Lack of Motivation for starting a game from my collection

[bostonfrontier]

I don't know about all of you, but I've been having a lack of motivation in starting any game in my collection . I have a backlog of about 200 games - but since using CAG, I've been more interested in finding deals for the games rather than playing the games when I actually get them.

Anyone else with this problem?

[PittsburghAfterDark]

You're no different than probably half of us. 100+ games isn't that unusual here and backlogs people have range from a dozen to over 50.

[Arakias]

Exactly similar to me, you become a cheap ass and lose the gamer part of your life the more you get addicted to this site, but then again, you find great deals on great games.

[The VGM]

Same here. I got a lot of games I bought awhile ago that I haven't touched.

[dpatel]

got the same problem. I realized it before it got TOO bad though. Right now my backlog is about 30 games. I haven't bought a game since april i think. Although I have a few that I am still getting from earlier pre-orders (those don't count :lol: ).

I know what you mean though. It is more exciting finding a great deal rather than playing the games. I think I've gotten all the games I need though.

[Purple Flames]

I'm guilty of tis as well. I have games that I've had for almost 3 years that I haven't touched yet, and the games I have started I have to force myself to sit and play them. I restarted playing Wind Waker a little over two weeks ago since I didn't beat it the first time I played through when it was first released. I could have easily beaten it in about 4-5 days, but I would go days without touching it at all.

I'd say a good half of my collection has gone either unbeaten or untouched at all.

[Kain Vincent]

I got many games to beat myself. It doesn't help that alomst all of them are RPGs. CAG onlys adds more games to an already growing pile. :hot:

[Reality's Fringe]

I'm going to swear off gamebuying for a while. I hereby promise to not buy another game unless Black Friday deals are good, or until Zelda and Hitman: Blood Money come out.

[Rig]

I've got a backlog. Not as bad as some of you though. And I really don't get much time for gaming. College and a job really take up a lot of my time...and I've been playing pretty much only DDR for the last month or so... (And once Mario Mix and Ultramix 3 come out, I'll be addicted to those...)

[badboysean]

I was sitting in work the other day thinking the same damn thing. Wondering why I love searching the deals out more than playing the games sometimes lol.

Im doin pretty good now though since ive found some great games in the last couple weeks.

[alonzomourning23]

My backlog is at least 150, probably a lot higher. The majority of games I bought, or recieved as gifts, in the last couple years I haven't played, or if I have it was for a relatively short period (taking that into consideration my backlog easily exceeds 300, probably much more). For example, I desperately wanted to find jumping flash (now I'm trying to track down jumping flash 2). I found it about 5 months ago and I haven't touched it. I actually don't play games very much, at least compared to others here and what you'd expect for the amount of games I have. Though when I decide to play an rpg I tend to play a lot until it's beat.

Part of the issue is I was raised as a collector. My parents used to own a sports card store, and my father has always loved antiques. In many ways I tend to treat games like sports cards, I want them just because I want them. The concept of just having a large collection of games, played or not, isn't strange to me. The store closed years ago and I haven't really collected cards since, but I find that the more time passes, the more I'm treating games like sports card.

I don't care about sealed games like many so called collectors do (other than if I found a select few, like super mario 3). Whenever I open an older game I always check ebay first, half the time it's worth selling, and then I buy a used one for much less than I sold the sealed one.

[pimpinc333]

Same my backlog of games was about 100 of the 137 I owned. I probably never would have played any of them so I just sold them all to pay off my laptop.

[willardhaven]

Just enjoy one at a time. That's all you can do.

[bostonfrontier]

Just enjoy one at a time. That's all you can do.

If I did that, then I wouldn't have to buy another game system til the PS9 comes out or the Xbox 2880 come out

[Mr Unoriginal]

Rest assured, you are no different than the other 10 people who have started this same thread topic.

[gsr]

I was burned out with gaming.. I had one unopened game, and was playing my way through another(jak and daxter) and just said fuck it and put it all on fleabay.

Damn games are too long... can't just pick up and play for a quick fix anymore.

[Graystone]

I don't know about all of you, but I've been having a lack of motivation in starting any game in my collection . I have a backlog of about 200 games - but since using CAG, I've been more interested in finding deals for the games rather than playing the games when I actually get them.

Anyone else with this problem?

I was at a game store and my friend said dude you have like 50 sealed games. So?
How bout playing some of those instead of buying them all the time. I then realized it's so fun finding a great deal and buying it. I also realized that truly finding a deal is the best. When I say that I mean making a thread here about a great game deal that no one knew about. It's giving back to the community such a great feeling for some reason.

[Quackzilla]

I buy games as I play them, but I found a really good deal and now I have 5 games to play, currently only 12 hours into FF7. Then Syphon Filter, Tomb Raider, Legacy of Kain, and finally Metal Gear Solid 2.

I avoid getting caught up in collecting, and I only hoard truely great games, like Fatal Frame II.

If a game sucks, it goes on ebay, gamestop, or if it's worth less that $3, the trash can. Last month I threw away Siren with no regrets, that game really sucked.

