I'm losing interest in gaming.

[Ike]

It's been a long time coming, really, but I think I'm nearly finished with this hobby.

There's not one specific reason for it. I'm finding it to be entirely too expensive, too solitary and not especially fulfilling. I've been collecting for 13 years and now I'm so overburdened with games and consoles that I can't play due to lack of space or having no interest in them. It cost me an egregious amount of money to ship all of my things when I moved, and I know that if I were to move again, as I plan to do in the near future, it would eat up the entirety of my savings just to bring a bunch of games that I don't have the time or inclination to play.

I've finally hit the point where the appeal of owning a physical copy of a game has dwindled and its fun factor is greatly outweighed by the burden placed upon my lifestyle. As such, I am liquidating the vast majority of my collection. Certain items that hold sentimental value or are not replacable, like my copy of Earthbound, aren't getting sold. Everything else I am going to convert to digital format or a ROM, sell my hard copy of and use the proceeds to seek a more 'spiritually' fulfilling hobby, most likely involving travel.

The reason I'm posting this is to let all of you know that I'm probably going to be less active around the community as a result. Not that I do much outside of moderating the chat (which I will still visit) and making overlong posts on these here forums, but that's beside the point.

What it comes down to is that I have a ton of shit I need to get rid of, preferably as quickly as possible, and I would like it to go to a good home. Nearly everything I own is in mint, complete condition, or close to it. A few of my Playstation and Dreamcast games have cracked cases, but those are easily replaced. Same for Sega CD and Saturn stuff, although not so much.

Nearly everything I own is listed in my Backloggery. If you don't see something but are curious as to whether I may own it, just PM me and ask. There's a good chance I own it if it's on a console, especially if you like RPGs and such.

I am also willing to part with a number of my systems. If there's a specific system you want, ask and I may be willing to sell it to you if I own it. I have a few rare-ish things like a Master System II and a CDX, but nothing like Turbografx or Jaguar or CD-i or any of those shitty systems that nobody really likes.

The other purpose of this thread is to provide discussion. I am entirely disgusted with the way the gaming industry is proceeding, with rumors floating around of future consoles blocking out used games (unlikely as it is) and the frankly repugnant DLC-focused practices of recent major titles, in addition to what I perceive as a stagnation in creativity, far too much "playing it safe" on the part of developers, and the hobby I loved so much looking like it will never achieve the status of an art form that I expected of it when games like Earthbound touched my heart 15 years ago. I don't like the way the wind is blowing, because it smells like a tidal wave of bullshit is making its way toward us.

[Deleted]

Are you sure you need to give up games entirely? I usually don't encourage pirating, but your reasons for getting rid of your physical copies are entirely sound. Perhaps you'd be better off with just modding a 360 or a Wii and using those to try out whatever's new. Same with DS and PSP, if you haven't done that already with those.

Regardless of the times we've butted heads in the past, I still think you're a valuable member of this community. It would be a shame to lose you, even if you wouldn't be leaving this board completely. I wish I could think of something better to say here, but I'm afraid it would sound like an alcoholic trying to convince someone to not stop drinking.

Well, whatever you end up deciding, I wish you luck.

[Pixel_Crusher]

To be honest with you, I sort of feel the same way.

My interest and passion for gaming has been fading slowly ever since I had to start my life as an adult and within an actual society. That involves responsibility and also a full degree in nursery that makes me realize that my knowledge should now be leaned towards the good of people and not for a particular hobby like this. Still, old habits die hard as they say...

Still, I don't think gaming is ever going to die for me. I'll always come around my room to play games, I'll still buy the games I truly wish to acquire (I used to be a compulsive buyer long ago), but I'll also sell and offer stuff I'm willing to part with in order to invest in my future and games I really want.

That said, the way the gaming industry is evolving doesn't please me one bit either. A world that once meant happiness and joy for me is starting to become something really sad and gritty. I really miss the 90's...

I've also thought about getting roms and isos for a lot of games rather than buying them, because let's face it, who's willing to pay 500$ for and arcade cabinet of Night Slashers? For as much as I wanted to, there's is simply no justification to spend that much money for a single game, I'd be broke in a flash, and the economical crisis that my country is facing (and in turn, me as well) doesn't make things any better either.

Maybe this is just a phase we're going through, I don't know. But still, as a fellow gamer and proud member of Hardcore Gaming 101 (even if not the most active), I wish you the best of future endeavors, and a healthy gaming life if the opportunity ever arises.

[jorpho]

Eh, this sort of thing happens to a lot of people. You can always come back.

But I will point out that I find it quite paradoxical to be disgusted at the way the gaming industry is proceeding while at the same time owning legitimate copies of a large number of quality games that one has probably not yet played. Even if the indie scene vanished tomorrow, there would still be plenty left to play.

Also, gaming's got nothing on travel when it comes to expenses.

[Jave]

If trends continue the way they're going, I could see myself playing free, indie, retro, and casual games almost exclusively.

Even now, the games that command the most of my free time are Tetris and Mr. Driller, and that's the kind of simple friction that I want. I want the fun part distilled, and I want to be able to chase after the eternal goal of beating my own personal best, and I'd like (but don't need) an element of randomness, so that every time I start again, things are just different enough that I'm not switching on the autopilot.

What I don't want is to control the main character of some d-grade genre movie posing as a video game. I don't care about the story, I don't care whether or not it's Art with a capital A. I don't care how many polygons are on the screen, or whether it's in super-duper-higher-than-ever-definition or not. I don't care if it's mature or thought provoking or made so-and-so cry. I especially don't give a shit about "immersion" or escapism or suspending my disbelief or whatever.

