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Why do people keep counting every single game purchase as a backlog game?
- Thread starter CecilRousso
- Start date
Did you even read what you quoted? I'm not saying you can't have a backlog of physical games, I'm asking who in their right mind is buying physical games with no intention of playing them. It makes a bit more sense when its 99 cents and a click away, which is why I assume people who use Steam a lot buy absolute garbage when it gets cheap enough. Its the only explanation for my Steam friends owning Homefront.
Collectors like me...
Oh. Well yea, obviously thats a terrible plan, but I wouldn't call it a backlog game if you never intended to play it.
Also, you only need one period to end a sentence.
I don't think it's all stupidity. Some of it is definitely down to being incapable of controlling their impulses and just buying shit games or games they would never play because they are cheap. People do this outside of gaming all the time.
To the Op, it's become sort of a badge of honor around here to talk about how many games you own but haven't played. You can't go into a Steam thread without a dozen people talking about how many games they own they don't/haven't/won't play. It's asinine, it's nonsensical, but it's definitely a thing.
SillyEskimo
Member
I have a backlog of movies, books, comics, podcasts, video games, board games, miniatures to paint, and Lego.
It's great. I'll get to them all eventually. Or not. I don't really care one way or the other. It's nice knowing I have a huge variety of the very best of my hobbies at my fingertips whenever I find the time. It's all right there waiting for me.
It's great. I'll get to them all eventually. Or not. I don't really care one way or the other. It's nice knowing I have a huge variety of the very best of my hobbies at my fingertips whenever I find the time. It's all right there waiting for me.
PaulExcellent
Member
I count games I meant to purchase, rather than the others included on bundles and such, and whatever is gifted to me.
I buy some games solely for the reason of putting them in my backlog. I stay pretty current with new releases, but when there is down time (such as now), I dig into those games to fill the time. These are almost entirely games I have gotten either for less than $10, or they were in a Humble Bundle or something similar. I don't really buy a game that I am really eager to play and then just never get around to playing it.
ReBurn
Gold Member
I tend to do the opposite. I buy a crap ton of games I know I'm going to put very little effort into. I play them all, but never finish any.
SovereignSnake
Banned
When someone drops, "Ain't" then you know it just got real. But I 100% agree with you. This backlog thing has gotten out of hand.
Relativ9
Member
Which is why I said "in all things commercial", to a certain extent materialism is good, its based on our evolutionary history where having the most badass "home" with as many comforts as possible was an advantage in aquiering a mate. Sadly thst instict has now in mordern times spawned a whole bunvh of problems and disorders. Hoarding being the most obvious example. Buying things you dont need or never use just because its a good deal is a symptom of this. In western society this is incredibly prevalent and most people suffer from it to some degree, while the more observant eventually teach themselves to avoid those pitfalls and let go. So, in summation; people are stupid ^^
FutureZombie
Banned
I think I can hear the Valve marketing team laughing somewhere. People just need to have some self control and not buy every game that looks like it could possibly be good.
At least for me, a game in my backlog means a game that I want to play. It doesn't necessarily mean a game that I will beat.
For example, yesterday I finished FFX HD Remaster and wanted to play FFX-2, however I didn't like it. So it was crossed off my list.
I know that there are more interesting games being released than I have time to play them, so I will always have a backlog (maybe not, I'm not planning to buy a new console/upgrade my PC this gen).
For example, yesterday I finished FFX HD Remaster and wanted to play FFX-2, however I didn't like it. So it was crossed off my list.
I know that there are more interesting games being released than I have time to play them, so I will always have a backlog (maybe not, I'm not planning to buy a new console/upgrade my PC this gen).
Unbound By Death
Member
Only the games i intend to play are my "backlog"
Some obscure indie game is not considered backlog.
Some obscure indie game is not considered backlog.
Least100Seraphs
Neo Member
I have a backlog I track which lists all the games that I'm not done with, so to speak (some are unplayed, some I played some of but haven't "finished", etc.) that can be considered to have a defined end. By its nature, the list is comprised of singleplayer games, not multiplayer, "party", or music games.
I order the list in projected play order, and the list is very fluid - games move up and down depending on what I feel like playing. For example, I picked up Prototype and Prototype 2 in the recent steam sale, and after playing the first, the second went down the list a little, because I didn't feel like going straight into another sandbox game.
However, the phrase "not done with" is key to all of this. If I'm not really getting pulled in by a game, or if I'm starting to lose interest in it, I'll let it sit there and try something else, and come back to it later. It'll shuffle slightly down the list naturally (by virtue of currently played games coming up the list) until I'm ready to play it again. Most importantly, if the game just isn't something I want to play and don't foresee myself changing my feelings on, it goes off the list. I'm not forcing myself through anything just for the dubious honour of being to tick it off or earn achievements.
