I think I am going to stop playing videogames

[Jamous]

Fair enough. If you're not enjoying them at the moment then why keep them? Perhaps just keep an eye on the market and just see whether there's anything that might interest you. It's always easy to get back in if you want. That's the things with hobbies. You can pick them up and give them up as you see fit.

 

[OpticalJunction]

It could be you're all "Gamed" out and need a new hobby, or ten. It's that much easier to jump into a hobby when you've got a bunch of others you could choose from, but if all you do for fun is game, you'll eventually resent it. Diversity is key.

 

[sextus the crazy]

Do it.

Unless you want to take the time to find some non AAA games for your system, I'd just recommend going on hiatus until appropriate (as one Ctrl-alt-del comic showed, sometimes the best time to resume gaming is when your child gets to the age of gaming). You can find other stuff to do.

On the other hand, you could get a handheld like the 3DS and get some games for it. Since "AAA game" and "handheld game" are generally mutually exclusive, you find a lot of smaller, more accessible games. Also for PC, check out the humble bundle releases. It's like 10 bucks for 5-7 indie games, with a least one or two being pretty fun.

 

[Mikejames]

I'd throw everything in a closet for a year or two - not throw it up on E-bay just yet. If you change your mind and miss it 6 months from now - well you'll still have it, and if you don't, you don't, but that's my advice.

Seconded. I remember being pretty burnt out on games and new releases a while back and figured I had just lost interest. After a hiatus I was recommended an older title or two that ended up reminding me what I loved about the medium.

Obviously you shouldn't force yourself to play if you're not enjoying it, but there's always the choice of picking it up again someday.

 

[V da Mighty Taco]

Let's start 20 years ago.
When I was about 7, my dad got a Personal Computer. *wow*
When it turned on, the letters were in bright colors and even that blew my mind.
The computer after that, could even play some games, like platformers and stuff. Needless to say, I was hooked.
A few years later, got the classic Nintendo, a few years after that, the Nintendo 64. And many other videogame consoles followed.

Now, I'm 27 and I have an Xbox 360 and a Playstation 3 below my giant TV.
But it's just not really any fun anymore. It used to be that I got my mind blown by the new stuff, but lately nothing gets me excited anymore. The last game I really enjoyed was Alan Wake.

And now they're announcing the new videogamesystems like the PS4, which is going to be a PS3 with more RAM and social media functions. And the rumors of the new Xbox are similar, with an emphasis that used games can't be played on it.

And I can think of absolutely no reason to get one. Just no reason at all. Am I growing up? Am I growing out of a 2 decade phase? Or is it not me and is this industry the disappointment?

I have a few games left, Metal Gear Solid 4, Uncharted 3, Assassins Creed 3 and Mass Effect 3. (not an original title among them) and I guess I'm done after that. Putting it all on eBay and be done with it.
If I work up the courage to do it that is.

Overall, I'm basically going to repeat what many others have said - feel completely free to take a possibly permanent break if you wish. If you truly don't enjoy videogames anymore, then forcing yourself to play them will just make you more miserable. However, if you're just tired of the same old rehashed games then it may be worth considering getting into PC gaming and looking at the indie scene for something radically different. Take Antichamber for instance:


The indie scene is full of quirky little games like this that are a major change of pace from what you typically see in the AAA market. Trying out different genres than what you usually play could also help matters. Still, it all comes down to whether or not it's videogames in general or just what you've been normally playing that you're tired of. It'd be worth considering the latter, but if that doesn't do it for you then taking a possibly permanent break is a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Afterall, it's a hobby you do for fun. If you're not having fun, then what's the point of doing it?

 

[Nazulu]

Yeah, the industry is pretty stagnant right now, across all media. Now you have to do heaps of research to make sure you don't fall into any traps, and keep looking in the indie scene and other places to find newer titles.

I've also thought I was getting over playing video games as well but I will still challenge any one at Melee any time and I still find games I get really attached too. Also, just remember that you can usually find mods to fix up and even make big named titles more interesting now.

