In a slump

-or- bored, bored, bored

Published on September 22, 2004 By BlueDev In PC Gaming

I love PC gaming. Really. I do. I promise.

Or am I just trying to convince myself? Cause, see, I really don't play games that much anymore. I try to. I download some demos these days, but many I cancel even before I finish downloading the file. Not too long ago I downloaded anything and everything and at least gave it a go. One of my favorite ridiculous things to do was to go to the local EB Games or Gamestops and browse games. Window shopping for pimply faced geeks, if you would. That doesn't even seem interesting these days though. To be honest, my hardware is old enough that I can't run a lot of the newest FPS games (though I tip my hat to Epic because I can still run UT2004 at 1280x1024 with details at Normal! That is engine optimization!), but that is okay because FPS games aren't my favorite anyway.

I love strategy games. Or at least I used to. I loved the original Homeworld, and enjoyed the demo for Homeworld 2, but never got around to getting it. Same with Ground Control. I love the first two Kohan games, and even played the demo for Kohan 2. And while I enjoyed it and still plan on buying the game, I am in no hurry. I'm just not sure why, but I think about playing a game and nothing. It just doesn't get me excited in the least.

The last time this happened I fired up Serious Sam 2. It cured me, I was back into blasting alien hordes to oblivion. But I just don't know what will work this time. And what I find even more startling is the prospect that perhaps I don't want to get out of this funk. Could it be that part of me doesn't want to get back into gaming?

That makes me sort of sad.

The cure must be out there. I just have to find it.

Comments

Ravenblack

on Sep 22, 2004

Can understand that. I get that from time to time myself. Many games -- and i should be having fun but i just don't feel like playing them. I play mostly strategy games (hex based pc wargames) and rpgs. Sometimes, I would buy games and not play. Install and then just leave it. (Bad Raven!) I also enjoy window shopping at computer software shops.

Right now, I'm suffering from wargame burnout -- I have combat mission 2, Steel Panthers World At War (which took a whole afternoon of downloading), Korsun Pocket, all of which I should like to playbut right now, I just don't feel like playing. They are all installed but I haven't really touched them for some time. I've just finished The Suffering, an action shooter game, a kind of game I don't usually play. I got that Chessmaster 10th edition to prevent my logic strategy skills from rusting completely. (I bought a chess puzzle book and have been doing mostly that with Chessmaster, solving chess puzzles.)

Currently I'm also mucking around with the sims 2. Who knows? I might just play some wargames this weekend. It will feel fresh again.

I've also seen people post 'cures' for this. It depends on what is the cause of your lack of enthusiasm. IIRC...

1) Enjoy the game as it is, just play and have fun, don't think about winning. (unless fun=winning)
2) Do something different in the game. Experiment. Play a character you never have before, or try a different playing style.
3) Take a game and appreciate the art and sound of it, take note of the details.
4) Try a different genre of games.

BlueDev

on Sep 22, 2004

I have been mulling over the prospect of picking up "Missing: Since January" or whatever it is called. I heard some folks saying it had pretty good atmosphere, including receiving emails from "people" working to solve the case with you. Sounded pretty engrossing. As adventure games are something I just never have gotten into (the only one I can recall ever really playing is Riven) it would be a change of pace. I also reinstalled Tropico as I got it in a trade form someone, but never actually played it. Again, a city building sim (sort of) is something I never really got into. Perhaps once I finish the presentations I am working on for World Congress I will have a bit more time to give it a go.

Thanks for the suggestions. Heck, hex based war games are one genre I never got into as well. Might give them a try.

Ravenblack

on Sep 23, 2004

Missing - I find it kinda eerie if you get strange emails from a game you're playing. I'm always throwing out email with unfamiliar sender names so I might even throw out the clues! not one for me. PC gamer gave it a 68% score.

For adventure, I've heard the Longest Journey is a good one too.

BTW, Combat Mission isn't hex based and it's got it's own style of a turn base system, that is very innovative (imo) and worth checking out at battlefront.com.

Frightlever

on Sep 23, 2004

Missing: is more of a puzzler than a strict adventure game. The UK PC Gamer gave it a score around 80 IIRC. Don't buy it thinking it's a point and clicker though. It's like the 7th Guest with a bit of googling and "hacking" thrown in.

If you liked wargames try Silent Storm - there's a demo to let you try it first. Turn Based WWII squad based RPG thingy... very cool engine.

BlueDev

on Sep 23, 2004

PC gamer gave it a 68% score

I had read that, and seen many other sites that didn't give it the best of scores. But a friend who was playing it said it was creepy enough, with the random emails as well as the puzzles and videos, that he actually had to take a break from playing. That kind of atmosphere sparked my interest. And I have actually played the demo for Combat Mission. Didn't give it a whole lot of time because, well, I was impatient. But perhaps I should check it out again.

