Do you enjoy 'boring' games?

[uncle_yuri]

I put boring in quotes because that's not quite a fair description; after all, all games have at least a few fans who would object. So the kind of game I'm talking about is, to pull a random example, train simulators. I sat down yesterday and played one for the first time, and for reasons beyond me I had fun with it for a while. Maybe I'm stressed and games like these are good easy-paced stress relief.

Just on the face of it, a train simulator doesn't seem like a fun experience, yet it was. It might have just been the novelty of figuring out the control scheme, or the fact that I was really tired and not in the mood for a challenge, or any number of things. I watched a Nerd3 video on a train simulator (which in part inspired me to try one), and he said something to the effect of, "Because everyone just wants to drive a train every once in a while."

So I put it to you -- for those of you who are fans of this kind of thing, how come? Are you into specific kinds of simulators, or different things altogether? Basically, what is it that appeals to us when there's plenty of more 'exciting' games out there?

 

[ninja666]

I enjoy these types of games from time to time. They're especially good to play when you're burned out on all of the action-packed, skill-requiring titles and want some relaxing stuff instead. I'm not into train simulators, though.

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

Yes, if only for a change of pace and maybe to let my brain rest a bit. Never for a long time, but it's still nice now and then.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

My idea of a boring, repetitive game is Bejeweled, which I recently brought up as a relaxing game as well. Minesweeper is a good second option.

 

[Cowabungaa]

I've actually been thinking of getting into them, as lately I feel too tired and old to play more exciting, high-octane games like TOXIKK (still a stupid title, but whatever). I so love that shooter but god I'm just too slow and creaky for it. I need to wind down for a bit. Exams are taking their toll.

So I've been thinking of getting Kerbal Space Program and Space Engineers for some quiet, contemplative gaming. I also count point-and-click adventures among these and I can't wait for my copy of Grim Fandango Remastered to unlock tomorrow.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

I'm not entirely sure if its boring, but I know alot of people who can't stand Roller Coaster Tycoon and I straight up love it! Despite the fact I basically do the same park every time, I just love naming things "Your Mom" Or "Fucking Me" Or "A Splintering Old Dildo"
That way when you look at the thoughts of park guests, you get "Fucking Me is a really good value" or "Your mom has broken down!" Or the always classic "I'm not paying that much to ride on A Splintering Old Dildo"

Always brightens up my day!

 

[briankoontz]

I play and enjoy a lot of games that boil down to mathematical formulas - Desktop Dungeons, World of Warcraft, Out of the Park Baseball 15 - many people consider these games "nerdy" or "mathy" and boring. A lot of the people who play World of Warcraft do so for social or fashion reasons (transmogging) and could care less about the mathematical side of things.

 

[E3137]

I actually find train simulator quite interesting (...I'll pause for a minute to let that statement sink in!), a quick google of my username and you'll see why...

A strange combination of interests, but hey-ho!

 

[Elfgore]

I keep Euro-Truck Simulator 2 always installed and ready to play on my PC. Something about driving fake hours on a road really calms me. If I'm tired of shoot 'em up games, RPGs, or whatever, I just go straight to Euro Truck Simulator. I never drive in Britain though, those bastards still can't figure out which side of the road is correct.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

DA:I was fairly boring but i enjoyed it for what its worth.

 

[DocJ]

Call me stupid, and silly. But I say XCOM is the most boring, grating game I have ever played. Sure it has some good bits such as...

Spoiler

The base defence in Enemy Within or the first couple of situational missions. As well as plot developments. Those cutscenes are the best.

But what if you're not the type to go in unprepared? What if you're the type who wants to construct a fully operational satellite array before they've even discovered how laser guns work? What if you want to grind materials and research everything before you go into story? Then you hit a wall. It's alien abduction here, terror mission there, the council wants you to escort another goddamn VIP. The completionist inside me wanted to die before he got all the technology. The missions are fun at first, and some special events are cool too. But when you're clearing out the 87th squad of aliens on Operation Purple Hammer with no injuries and at least 3 captives?
You start to question why you're even fighting for the doomed planet anyways.

