Losing interest in games completely?

[CatalystiCam]

Short evaluation here, because it is something that worries me... Kind of. I have more going on in my life this year, like more than the last several years combined. Not going to get all preachy, but It's the first year of life itself I've enjoyed to a massive extent in probably 5, 6 years. Thinking this is a reason why games don't seem as fun? I'd rather socialise and stuff making video games not seem as good? I don't know.

I go through phases of games normally, at one point, I won't like FPS', but I'll love racing, while at other points, I'll love FPS' and be sick of racing games, but that's just an example that goes for practically all genres. I also have gone through phases where I just love to play several different games briefly here and there. All I enjoy right now is Minecraft, and NHL 12, and that's to a minimal extent, and the way I figure it, minecraft is more like playing with lego, and being creative, and NHL is sports-related.

Evaluate off those two paragraphs if you would please, but the rest of this is just highlighting my recent attempts at enjoying games (in italics):

I bought a PS2 used like sometime in Febuary of last year to play NHL 2003, and ATV 4 again. It was fun for a very short period of time. I bought game after game because they were so cheap used: Red Faction, Atv 1, Atv 2, Twisted Metal, Star wars Episode 1 racer, SSX 3, but nothing held my attention. I hardly touched any of those for more than the first day that I had them.

Bought all sorts of miscellaneous 360 games used, and hardly played them other than shadowrun which lasted a while. Tried lots of emulators and stuff, and jumped from game to game, couldn't enjoy much.

Bought a 3DS in May. Played it for the first few days a hell of a lot, and enjoyed it, then it kind of got boring like everything else.

Back on topic. Does this sound like loss of interest to you? It only recently occurred to me that I never did this a year ago, and all before that, seems like the shiny appeal of games has been wearing off as I go. I put off almost any game anyone suggests that I try out of disinterest in new games. Attempts at playing old games I liked only has a nostalgic appeal for the first while until I just hate what I'm playing. Buying new games seems like almost a waste, and as cool as some of the new games look, ALMOST NOTHING LOOKS LIKE FUN to buy... Frankly, I think I'm done almost entirely. I still play games at friends, and enjoy them in groups, but that's about it. I think almost all the interest is gone, and that kind of sucks.

Not at all intending to be a "whiny thread" so sorry if it comes across that way. just asking for thoughts? If I've lost interest, then so be it I guess, but it does seem like a loss. A big one.

[Demon-Mask]

Try playing DIFFERENT games. Games you've never enjoyed before. Play simplistic games, play extremely complex games.

[CatalystiCam]

Don't think that works lol, tried Black ops last year to see what the stupid obsession was and hated it. I think I've covered just about every genre in the past before. Some of the games I've tried have been new to me. I've pretty much scratched and clawed my way, buying games and stuff trying to find something that's fun in the last year, but nothing has really stuck other than Minecraft and NHL games as I said. Maybe a break is what I need? I've already started pretty much depriving myself of every game other than the two I've already mentioned.

[Slime Slayer]

NHL 2003, ATV 4. Red Faction, Atv 1, Atv 2, Twisted Metal, Star wars Episode 1 racer, SSX 3
I may have found the source of your problem. If someone handed me the controller for any of these games I would decline. I think your tastes are evolving, and like DM suggested, try some new games. I would reccomend any of the DS Castlevanias specifically, if you don't enjoy the crap out of them then there is no hope.

[Dudebro]

What do you want us to do, decide how you feel for you? Only you can tell if you're losing interest in something. It might just be a phase and you need a break or it could be for good, who knows. Just don't worry about it. Also like those guys said try different games. Go buy Skyrim right now if stores are open past dark in Canada.

[CatalystiCam]

Skyrim is the last thing I want because it would be the biggest waste of money I know I don't have. Nothing against the game, but if I do my usual thing of playing an rpg for 5 hours, then suddenly stopping, then it would really feel like a waste for a game that's like 1000 hours long. :P

@Steven, I love Hockey, ATV, and SSX games... in the past at least.

What do you want us to do, decide how you feel for you?