If you liked wargames try Silent Storm - there's a demo to let you try it first.

I have actually tried the demo, but there is something about my video card it doesn't like. While my vid card is older and aging, it really ought to be able to handle the game somewhat decently. I ended up getting around 10 frames a minute. I tweaked something in the .ini file for the game and that made it better, so I was able to give it a go. Truth is though, I have so many games that I have never played or finished that I want to focus on those before I am picking up new ones (with few exceptions, like Kohan 2). Thanks for the suggestion though. I have heard really good things about Silent Storm.

rollerocker

on Sep 23, 2004

Rome: total war is looking interesting. I liked the other total war games so i will be picking that one up when it gets to sweden.

There is a demo for it thats fun.

BlueDev

on Sep 23, 2004

I have both Shogun: Warlord Edition and Medieval + Viking Invasion. I have only managed to get around to playing one game of Shogun (which I loved) and never have managed to play a full game of Medieval. Would like to get Rome, but I really need to play the others first.

delaron

on Sep 23, 2004

I hear ya man. I hit the same feelings 5+ years ago. The games coming out didn't interest me as they did in the past. And to top it off, games coming out I might buy, I would give a day or two to, then forget to play them. I didn't have the drive to play them like I used to.

I believe its just a matter of getting old, playing to long, and eventually it will be a 'been there, done that' situation, unless there are some revolutionary games coming out to re-invigorate. Not to mention that getting older means less time for frivolous stuff, and more time for *coughresponsibilities*. Its like that new Music CD you got, when you first get it, your playing it alot probly. as the first year goes by, maybe even first 3 months, you stop playing the cd as often, if at all, finally, the cd only comes out at parties if you even have those anymore *grin*

and whats more pathetic right now, is the only game I really play anymore I hate for its being boring, and repative, Warcraft III, no expansion. I play the custom made maps(tower defenses, and hero wars etc) which are usually quick to get in, quick to get out, and alot of different maps, so gets the boring factor slower, but the game itself is boring really, same stuff over and over on battlenet.

Ravenblack

on Sep 23, 2004

I agree with Frightlever. Silent Storm was a lot of fun. I think you have to tweak the ini file to improve the camera angles and zoom limits. The missions, IIRC, are quite huge and challanging and there are also lots of random missions to help rack up experience points and levels for your troops. It's not as hard as Commandos, but it is ruthless to those who charge in without covering fire. Everything is destructable. The one thing I didn't like about it is how the last couple of missions in the campaigns turned sci-fi with laser weapons and mobile suits. It's still great fun to destroy things.

trina_p

on Sep 23, 2004

My husband is buying Dawn of War today (it comes out here today) - he's warned me not to expect to see him until Monday (my bet is more like next Friday)

BlueDev

on Sep 23, 2004

I heard great things about the Dawn of War demo, and actually downloaded it. But my apathy got the better of me, I deleted it before I even installed it. I just need to install one of the old games I have and start playing it. I really think once I start a game I will get sucked in. Just need to let it actually happen.

Thanks for the comments!

mgosh

on Sep 27, 2004

Gmaing and time management. The commitments of MMOPRG is way too much time for way too little satisfaction. That's why I prefer the home first player RPG. Unfortunetly its in a slump with most of PC gaming right now. Reminds me of PC technology that too has hit a slump with not too many innovations requiring a real reason to upgrade my rig. That's why I still have my Pentium III 800, because there really isn't a must have game out there to play. Personal games that kept my gaming happy RPG wise: Morrowind and Neverwinter Nights. The expandability of the latter, and the shear wide world of the former will keep you gaming for hours on end. Divine Divinity is a cute Diablo like one, ending gets cheesy though, currently picked up Beyond Divinity, two characters in control of instead of one. So far I like the features in it, gives you good gaming freedom to experiment in the game and not overly repetative, becuase it keeps you thinking on your toes..

Frightlever

on Sep 30, 2004

I loved Divine Divinity but gave up on BD about two thirds in. It was a real grind....and not in a good way!

Ravenblack

on Sep 30, 2004

Beyond Divinity's two-character control is awkard, but I've sort of gotten used to it. I topped playing when I got to the second chapter however I'm going to start playing it again soon. I don't like not being able to customise the equipment of evil Knight more.

BlueDev

on Sep 30, 2004

I have wanted to play both Divine Divinity and Beyond Divinity for a while. But I just never seem to get around to playing any of the CRPGs I have, so I hesitate to buy more. One of these days. . .

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