Lost: one gaming mojo, if discovered please return to....

[Iridul]

This is my first post here, although I've been reading this site for well over a year now.

I'm a long time gamer, probably played for 20+ years now on consoles and PC. I'm by no means an "addict" but I'm certainly an enthusiast. I think the best way to describe it is that I game instead of watching TV (which I guess is what most non-gamers in society do to fill in their free time at home) but like most people I also have a fairly wide range of non-gaming interests that also fill some of my time.

Anyway, pre-amble aside, to my point.

Recently I've found that I'm really losing interest in gaming in general. New releases that would have once had me in raptures no longer excite. If they do I play them once and discard them to the oblivion that is my bookshelf (gameshelf?) never to be touched again. Recent examples include:

Uncharted 2 - PS3 (played once through, awesome fun, never touched since)
Bayonetta - PS3 (got about 2/3 of the way through in the first few days, pretty cool, never touched since)
Borderlands - PC (level 12 maybe, bored never touched since)
Dragon Age - PC (played through once, good stuff, tried a second char type got halfway and lost interest)
Mass Effect 2 - PC (see Dragon age)

I also play WoW, only do 10man stuff and raid 2 times a week for a few hours or so. I'm so fed up of that game its not even real. But having put the effort in that I have and being only 1 kill away from completing Icecrown Citadel, the last dungeon in the game, I'm intent on finishing what I started. Plus I'm really good friends with the guys I play with.

I guess my point is this. What am I missing? Is it just me, or are the supposed AAA titles released recently lacking something? Right now gaming feels like "going through the motions" rather than something to enjoy, and I can't decide if that's because what I'm playing is pants, or if it's something more scary, like I might actually be "growing out" of gaming altogether? (I don't mean that in a negative manner, it's just the closest I can get to being able to express how this feels).

In the grand scheme of things this isn't a big deal, life is pretty good, I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced similar?

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Well, sounds like you need to take a break for a few days. When you're good and bored watch some movies-- they're a great inspiration to game. Especially if the two mediums are related, watching Hard Boiled and playing Stranglehold for example. Or watching a WW11 movie and playing a WW11 game. Also, try new genres of games, you seem to have any driving games on your list. Maybe download demos as well, they're usually little packets of fun available for free.

 

[DSEZ]

like guy above me said just take a break for a little bit and then comeback when the urge hits you

 

[Uberjoe19]

Try non-RPG games. I seem to notice you don't have any good puzzle games on your list there. Try out Braid. It's for the Xbox Live Arcade. It's delightfully hard at times.

And of course any game by Valve.

 

[Optional Opinion]

Seems you need to escape from escapism, try real life.

20 years of gaming, you've probably played everything and as they're just bringing out recycled ideas you are playing the same games even if you don't realise it.

 

[SirDeadly]

I watched Shooter the other day and have a craving to do some sniping. You should try watching a movie.

 

[Warrior Irme]

I tend to have those phases when every game I play bores me, and then I have those phases where I play everything I own. I have a couple games sitting in my PS2 library that I never finished. Same with 360. My PS3 has had every game completed (excluding download ps1 classics) but that is only because I have 3 games for it. Next time I feel the need to complete everything I will throw in paper mario to the n64, metroid prime 2 into the gamecube, and final fantasy X and XII into the ps2. I may even put in the time to complete as much of Forza 3 as I feel I can.

You probably aren't growing out of gaming, but you may just be in a slump of titles you don't feel like you want to play right now. You will want to pick them up at a later point I assume for another go. I can't tell you how many times I have gone from the beginning to the last Sin fight in FFX to stop playing at that instant.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Try watching some good movies and taking a short break until you get your gaming wants back.

 

[Luke5515]

Try some kind of game that you normaly don't play. After playing COD for a few hours online, I just feel like hoping in a car and causing some mayhem. So that's what you do. Try looking for some old game that looked interesting, but you never got around to playing. That was me and Bioshock.

 

[Aerodynamic]

I experience this as well, Hell, I have to force myself to play games at times.

I just take a break and play when I have an urge.

 

[fun-with-a-gun]

find someone who is important in your life and spend some time with them. after enough time the feeling will pass, sometimes it takes 2 days, sometimes it takes a month, or more. Don't worry about it at all. You're just been oversaturated with gaming.

 

[Gitty101]

Yes, I have experienced this feeling of utter tedium, where every game in my collection fails to amuse me (usually close to the release of an anticipated title). It goes with time or with the release of an anticipated game, just be patient ^^.

 

[teutonicman]

20 years is a long time to be doing something, maybe you need to find a new hobby or even just take a break for a while.

 

[S.R.S.]

Hey man I feel the same thing. You just need to put things into perspective play some really bad, terrible games. Without the bad you can never really appriciate the good in life.

 

[MurderousToaster]

Just take a break. Generally if you've been gaming for ages, taking a few days off will relight the will to play games.

 

[Brotherofwill]

Uncharted 2 - PS3 (played once through, awesome fun, never touched since)
Bayonetta - PS3 (got about 2/3 of the way through in the first few days, pretty cool, never touched since)
Borderlands - PC (level 12 maybe, bored never touched since)
Dragon Age - PC (played through once, good stuff, tried a second char type got halfway and lost interest)
Mass Effect 2 - PC (see Dragon age)

Let me compare:

U2- Played through once, awesome playthrough. Never touched since.
Bayonetta- Played through 1/3.
Borderlands- Got a character to level 29, never finished.
DA- Stopped before the boss battle. Never touched since.
ME 2 -Mediocre first playthrough, big dissapointment. Never played since.

Don't worry. Lot's of people loose interest in gaming as they get older. The only way to motivate me is to game with my old friend or family, other than that a game has to be completely amazing to hold my attention (still waiting for D3 for this, and Last Guardian).

The urge to game comes in shifts. If you don't feel it, just don't do it. It'll probably come back in a few weeks.

 

[DazZ.]

I had a few months like that once, just totally left games and stayed outside.

You'll come back to it eventually if you enjoy it.

 

[Iridul]

Thanks for the input everyone. Interestingly I tried Braid, found it quite cool, got bored and stopped after a few hours (lol). I think the point about stuff not being fresh anymore is probably a good one.

I guess the counter to that is that I can't complain as I'm not the one making the games, so I guess I should put up with them or shut up and go make one. As much as I think that would be fun I'm a little busy with the rest of my life. I guess for the time being I'll just have to bulk out one of my other "escapes" and let gaming take a back seat.

 

[Premonition]

Every gamer goes through a period like this at some point. Just take a break and all should be find.

 

[SimuLord]

Sometimes a shift in genre is just what you need. Other times it's a matter of holding out for a release that really jumps out at you (as I wait anxiously for Feb. 23 and Napoleon Total War...)

And yet other times it can be as simple as blowing the dust off an old game or system and letting some good ol' fashioned nostalgia take hold (like when I play through Railroad Tycoon 2's campaign.)