Of course not. Give opinions and suggestions like you have been doing is all I want :) Maybe even someone has been through the same?

I know I just shot down Skyrim, but I actually like the idea, what different games would you guys suggest that would be affordable from ps2/xbox/GC/360/3DS? Keep in mind that Sonic Generations, Mario Kart 7, and Mario 3d land were already on my list, so those were obviously my type already.

[Dudebro]

You could get that Castlevania game cheap on Live and play with friends. It's not that long of a game but if you enjoy the combat and collecting stuff it's a great value.

There's lots of good indie games for 360 but I don't know of many besides the obvious ones like CastleCrashers, Monday night combat, ect. You could make a post on xbox.com and people would have a list of games you might like.

[Seahawk]

I wouldn't say it's completely your fault. The industry is quite a different beast than from when all of us were growing up.

But there is still a lot of content out there.
For me, I like shooting games (the arcade score attack kind, not FPS). However that genre is super niche in the US. However even with that fact I've found several in the past years to keep me happy: Sin & Punishment 2, Radiant Silvergun, Castle of Shikigami 3, the Gundemonium collection on Steam, Gradius Rebirth....that's not counting old used games for PS1 I've found by scrounging at flea markets.

Maybe try posting what types of games you liked growing up.

[CatalystiCam]

Ok, I'll give the ones I enjoyed most growing up down:

Donkey Kong Series
Rush games (Extreme racing games for N64)
Battletanx
Sim City
Top Gear 3000
Super Earth Defense Force
Perfect Dark
Doom
Mario Party Games
Command & conquer & Red Alert games
Sonic The Hedgehog Games
Super Mario games
Final Fantasy Games (Mainly IV & VII growing up)
Conker's Bad Fur Day

Getting more into the last decade:

Timesplitters
SSX Tricky & SSX 3
Rollercoaster Tycoon games
Starcraft
Half Life original Trilogy
Need For Speed Underground
Tony Hawk's pro Skater 3
The Sims
Burnout 2 & 3
Conker: Live & Reloaded

That's dating pretty much up to 2005-ish the ones I played the most off the top of my head.

[Kugyince]

Honestly I think you're fine. It's just your tastes in gaming have changed but you haven't recognized it yet.

You have access to the DS library and XBox Arcade. I would strongly suggest picking up some dirt cheap quirky titles.
Try these out for the DS, can probably find them all for under $10.
Elite Beat Agents
Hotel Dusk
Meteos
Monster Tale
Picross 3D
Trauma Center

[RU Joe]

Cam, I get bored of games too and sometimes put them on the shelf for a year or more, and start to think I'll never look at them again.
To my delight I rediscover these treasures at a later date and am overjoyed I kept them and get right back into it.

Maybe what the guys are saying has some value here in that a change of flavor could rekindle your appetite for games.
Then again, maybe you need to get out and hang with old IRL for a little while?

[jim5cents]

Another suggestion would be to quit gaming cold turkey for a few weeks. It will either recharge your batteries or allow you the opportunity to explore other hobbies.

[Kong]

I played games constantly in my early teens. Almost not at all in my late teens and and early 20s. Now I usually play either in marathons for a day or week and then don't play at all for months.

When I was a kid my favorites were RPGs and games where you had to stop and think like Out of This World and Immortal. If I were to pick up a new game like that today, I would want to like it for old time sake but I would get impatient and bored and probably quit.

Now when I play it is normally twitch type games. Fast paced games that require fast reflexes and no pauses in action to consider your next move.

So now I play games like
Speed Attack
3D Tetris
Bank Panic
Tapper
King of Fighters
Street Fighter
Puzzle Fighter
Rampart
Balcube
NBA Jam


Those are all very different than what I would have chose to play when I started playing games.

[Demon-Mask]

Try:
999: Nine Persons, Nine Hours, Nine Doors
Any Danmaku game
Anything from the Legacy of Kain series

[CatalystiCam]

I think this whole "different types" of games thing could be very true. Makes sense when I think about it. Actually, I should ask for some older games. When I said I have no money, it is pretty much true. I have 20 bucks to my name and 5, maybe even 6 gifts to buy for christmas. I'll keep some of these in mind for after christmas, but I'm going to try some other Genres on emulators and stuff to test the water before I blow any money. So, recommend me anything from NES, Snes, Genesis, anything up to PS1 and N64.

