Disclaimer: Not my actual backlog, I just google image searched "game backlog"

Because I use my time wisely and moreover because I'm examining whether or not to have a lowball sale in the trade forum, I've decided to start taking a look at my game collection in-depth. Like most people, my video game collection (which was already significant) has exploded in size since joining CAG. We all know how it is - the deal too good to pass up, the trade we couldn't turn down, etc. Everyone here by now has probably built up a backlog which could certainly rival my own. Be forewarned that this post is both lengthy and overly self-indulgent. On the very realistic possibility that you have no interest in the games I own and how much I play them, feel free to stop reading now.

I've decided to start with my 360 because it seems to me to be the most conducive to massive backlog stockpiling for one very simple reason: "Hey, it has achievements!" Like most new 360 owners (I've had mine about a year and a half) I didn't think I'd be suckered in by the Siren's Song of achievements, but that little chime has its way of working into your psyche, and here we are 18 months later and I own more than fifty 360 games, the majority of which I have never beaten. In fact, the list of games I've never even put in my 360 is exactly twice the number that I've completed in full (not counting sports, music, etc). If you'll indulge me, I'm going to break it down category by category. Asterisks indicate that it's an "unbeatable" game like the aforementioned sports and music games, or games like Civ: Rev which can be beaten but obviously have infinite replayability. There are 53 total games (which doesn't include Dragon Age: Origins, which is en route). The list:


Completed
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
Civilization: Revolution*
College Hoops 2K8*
Fallout 3
The Godfather II
Madden 09*
Madden 10*
Mass Effect
Prince of Persia
Rock Band*
Rock Band 2*
Saints Row
Saints Row 2
Sega Superstars Tennis*

Total = 14 (7 non-*) - 26% (18%*)

If you look at that list of games and say "wow, what a random assortment of games not at all indicative of your gaming tastes" you'd be exactly right. In fact, the only two games on the list which scream "well of course I completed that" are Fallout 3 and Mass Effect, which not coincidentally are two of my favorite games on the system. The music and sports games speak for themselves, and I've played those quite extensively of course. As for the others - I love the Saints Row series, I actually prefer it to GTAIV. Prince of Persia and Godfather II were pretty easy and quick. As for BoA, I couldn't tell you - I'm obviously not a huge FPS fan, but something about that game really did it for me. Wasn't terribly tough to beat either.

Played Extensively - Not Completed
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Bioshock
Blue Dragon
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Guitar Hero 5*
Grand Theft Auto IV
Lost Odyssey
Prototype
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection*
Soul Calibur IV*
Star Ocean: The Last Hope

Total = 11 (8 non-*) - 21% (21%*)

I'm sure I'm far from the only CAG who's a serial game non-finisher. My problem arises with the fact that I buy so many games, there's always a new one coming in that I'm excited to pop in. If you'll look at this list, the general theme here is that most of these games are loooong. One day I'll set aside time to finish great games like Bioshock, Batman: AA, and Lost Odyssey. The worst thing about my non-completion of GTAIV and Oblivion is that I also own them for PS3... And haven't finished them there either (though I've finished everything in Oblivion except the main quest). Star Ocean 4 and Prototype I'm probably a couple hours from the end, I just ran out of steam.

Played- Added to Backlog
Burnout Paradise
Call of Duty 2
Crackdown
Infinite Undiscovery
Just Cause
The Last Remnant
Mirror's Edge
The Orange Box
Street Fighter IV*
Tales of Vesperia

Total = 10 (9 non-*) - 19% (23%*)

These are games that I popped into my 360, played for a bit, and thought: "Yeah, I'll definitely be playing this" but haven't returned to them since. I don't have more than few hours playtime in any one of them (except Orange Box, I mostly finished Portal). Tales of Vesperia is the only inexcusible one on this list, and also the one I'm most likely to play more at some point. IU, LR, and Just Cause are ho-hum genre games I may pop back in someday for achievements. Call of Duty 2 and Burnout are great, but not really my cup of tea. Mirror's Edge I actually popped in yesterday and started playing. I'm really enjoying it so far, so it might actually be a rare backlog success for me.

Played - Never to play again
Fable II
Guitar Hero II*
Guitar Hero Aerosmith* (both of these games were purchased cheap for their guitars)Too Human

Total = 3 (1 non-*) - 6% (3%*)

I've played a few hours in each of the GH games, but like I said both were really just picked up on the cheap for their guitars. As for Fable II, it could have gone in one of the other categories because I've started it 4 or 5 times, but I honestly have been more dissapointed by it than by any game this generation. I'm done trying you Fable II.

Never played
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Call of Duty 3
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3
Dark Sector
Gears of War
NBA 2k9*
PES 2009*
Resident Evil 5
Silent Hill: Homecoming
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Tomb Raider: Underworld
Two Worlds
X Blades

Total = 14 (12 non-*) - 26% (31%*)

Here's the number that daunts every CAG. Any way you slice it, somewhere between a quarter and a third of my 360 collection has never left the shelf. Thankfully, the most I paid for any one of these games was $25 for RE5 and CoD4, so at least I have that to hang my hat on. About half haven't been around too long so might still find some playtime at some point (the two I already mentioned almost certainly will). Two Worlds has the dubious distinction of being owned the longest (bought it during the CC liquidation) without being played - which is both unsurprising and well-deserved.