Would you buy a game you probably won't play?

[NihilSinLulz]

I've recently started picking up a load of PS3 games that I feel have some sort of interesting mechanic, artistic direction, or unique narrative. The problem however is that upon reflection, I realized that there are many games I probably wouldn't play again for a variety of reasons (ie. Spec Ops: The Line for physically ill it made me feel, Ni no kuni for its length, etc.).

I've had a similar problem with films, with some in my collection being either too long or being too disturbing for a relaxed viewing. However, in that I case I justify it to myself with the knowledge that I can always introduce it to someone else and then exchange interpretations. These game purchases are harder to justify to myself as they require an expensive introductory cost (need a good tv, ps3, controllers etc.) to experience, plus a sizable commitment.

So dear Escapists, what make you of this? And do you face similar problems in your hobbies?

 

[Smooth Operator]

So are you asking about re-playing or playing even once?
I certainly wouldn't go buying a game I have no intention of playing, but then again I have accumulated a rather large collection of indie platformers because I forget just how many never did get used in the end.

 

[TehCookie]

Won't play or won't play again? Most of the humble bundles I get are for games I probably won't play more than once, but they're also dirty cheap. I wouldn't pay $60 for a game I only play once.

If you mean buying a game to support it and not playing it at all, I'd never do that. I don't see the point in getting a game you won't play.

 

[NihilSinLulz]

Re-playing. Some of the games I've already played and beaten thanks to Playstation Plus, but I feel like picking them up regardless because of how unique they are. Also, no, I'm not paying full price for them. The most I've spent on a game is ~$35.

 

[Foolery]

Yeah, kinda. Mostly through steam sales. That's where my biggest graveyard of titles I'll probably never visit again lies.

 

[Frezzato]

I'll probably buy a copy of ZombiU despite not owning a Wii U. It's just one of those things where something seems really compelling and I want a copy of it before it disappears into the world of eBay and stupidly high prices. But if ZombiU drops to around $10, hell yeah I'll pick it up. The Wii U can come later.

There. My anti-logic should be enough for you to not feel too bad about buying certain games. As long as you can afford it.

 

[Longstreet]

Yes.

Steam Sales. (or a sales season in general)


Now to add more so that i don't get a warning for low content, the prices during last winter sale were sometimes so ridiculously low (25 cents for Brütal Legend, cheapest i got, rest of the list is too much to mention real quick.)

So yea, most of them i probably won't play for a long time.

 

[Raikas]

Re-playing.

In that case, sure. Based on the first post I'd thought you might have meant buying a game that you'd never play at all, and I certainly don't see any point to that. But a game that you play once? I recall seeing statistics that most games aren't finished at all, so if everyone only bought games they'd replay all sales would drop something like 66% (if I'm remembering the numbers correctly).

I have plenty of games that I'd call favourites that didn't have a great deal of replay value, and I'd hate to be sending their creators/publishers the idea that their games weren't worth buying!

 

[NihilSinLulz]

I'll probably buy a copy of ZombiU despite not owning a Wii U. It's just one of those things where something seems really compelling and I want a copy of it before it disappears into the world of eBay and stupidly high prices. But if ZombiU drops to around $10, hell yeah I'll pick it up. The Wii U can come later.

There. My anti-logic should be enough for you to not feel too bad about buying certain games. As long as you can afford it.

Hmm great point. That was my reasoning behind picking up Vanquish when I saw it for $5 and now its $30+ on Amazon.

 

[omega 616]

Well in the humble bundle I bought once I got VVVVVV and "yet it moves", which I have never played and some others I have only put a little time into ... Atom Zombie Smasher, Braid, Cogs, Crayon Physics Deluxe, Osmos and Steel Storm Burning retribution.

There is E.Y.E divine cybermancy, which I just couldn't bend my head round and so I only have 27 minutes into it.

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

Sometimes. I bought the Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut on Steam back when the price was cut down by like 80% for people who already had the game. I mostly just bought it to have it. I'll probably get around to playing it at some point for the commentary track.

I also bought FarCry 3: Blood Dragon when it was on sale back months ago, and still haven't gotten around to playing it.

