How many games to play? - DJ's Blog

DJ's Blog

How many games to play?

Posted on February 2, 2011 at 08:28 PM.

(22)

Recently I've been looking over my catalogue of games and it got me thinking 'how much am I really getting out of these games?'

Between school, work and other commitments, there's not a lot of time for gaming and yet, sitting on my shelf I have the following:

PS3: MLB 10 The Show, NCAA 11, Madden 11, Backbreaker, NCAA Basketball 10 (about to be traded in), Metal Gear Solid 4, Uncharted 2, God of War Collection, God of War III.

360: NBA 2K11, NHL 11, College Hoops 2K8, Guitar Hero: Metallica, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero III, NHL 2K10, FIFA 10 World Cup.

That's a lot of games and to be honest, I don't play many of them. I've been hooked on NBA 2K11 lately, and that is what led me to really analyze my gaming habits.

If you look at NBA 2K11, you have NBA Today, Jordan Challenge, Jordan: Creating a Legend, MyPlayer and Association modes (I'm sure I'm missing a couple of things) at your disposal. That's a lot to dive into. I've had NBA 2K11 since launch and yet, it wasn't until the last 2 weeks when I really dedicated a lot of my gaming time to just the one title that I've been able to fully explore everything inside the game.

Heck, I've had MLB 10 The Show since last May and am not even at the All-Star break in any of my franchises. It's not that I don't like the game (it's one of my favorites), it's just that I've devoted my time to other games. Imagine if I had passed on say, Madden, Backbreaker, NHL, how much more time I'd have had to play The Show? Surely I'd be onto my second year in Franchise mode, instead of plodding along at a snail's pace.

I'm really feeling like being more selective with my purchases is the smart way to go. Pick 2-3 games that I know I'm going to play the heck out of and do just that, until it's time for me to move on to something else. I'm also looking at sticking with games (especially once I get the settings/sliders where I want them) for more than the 1-year development cycle if the newer version doesn't jump off the page and wow me.

Looking at my collection honestly, I could probably do away with 90% of my games and be content with 2-3 titles for each system. I feel like cutting down on the clutter will help create a deeper, and better, gaming experience for me moving forward.

Comments

# 1 trick02 @ Feb 2

I have hit the same point in my life. I use to buy every sports game since I had the time to play them and even more while in college. I still love madden and purchase that every year but other then that i might buy one other game all year. Seems to me that for the most part the quality has gone down to a point where you are just buying roster updates and new features that dont actually work at this point.

# 2 goalie @ Feb 2

yup, i feel the same way - but i don't really mind it... i get a little mad at myself... like i was enjoying Fifa a few weeks ago, but bought Dead Space 2 and went back to playing Tiger '11... why?

all depends, i guess, if you feel you are getting your "money's worth" - whatever that means!

# 3 jestep123 @ Feb 2

I spend more time collecting games than I do playing them.

# 4 jestep123 @ Feb 2

I feel like cutting down on the clutter will help create a deeper, and better, gaming experience for me moving forward.

Not to mention a better, deeper financial situation. On a serious note, I think the first ones to go for me will be the EA football games. My 5 year old has played more games of Dynasty in NCAA 11 than I have. I havent even touched Madden and he is 3-2 in his franchise with the Colts.

He's FIVE. He doesnt care about new features or updated rosters...yet.

My every year purchases will be NBA 2k and MLB the Show. With the Show being the only one set in stone.

Games like Fifa and NHL and Top Spin I can buy every few years as I literally do not watch the sports and could care less who are on the teams.

This is actually a great blog. I feel like a lot of people feel this way. Especially with the games being so deep now.

# 5 stlstudios189 @ Feb 3

I am getting the same way. I am not getting MLB 2k11 this year as I am only 65 games into my season from MLB 2k10. WWE raw vs. smackdown 11 might hold me over for quite some time and Madden and NCAA I have only played one season each. I will just keep going with them. I am still playing NBA 2k10 but 2k11 keeps calling my name.

# 6 Eski33 @ Feb 3

So funny a blog was written about this topic as I have analyzed my gaming as well.

I used to buy a sports game and rip through season on top of season. In the past couple of years, I can't manage to finish one season mostly because I don't sim any games.

I have owned NBA 2K11 and set up my season and have yet to play one game. NHL 11, I got through five games.

The conclusion I came up with is time. Playing one game of football, basketball, etc can eat up 40 minutes. Playing COD Black Ops takes less than 10 minutes.

