Bored With Games

[OldKingClancy]

I'm having a bit of a slump at the moment, I just can't find the energy to play videogames recently. I just have no drive to actually play anything and when I finally do start a game I'm only on it for a few mnutes before turning it off.

Have any other Escapists had this problem? How did you get past it?

 

[Maximum Bert]

Thought about giving up a few times but there has always been a game to bring me back in. I just take a break really either read a book or watch a film or go out or anything else. These days I dont often get burnt out on games because I dont get much chance to play games anyway but what I do play I enjoy more.

 

[Darquenaut]

Pretty much what others have already stated- expand yourself. Read a book, watch a good movie, stuff like that.

Otherwise, if I get into a gaming slump, I would suggest either maybe replaying an older game that you remember having a lot of fun with, just to tool around with. For example, I've been thinking of starting up Just Cause 2 again and just doing nothing except wrecking havoc on the populace of Panau.

Or, if you got a little spending money, maybe go bargain bin shopping and get a game that you don't think you'll have to invest too much brainpower to- you never know you just might find it's one of the greatest games you've even played (Killer7 in my case, got that in a Kmart bargain bin for like $5).

 

[TrevHead]

What genres do you play? Maybe you need to get into some different genres, especially if the only games you play are long story based games like FPS and RPGs. If you only have the energy to play in short bursts then there are plenty of games designed to be played like that. From casual games, to oldschool arcade games like shmups and fighters which are very pick up and play and give short bursts of adrenaline for 30 min gaming sessions.

Handhelds are another way to game in short bursts.

 

[thiosk]

Its a good sign you need to do something productive.

I'm in a similar slump this week-- I'm writing a few manuscripts for publication instead.

Or maybe you need something intellectually stimulating-- learn how orbital mechanics work in a weekend of Kerbal Space Program.

 

[The Wykydtron]

Maybe find something new? I think I like learning new games since I just got into fighting games since the release of UMVC3 in 2011 and I expanded into BlazBlue and Persona 4 Arena once that decides to rear its head in the UK.

I've also been playing LoL ever since April last year and it's got such a damn learning curve. Definitely the biggest one i've ever seen. You can literally play for years and never learn anything beyond the basics unless you're actively looking to. Not like say BlazBlue where you can get to grips with a character or mechanic just from playing them online a few times.
I mean my Mu-12 is kind of passable now, as opposed to godawful and i've never played more than say 50 games with her online. I do tend to go up in spikes though, something just clicks mid game and OH I GET THAT NOW! I CAN DO THAT!

Also play Persona 4 if you haven't already. No I don't care if you don't care for JRPGs usually, it's so good it practically transcends genres. GO!

 

[Raikas]

I think sometimes you just get tired of an entire medium - personally, I'd just go with it. If you feel the draw of some new game in the future then you'll come back.

I went about three years (2005-2008) where I pretty much only played social or casual games - I just wasn't into it. And honestly I was more productive during that time, so maybe I shouldn't have gotten back into gaming!

 

[The]

I find that I never get bored of whatever media I'm playing/watching because I'm always switching it up and giving my brain variety so it doesn't get all burned out. If I don't feel like doing anything at all, I just take a walk outside to clear my head. Another thing you can do is stay out of video game forums for a while. Looking at them for to long makes you feel all cynical inside.

 

[Rad Party God]

Ever since I started gaming while I was still on diapers, I've never had a gaming burnout; maybe because it's not the only thing I do, I mean, there's lots of stuff one can do with his time, like watching a movie, tv, read a book, go for a walk, hang out with buddies, heck, even learn a new hobby, I've been wrapping my head around learning a musical instrument and even dance.

I love gaming, but there's just so many things one can do besides our favorite hobby.

Also, changing genres helps a lot, play something you normally wouldn't, like a strategy game or an older game, seriously, there's so many genres and types of games, it can get a bit overwhelming sometimes.

 

[UniversalRonin]

I don't think it's a problem at all. As everyone else here has said, sometimes an expansion of your hobby set isn't a bad idea. I very rarely game now days, but I still enjoy spending some time now and again gaming.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

I'm having a bit of a slump at the moment, I just can't find the energy to play videogames recently. I just have no drive to actually play anything and when I finally do start a game I'm only on it for a few mnutes before turning it off.

Have any other Escapists had this problem? How did you get past it?

Take a break, sometimes one can overload themselves with a particular activity, do something else and go back to it in a while and you'll be fine. I used to play video games a lot, I still do, but nowhere near as much, now I work on models for my Mordheim warband, I am running a Pathfinder game and I play plenty of board games with friends too like Game of Thrones and Battlestar Galactica. Then there's my comics etc, the list goes on...

Having a few other interests helps, trust me. Too much of anything is said to be bad for you at some point, everyone just reaches that point at different times. Then when you go back to playing video games, you won't be playing them as much due to wanting to do your other hobbies too, less likely to suffer another burnout due to it.

What I've actually been doing instead of buying new games. I'm just saving myself a lot of money and going through games I just stopped halfway through.

Also consider expanding your skill set. If you don't want to stop playing video games try and make it into a more constructive hobby. Make yourself do something in relation to your hobby like make a video. Write what you thought of the game or try your hand at writing a review. You can do some fun voice acting of scenes you thought were funny or could be funny. Start up a youtube channel and make a let's play walkthrough series.

Or you could make video games a reward for yourself. Focus on the more important tasks you have and when you complete them you can reward yourself by playing some games.

This is solid advice too, expanding on gaming as a hobby in other ways can be fun and rewarding too.

 

[idarkphoenixi]

Honestly, just take a break. Come back in a week or two (maybe more?) when you feel fresh and ready to try more stuff.

Keep to casuals, indies and other games that are designed for short bursts of play. Steam has an indie sale going now so worth checking out.

 

[Olas]

If might not be gaming as a whole that you're tired of but just the kinds of games you play most often. Try something new, if you've never played a jrpg before give one a try. For a while I thought I was sick of games but really I was just sick of shooters.

 

[TehCookie]

As the others have said, do something else. Games are suppose to be fun and if you are no longer enjoying them do something else you do enjoy. It's not like you have to play games or that you're swearing off games forever. I game in binges so I'll have a week where I'll spend every free moment gaming and sometimes even playing multiple games at once then not touch any for two or more weeks.

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

I think it happens to us all at some point where we lose the drive to play anything. When you hit that pint it's best to take a break for awhile and do something else till you get your gaming drive back.

Strangely I find I go through this whenever I've get a massive backlog of games. I end up playing none of them because I feel overwhelmed by the obligation I feel to play them all. Then it's not fun to play them, more like a chore.