DJ's Blog
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.
# 17
DJ @ Feb 6
@ A&S: Thanks for the reply. You are the man this year with your awesome slider set for NBA 2K11.
I am with you on buying games every other year or every 3-4 years instead of buying a game every year, just because it is new.
Unless Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are on the cover of NBA 2K12, I will be sticking with NBA 2K11 for a long time. I've got a MyPlayer, Jordan: Creating a Legend and 2 Associations going. Not to mention I also play some NBA Today games for fun. There's just so much depth to this game that it's amazing. Add that to all the Classic Rosters that have been and will be released, there's extended value right there.
NCAA 11, I can see myself playinng that for another year or two. I've got a great set of sliders and I have yet to win a National Championship, so there's a lot of work left to do there.
I have 2 franchises going in MLB 10 The Show that I'm about halfway through and I want to see those out, so I know I will be waiting a while before I get an MLB game this year. I'm leaning towards The Show 11, but MLB 2K11 could get a look as I like MLB Today and the controls for pitching are really good.
If I decide to get an MLB game, it will be after all the patches are released and the price drops.
NHL 11 I haven't played a lot, so I will be sticking with that game for at least another year.
FIFA WC (not my cup of tea, but a fun game), NHL 2K10 (too buggy), NCAA Basketball 10 (can't play it after playing 2K11) and Backbreaker (too limited single-player, I don't play online) are all getting traded in towards Tiger Woods 12.
Augusta being included makes that a must-have, and I haven't bought a golf game since TW 08, so time to upgrade.
I am with you on buying games every other year or every 3-4 years instead of buying a game every year, just because it is new.
Unless Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are on the cover of NBA 2K12, I will be sticking with NBA 2K11 for a long time. I've got a MyPlayer, Jordan: Creating a Legend and 2 Associations going. Not to mention I also play some NBA Today games for fun. There's just so much depth to this game that it's amazing. Add that to all the Classic Rosters that have been and will be released, there's extended value right there.
NCAA 11, I can see myself playinng that for another year or two. I've got a great set of sliders and I have yet to win a National Championship, so there's a lot of work left to do there.
I have 2 franchises going in MLB 10 The Show that I'm about halfway through and I want to see those out, so I know I will be waiting a while before I get an MLB game this year. I'm leaning towards The Show 11, but MLB 2K11 could get a look as I like MLB Today and the controls for pitching are really good.
If I decide to get an MLB game, it will be after all the patches are released and the price drops.
NHL 11 I haven't played a lot, so I will be sticking with that game for at least another year.
FIFA WC (not my cup of tea, but a fun game), NHL 2K10 (too buggy), NCAA Basketball 10 (can't play it after playing 2K11) and Backbreaker (too limited single-player, I don't play online) are all getting traded in towards Tiger Woods 12.
Augusta being included makes that a must-have, and I haven't bought a golf game since TW 08, so time to upgrade.
# 18
stlstudios189 @ Feb 6
Non sports games are way behind on my list, I never seem to finish them. man back in the day Double Dribble and Blades of Steel, and Tecmo Bowl too much fun.
# 19
DJ @ Feb 11
Well, my library just shrunk by 6 games. Thanks to GameStop offering an extra 50% credit on trade-ins, I was able to get over $80 in store credit by trading in the following games:
Madden 11 (got almost $30 for it with the bonus. Decent game but too bland for me franchise-wise and I'd rather play NCAA 11 for my football gaming, along with Backbreaker)
NCAA Basketball 10 (hadn't played it much)
FIFA 10 World Cup (decent game and I can see why soccer fans like it but I just don't have enough interest in the sport to invest a lot of time into it)
NHL 2K10 (bought it cheap to check it out, but just don't have time to play 2 hockey games and while NHL 11 isn't perfect, I enjoy it more than this game)
God of War III (started it, got about halfway through and lost interest. Not really my cup of tea, even though the game looked amazing)
God of War Collection: Same as GOW III.
I feel better just by no longer having those games on my shelf. No more guilt over not playing games or guilt over playing games I'm not 100% invested in and feeling like I wasted my time when I could've been playing something else.
Here's what my library looks like now:
PS3: MLB 10 The Show, NCAA 11, Backbreaker, Singstar, Singstar ABBA (both for my wife), Uncharted 2, Metal Gear Solid 4
360: NBA 2K11, NHL 11, College Hoops 2K8, Guitar Hero: Metallica, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero III.
Take away the 5 music-themed games (which are played casually and stricly for fun) and I'm down to 8 games. I'm glad I wrote this blog as it really helped me de-clutter my head and I can now focus in on getting full enjoyment out of the games I decided to keep.
Madden 11 (got almost $30 for it with the bonus. Decent game but too bland for me franchise-wise and I'd rather play NCAA 11 for my football gaming, along with Backbreaker)
NCAA Basketball 10 (hadn't played it much)
FIFA 10 World Cup (decent game and I can see why soccer fans like it but I just don't have enough interest in the sport to invest a lot of time into it)
NHL 2K10 (bought it cheap to check it out, but just don't have time to play 2 hockey games and while NHL 11 isn't perfect, I enjoy it more than this game)
God of War III (started it, got about halfway through and lost interest. Not really my cup of tea, even though the game looked amazing)
God of War Collection: Same as GOW III.
I feel better just by no longer having those games on my shelf. No more guilt over not playing games or guilt over playing games I'm not 100% invested in and feeling like I wasted my time when I could've been playing something else.