# 7 rdmcfall @ Feb 3

Right on point. I've found that as I get older, I would rather fully experience a small group of AAA titles than build a collection of games that don't really capture my attention. I actually just sold back a good amount of older titles that were just sitting there.

It's like the presence of too many games actually creates a sense of stress, and I enjoy gaming less. Simplify, keep the gems in the collection, and I've found that lets me appreciate them more. After the cleanup, I'm left with 3 PS3 games, and 6-7 360 games. Truthfully, as long as I had FIFA, NBA2K, and Uncharted 2, it's all good.

Great post. And like jestep123 said, the EA football games no longer make the priority list for me. Just my opinion though, NCAA was strong this year.

# 8 G da Lionheart @ Feb 4

Wow this is crazy because I am currently going back to school and hit the same point also. The good thing about it is it has kept me from wasting money (man these books cost). I only play one game now 2K11. quality over quanity is what i say.

# 9 -ENiGMA724- @ Feb 4

not sure why i even buy madden(ps3) anymore...i rarely ever play it...bought it every year since 2001(eddie george on the cover)...nba 2k11 is really the only game i play on a consistent basis...i sometime hop over to black ops but that's rarely

# 10 rudyjuly2 @ Feb 4

I definitely don't buy many games anymore. I normally play NCAA football from July through Christmas. I will sneak a great game like Uncharted in there but from Christmas to March I might catch up on 1-2 games that I didn't have time for and get them cheap. Once March hits it is baseball time. I get a baseball game and play that until NCAA drops. Rinse and repeat.

For me I won't buy both baseball games and I won't buy both NCAA and Madden. I simply don't have the time to justify buying both titles as I won't get my monies worth. If you have more than one game in the same genre and have a wife and kids, you just won't have the time to play all the games.

# 11 jestep123 @ Feb 4

. If you have more than one game in the same genre and have a wife and kids, you just won't have the time to play all the games.

+1 for this part

# 12 tril @ Feb 4

its simple. Im like mst of you on this thread.. wife, kids, school and/or work.

what i wind up doing now is focusing on each sport during the actual season.
I play ch2k8 and NBA2k11 during the winter, during basketball season.
and strictly baseball during the summer months.

Ill occasionally play a hockey or soccer game but dont invest in the franchise modes.

dont play madden at all anymore. game isnt sophisticated enough.

what I find is that I actaully enjoy the individual titles much more this w y, and i also still look forward to the new releases.

but ch2k8 still gets at least one season in during the summer months

# 13 Runnin with Scissors @ Feb 5

Commenting on Jestep123's comment on his 5 year old not caring about new features and updated rosters; I chucked to myself while shaking my head up and down. When did we start worrying about this! I know the reason, what I mean is when we all started gaming, in our childhood into young adulthood, we appreciated the games for what they were and played a particular game year after year (Earl Weaver Baseball, NFL Challenge, etc). I too wonder why I buy any sports game (except The Show)each year, I don't get my money's worth out of them as it is.

Good blog DJ, gave me a lot to think about.

# 14 jestep123 @ Feb 5

RWS,

Great name first of all. That is so true. I think its a whole generation of gamers now who dont know anything but the PS2 and 3 that have spoiled the rest of us. We buy in to what they are selling.

I mean not to sound like an old man but Bases Loaded looked like crap compared to today's baseball games but I GAURANTEE you that even to this day, I spent more time playing Bases Loaded than I have spent playing every other baseball game I have ever played combined. That is in part because I had more time then byut also, for its time, that game was damn fun.

Other examples:
Mike Tysons Punch Out, V FNR4
Contra and Double Dragon had Co op play long before what we see today
Tecmo Bowl
If Double Dribble ever comes to PSN, I will be first in line to buy it.

The games are deeper than ever. Seriously, now we can see why Dev's hold back year after year. If they didnt, they wouldnt sell anything.

# 15 matt8204 @ Feb 5

Excellent post. I've been thinking about this a lot lately myself. I just don't have the same free time that I used to, so my gaming sessions are more and more infrequent. I don't have time to devote myself to more than one sports game if I want to play an entire season and I get tired of single-game online matches that don't go anywhere. What I'll probably do going forward is just buy one sports game during the fall/winter (whatever is best among NHL, Madden or FIFA based on user comments) and pick up The Show for my spring/summer sports title, as long as it remains a top flight game. Aside from that, I usually only play one or two non-sports games per year due to time restrictions.

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