Captcha: uncharted island - Sounds like a sequel to a boring series.

 

[TelHybrid]

I know the feeling. To be honest I agree, a break from video games does wonders. I play video games a maximum of a couple of hours per week, not because I forcibly limit myself, but because that is all I desire. I used to be the sort of video games enthusiast (I hate the term gamer) who would play games for 16 hours straight. I beat Kingdom Hearts II within 2 long sit-ins. I beat MGS4 (and watched every cutscene) in one sit-in.

Now at the age of 24, halfway through University, I lack that interest. In its place I've gotten myself on local radio with a regular weekly slot, a temporary job making and editing films, I'm getting high grades in my studies, and I'm more extroverted than ever.

Seriously, finding other interests is great.

I do have to add though, that giving up video games completely is not necessary. I still enjoy them sometimes.

I recommend what the others have suggested. Instead of looking to the mainstream "AAA" titles, look to the indie market, or heck, look to retro games that you didn't play when they were new. I didn't play Half-Life 1 (1998) until 2005, and it was great.

 

[MrHide-Patten]

Good for you, I'm going to to waiting for Bioshock Infinite and "Squeeeing" my ass off in anticipation.

Alternatively take up drawing boobs, you'll feel much better and you'll spend lots of time drawing and not so much playing, then who knows maybe you'll become so good you can become a concept artist and have your own game made. /sarcasm/... but seriously drawing boobs is fun.

 

[Signa]

I wish I could ironically post a picture of a crying baby, but I don't think I'd get away with it.

I know exactly what you mean [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.403566-Poll-Thats-it-Im-done-ranting-ahead]

The answer lies in some bizarre node of no games to play and too many games to play. I just decided to give up buying games, because I've got nothing new to look forward to, and I've got enough games to keep me occupied for a long, long time. I still have not bought anything this last week, though things like a gift copy of a game and he re-release of Duke3d are very temping.

 

[Bertylicious]

Mate of mine did that after he got married. Now he just irons and does DIY all weekend. In the summer he gets to mow the lawn.

I'd like to think it's all euphemisms for outrageous sex but he really knows a lot about ironing.

So anyway I agree and think you should totally get into extreme sports.

 

[TIMESWORDSMAN]

I'ma just hang out here near the bottom.

Really guy, I could go on a long shpeal about how much games have progressed in the last five years alone, and how Mass Effect is beacon of a brighter tomorrow, but a man should know when to cash in his chips.
If you really want to quit, then you already know the answer to your question. If I had any advice, it's don't sell everything. Because there's one thing I can assure you:

You'll be back, and you're always welcome.

 

[Auron]

Do yourself a favor and buy a gaming PC and get a bunch of indie games like Chivalry Medieval Warfare and the Legend of Grimrock.

While I fully evoke the PC sentiment, I'm not too sure on the scoffing of publisher games, there are very few indie games that I actually like. I thought Chivalry was terrible by the way, Grimrock's just not my thing, I never liked Wizardry or Eye of the Beholder.

The new Kickstarter CRPG's look very very promising though but overall other than RTS, adventure games and things like the Bethesda games actually working after lots of mods it's mostly the same libraries only cheaper and better.

PS - I wouldn't sell, you never know when you'll want it back. This reminds me of when I stopped playing WoW for a long ass time during Wrath, lots of friends tried to convince me to sell, I said I'd play again someday and kept it. When the next two expansions hit I've seem some of those buying the entire game again and starting from scratch I just resubscribed.

 

[xefaros]

I am not here to offer you games that might make you interested again,i 'm here to tell of an angle you might not seen or thought of yet.PC isn't only for gaming,but yeah you can game if you like with a controller non the less to a wider variety of games even for free.

