
I took a few months off gaming, focussed on school (I'm 20 now), friends, etc and didn't let myself touch a game.
After a few months off I picked up a controller again, rejuvinated for gaming. But the key was to play a good game - otherwise I'd be just as turned off as I was a few months ago. So I bought Resident Evil 4 and proceeded to have some of the best 20 hours of gaming I have ever played.
I think those two things are key:
1. Take a break when you burn out.
and
2. Play good games.
And just because something is rated highly doesn't mean it's good for you. If there's a genre you don't enjoy, don't buy a game of that genre simply because others say its good. Buy it because the mechanics of the game appeal to you. If they don't, you'll only drive yourself further into that rut.
Oh, and play Galaxy 2.
I took a few months off gaming, focussed on school (I'm 20 now), friends, etc and didn't let myself touch a game.
After a few months off I picked up a controller again, rejuvinated for gaming. But the key was to play a good game - otherwise I'd be just as turned off as I was a few months ago. So I bought Resident Evil 4 and proceeded to have some of the best 20 hours of gaming I have ever played.
I think those two things are key:
1. Take a break when you burn out.
and
2. Play good games.
And just because something is rated highly doesn't mean it's good for you. If there's a genre you don't enjoy, don't buy a game of that genre simply because others say its good. Buy it because the mechanics of the game appeal to you. If they don't, you'll only drive yourself further into that rut.
Oh, and play Galaxy 2.
So don't play them. I'm sorry but there's nothing more to it. If you ever feel lika playing again, do it. Until then, read books, watch movies, whatever. Sometimes I won't play games for 2-3 months or even longer, simply because I don't want to. Then I suddenly want to, so I do.
Rocksteady33
Junior Member
I definitely know the feeling... over the course of this generation I've owned every system (Wii, 360, PS3, PSP, DS, DS Lite) and have since sold them all at one point or another. I finally rebought a DS again for Pokemon SoulSilver (which is the only game I've purchased since probably last September) and I still haven't completely beat it (14/16 badges). I simply can't hold any attention with the games anymore. It's sad but even though the market has shifted to satisfy casual gamers... I feel like I now am a casual gamer. Puzzle games, and things I can purchase on my iTouch are really the only things that hold my attention. And when I look at the console lineups the things that I miss the most or anticipate the most are XBLA/VC/PSN games. Oh well. I still love to read about the industry.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I fell out of love with gaming in 1995. I decided games were behind me... I didn't need them. I guess I perceived Final Fantasy VI as a high mark of gaming, an advanced stage that would never be reached again... an utter anomaly. I didn't think games would aspire to those heights ever again.. and I was too young and dumb to know they'd do sequels. I quit gaming because I didn't think the usual Mario clones would satisfy in such a way (I was wrong on so many levels).
By the time I came to my senses, I realized I had missed Chrono Trigger, Earthbound, Super Mario RPG, Yoshi's Island, Super Mario 64......
The impending release of Final Fantasy VII dragged me back into gaming and made me utterly regret falling out of love. Never made the same mistake since. Gamer for life, really.
No matter how pessimistic you are about the state of gaming now.... today's niche title you don't know about is what you'll wish you had been playing in a few years.
By the time I came to my senses, I realized I had missed Chrono Trigger, Earthbound, Super Mario RPG, Yoshi's Island, Super Mario 64......
The impending release of Final Fantasy VII dragged me back into gaming and made me utterly regret falling out of love. Never made the same mistake since. Gamer for life, really.
No matter how pessimistic you are about the state of gaming now.... today's niche title you don't know about is what you'll wish you had been playing in a few years.
BudokaiMR2
Member
Try getting high and then playing games. lol
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
It definitely helps with Kinect games.Raide said:
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Raide said:
jim-jam bongs
Member
Amazingly not just the first but also the second reply perfectly sum up what I wanted to say.
Do like I do. Buy less. Buy cheaper. Buy titles that you never thought you would find interesting. I've been on a B-game binge playing old Wii games (not all B in terms of production values but they sure are cheap and quirky) and loving it. Right now I'm waiting for Disaster: Day of Crisis to be delivered and I have absolutelty no idea what this games is about 
Or be real hardcore about gaming, if you have the space for it, buy or build your own arcade machine and start collecting PCBs. Now that's a hobby worth pursuing! You learn carpentry, basic electricity/electronics and you have something tangible to show. It isn't that expensive, I've bought Metal Slug X and a Neo Geo MVS 1-slot for like $80 and built myself a supergun (thing that allows you to play/test Jamma PCBs on a TV) using cheap parts.
