007Ace

Ive got movies, games, books, tv series. Its not a list that I have to get through at any time, but when I have the itch for something specific I look on the list and pick something that Ive got waiting. I have a few subscription services but most of my media is on my home server, so i dont have to worry about losing access. My big thing is just falling too far behind. But thats not so bad either. Lets you binge a series and not be kept waiting. As for games, I changed from Console to PC when the PS5 was sold out 5 years ago. Before that I would mod and pirate every system. Ps2 and 3, Xbox and 360, DS, 3ds, psp, vita… Emulation for the switch. Nothing holding me back. Now, I shop the steam sales.

That makes perfect sense. And I look at the cost too. I will spend full price for a game that I am going to enjoy for 80 hours. But if reviews have said that time is padded with nonsense, hand holding, generic collecting etc? Maybe not. I really appreciate the How Long To Beat database. Since it shows the difference between HLTB and completion. There are lots of games that you can beat in 8 hours but to complete will be way up there. Sometimes their mechanics are so satisfying you go back to them.

I totally get that. And it really depends on what you are interested in. Some times I want a game that rewards skill, others I want a game with strategy. Then there are some that really only reward time spent in the game. And the ones I dont play at all, the games that punish time away from the game. Always plugged in, if you dont max out on gameplay this week you will miss a timed unlock etc. That is work.

Im fine with longer games so long as the story is gripping. The God of War titles were amazing, Great story, gameplay loop, rewarded variety etc. But again, like someone else mentioned. Another Ubisoft collectathon? No thank you.

I even struggled to get into breath of the wild, and horizon zero dawn when they came out. Because they reminded me of those generic open world games. But the story pulled me in both times.

Its so easy to start a game, but then lose interest. But when you do find one that grabs you, you’ll finish it. I found that I will still pay for games and get enjoyment out of them. But so often the gameplay loop doesnt fit the same way it did in the past. Ill replay old games too. Games that I would play for hours and they just dont do it anymore.

But thats because we’ve changed what we do with games. There was a time where like you said, youd get a few games a year and you would get every penny out of them. But now we consume them. We enjoy the gameplay or the story. Do I need to 100% this game? Do I get some enjoyment out of grinding every single corner of the map, and collecting every item? No. Im not going to. My time has value too.