Why You Should Resolve to Beat Fewer Games in 2015 “In 2015 my resolution is to finally clear my backlog.” Gamers all over the world often look at their piles of unbeaten games with guilt. But… why? Why should anyone play a game for one more moment after they stop having fun? Why should we feel guilty for returning to Team Fortress 2 for yet another round instead of finishing up that adventure game that was starting to feel boring? Why should anyone willingly subject themselves to boredom, just to put a game in the “done” column? Games are here for our entertainment! In 2015, I resolve to beat fewer games. I resolve to not feel guilty for putting down a game I’m not enjoying. Whether I’ve been playing for 15 minutes, or I’m 15 minutes away from the end. There are mountains of other games to try! As a lifelong gamer, it’s a challenging compulsion to fight. We’re compelled to complete things and collect things. We collect doo-dads in platformers often for no reason at all. There’s no story justification, no in-game benefit, and sometimes not even any additional fun to be had tracking them all down. We just want the 100% check-mark next to each stage. In this same way, I have often felt compelled to move more and more of Steam games into my “beaten” category. It feels good to complete something. To master a game, before moving on to the next. All of this is well and good… if you’re enjoying the challenge. There is no better feeling than coming across a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, and then using your brains, skills, and reflexes to overcome it. That’s what games are all about. When video games are at their best, they crescendo into a climax of gameplay, narrative, visuals, and sound. Completing a great game can sometimes be worth slogging through some so-so middle portions. But not often. More often than not, so-so middle sections lead into so-so conclusions. And gamers have a so-so time dragging themselves through it all just to put a check mark next to it instead of playing something truly great. Life is too short to waste on mediocre games. More experiences you’ll love are being created every day. Don’t be afraid to drop a game as soon as you aren’t having fun. There are a few exceptions to this resolution. Or at least a few things to keep in mind. Some gamers, once they become hooked on an MMO or MOBA or shooter, find themselves unwilling or unable to even try new things. They have a stack of shiny new worlds to explore, but instead go back to Dota or World of Warcraft night after night. If you find something you love, more power to you. Time spent doing something you love is never time wasted. But I encourage anyone hooked on a game to at least give new things a shot. Just give them a chance. Often times starting is the hardest part, and once you begin you’ll find yourself enjoying the change of pace. See more »
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 20:24:14 +0000
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