Up the ante. You could also learn programming and make a game. There's always room for self-improvement. You'll learn a skill and maybe rekindle your love for gaming.
(EDIT) Grammar.
Or be real hardcore about gaming, if you have the space for it, buy or build your own arcade machine and start collecting PCBs. Now that's a hobby worth pursuing! You learn carpentry, basic electricity/electronics and you have something tangible to show. It isn't that expensive, I've bought Metal Slug X and a Neo Geo MVS 1-slot for like $80 and built myself a supergun (thing that allows you to play/test Jamma PCBs on a TV) using cheap parts.
Up the ante. You could also learn programming and make a game. There's always room for self-improvement. You'll learn a skill and maybe rekindle your love for gaming.
(EDIT) Grammar.
ShineALight
Member
I missed most of 2007 and 2008 after being a gamer since fifteen years at that point. I just didn't care anymore and focused on other things. Don't regret it at all. I came back to gaming when my girlfriend got interested in my DS and replaced my launch Wii that had been stolen (and initiated my hiatus). I've been back on board ever since and will be for the foreseeable future, even though I really only play when there's a game I'm really interested in, otherwise no more than an hour a day. But I'm fine with that, it's a good position to be in.
The game that got me sucked back in was DQV on the DS. Then I moved onto VIII, and loved both of them.
Don't worry about it or give it too much credence. This definitely doesn't have to be the end, you don't have to flip the "videogaming" switch in your heart off. Just take it for what it is, re-evaluate what you want out of the hobby and find what works best for you. Take a month or two long break. There's a lot you could do. But if it should happen that your interest cannot be rekindled, just find new and more fulfilling ways to spend all that extra time.
The game that got me sucked back in was DQV on the DS. Then I moved onto VIII, and loved both of them.
Don't worry about it or give it too much credence. This definitely doesn't have to be the end, you don't have to flip the "videogaming" switch in your heart off. Just take it for what it is, re-evaluate what you want out of the hobby and find what works best for you. Take a month or two long break. There's a lot you could do. But if it should happen that your interest cannot be rekindled, just find new and more fulfilling ways to spend all that extra time.
Always-honest
Banned
fucking hell... gets me everytime.. sickening.BocoDragon said:
Something that worked for me: Play games through to completion. If you have a backlog, play them in order, refusing to start a new game until the last one is done. If you have a limited amount of time to play games, this has the side effect of forcing you off the new-release hype train, and gets you focused on the games themselves.
Also, If you've only been playing shooters, try something with a different/longer 'feedback loop'
Also, If you've only been playing shooters, try something with a different/longer 'feedback loop'
Always-honest
Banned
you must be really wise and grown up then.JaxJag said:
I was away from gaming for months recently, happens to me all the time with all my hobbies. I don't see it as a big deal and it helps a ton when your interests aren't limited to a single type of media. To me going in and out of hobbies helps in keeping things fresh too.
But yeah, the first two replies nailed it.
But yeah, the first two replies nailed it.
Rollo Lawson
Banned
at some point, you dont feel compelled to meet these games halfway any more. you just need something that engages you fully and youll be back. its a chore to play games that really dont hold your interest. chores get tiresome
i went through this last year...for a few months, fallout 3 was the only thing that could keep my attention. then i discovered HL2 (late), and it was like a snowball rolling downhill from there
i went through this last year...for a few months, fallout 3 was the only thing that could keep my attention. then i discovered HL2 (late), and it was like a snowball rolling downhill from there
I'd say step outside of your gaming comfort zone.
Try new things you wouldn't have done before.
Hated Nintendo games? Give them a try.
Always shied away from western games? Give it a shot.
Never liked portable systems? Buy one.
Things like that. There's no one hit fix since everyone is different, but I would be surprised if this wouldn't help to get the juices flowing again.
Try new things you wouldn't have done before.
Hated Nintendo games? Give them a try.
Always shied away from western games? Give it a shot.
Never liked portable systems? Buy one.