Here's what my library looks like now:
PS3: MLB 10 The Show, NCAA 11, Backbreaker, Singstar, Singstar ABBA (both for my wife), Uncharted 2, Metal Gear Solid 4
360: NBA 2K11, NHL 11, College Hoops 2K8, Guitar Hero: Metallica, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero III.
Take away the 5 music-themed games (which are played casually and stricly for fun) and I'm down to 8 games. I'm glad I wrote this blog as it really helped me de-clutter my head and I can now focus in on getting full enjoyment out of the games I decided to keep.
# 20
bh446066 @ Mar 9
I've been practicing this for quite a while, and honestly, it don't feel like I've really missed out on anything. I play strictly sports titles, and I like to have 1 "go to" game for each of the following sports:
-hockey
-football
-soccer
-basketball
-baseball
Since football is my primary game I play, I try to update it every year, but the others, I find one I like and stick to it for years. Up until the spring of 2009, I was still playing my PS2. Here's the games I was still playing then:
-NHL Hitz Pro (2003 release)
-MVP Baseball 2004
-Madden 08
-Winning Eleven 8
-March Madness 2003
Great blog, DJ!
-hockey
-football
-soccer
-basketball
-baseball
Since football is my primary game I play, I try to update it every year, but the others, I find one I like and stick to it for years. Up until the spring of 2009, I was still playing my PS2. Here's the games I was still playing then:
-NHL Hitz Pro (2003 release)
-MVP Baseball 2004
-Madden 08
-Winning Eleven 8
-March Madness 2003
Great blog, DJ!
# 21
DJ @ Nov 29
I need to bump this back up because I've once again, compiled too many games and need to cut down.
360: NBA 2K11, NBA 2K12, MLB 2K11, NHL 12, NBA Live 10, College Hoops 2K8.
PS3: MLB 11, MLB 10, Uncharted 3, NBA 2K12, Madden 12, NCAA 12, Metal Gear Solid 4
NBA 2K11 and both MLB (PS3) games are keepers, as is College Hoops.
I can do without NBA 2K12 on the PS3, Live 10 and Uncharted 3 will be coming off the list as I'm 85% finished. Im not sure what to do about football; Madden isn't grabbing my attention, so I may trade it and stick with NCAA.
Man, I wish I hadn't fallen into the trap of buying so many games. I need to be better next year.
360: NBA 2K11, NBA 2K12, MLB 2K11, NHL 12, NBA Live 10, College Hoops 2K8.
PS3: MLB 11, MLB 10, Uncharted 3, NBA 2K12, Madden 12, NCAA 12, Metal Gear Solid 4
NBA 2K11 and both MLB (PS3) games are keepers, as is College Hoops.
I can do without NBA 2K12 on the PS3, Live 10 and Uncharted 3 will be coming off the list as I'm 85% finished. Im not sure what to do about football; Madden isn't grabbing my attention, so I may trade it and stick with NCAA.
Man, I wish I hadn't fallen into the trap of buying so many games. I need to be better next year.
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I am now 41 and also have limited video game time. I maybe at the mot can carve out 8-10 hours a week (yeah that seems like a lot but it really is not compared to what I had before kids!) I normally play maybe a couple of hours m-thursday and cram in my game time late night Friday and Saturday after my wife is out like a light.
I have numerous titles I want to play. I have been a 2-3 cycle sports gamer now for over 5 years. For example I played MVP 2005 till August 2009 when i finally went next gen and bought The Show 2009. I am still playing that game (like another post mentioned) between April and August. I again am going to pass on The Show this year as to me it is the same game save for some better visuals and a new control scheme. But the Franchise mode is still pretty much the same and when they really give that many more features (I hear 2012 is the year it will get a upgrade) 2009 suites my Baseball passion just fine.
I had not bought an NBA title and played one like I play NBA2K11 since Live 2005. I did buy 2K9 for 20 bucks but thought it was weak (game play wise).
NHL 2011 replaced 2009 and 2009 replaced 2007.
I did buy Madden 2011 and NCAA 2011 after getting the 2010 versions but had not bought either since 2007 before that. I have no intentions of getting NCAA 2012 or 2013 this years version is fantastic and will give me plenty of replay value for a while. Madden on the other hand is one I must replace if 2012 indeed is the franchise overhaul we have been hearing about. And if it rocks it will last 2-3 cycles for me.
Non sports games is where I have a glut of titles I need to get to.
Uncharted 2
Dead Space
Bioshock
GTA IV
Heavy Rain
Valkrie Chronicles
Fallout 3
Demon's Souls
Assassins Creed
God of War 3
Brothers in Arms 2 Highway to Hell
Batman Arkum Asylum
Spiderman 3
I mean the list is extensive and I am picking up Dragon Age 2 (release day), Elder Scrolls Skyrim (release day) and Mass Effect 2 (waiting for price to drop big time).
I am currently playing NBA2K11 and Dragon Age Origins and I have been playing 2K11 since release day and still loving every single game (year 2 now in my 82 game Association and I play every game).
So I have so many titles to catch up on. Bottom line is I agree with you. I will be limiting myself to 2-3 games a year to purchase going forward. It is not making sense to buy so many titles a year anymore. What I do these days is wait for Gamestop buy 2 get one free (as I did this past December and loaded up) and play all those titles for the year then restock again in December. I was able to get 10 games for 170 bucks.
Insane value when you wait a year and stock up on those Gamestop deals.