[alonzomourning23]

I buy games as I play them, but I found a really good deal and now I have 5 games to play, currently only 12 hours into FF7. Then Syphon Filter, Tomb Raider, Legacy of Kain, and finally Metal Gear Solid 2.

I avoid getting caught up in collecting, and I only hoard truely great games, like Fatal Frame II.

If a game sucks, it goes on ebay, gamestop, or if it's worth less that $3, the trash can. Last month I threw away Siren with no regrets, that game really sucked.

How bout we set up a system where I send you bubble mailer + media mail costs, and you send me all your "trash" games? Seriously, I would have paid to have siren shipped to me.

[Reality's Fringe]

Ok, tonight I started on game 1 in my backlog :Kingdom Hearts. Here's hoping it's not like the other trash square has been putting out lately.

[vietgurl]

My backlog collection contains over 100+ games. I have the same problem; I enjoy buying games but for some reason, I really have no motivation to play any of the games I already have.

[Zing]

I am just now finishing up my PlayStation collection frenzy. Over the past year I have been building up my collection with the idea that these games won't always be available. There are only a couple games left on the want list. I rarely buy anything current-gen, as the prices are too high for a game I won't play for another 2 years. However, if a must-have PS2 game is $15 (CDN) or less, I will pick it up since the resale value of desirable sealed PS2 games doesn't get much lower than that.

I have become very strict on what I buy. I try to only buy ones I will actually play, but a few slip through that I would probably never play. In a week I will be putting up round 2 of my unplayable games on Ebay. This will even include both Lunar 1 & 2, as I gave them a try and decided that my memory of them on the Sega CD should remain unblemished.

If you look at my collection list, I have around 50 PS1/PS2 games. I am "done" with probably 4 of them.

[coolcps]

I have a big backlog, but i also finish most my games, its just hard because some of the not as good games get left behind cuz im constantly getting more that I assume are better. Part of the fun of videogames now is getting a sweet deal.

[Puffa469]

It only takes 5 minutes to buy a game. It can take 10-20 hours or longer to play it. So of course there will be a backlog. Plus there are only so many hours in the day you can spend gaming.

I agree with what Zing said up above. I tend to spend more time looking for and collecting older games that wont be easily available for much longer. Im not a graphics whore and when I get home from work Im just as likely to turn on my nes or snes as I am my xbox or gamecube. I tend to only buy current gen games that I really want to play.

I know that current gen games will be readily available on store shelves for at least another 5 years, and probably longer. But with 3 new systems coming out in the next year, I know that PS1, and older games will quickly dissapear from store shelves, and collecting solely from ebay is an expensive proposition. Current gen games are only going to get cheaper the longer I wait, with a few exceptions of course, if I walk into a EB or GS and see Rez on the shelf, Im buying it! lol

The trick is to identify the 'golden' period to collect a bunch of games for a system. Its usually the time period where a newer gen system is already out, but the older system is still selling and games are still being made for it. Were just now leaving the golden period for the PS1. PS1 games are getting harder to find, and most of the ones you do find are shovelware crap. There arent going to be any new good games produced for the system, and all the good and rare games have been identified and are priced accordingly. But next year.... that will be the time to start bulking up your collections of now current gen systems.

[bostonfrontier]

Rest assured, you are no different than the other 10 people who have started this same thread topic.

show me the other threads on this topic that already exist

[DuelLadyS]

1) We're a time-obessessed society. It's much faster to buy a game and shelf than to buy a game and play it.

2) 'Luck' factor- with the exception of some big-name/brand-new current gen stuff, you'll probably have to do a bit of looking to find a title you're interested in. So you buy what you find so it's there when you're ready to play it.

3) Bragging rights. Let's face it, no one on the internet can easily verify who's best at a certain game (save for online stuff.) But you only need a pic to go "ha ha, I got Valkyrie Profile and you don't!" So we do. :D

[Quackzilla]

How bout we set up a system where I send you bubble mailer + media mail costs, and you send me all your "trash" games? Seriously, I would have paid to have siren shipped to me.
When a game fill my heart with as much malice as Siren did, smashing it and throwing it away is the only thng that gives me closure.

[Backlash]

show me the other threads on this topic that already exist

There are tons of them. Try searching.

[jkam]

After becoming a member of this site I suffered from the same syndrome. I actually started to like the way my collection looked. Then sense kicked in and I figured what is the point of having all of these games if I'm not going to play them? So I am happy to say while I still have a backlog....I am also finishing games again. As for collecting I am only keeping the games that really stand out above the rest for me rather than keeping it just to say I have it.

I recently played through Castlevania COTM and sold it off. It was a great game but I had to be truthful with myself that I would never go back and play through it again. I have SOTN, HOD, AOS and DOS still yet to play. Not to mention games now come out at a pace no one can really keep up with. I don't worry too much about suddenly having nothing to play. It's also pretty great when you can either sell or trade-in a game for more than you bought it for which has happened to me with a few I decided not to keep.

[the3rdkey]

The stupid Toys "R" Us buy 2 get 1 free deal put a lot of my games on the back burner.

