Suffering a gaming withdrawal

[V2Chu]

I love games, it's one of my favourite pass times but lately I've noticed that I no longer get as excited as I would want for games. I'm still hyped for TL2 but I bought Witcher 2, Deus Ex, Mass Effect and I can't seem to bring myself into playing them... Has this ever happened to you guys? am I maybe (and I am dreading this) grown out of gaming??

[Zidders]

I've been playing Hellgate:London

[RizzRustbolt]

You're not growing out of gaming. It's just that Torchlight 2 has brought you in touch with a better class of game, and the others just won't be able to excite you as much.

[kontankarite]

Witcher 2 is too much work to get into. It's counter intuitive and barely explains how to play the game. That doesn't bode well in my opinion.

It's just not a strong game like that, so I too don't really get jazzed about it.

Also, I think there's a point where you're just looking for a new experience. Lately, I've found I've been more interested in what indie companies are doing because they have to get creative with their limitations. They're more artistic like that and I find it more compelling to see art than to see the most realistic graphics possible most of the time.

[D2Hans]

I was not into other games except for D2 until last year. I was really waiting for D3 when it was announced. Will likely buy the game next week (saving up the money). I did find Torchlight and really liked it and I am really excited for TL2. I will be having 4 games that I will be playing a lot of. D2 mostly the mods. Torchlight 1 to an extent and likely will be replaced in the playing routine by TL2 when it is out. D3 I will be playing it even with the bad lag and latency I have (Starters edition (guest pass)). I also plan on playing HC in D3.

I generally speaking have not liked that many games made in the past 10 or 15 years. Most of the games look pretty but they usually only hold my attention for 15 minutes. I liked the games more in the 80's and early 90's.

I just say find the games you like and keep playing the games you love. If you find a new one that is great.

I suggest playing a demo of the game before buying it if you are not sure if you like it. The problem is not everyone is making a demo available for the game so you need to see about finding accurate reviews of the game. Since spending money on a game is quite expensive for me and I want to make sure it something that I want to play for more than 15 minutes.

[Snarkyneno]

I wouldn't worry too much about it V2Chu. The older you get the more often you get to the point where you just need to put down the games and go out and smell the flowers. They are always waiting for you like old friends ready to rehash old times over a few drinks when you come back inside. I'm almost 40, yet the gaming bug still bites me strongly - just not as persistently. Some of my friends are in their mid 40s and still going strong. Nothing to worry about.

[Vestilence]

I hear ya OP, sort of been going through a 'drought' my self...but a lot of the new action-rpgs coming out seem to be re-kindling the gamer flame in me, playing the heck out of Diablo 3 currently, can't wait for Torchlight 2, Path of Exile AND Grim Dawn~

[Snarkyneno]

I generally speaking have not liked that many games made in the past 10 or 15 years. Most of the games look pretty but they usually only hold my attention for 15 minutes. I liked the games more in the 80's and early 90's.

There has been a nice little renaissance in computer gaming the past couple years. Lot's of smaller companies are doing away with the over-the-top bells and whistles and concentrating more on the fun to be had and it reminds me more and more of the "golden age" you are referring to. You can feel the excitement brewing from and for those smaller companies and the gaming landscape is starting to feel less 'Summer Blockbuster Big Business'-ey and more 'let's just play and have a good time'-ish. Although it is sad that the world will never embrace another Bard's Tale II anymore

[MrDarcy]

For me it's always been a thing I have phases of, but I mean, the games you've listed there are massive games (though I am replaying Deus Ex: Human Revolution and it is still freaking brilliant). Maybe try a more casual game that you don't have to concentrate on?

I've had long periods of not really playing games much. At the moment I've been fairly interested in it because Torchlight 2 has gotten my enthusiasm up and I've been replaying other games while I wait for it, and I've also had enough free time lately to do it. I think part of the 'growing out of games' thing is just that people fill up their time with other things. I mean to be honest, people don't really 'grow up' so much as 'have more obligations', so that doesn't really make much sense anyway.

