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[CecilRousso]

Lock if this thread is just another backlog thread in the thread about backlogs.

Just a quick question, considering that I've seen people having regrets about game purchases and backlogs in at least 5 different threads just today.

Why do people keep having this kind of manufactured anxiety over game purchases?

If you bought 200 games you barely touched, and actually think you need to play them from start to cross them off some list, then yeah, you might have to think about your buying habits, because that ain't making sense. You're wasting money.

But otherwise, what was the purpose with the purchase? I have probably something like 100 unbeaten games if I go through everything I own, but only count four of them as game I actually intend and need to beat to beat. The others are:

*Games bought for alternate modes then a singleplayer campaign - like skirmish ,atcjes, multiplayer, or just to test mods or something like that.
*Bundle games - I actually don't intend to play every single humble bundle game from start to finish. They're bought just to try, and to support a great concept (byt I do have beaten at least three of them).
*Games bought just to participate in the Steam sales - Of course also playing them to some extent. But I don't actually care if I finish them. Runner2, Castle Crashers, Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition, Pac-Man CE are examples of this. Played somewhere between 0.5-2h, but not much more, and they're not counted towards my backlog.
*Games that I played for while but didn't like - Borderlands 2, Saint's Row 3.

If you think you're gonna beat 400 games, going from A to Z (and beyond if you're swedish or similiar), then good luck. It mostly isn't going to happen. But does it have to? If you count games you actually feel that you should beat, how many are that really?

 

[Dr. Black Jack]

I didn't start hearing about backlogs until Achievements became a thing. I just call it my collection, and play what I want, when I want.

 

[Trigonometrize.]

Checkers and Othello are some games in my backlog that I really want to play, but Chess has been taking up all my time.

 

[CecilRousso]

Checkers and Othello are some games in my backlog that I really want to play, but Chess has been taking up all my time.

The last boss in Chess is pretty tricky, but the ending sequence is worth the hassle.

 

[Disaster Nebraska]

Some people have too much anxiety about videogames. I mean, just look around.

Source: the internet.

 

[ipukespiders]

Yeah, when I stopped focusing on the mountain and just picked a game to play I've found great enjoyment. I usually have a few on the go at any one particular time and the rest get "forgotten" until my plate is cleaned.

Currently 2/3rds of the way through crysis 2 campaign on the PC, bf4 gets it share for multiplayer, and started working through injustice on the ps4 last night.

 

[galvatron]

I didn't start hearing about backlogs until Achievements became a thing. I just call it my collection, and play what I want, when I want.

That's where I'm at with the whole thing...I buy it so that I can have a good/great option when I want to play something right that second.

 

[Crayolan]

I don't buy games I don't intend to beat, or at least put a signifcant amount of time into.

 

[almostheathen]

Curiousity for me really just to see how many, the number is not a big deal for me because it is padded by indie bundles and steam sales. Yea think of it more as a collection or library than a backlog.

 

[Markitron]

I'd agree, I don't understand it at all. I can see why PS Plus and Steam sales may lead to a backlog. I just can't fathom how someone could pay full price for a game and never even try it once, yet many times on GAF I have seen someone say they have [insert game here] still in it's shrink wrap on their shelf, sometimes it seems like they are proud of it. Why buy a load of games when you know you don't have the time to play em, they ain't cheap!

 

[OneEyeTwoHead]

People are weird as shit.

I never even heard of a backlog until I came to NeoGAF. I guess it has something to do with justifying the price paid for the game or something--not entirely sure.

 

[Omega]

because if you buy something, it's a good idea to actually use what you bought

You wouldn't buy a TV from bestbuy and just leave it in the box for years

 

[Imru’ al-Qays]

Yeah. The only two games I own that I haven't beaten are Persona 4 and Ni no Kuni, neither of which I would consider part of my backlog because I really doubt I'll ever beat them. I buy one game at a time and beat it before moving on to the next game.

 

[Disaster Nebraska]

I also think that people hear about such-and-such a game and hear that it's amazing (which is an everyday occurrance on places like internet forums) and they don't want to get left behind. I mean, who wants to be the guy who never played Chrono Trigger? Or who never tried out a Halo game? What if Obscure JRPG VisualNovel is the next Chrono Trigger!?!?!