 

[Roxas1359]

I have before, thank you Steam.
Anyway, on the console front I have done that a few times, but eventually I get to the games. Although I've had my Wii U for over half a year now and it came with Nintendo Land. Haven't even put that game in the console even once. XD

 

[Rutabaga_swe]

I think i have something like 230 games on steam, not counting free to play titles, and most of them have 30-60 minutes of game time. It's not that i don't think they are good or that i don't plan to play them, but something else comes between (usually Dark Souls and DotA) and they remain unplayed. Kinda had the same problem back with the PS2. Had a ton of games that i sorta wanted to play, but for whatever reason they were just left on the shelf to collect dust while that Tekken5, Dance Dance Revolution or Pop n Music disc spun in the console constantly

Guess the collection just gets over saturated at some point and you start defaulting back to your very favorites. Having too many choices just makes it annoying to pick one, so let's just have another romp through Dark souls instead. yeah, sounds good.

Lately i have also noticed that my patience for longer games is decreasing. Had a blast with Bravely Default for about 25 hours, now it's just tedious as all fuck. The story moves nowhere, the grind has gotten beyond boring and meh...it's so boring to play. Kinda have the same problem with many other games that then just go unplayed beyond that point as well. Guess that's a bit OT though.

 

[Sarah Kerrigan]

I usually don't unless it's steam. Usually on a sale if I game is pretty cheap I'd usually pay the $1 or $2 it is and keep it on my computer unless I get bored and actually play it. But on console games, usually not. I'll only buy a game unless I really want to play it.

 

[MysticSlayer]

If I would never play it, then no, I think it is ridiculous to pick up a game I don't plan to ever play.

If we're talking about replaying, then yes, I will pick up a game knowing I may never replay it after I originally get through it. Very often I ignore incredibly long games after beating them once since I feel like trying other games rather than holding so much time hostage again. This comes regardless of quality.

 

[-Dragmire-]

I've bought the Witcher games despite not caring for them. I do it to support the devs who have an outlook I like.

 

[Raziel]

I've bought lots of games I never played at all. Usually they are things that I was kinda interested in but never got and then one day found for very cheap price. But for some reason or another never actually get around to playing, usually because newer better games came out. For instance before Xmas I was at a movie rental place that was going out of business and found dead rising 2 for $7. I still haven't played it. And considering I got 3 new games for Xmas I also haven't opened, and new games like titanfall are coming out soon, I suspect Dead Rising might stay unplayed until I pack up all my 360 and store it. I probably own like 5-10 games for both ps and ps2 that were never even unsealed.

 

[MrHide-Patten]

Isn't that basically what Steam Sales are, games that you buy but will never play, or has Memebase been lying to me?

frankly I have had two such games, well actually a few, but two stick out most prominently; Remember Me and DmC. I bought Remember Me because it seemed interesting, but was ultimately very dull, savor for a few unique ideas and DmC which had a nice art direction but I'm not really into Brawler or Combo fighters. But those two stick out most because they went for free on PS+ I I wasted 120 bucks.

So now I'm just going to wait for games I might be a little unsure of, rather than being so damn optimistic.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Are you asking about playing once or replaying?

Replay value factors in when I'm buying something, at least I try to get games that have "short gaming binge" option. Free roam, multiplayer, the ability to replay a specific chapter or level, New Game Plus... my idea of a good game is, ridiculously enough, Resident Evil 5. Yes, it's the short, stupid brother of RE4. I know, I know. But co-op, multiplayer, DLC and chapter select means I find myself falling back on that game pretty frequently. I'll go online for a bit, replay a favorite chapter on one of 4 difficulties or so, farm for money or items since you can carry over stuff from different chapters, work towards trophies... whatever. I bought the game knowing how much it "sucked" yet how much time I would invest in it.

 

[FPLOON]

Have you seem my video game backlog? It would take having a job where I'm only allow to play and them replay every game in my entire collection just to make sure I fill in the metaphorical quota of "beating all these games more than once before you die without retiring first"... while still finding time to buy new games that are mostly just localized imports of Japanese games...

So, ironically, the answer's going to be "yes" even if I was going to answer "no"...