I care about one thing and one thing only. FUN.

The more games try to get themselves taken seriously, the more they push away from the simple fun that made older games such a treat to play. At the end of the day, for all the time and money I put into this hobby, I'd feel like quite the jackass if I were unable to honestly say to myself "Well, at least I had fun."

[Snarboo]

I've honestly felt much the same way you have, but I don't think I could ever give up on this hobby entirely. Even if I've grown dissatisfied with the direction the industry is heading, there are still plenty of games out there to play, whether they be free, indie or retro.

Have you considered becoming a gaming hermit and just sticking with older games entirely? If GC9X has taught me anything, there are enough games released before the year 2000 to last an entire lifetime. You don't even need to spend a small fortune on the hobby, you can simply emulate all of your games. Or you can stick to playing one game entirely. I spent a number of years playing nothing but Half-Life and the assorted free mods the community had made for it.

In any case, I'm going to echo Jason X here and say I hope you stick around, whether it be on the boards or on the IRC channel. I'd hate to lose you.

[superhyperion]

Hope you don't regret this. Something similar happened to me and my old Super Nintendo games. Of course I didn't have as many games but I still regret my decision of getting rid of my Final Fantasies and other rarities.
What I do now is buy a game after I finished all other on a current console. And I never bought DLC, it's just not worth it.

[Rash]

I can't blame anyone for losing interest in gaming. I, myself, have lost much of my desire to play damn near anything and I recall this decline beginning when I first started working at Gamestop. I've also noticed (and noted several times in the past) that I just haven't been the gamer I used to be since the fall of TFC. Currently, I'm playing Persona 4 here and there...quite casually might I add. I still make an effort to go to game conventions but have noticed my desire to collect the retro has dwindled as I am also running out of space to store said old school games. Owning physical copies of the retro just isn't as important as it used to be for me. I can't see myself spending insane prices on an old game that, as many of you have said, can just be emulated with ease. Plus, many sellers don't set fair prices (or even know what the fair price would be). Gaming being as mainstream as it is today certainly has lost the charm and exclusiveness that it once held. I remember being scorned by my colleagues in middle school simply for my unhealthy interest in this hobby. Now that it is so mainstream it's like...what's the point of collecting the old school? It's not like any one gives a shit about how insanely large your collection is, except the niche fans that populate this forum. I tell you, despite all of this, that my tongue will still roll when I see a large library of retro games. I could spend days digging through such collections and yet again, I cannot justify spending my hard earned cash on them. Travel sounds good. See the world. Gaming is something you can always do on the down time. Until then, just live your life to the fullest and do what makes you happy.

[beach1]

Apr 11, 2012 18:11:35 GMT -5 Snarboo said:

I've honestly felt much the same way you have, but I don't think I could ever give up on this hobby entirely. Even if I've grown dissatisfied with the direction the industry is heading, there are still plenty of games out there to play, whether they be free, indie or retro.

That's the way I feel too. A lot of the companies I loved in the past seem to be changing for the worst, but then there are smaller companies/game releases that I still love and also there are plenty of retro games that I haven't even tried yet. It's disappointing but there are still good games coming out of the industry still.

If you do sell all your stuff, I hope you don't end up regretting it in the future.

[Super Orbus]

Do whatever makes you happy.

[evilakito]

I know exactly how you feel. I still enjoy reading about video games and posting on forums, but I really only purchase a few games a year, and I rarely spend more than a few hours a week (if that) on gaming. Most of my play-time involves fondly-remembered retro games (mainly NES/SNES era), which usually do not take long to complete.

I guess you could say that I haven't exactly lost interest in video game culture, but to be honest, video games haven't really mixed well into my adult life. Between a full time job, household responsibilities, a social life, exercise, and other, less time-consuming, entertainment choices (such as movies), I really can't find time to just sit down and play a new video game for several hours at a time.

[Vokkan]

Apr 11, 2012 18:11:35 GMT -5 Snarboo said:

If GC9X has taught me anything, there are enough games released before the year 2000 to last an entire lifetime. You don't even need to spend a small fortune on the hobby, you can simply emulate all of your games. Or you can stick to playing one game entirely. I spent a number of years playing nothing but Half-Life and the assorted free mods the community had made for it.

Truth.

Get an emulator and rom collection (for like SNES/MAME) and you're pretty much set for life.

Gaming clubs are also great. Just synchronizing what you're playing / gonna play next with a few friends will give you a richer experience.

I believe you can keep gaming a small and enriching part of your life regardless of what new hobbies you pursue.

[TheChosen]

Yeah, it does happen. Sometimes you get burned out of the hobby you love. Taking a break of it really helps, but I wouldnt recommend outright abandoning it and selling everything. You might regret that.

As for the current state of the industry, I just ignore the business side, concentrate on games that actually exists and dont let nostalgia get too much into your head. There's still good games coming out left and right and if you keep living in the past thinking of the good ol' days, of course the current generation is gonna look like shit.

[pdash]

I know how you feel dude. Whenever I feel like quitting gaming I usually bust out the Super Nintendo and play the classics to help me remember why I fell in love with gaming in the first place.

[docmarionum1]

I always seem to go through phases where I barely game. But I doesn't have anything to do with the state of the industry. We just remember when we enjoyed gaming most as the "best" time for gaming. There are more games than ever, and for all the big guys who are taking fewer risks and trying to take away our ownership of games, there are tons who are doing the opposite. And personally, with less and less time for gaming, there are still more than enough good, big games to keep me occupied anyway.

I think if I just got rid of all my games during one of my less-gamey periods I'd regret it later. Then again, you could pretty much go completely digital and people say that getting rid of all your possessions can be pretty liberating.