Becoming less interested in gaming as time goes on?

[Adaman]

Sometime in the last few years, I've lost almost all urge to play new games, and I'm not sure why really, but it's been going on for a long time. For example, I was a huge Metal Gear Solid fan, had all the MGS games (at the time), got an MGS poster on my wall, got the art book, and zippo lighter. There was a lot of hype for MGS3, and oddly I wasn't excited about it at all. It was released on my birthday, so I asked for it. I got it, but ended up returning it to EB for the $55 instead. I don't know why, just wasn't in the mood to play it. Now it's over 2 years later and I still haven't played it or thought about it much.

That's just an example, but I've become uninterested in many other games that would have really caught my interest in the past. Even games that I have been interested in I keep putting off. Like, "Eh...I don't feel like getting into a new game, maybe down the road". I have a lot of games available for me to play on different systems, I just don't have any urge to play most of them. I still love video games though, and have many old classic favorites like most here probably do. I still play video games every day, but nothing new, unless I'm playing it with someone else. I guess I don't mind playing new games if other people are involved, but single player stuff like RPG/FPS games just aren't appealing anymore. I'm not saying there aren't any new/semi-new great games out there, because there are. Just that I feel like it would be more of a chore to play them for some reason, instead of enjoying them.

So, I've really lost a lot of interest in most gaming the past 3 or so years, and I don't know why. I probably just want to do something interesting with my life, I've spent way too much time playing video games. I've played a lot of great games in my life, and still play great games, but, I've wasted a lot of time playing dumb games just to kill time out of being bored. I don't know what I'm getting at or what my point is...but, care to comment? (boo... smilies from the mid 90s.)

And that's the end of my blog, err, post.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I know where you're coming from.

I've been a gamer my whole life, and a pretty hardcore one at that, with like 13 game consoles in my closet since the mid-80's and hundreds of games.
Anytime I got some free time, I would game. There were times as a younger teenager I would pull all-nighters for certain games (Civilization, Final Fantasy, etc).
Recently though, I guess within the past couple of years, my interest has waned. Of course, as with any hobby, the more responsibilities you have, the less time you have for it, but I'm finding more and more that my free time is not spent gaming, or at least gaming as much.

I'll look through game magazines for example, like GamePro. Of the, say, 50 or so games advertised, reviewed, or previewed each issue, maybe 2 might interest me. I just have no patience anymore for games that are just "decent". I still have several games from Christmas I haven't even opened yet, and I don't have much desire to yet, either.
Maybe it's been made worse by the fact that, comparitively, 2006 was a fairly weak year, game release-wise.
Hopefully, with several stellar games on the horizon for 2007, my interest will be rekindled.

[ImaNihilist]

Could be caused by an STD. Get tested.

[ksuohio]

I know exactly what you mean. When I was younger, all I thought about during school was coming home and playing my Nintendo and later Genesis and Super Nintendo. Now, I mostly buy games, play them for a day or two and never go back. I think it's like anything, whatever you where playing game wise or listening to music wise as a teen sets that taste for what you will like later in life. For me, the only things that I can stand anymore are sports games and alternative/indie music.

I also think that the strategy guide also help ruine the gaming experience. No you don't even have to think if you don't want to and can easily walk through anything.

[Timman_24]

I remember back to my EQ days when I was younger. No mmo will ever be able to capture those first great online gaming moments. Just like beating FF2 for the first time as a child or beating FF7. Can't bring back the magic that the games brought us as kids.

I've become less interested in the actual games and more in the hype/build up to the games. Just like GeoW or Lost Planet. I havent even beat Lost Planet yet and ran through GeoW on hardcore then shelved it. It is hard to keep interested long anymore.

[monroeski]

In my case, I don't think it's necessarily a bunch of new responsibilities taking up my time, but I just like doing a wider variety of stuff. My free time isn't really too much different from then (school + sports like football and track took up at least as much time as work + working out now). Back then, with my free time, all I did was game and read books, but now I just do a lot more. For instance, I've taken more of an interest in cooking as opposed to just sandwiches, microwaveable stuff, and whatever my mom made. So, I not only spend more time out of the day making food, but shopping for ingredients, comparing healthier alternatives, stuff like that. I also have a lot of good gaming time taken from me through my damn long *** commute.

I actually spend a lot of time online here at Sharky's and at other places reading about games, researching game topics, learning about the industry, etc., whereas when I was younger all I did was play the games. I can still put in 8 hour marathon sessions of games, stay up overnight, etc., but oftentimes now after playing a few levels I might want to get online and post my impressions, see what other people think of the game, read some designer interviews, check out sequels or prequels, stuff like that. So, gaming is still my #1 hobby, it has just taken on a somewhat different form than it used to have.

[taggart6]

I'm going though something similar at the moment. Granted I do enjoy the occasional game but my current gaming habits are nothing compared to 3 years ago.

[PointlesS]

I just went through something like that...I think I'm over it now as I've probably played at least 20+ hours in the past 5 days or so

[rhettro]

It comes and goes in cycles and with getting older. I find it harder to commit to highly complex games anymore. I used to love simulations and such, but I don't have the time to completely devote myself to learning all the ins and outs of games like that anymore. Currently, I'm having fun playing coop Marvel Ultimate Alliance with my son. That's the most fun I've had in a long while, reminds me of my old Diablo 2 multiplayer days. I also think we are hitting a point of diminished returns in terms of graphics.

[Ashpool]

If wasn't preoccupied by a little thing called COLLEGE I would be gaming more.

But you know, getting my degree is infinitely more important.

[Liger83]

I blame prices. I know games cost alot to make mostly in advertising expenses but still I hardly feel like paying $50 for a game nowadays and $60 for a console game when the game usually doesn't last long enough to feel like I got my moneys worth. For instance GoW $60 for 8 hours of gameplay (thats putting the time a little high). Great game with excellent replay value via XBL but IMO with a little more time into it it could have been a few hours longer making it easily worth the money I spent into the puchase.

[Timman_24]

If wasn't preoccupied by a little thing called COLLEGE I would be gaming more.

But you know, getting my degree is infinitely more important.

+1

I also agree with people that posted on diminishing returns on graphics and the price of gaming. $60 games are getting out of hand and $400 graphics cards that get old news in 6months is hurting me.

[angomeka]

I use to love gaming back when I had a Dreamcast I remember playing it for hours on end, but after it died I moved to PS2, then Xbox and I just can not seem to get that spark back in my life for gaming. So I just play roms when ever i get the itch to game. I want to get a 360 but I keep thinking of better things to spend my money on.

[Fig]

I've gone through simliar phases. All of my hobbies are in phases. I go through periods of time where all I want to do is read books. Other times all I want to do is watch movies, etc.

[senorgotti]

I do it too. I kind of cycle through interests or hobbies.