[The Successful Dropout]

before the start of this week, i haven't played a 1 player game since I beat RE4 on launch (gc)...that's a really long time...just like the OP said, I'm more addicted to finding the deals rather than playing the games....then again, I have over 1200 current gen games, so that's probably just a little bit of the reason why i can't find something to play....ive said it before, but it takes me an hour or longer just to figure out what game i wanna play, then i end up watching a movie...i'm think im out of that for a while though...i just beat Indigo Prophecy and now I'm over halfway through Shadow of the Colossus

[tdr32341]

i've got the same problem too -- once i discovered the eb morning update my old school collection jumped from about 20 to over 150, which was already on top of my ps2 and cube games.

i got myself to stop buying games though, by starting to play all the incredible games i already have. now i don't really need to buy all the games that i heard are just ok but i wanted to play. i've been playing re4 for the past few weeks, and i'm probably gonna hit up chrono trigger next, just so the only thing i want to do is play these games, rather than look for deals

[PittsburghAfterDark]

http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/1401/psonestuffjpg3rl.th.jpg (http://img487.imageshack.us/my.php?image=psonestuffjpg3rl.jpg)

Just some of the stuff I could eBay for obscene prices, won't sell and will never play.

[ricdafric`]

Hey ladies and gentlemen, Newsflash! It's only going to get progressively worse. It's amazing, as I was walking back into the office, I was saying to myself, "Damn!, I wish they would just stop making games for a nice stretch of time, so that we all could just catch up on our gaming." The market is flooded with alot of titles these days. And unlike how it was when the PS1 came out, where every week there were about ten titles with one being a gem. Or remember the good old days when you wouldn't mind spending $50 on a game because you wouldn't see another one for a few months or so. Now almost every other game is a decent or a hit. The developers are stepping up their game when it comes to producing good titles. You take that into consideration along with the new technologies and innovations, Shit! you won't know what the hell to buy!...and you'll go broke. And they also make the games so damn long and with all these extras. With some titles you really get your monies worth; it's a gift and a curse.

I just recently got married. While waiting for my laundry, I decided to play DEF Jam FFNY to progress through the story a little more. My wife came into our office and threw her neglice'(I think that's spelled right) on top of my Gamecube and said "Here, screw your videogame!" I don't even get to play my freakin' game that much. My back log is ridiculous! Which brings me back to the issue of time. Not enough time! I truly wish they would slow the hell down, so I can catch up.

[bostonfrontier]

[size=2]I just recently got married. While waiting for my laundry, I decided to play DEF Jam FFNY to progress through the story a little more. My wife came into our office and threw her neglice'(I think that's spelled right) on top of my Gamecube and said "Here, screw your videogame!" I don't even get to play my freakin' game that much. My back log is ridiculous! Which brings me back to the issue of time. Not enough time! I truly wish they would slow the hell down, so I can catch up.


You're wife did the same thing to me the other day

[kill3r7]

Ok, tonight I started on game 1 in my backlog :Kingdom Hearts. Here's hoping it's not like the other trash square has been putting out lately.

What a coincidence, I just started playing Kingdom Hearts last week. I'm impressed by what I've seen so far.

To answer OP's question I think we all have this problem and it's only going to get worse with the next gen. release.

[Scahom1]

My lack of motivation is simply because I only have 1 day off a week, so the little time I can play games is time usually better spend doing more important things. I don't really want to start a game that will take me 20 hours to beat, cause I may never be able to finish it :(

[niceguyshawne]

Mine is more lack of time rather than motivation. With work and the family, I am lucky to get a game of football in much less spend 10 to 20 hours with a game. I do enjoy the thrill of the bargain hunt though.

[Backlash]

To answer OP's question I think we all have this problem and it's only going to get worse with the next gen. release.

No way. I can't wait for next gen release, at which time I won't buy any of them (saving $$). Eventually the current gen releases will slow down, giving me a chance to really work into my backlog.

[Amano]

My backlog, in the sense of whether I finished a game, is huge. I've played through most with a minimum of 25 hours, though.

I need to try this thing called "swearing off buying". It could save me up to 15% with Geico.

[bil4ltool]

I will not buy another game until the release of the 360. I know it's not far off but I need to finish Far Cry and I just got the Warriors and THAW today, so I really need to stop.

[usickenme]

I am going to not buy a new game in 2006 until Zelda. I have a crapload to play and replay.

The only games I am buying the rest of this year are DS games.

[Mirow]

Yeah, I've got this problem too. However, I'm too lazy to play console games, but I'm not phased when it comes to pc games like Fear or Battlefield 2. I have no idea why.

[bil4ltool]

Okay I lied, I'm gonna buy Mario Kart DS when it comes out and I'm going to play it while waiting on Nov 22 and on BF.

[munch]

I have a lack of motivation for starting my masters hesis. That is much worse than a lack of motivation for starting video games.

[Matt Young]

My three main factors contributing to me not finishing games are as follows:

1. Lack of time/increase in responsibility
2. Short attention span and other interests taking up potential gaming time (woman, internet)
3. Xbox Live- I mostly play online rather than one player.

My backlog isn't as large as some. I have very efw unopened games, but I do have at least a dozen which I have only put, at most, 5 hours into. Plus I just got 8 games for myself at Toys R Us on Sunday, LOL.