PC movies music browsing shoping printing editing coding modding LINUX etc etc etc etc etc etc.A PC is a tool limited by its power and your open mindedness and unless they change the hardware specs on the next-gen a mid-range PC will trump next-gen and will let you have the option to jump back into gaming when you find something interesting to look into

 

[Antwerp Caveman]

Wow, 34 responses in 1 night. And no trolling.
To adress some of the feedback:
- PC gaming: been there, done that. Consoles just make stuff easier.

- Indie-gaming: Sure, every now and then, XBLA and iPad help me there. (and my laptop at work)

- Old games good, new games bad: While i do believe the industry has become more uniform: it also became more stable. I mean, back then bugs were by programming errors instead of always online-DRM.

- "Mass Effect is a beacon of light for the industry" Nope, Jade Empire was. Bioware fell to the Dark Side. But there will be balance to The Force.

- Pink Gregory: To be honest it sounds like you've been buying games while thinking 'I'm supposed to enjoy this, I guess.'
Exactly right.

- Metroid Prime was mentioned somewhere. To that person: have a cookie!

But that last one illustrates one of my sentiments. Virtually everyone loves Mass Effect, Bioshock and Uncharted. Now the first 2, never had any special feelings for them. I'm coming around on Uncharted though.
But it sticks with me like my DM once said: "Dude, you don't like the Lord of the Rings movies? Then you don't like fantasy!" (and I did a sense motive, no trolling).

I guess I'm just hopelessly stuck in a world where gaming became bland.
When Michael Bay's Transofrmers, Dragonball: Evolution and Twilight etc. have become the pinnacle of modern culture, I am now officialy Too Old for This Stuff.

 

[Vausch]

If they don't appeal to you, no reason to play. Odds are if you get a sensation for some nostalgia you can either just go to a friend's, play some free games, or if you have the consoles around just dig 'em out from storage.

 

[Robot Number V]

I know the feeling (and I haven't even been playing games for nearly as long as you have, from the sound of things) and my advice is not to sell everything quite yet. Hell, in my freshman year of college, I almost stopped playing videogames completely for a whole year. They just didn't appeal to me. Even now (I'm only 21, for a reference point) I don't play games nearly as often as I used to, and the odds of me buying any next-gen consoles any time in the next two years are pretty slim, but...You never know. I still play games from time to time, and I'm glad I have them. They might come back around for you as well.

Also, I would suggest downloading "Journey" if you haven't already and you've got a PS3. Amazing, fun, has some depth to it (that's story-depth, not gameplay-depth) and it's original to boot. Oh, also "The Walking Dead" game. Seriously, if you play both of those and still think the industry is stagnating (or whatever) then...I don't know what to tell you. You'd have to be dead inside to play both of these games without getting a strong emotional reaction.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

Instead of selling everything, throw your games into a closet and just sell off the consoles and peripherals. That way when you decide to take the plunge again you'll have a core collection to work with and with the next gen around the corner getting a replacement 360 or PS3 will be easy.

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

Man, the master race sure has some Jehova's witnesses levels of recruitment enthusiasm >_>

OT: I can sorta see where this might be coming from. Lately i've only been playing some of the older releases from pre-2010 and any new releases have kinda fallen between the cracks. "Endless sequels, ripoffs and wank" as Yahtzee once put it and that's only become more and more true. Going back to older generations before the origin of what's now considered big name titles might be a good idea to rekindle that flame.

Personally what i did when i got tired of FPSs and RPGs all the time was that i downloaded Tekken Tag 2 from the PSN and started playing that instead. I was at the point where i didn't feel like really playing anything, but swapping genres for a while made the enthusiasm jump up again. Since then i've gone through Mortal Kombat 9 and Dead or Alive 5 as well. Variety is important in everything.

 

[Snotnarok]

I find if you know you're going to buy a game the best thing might be to not bother with trailers/gameplay vids so you actually get surprised. I know someone who watched every bit of Uncharted 2's coverage and basically 'forced' me to, the game sucked because it turned into "Oh this is that part from youtube" then I played 3 knowing NOTHING about it and it was amazing, had a great time. Been doing that with a few games, watch as little as possible, jump on it on discount and be excited.