Things like that. There's no one hit fix since everyone is different, but I would be surprised if this wouldn't help to get the juices flowing again.
VGChampion
Member
What is up with everyone posting this? If you don't enjoy them anymore just play less. I honestly think actually following blogs and sites about the news is what kills it for most people. You start to know the ins and outs and all the drama and it starts to taint your view on the games.
I have a pretty similar situation, I read more about games than actually play them. I just can't find the time to complete long games and my backlog is huge. This year I've tried to complete Lost Odyssey, Mass Effect, GTA IV and Tales of Vesperia. I enjoyed them all but don't have the time or interest to play them through at the moment.
I've been recently into arcade gaming though and I'm enjoying playing 2D shmups and action games a lot. They don't take so much time from my day and I am perfectly happy after 15 mins of playing, especially if I happen to score a high score. I just ordered Super Street Fighter IV and I'm pretty excited to play that one too. Fighting games can be played with girlfriend also so it should be fun.
Yeah, basically arcade gaming saved my interest in gaming. Maybe there comes a time when I'll be finishing RPGs and other stuff again, but I don't stress it.
I've been recently into arcade gaming though and I'm enjoying playing 2D shmups and action games a lot. They don't take so much time from my day and I am perfectly happy after 15 mins of playing, especially if I happen to score a high score. I just ordered Super Street Fighter IV and I'm pretty excited to play that one too. Fighting games can be played with girlfriend also so it should be fun.
Yeah, basically arcade gaming saved my interest in gaming. Maybe there comes a time when I'll be finishing RPGs and other stuff again, but I don't stress it.
Davey Cakes
Member
There's nothing wrong with taking a break.
I definitely remember a couple of times during the last decade where I generally lost interest in playing games. I would just lack the motivation, y'know? That, and I'd just be distracted by other things. I guess my inner person wanted to move on for a bit.
Of course, that didn't stop me from eventually returning to the hobby in a more dedicated fashion. Sometimes it just takes one singular game, one singular system, or a string of games to pull you back in. My own cases usually involved handheld games. After one gaming hiatus, it was a combination of Mario & Luigi: SuperStar Saga and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance that brought me back into full swing. Most recently, in 2008 it was games like Professor Layton and Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia that got me back into things.
Honestly, if you've just lost interest altogether, that's fine. But, if there's still a part of you that enjoys the hobby, then maybe you can wait until you "naturally" return to gaming. Don't force it. When one or two select games come along that truly spark your interest, then you can let yourself get entangled. Otherwise, let it go for now.
I definitely remember a couple of times during the last decade where I generally lost interest in playing games. I would just lack the motivation, y'know? That, and I'd just be distracted by other things. I guess my inner person wanted to move on for a bit.
Of course, that didn't stop me from eventually returning to the hobby in a more dedicated fashion. Sometimes it just takes one singular game, one singular system, or a string of games to pull you back in. My own cases usually involved handheld games. After one gaming hiatus, it was a combination of Mario & Luigi: SuperStar Saga and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance that brought me back into full swing. Most recently, in 2008 it was games like Professor Layton and Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia that got me back into things.
Honestly, if you've just lost interest altogether, that's fine. But, if there's still a part of you that enjoys the hobby, then maybe you can wait until you "naturally" return to gaming. Don't force it. When one or two select games come along that truly spark your interest, then you can let yourself get entangled. Otherwise, let it go for now.
I stopped playing Videogames exactly when God of War II came out; that day I went to my local store and...never bought it. And from that moment I never watched a PS3 trailer (it was about to be released in Japan) until March 2010. A year ago I played Resident Evil 5 demo an SF4 on a friend's PS3 and love was back baby!
Next day I bought a PS3 with SF4 and started looking for GOW2 on ebay.
If you played games for so long, I'm sure it's only a moment, maybe you just need a break and looking for something different. Take your time, don't force it and probably the interest will show someday!
Next day I bought a PS3 with SF4 and started looking for GOW2 on ebay.
If you played games for so long, I'm sure it's only a moment, maybe you just need a break and looking for something different. Take your time, don't force it and probably the interest will show someday!
Surfheart said:
Well, that explains it -- at least part of it. Not only will having a kid take it out of you, but it means you'll have fewer days when you could play uninterrupted and keep any momentum going.