 

[fredrancour]

Many gaffers play primarily for single player content and do genuinely imagine they'll beat everything eventually

I don't. Party games, mmos, elder scrolls games, things i only own because of bundles all don't count.
Edit: don't expect to beat everything that is

 

[QuixoticNeutral]

My best guess is that people no longer feel like they've properly extracted value for money (even if they paid a steep discount or next to nothing) until they have completed a game to their satisfaction. In part, this is a product of an era where games are now designed to be completed, whereas in the NES era, the lack of save points, the chase for high scores, and the punishing difficulty of most games made failure usually inevitable and seeing the end credits a rare anomaly. The endpoint at which a player is comfortable putting a game aside as finished is now a more clearly defined expectation, such that to finish a game is to beat it.

Game design has changed, and players are reconfiguring their expectations of themselves around it.

 

[lt519]

Yeah most these backlogs are inflated by games people never intended to play in the first place. The furthest I've gotten behind is like 2-3 games and I've always caught up. Games I played and didn't enjoy/got bored of don't even exist to me anymore.

 

[Poimandres]

I would definte my "backlog" as games I own but haven't played at all. I have quite a few of these.

But I'm in no rush. I like having a huge collection of games, especially on PC, because I know I'll be able to fire them up in 10 years time if I feel like checking out some missed classic.

 

[Possum]

It's just like books. I have a million books I want to read and yet I still only ever read my favorites.

It's just a term, man. If people buy a game the intention is to play it, even if they don't.

 

[CecilRousso]

because if you buy something, it's a good idea to actually use what you bought

Absolutely, but in what way do you want to use the games? I mean, I bought Supreme Commander 2 for multiplayer, and some skirmish matches. But I have barely touched the singleplayer campaign in it at all, since it wasn't what interested me about the games. There's no way I would make beating that a goal, and adding it as yet another item in a large list, just for the sake of it.

I was another thing with the New Vegas DLC that I had for several years before beating, since I bought them with the intention to beat them. They were added to the backlog.

 

[DizzyCaffeine]

Totally agree. If anything, I usually have a 1-2 game "backlog" - the game I'm really enjoying, and the game I keep telling myself I'll go back to. In general, though, I don't care that much if I don't complete a game.

 

[LiveFromKyoto]

I also think that people hear about such-and-such a game and hear that it's amazing (which is an everyday occurrance on places like internet forums) and they don't want to get left behind. I mean, who wants to be the guy who never played Chrono Trigger? Or who never tried out a Halo game? What if Obscure JRPG VisualNovel is the next Chrono Trigger!?!?!

Yep.

Dumb reason #2: "Only first day/week/month sales count and I really want to support this game so a sequel/more like it get greenlit."

I recently had to decide that the time I was going to waste on games that I only sort of like was more valuable than you money I'd be tossing away by not playing them, so I exclude them from my backlog list without guilt.

 

[Deleted member 752119]

I've had small back logs of up to 15-20 games a few times. Just due to browsing Cheapassgamer.com and buying stuff that interested me just because it's cheap. Led to a backlog once I started making real money and problem switched from lack of money for games to lack of time to play them.

I've quit that entirely and now just buy games I want to play immediately. Be it day one, or getting something I missed cheap later on during a drought. I'm also just sticking with PS4 and portables this gen as I just don't have the time/interest to keep up with more than that.

Having even a small backlog bugged me as I don't collect and sell most games after beating. So it was just clutter of games sitting on the shelf and losing value, making it feel like a chore to clear the out. I just sold a bunch off, played the ones I really wanted, and went into this gen with the above philosophy and am a much happier gamer.

PS+ stuff I don't factor in as I'd pay for that just for multiplayer like I did Gold for years. And most of the stuff they put up either isn't stuff I'd buy/play or things I already beat anyway. So it's just a bonus with some good games occasionally to check out firing droughts.

 

[SatoAilDarko]

I don't. There are only a few games I've bought and don't intend to beat (multiplayer, weird game, played didn't like). I honestly own over 100 console games I haven't even started. When I see I really good deal (less than $10) I buy a game. So in my case I really do have such a large amount of games I intend to play and finish.

 

[bobawesome]

I've only ever noticed this with people who mass purchase games on Steam. It's ridiculous.

 

[bananafactory]

I don't count:

-Things I get for free
-Sports games/multiplayer games etc with no story campaign

But otherwise I do intend on playing every single game I buy.

 

[Dr. Black Jack]

because if you buy something, it's a good idea to actually use what you bought

You wouldn't buy a TV from bestbuy and just leave it in the box for years

If your purpose in buying the TV was to collect it you would.

That said, I collect to play and open/try out every game I buy.

