How do you deal with agonizing waits for game releases?

[chozo_hybrid]

I still have until tomorrow to wait for my copy of Xcom: EU to arrive and it's driving me nuts, I have been waiting ages and when I know other people are already playing it it drives me even more insane with jealousy!

So I ask you, fellow members of the Escapist, what do you do to pass the time until that game you have been waiting for is only a day or two from arrival?

Are there any games at the moment that you're so excited for that the wait is agonizing, or any previous ones you would like to share?

 

[tippy2k2]

I play video games

No special secret; I either play through a game I've already played since I can just stop playing when my waiting game ends or play an old game that I bought that I never got to (this happens to me a lot with DLC since I buy it when it goes on sale, not when I intend to play it).

 

[Razentsu]

I just play a bunch of other games. Usually they are games that are similar to the game I am anticipating.

I was playing plenty of Guilty Gear and Melty Blood while waiting for Persona 4 Arena.

 

[WoW Killer]

I reminisce on previous disappointments, and remind myself not to expect so much.

 

[CannibalCorpses]

I find masturbation fills the time quite nicely.

Also, if the game turns out to be crap you have something sore to think about instead!

 

[Jason Rayes]

I have a huge backlog of games thanks to Steam so I just play through stuff Ive been putting off while I wait. This fills the time AND whittles down my backlog.

 

[Hawkeye 131]

I have a busy schedule to begin with but I find playing through previous enteries in the series, for instance I just finished playing through the Halo series (Halo: Reach, Halo: CEA Halo 2, Halo: ODST & Halo 3), helps in preparing for Halo 4.

Also I've tried not getting to invested in a game to much in the first place / strictly avoiding pre-release marketing, PR, hype, game reviews, etc...

Jumping on to Halopedia, Masseffectwiki, etc... In order to get re-familiarized with the established lore and canon of the universe.

L4D2 - I don't know what it is but for some unknown reason I never get tired of killing zombies with chainsaws, molotov cocktails and M60's. It just NEVER gets old.

-Hawk

 

[chozo_hybrid]

I play video games

No special secret; I either play through a game I've already played since I can just stop playing when my waiting game ends or play an old game that I bought that I never got to (this happens to me a lot with DLC since I buy it when it goes on sale, not when I intend to play it).

I play games too, but the one I am waiting for is constantly on my mind as I do so, it's what happens when I look forward to a title, there's only a handful that have ever driven me this nutty.

I find masturbation fills the time quite nicely.

Also, if the game turns out to be crap you have something sore to think about instead!

Noted.

I have a busy schedule to begin with but I find playing through previous enteries in the series, for instance I just finished playing through the Halo series (Halo: Reach, Halo: CEA Halo 2, Halo: ODST & Halo 3), helps in preparing for Halo 4.

Also I've tried not getting to invested in a game to much in the first place / strictly avoiding pre-release marketing, PR, hype, game reviews, etc...

Jumping on to Halopedia, Masseffectwiki, etc... In order to get re-familiarized with the established lore and canon of the universe.

L4D2 - I don't know what it is but for some unknown reason I never get tired of killing zombies with chainsaws, molotov cocktails and M60's. It just NEVER gets old.

-Hawk

I ahve been avoiding much of the hype, just the trailers and one game play video, I avoided the demo due to its size.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

I played a mixture of Sleeping Dogs, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and Tales of Graces f until Resi 6 came out. Then I played Resi 6 until Dishonored came out.

 

[Smeggs]

I just don't think about them.

Like I've done with Bioshock: Infinite.

And look there, it'll be out in about five more months, as opposed to the year+ back when the announcement trailer came out.

 

[McMullen]

I've been there. It now seems ridiculous to me that this ever seemed like a problem, but I've been there.

The thing is, most games are not that great, even the big-name AAA titles that everyone looks forward to. Skyrim has lots of problems, ME3 has lots of problems, Battlefield 3 has lots of problems. Every game has its disappointments, and almost none come anywhere close to meeting the expectations placed on them.

Games simply aren't very fulfilling. Though it may be worth playing them in moderation, you can quickly get to a point where you'd be enjoying yourself a lot better by doing something else. Every time I go on a hike, or climb a rock wall, or simply go out and dosomething, I remember the time I spend playing games and think "Why'd I do that?".

If you find yourself unable to abide the time between releases, it may be a sign that there's not enough else going on in your life. Go and experience more of what life has to offer, and the release date may even pass by without you noticing. Even better, if you wait a little longer, there will be used copies at your local stores for you to buy at a lesser price. I haven't bought a new game for myself since ME2, and I've never missed out because of it.

 

[Joccaren]

I start learning how to make mods for games, and then begin making them. Works well enough to pass the time, and eventually I have a whole new game for free - if I ever end up finishing one.

 

[Altorin]

I don't have agonizing waits for games, except the time when I had The Force Unleashed and no 360 to play it on, also Mass Effect 2 with the same reason, I suppose those were agonizing waits, but I was waiting for a replacement 360, not a game. The only game I'm agonizing over at all these days is Project Eternity. Oh, and I'm certainly agonizing over season 3 of Game of Thrones.

 

[Catfood220]

I usually just play video games and wait it out. I know how you feel, I'm waiting for The Last of Us and its not even got a release date yet which is driving me nuts. Mind you, I've got Darksiders 2 and Dishonored to play through at some point so that should keep me occupied for a while.

 

[RustlessPotato]

I play moar Vidya games. Usually the game releases and I finish the game I was playing first, so I don't touch the game I just bought for a while .

 

[Norix596]

Read lots of media material and watch a bunch of trailers for it. ^^

 

[MorganL4]

I don't. My life is so busy that I basically find out a game is coming out that I want to play, and I instead try to figure out when I will have time to play it, when I still have x y and z games that I want to play and have not because of work, school, and certification tests.... Not to mention I try to maintain SOME social life.

And now I have finally found enough time to install and play Guild Wars 2. So I'm gonna stop typing and go do that now.

Bye.

 

[Haagrum]

Usually, I go back to my sad routine of work, the gym, studying, cooking and spending time with interesting people. The horror!

In all seriousness, I keep myself distracted however I can. The above all work well, although some are less pleasant than others.

 

[Pink Gregory]

Dishonored comes out on Friday, I'm going into the town with the store I preordered it in on thursday, without having to make an extra journey (which I can't really afford), I'm gon' have to wait 'til monday.

This is going to be a tense weekend.