Plus, it just happens over time. We change. Maybe the love will come back, maybe it won't, or maybe it'll only return for certain types of games. I didn't play (or feel like playing) any games from 18-24. And even since then (now in my thirties), there'll be periods I go months without turning on a console. Other times, playing games is all I want to do, for days or weeks at a time.
In any case, don't mourn who you used to be or worry about what you'll become. Embrace who you are now.
Davey Cakes
Member
Video gaming isn't something you outgrow. You may just develop certain attitudes that make it harder to enjoy games.JaxJag said:
People act like games are different than TV, music, and movies. They aren't. It's all entertainment in the form of media. In terms of hobbies, I don't enjoy reading, but I'm not going to tell someone who does that I'm too old for it.
I'm enjoying it more these days. It seems that, when I'm happy, I'm much more inclined to enjoy gaming as well. When things aren't going well, I don't play as much.
Now I'm married, everything is going beautifully, future is bright, etc. and I'm having a blast. My interest in games is high, but I do a lot of social things outside of it. I feel like having many different things to do helps me cherish the time I do get to spend gaming.
When I had nothing but free time it was a lot less enjoyable.
Now I'm married, everything is going beautifully, future is bright, etc. and I'm having a blast. My interest in games is high, but I do a lot of social things outside of it. I feel like having many different things to do helps me cherish the time I do get to spend gaming.
When I had nothing but free time it was a lot less enjoyable.
For everyone who has become bored with modern gaming: Start following the indie scene.
If you can't enjoy yourself playing something like Starguard, Runman, or Probability Zero then maybe you really should take a break from games.
Edit:Here's something to get you started.
If you can't enjoy yourself playing something like Starguard, Runman, or Probability Zero then maybe you really should take a break from games.
Edit:Here's something to get you started.
Just don't worry about it. I lost interest in gaming in late 2005 and only got back into it very recently.Wheeliedude said:
It might take a very long time, but eventually the love will come back. And if it doesn't, who cares? After all that time you'll have found a new passion.
Chances are it will come back, though.
POWERSPHERE
Member
I have been through this a few times, it's just getting old and the familiar becoming boring, really. The scariest part is realising that you're moving on past something you've loved alot and had really good times with. It's the surprise and awe that I used to get from games that i'll very rarely get again that I miss. Skate is the first franchise to do it since god knows when, probably the Nintendo 64 era, which was the era that got me actually obsessing over games for a while. Good times, but life rolls on, don't sweat it. Games, like any entertainment, are only a diversion in the end, anyway.
BobsRevenge
I do not avoid women, GAF, but I do deny them my essence.
Yeah, indie games can sort of spark that excitement. I remember Osmos lulling me into this weird mind-space. I cannot recommend that game enough. Its what flOw would be if it tried to be a good game and fulfill its artistic potential.Gilby said:
edit: OH OH OH! World of Goo is fantastic. The game is amazing fun. Then hit up Armadillo Run afterwards. Best physics/engineering game ever.
dark10x said:
I agree... the times when I've enjoyed games the most have been when the rest of my life has been going well. When I meet friends, work out, am healthy, etc, I really enjoy just sitting down to relax with a good game. If I'm feeling depressed, worried about something or lonely I can never get the peace of mind to sit down and play a game, and if I do I feel stressed and don't enjoy myself.
Mr. B Natural
Member
Considering the biggest thing going for gaming now is repackaging old games with "3d vision," I'd say take a break from games and maybe come back when something actually interesting happens in a few years. I don't think you're gonna miss much.
You got a kid now. I think he may be your next hobby and one worth having. ANd he'll (or she) grow up and maybe be interested in gaming. Then you'll be able to enjoy games on a different level.
You got a kid now. I think he may be your next hobby and one worth having. ANd he'll (or she) grow up and maybe be interested in gaming. Then you'll be able to enjoy games on a different level.
Surfheart said:
I had this problem numerous times, and the fix I found? I stopped browsing NeoGAF for a few weeks and everything went back to normal.
Probably because everyone complains about everything (omg, not 720p, omg, minimal AA, omg 8/10 review score!) and it puts you off from the game. Just stop browsing for a bit and you'll see your gaming love revived
...and here I am again on NeoGAF, ofcourse not playing games. This forum is too addicting...