And I can't turn up the difficulty to impossible because then it becomes super megadeath mode, where random number generation seems rigged. Like all my trips to a coin arcade.

 

[dragoon3zero]

i like playing Game Dev Tycoon every once in awhile. its fun and eventually you get good hints as what makes a good game depending on game topic and genre.

 

[OpticalJunction]

DA:I was fairly boring but i enjoyed it for what its worth.

hahah i was going to say the same thing. running through the hinterlands looking for elfroot is oddly calming. a lot of DAI is like that.

additionally i play old school turn based RPGS for the same reason, like fallout 1+2.

 

[visiblenoise]

Call me stupid, and silly. But I say XCOM is the most boring, grating game I have ever played. Sure it has some good bits such as...

Spoiler

The base defence in Enemy Within or the first couple of situational missions. As well as plot developments. Those cutscenes are the best.

But what if you're not the type to go in unprepared? What if you're the type who wants to construct a fully operational satellite array before they've even discovered how laser guns work? What if you want to grind materials and research everything before you go into story? Then you hit a wall. It's alien abduction here, terror mission there, the council wants you to escort another goddamn VIP. The completionist inside me wanted to die before he got all the technology. The missions are fun at first, and some special events are cool too. But when you're clearing out the 87th squad of aliens on Operation Purple Hammer with no injuries and at least 3 captives?
You start to question why you're even fighting for the doomed planet anyways.

And I can't turn up the difficulty to impossible because then it becomes super megadeath mode, where random number generation seems rigged. Like all my trips to a coin arcade.

Perhaps I'm missing the point of your post, but it sounds like your boredom of XCOM comes mainly from you playing it to death. Not many games can stay fun after that...

 

[TristanBelmont]

Most people consider Strategy games to be this.
So yeah. I do.

 

[Weaver]

I play a lot of "boring" games and turn based games. I like being able to take my time sometimes.
It's not like I hate action, I just don't always want a high octane, reflex based game after a long day lol.

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

The one that comes to mind first was "Papers, Please". Although the principle of it, and even describing it to someone or watching someone play it looks like MORE office work than I already do in my life, I found it quite interesting. Boring to play, but interesting to experience, geez that sounds like a total contradiction. But if a game was all out boring, I don't think I'd play it, no.

 

[The Wykydtron]

I wouldn't say a "boring" game, I don't think many people would willingly just boot up something they found totally boring to begin with. I'll go for boring as in slow paced.

Fire Emblem Awakening probably counts, I basically only play it for them sick crit animations and hammy voice lines. Fuckin' Chrom.

"I WILL NOT FAIL! EYYYAHHHH!"

*ded*

I don't think it's possible to play Awakening and not end up with a man-crush on Chrom. He's just so manly and cool... I don't blame anyone who always pairs the female main character with him for maximum self insert fanfiction.

[sub][sub]I do it too shhhh[/sub][/sub]

Also i'm playing literally 5 minutes or under of one particular Visual Novel before I go to sleep every day now, it's just that boring. I can't even remember the name off the top of my head, it's probably going to end up being average with nothing too memorable about it but at the same time it does have a chance of surprising me.

Though since my last VN was the masterpiece called Devil on the G-String, that's an unreasonably large hole to fill i'll give it that. It was one of those games where any single component of the game could carry alone (the soundtrack could carry a subpar plot, Maou and Haru could carry a bad soundtrack, the plot could carry a Maou without the sexy Zero voice etc) but didn't need to because everything complimented everything else to push it onto a whole nother level.

 

[VanQ]

Oh man, I can't believe I finally have an excuse to post this.


But on topic, it can obviously be quite relaxing to sit back and relax while playing something at a far slower pace. It's one of the reasons I truly love the Atelier series. The slow pace of the gameplay and the focus on crafting over the combat which isn't that deep is fantastic to relax to. Plus, the art, music and atmosphere does really well to help me chill out too.