But I wouldn't worry, you're probably just burnt out on it, happens to everyone. Just find something else that excites you or just passes the free time you have and I'm sure something will come along that'll rekindle your enthusiasm.

[JoystickMonkey]

I've had similar feelings. I think that a lot of the time it's because so many games are just updated versions of other games. A long time ago, a new popular game almost always created a new genre or significantly updated/improved upon an existing genre. This is not the case any more.

I tend to enjoy indie games a lot more these days. They are more experimental and offer more interesting ideas, although they're often less polished.

[Ryude]

I don't know if you enjoyed the Max Payne series before, but I just started playing 3 today and so far I'm in love! I'm at work right now, but I'm dying to get home so I can see what happens next. It requires a pretty powerful PC though, thankfully I have one

I shared your feelings on the titles you referenced btw.

[mibuwolf]

I tend to enjoy indie games a lot more these days. They are more experimental and offer more interesting ideas, although they're often less polished.

...and that's EXACTLY why I play 'em. If they charged $30+ then I wouldn't consider it a fair price, but since the price is more than fair and I go into the game knowing it isn't a polished AAA title, then I'm pretty satisfied.

Sometimes I like indie games for the exact reason that it isn't super polished with tons of post-processing effects to make it look "pretty". Some games I appreciate the retro feel. Ex: VVVVVV

[Shiaika]

I've had similar feelings. I think that a lot of the time it's because so many games are just updated versions of other games. A long time ago, a new popular game almost always created a new genre or significantly updated/improved upon an existing genre. This is not the case any more.

I tend to enjoy indie games a lot more these days. They are more experimental and offer more interesting ideas, although they're often less polished.

When you are working for EA, Activision or some of the other big guys, innovation can be considered too risky. Why risk it when you can sell more of the same over and over? And don't dare to innovate (not talking of making it "casual") in an old franchise or fan backslash can be quite lethal.

But yeah, indies have a great opportunity to do whatever they want, be it "old school" games ot try stuff that you wouldn't find in big names. Faster Than Light looks very fun game for example (still waiting for beta!!!).

[vampireyurigirl]

I suggest playing Chantelise - A Tale of Two Sisters. Its really cute and is a story based indie japanesse action rpg. It was translated by a company thats done a lot of good titles like Recetear and Fortune Summoners

[kaosweilder]

Don't buy ANY big title unless you've played the demo and DO NOT listen to any review by gamespot, kotaku, ign, metacritic in general or pcgamer to a lesser extent. I bought ME and ME2 in a sale and found them to be atrocious for my taste. Bailed out on Witcher after playing it on a friend's PC. Too many costly mistakes to enumerate, but I think you got my meaning.

[kaosweilder]

Another thing - have faith in Indie games More often than not, you'll come back to play them again and again.

[Ryude]

Another thing - have faith in Indie games More often than not, you'll come back to play them again and again.

I often start playing an Indie game and for a good 30 minutes I'm smiling and saying how awesome it is. Then after an hour I start to get bored, or frustrated, or some weird gameplay decision makes me want to stop playing.

[vampireyurigirl]

I come primarily from snes and ps1 gaming and some old pc gamign so I have a bigger tolerance. Too many old games, had to play them all.

[GigaDager]

Majority of the time, I buy indie games and either don't play them or hate playing them. Wish Steam had a return policy...

But I'm really open to anything. Any of you guys tried "Digital: A Love Story" and "Don't take it personally, babe, it just ain't your story" (Yeah, that's the actual title). Good stuff. Kinda weird coming from me, since I'm a Killing Floor/Dead Space/Other murder games player...

[Ryude]

I come primarily from snes and ps1 gaming and some old pc gamign so I have a bigger tolerance. Too many old games, had to play them all.

Oh trust me I played a LOT of NES/SNES games. Even the ones that most people didn't like lol. My favorite SNES RPG of time is Lufia: Rise of the Sinistrals. I did like Lufia & the Fortress of Doom, but I felt like the sequel was just so much better. I also really enjoyed Illusion of Gaia (Soul Blazer 2), amazing game story and gameplay wise.