 

[gioGAF]

The whole backlog thing seems pretty dumb to me. Why do people keep buying games if they don't have the time to play them? Wouldn't you stop buying something you have an overabundance of until you need it again?

I also don't see the game being "on sale" as a reasonable exception, I'm sure it will go on sale again. I guess if you buy it for some super low amount (<$5), it doesn't really impact you, but then again you didn't really need it to begin with.

If you do play your games often, and you just haven't completely exhausted the entertainment value of each unit, then that isn't really a backlog.

 

[CecilRousso]

The whole backlog thing seems pretty dumb to me. Why do people keep buying games if they don't have the time to play them? Wouldn't you stop buying something you have an overabundance of until you need it again?

That depends on what the purchase is. I bought loads of humble bundles for between $5-10 because I want to support the idea, and because each bundle has had at least one game I wanted to play. But that has left me with something like 30 bundle games at least that I don't care about. Wouldn't put them on any least to go through, at least not before more interesting games.

 

[Mechazawa]

Because I have dozens of games I do intend to beat, or at least get further through to recognize whether or not I'd like to finish them off.

The proliferation of PC sales means that I have multiple, high-profile retail games that I need to get further in. Many of them that I like, but that are simply half finished. Many of them that I've barely scratched. A few of them that I'm already close to beating. This isn't just a matter of "oh, I got a dozen indie game keys from a bundle, there's 6 more for the backlog"

 

[Omega]

Absolutely, but in what way do you want to use the games? I mean, I bought Supreme Commander 2 for multiplayer, and some skirmish matches. But I have barely touched the singleplayer campaign in it at all, since it wasn't what interested me about the games. There's no way I would make beating that a goal, and adding it as yet another item in a large list, just for the sake of it.

I was another thing with the New Vegas DLC that I had for several years before beating, since I bought them with the intention to beat them. They were added to the backlog.

true.

i don't set out to beat everything i buy, but i do want to at least try it. if I only play it for 10 minutes that's fine with me. otherwise it just feels like a complete waste of money.

There's games on Steam I bought on sale that i still haven't even installed =/

 

[Pandacon]

My backlog mainly started building when I started working, and MMOs made it even worse.

And even though I have all these game to play, it doesn't make me lose interest in new games coming out. Though I try to be really picky, and I play newer games first.

Also a lot of my backlog comes from a few experiences with game I wanted but they went out of print by the time I was ready to buy, so, old habits. That mentality is mostly irrelevant now outside of niche japanese games.

 

[Zeyphersan]

On the one hand, I envy people who don't consider unplayed games they own "dead weight" so to speak. But on the other hand, I envy people who can actually pick a game, stick with it, and beat it without jumping around to other games.

 

[Chie Satonaka]

I just call it my collection, and play what I want, when I want.

I think I need to start doing this. That way I won't feel guilty when I keep buying games despite having many that are still in the wrapping.

 

[ALM5252]

I have a huge "backlog" of games I haven't beaten going back to the NES with most in the N64 and PS3.

I blame it mainly on buying a new game, playing it till i get bored and going back to Smash Bros. majority of the time. That's like my main game.

I question myself why i even get new games when I just go back to Smash Bros anyways.

 

[Mit-]

I have hundreds of unplayed games that I plan to beat some day that are part of my "backlog."

I have several others that I have purchased for multiplayer, or came along with humble bundles. Those aren't a part of my backlog.

So yes some of us just have massive backlogs of games we intend or at least desire to someday play. I envision it as a hobby I'll have for the rest of my life, and my buying habits lessen the more video games change and become less interesting to me (ie: online multiplayer games, MMOs, military anything). I see it as my collection slowly becoming more feasible to complete over the next few decades.

 

[Artorias]

I don't buy games I don't intend to beat, or at least put a signifcant amount of time into.

This, completely. I assume OP is mainly talking about Steam? Otherwise, who on earth is buying retail games they never intend to play?

My physical game backlog is in the hundreds, and I will absolutely beat most of them. I usually beat one or two a week but of course I'm still buying as well. I am about 50/50 between playing new games or classics though, so I'm in no rush to beat anything in particular. I'm playing Phantasy Star II and Lunar SSS atm.

 

[InfiniteCombo]

Checkers and Othello are some games in my backlog that I really want to play, but Chess has been taking up all my time.

Spoiler alert: Turns out Garry Kasparov is NOT the final boss. Dun dun dun!