Also, I should explain that I think my tastes are changing. I never used to like Hockey Video Games at all, or care for Hockey nearly as much, except recently. So, I figure that probably says something if I love it, and love the games now.

[jim5cents]

Save your money and give your family "gift certificates" in the form of doing extra chores, or homework for siblings, cleaning their rooms, stuff like that. They can redeem them whenever they want.

[CatalystiCam]

Yeah, I got my money lined up through cutting the lawn, yardwork and house renos. It's all good there, but it'll just be enough for gifts. Thanks for the suggestions though.

[joz]

Go out and get yourself a girlfriend or two. Stop playing games and get a job for a while. After a while, any game will be cool.

[sabby]

I think I heard somewhere that " Life is a game, don't make gaming your life."

You are only a kid once (although I have refused to grow up for quite some time now). Leave the gaming for a little while and enjoy these years. Play the games when you are older so that you do not grow old.

[CatalystiCam]

Thanks sabby. It's not that I put gaming first, not at all! I'd much rather be out with friends or anything like that than play video games. I am out of the house a lot more now that I'm in a good high-school with good people, but I still have times where I'm at home, and gaming is something I want to do at that time, but then I don't enjoy the gaming at that time.

Don't worry, I know life's more important for sure. Thanks for the reply :)

[Tails]

When I got bored of games I went to watching Anime/cartoons/movies.

[CatalystiCam]

When I got bored of games I went to watching Anime/cartoons/movies.

That's pretty much exactly what I resort to lately. Not so much Anime though, except for Dragon Ball Z.

[Tails]

I recommend watching Yu Yu Hakusho.

[Slime Slayer]

Hotel Dusk
Meteos
Monster Tale
Picross 3D
Trauma Center
It's funny because my top five is vastly different:
GTA Chinatown Wars
DQ 9
DQMJ 2
New Super Mario Bros.
Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow

---------- Post added at 09:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:02 AM ----------

Edit: I now realise they were appropriate suggestions, and not your top 5.

[CatalystiCam]

Might do Dragon Quest, but I think it would be too similar to games I had tried to play recently from the FF series, and Chrono Trigger.

[Dudebro]

Nah it's a great game on it's own, worth owning for sure imo.

[CatalystiCam]

Well. I think I may have found a Genre that I still enjoy at the moment. Decided to Revisit DKC 3 for probably the 7th or 8th time(never got to play 3 as much as the other 2). Found a lot of enjoyment in it. I played for 2 hours straight before I had to stop myself from playing it. I'm going for a 103% run hopefully. Not too difficult, I have been successful throughout the first 3 worlds, so it is possible. Anyways, I had a lot of fun playing it, and I'm going to see how that holds up for now.

---------- Post added at 11:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:41 PM ----------

Should mention that I don't think 3 is just giving me enjoyment for nostalgic reasons. I didn't play 3 until 4 or 5 years ago. I had played it when I was maybe 3-5 years old, but I very, very vaguely remember that time.

[Slime Slayer]

Well they all play identically... regardless as long as your having fun, but I don't think this is going to help you long term.

[CatalystiCam]

Kind of, 3 is my favourite though. Also, why do you think that it wont help?

[Winnebagel]

I kind of relate to what you are saying somewhat Cam. For me it is also dependent on how much time I have (which is generally not much), but I go through waves in terms of gaming passion.

Most recently I have had a lot of fun with Fallout New Vegas (highly recommended), and I just picked-up Skyrim, but haven't played it yet. I still from time to time will throw down on Contra and the like like we used to play. Overall, I have put more gaming time into the 3DS than anything else lately.

I have to say, I also think Sabby had some sage advice too. Hanging out with friends and family now should be treasured and valued as much as possible, as it might just get tougher in the future.