I order the list in projected play order, and the list is very fluid - games move up and down depending on what I feel like playing. For example, I picked up Prototype and Prototype 2 in the recent steam sale, and after playing the first, the second went down the list a little, because I didn't feel like going straight into another sandbox game.
However, the phrase "not done with" is key to all of this. If I'm not really getting pulled in by a game, or if I'm starting to lose interest in it, I'll let it sit there and try something else, and come back to it later. It'll shuffle slightly down the list naturally (by virtue of currently played games coming up the list) until I'm ready to play it again. Most importantly, if the game just isn't something I want to play and don't foresee myself changing my feelings on, it goes off the list. I'm not forcing myself through anything just for the dubious honour of being to tick it off or earn achievements.
CecilRousso
Member
Based on those two examples? Then I think you don't really understand them.
LiegeWaffle
Member
I used to maintain the personal backlog; it was not limited only to the games I actually own, since in the age of Amazon, PSN and Steam, games are ridiculously easy to obtain without much effort or waiting.
At some point I basically realized that the list started turning into "list of all probably good games ever made", so I stopped trying to maintain it, and resorted to a smaller lists of "games I currently play" and "games I might play next", which are kept deliberately small by the fact that they are stored in my memory. One day I hope to return to maintaining my larger list, because making those kind of catalogues is a lot of fun!
At some point I basically realized that the list started turning into "list of all probably good games ever made", so I stopped trying to maintain it, and resorted to a smaller lists of "games I currently play" and "games I might play next", which are kept deliberately small by the fact that they are stored in my memory. One day I hope to return to maintaining my larger list, because making those kind of catalogues is a lot of fun!
bobawesome
Member
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with having a convenient way to buy a lot of games you have an interest in. I just think it's dumb to call every single game you've picked up in a bundle and have no intention to play a part of your "back catalog." It's not realistic to say that your back catalog consists of 300+ games when you have no intention of playing the vast majority of them. This isn't directed to you but rather the people who feel the need to throw out "lol well you have nothing on Steam users" whenever someone mentions all the games they need to catch up on.
charlequin
Banned
I don't think there's that much anxiety to it for most people. Keeping a list kind of makes it a metagame. I started keeping track of what I beat in a year when stump and Segata got into a year-long battle to see who could finish more games. I don't really worry too much about it, but I do like to try to hit up a lot of different stuff.
Yes, I too agree that people buying items of interest to them at massive discounts are stupid.
breakfuss
Member
Haha, wow, I posed this very question to some people yesterday. I have a lot of games in my collection/library, sure, but I don't consider them all part of an active "backlog". That just doesn't make sense to me. We all know good and well none of us will ever beat all this stuff. So I just play what I want and when. Too stressful worrying about it. My only biggest regret is skipping New Vegas from last gen's so-called backlog.
weemadarthur
Member
I maintain a library of games so I know I will have something new to play when I finish a game.
I seldom buy games day one at full retail price, but if I do, it's because that game is moving to the front of the line. I do finish those.
I can get very tired of any given game, and put it down until it doesn't feel negative to think about playing it again. That easily can take 3 years. But, I have gone back to games and finished them 3 years later.
I intend to finish every game in my library, if I have sufficient skill. Occasionally I find myself not happy with a game purchase, and I resell those. Usually at a profit, too.
Why buy games then? Because the price is in my range for that item. For some games that range is higher than others. But, my gaming tastes are niche. It generally works out better to buy low print games when they are at their cheapest, as the price eventually goes up again when they sell out or there is generational turnover.
I seldom buy games day one at full retail price, but if I do, it's because that game is moving to the front of the line. I do finish those.
I can get very tired of any given game, and put it down until it doesn't feel negative to think about playing it again. That easily can take 3 years. But, I have gone back to games and finished them 3 years later.
I intend to finish every game in my library, if I have sufficient skill. Occasionally I find myself not happy with a game purchase, and I resell those. Usually at a profit, too.
Why buy games then? Because the price is in my range for that item. For some games that range is higher than others. But, my gaming tastes are niche. It generally works out better to buy low print games when they are at their cheapest, as the price eventually goes up again when they sell out or there is generational turnover.
D
Deleted member 752119
Unconfirmed Member
That I'd agree with. Backlog for me is games I own that I want to play. But that's always been my whole collection, other than PS+ stuff, as I'p haven't bought bundles etc. (console only gamer) and only buy games I intend to play. Just took me a while to stop worrying about sales and just buy a game when I'm ready to play it to avoid a backlog since the number of games I'd like to play is greater than the time I have to play them.