But OP, you're right; I no longer think of my collection as a backlog. Although that seems like a benign word difference, it makes a HUGE impact on the psychology of the hobby. "Backlog" has almost become a pejorative term: A backlog assumes a chore; a collection assumes fun.

I mean, when I was a kid and I couldn't get past the first level on Super Ghouls n' Ghosts, I didn't add the game to my "backlog." It was just a game that sat there, to be played whenever I felt like it.

 

[Dr. Black Jack]

I think I need to start doing this. That way I won't feel guilty when I keep buying games despite having many that are still in the wrapping.

It's pretty cool to pull a game off the shelf and be like "OH MAN, 187 Ride or Die, WTF" and have an unexpected game night.

 

[Metaternal]

I don't think I've ever bought a game I didn't plan on beating, let alone playing, and it's because of this that I've been able to save a bunch of money. Of course, this is for physical games. Digital games are easier to ignore.

 

[CecilRousso]

This, completely. I assume OP is mainly talking about Steam? Otherwise, who on earth is buying retail games they never intend to play?

With physical games, yes, not at playing them at all would be pretty dumb. But there is no golden rule that you have to beat the single player campaign, if that wasn't why you bought the game.

 

[NinjamicWZ]

*Games bought just to participate in the Steam sales

I think buying things with the intention of playing them at some point is more reasonable than doing this.

 

[randomkid]

I'm not sure why you're trying to get people to rethink their buying habits when this:

*Games bought just to participate in the Steam sales - Runner2, Castle Crashers, Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition, Pac-Man CE. I don't actually care if I finish them. I

is a lot crazier than anyone who drops $5-10 (or less!) on a game they actually want to play at some point. I've got like a 30 game backlog but most of those games have gone UP in price since I got them and only a handful of them were bought at $20 (everything else was less than half that).

People who buy games at full price when they have a backlog are suckers though, yeah, everyone agrees with that.

If you are savvy enough to surf GAF it's impossible to avoid noticing free or dirt cheap games that are of interest to you, assuming you have even slightly broad taste and more than 1 system you play on.

 

[CecilRousso]

I think buying things with the intention of playing them at some point is more reasonable than doing this.

Yeah, of course. actually playing is of course something that should be done. But I have bought several small games just to participate, and then maybe only played them for 30-60 minutes without any need to further pursue them until I have played more prioritized games enough. Updating OP.

But still, if you know your intention with the purchase, you really don't have to put them in a backlog just out of principle. There's no shame in spending a couple of bucks just to participate.

 

[InsuRn]

That's where I'm at with the whole thing...I buy it so that I can have a good/great option when I want to play something right that second.

I'm with you both on that. I like to have multiple options when I want to play.

 

[tokyostomp]

My backlog consist of games I never got around to finishing or just plain quit

Like Persona 4

 

[axisofweevils]

I use the Backloggery to keep track of what games I have - "Oh yeah, I own that." It sounds silly but with the constant Humble Bundles, it is easy to forget.

I don't list every game on there, though. I've been gaming for years, so I've limited my backloggery to post 2005-stuff. Plus, if I play a game and find it terrible, I remove it, because I have zero intention of playing it again.

 

[Ampersands]

I don't feel any urgency in completing a backlog. I think it's nice to have games waiting to be played but that doesn't mean I'm going to drop the game I'm currently playing/enjoying just for the sake of clearing games out of the backlog.

The anxiety for me is deciding which game to play.

 

[Some Nobody]

There's a reason why I buy retail only.

 

[draetenth]

I didn't start hearing about backlogs until Achievements became a thing. I just call it my collection, and play what I want, when I want.

That's where I'm at with the whole thing...I buy it so that I can have a good/great option when I want to play something right that second.

I'm with you both on that. I like to have multiple options when I want to play.

The bolded sums up my thoughts - I view it as a collection of games where I have multiple options of what to play so I can always play the game I'm in the mood for...

I've only ever noticed this with people who mass purchase games on Steam. It's ridiculous.

This, completely. I assume OP is mainly talking about Steam? Otherwise, who on earth is buying retail games they never intend to play?

My physical game backlog is in the hundreds, and I will absolutely beat most of them. I usually beat one or two a week but of course I'm still buying as well. I am about 50/50 between playing new games or classics though, so I'm in no rush to beat anything in particular. I'm playing Phantasy Star II and Lunar SSS atm.

While it is true that my massive backlog now is mainly through Steam, it was initially a collection of physical games from the PS1 + PS2 era. It isn't like you couldn't buy a bunch of games for cheap before Steam existed...