[General Discussion] Former/Post Gamer's Coalition

A thread for all of those gamers who gave up the controller. I am interested in your story, your reason, how its been fairing and your feelings about quiting gaming.

Over the course of a year, I've found myself literally cutting videogames out of my life for the most part. I still play party games when I can but my prolific RPG and action gaming has stopped completely. I even remember during the summer only playing through one game (Valkyrie Profile.). Usually during the summer I play almost a dozen or so games. To be honest, games have been boring and uninteresting to me these days. On that subject, I also entertain the idea of NOT going next-gen with consoles and I hope to quit gaming altogether after college.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I stopped playing videogames seriously when I was 13. I can't say why really. It just wasn't appealing anymore.

Not that I never play them now, but it's pretty rare. Pretty much only on occasion with friends.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

When I was younger, I was able to complete six or seven RPGs in a single summer. But college and other priorities tend to get in the way of gaming at times. I still manage to play the newer titles whenever I get the chance, but I haven't been able to complete them in less than a week. I used to be able to do that years ago.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Considering that this is being posted in the video *GAMING* section of *GAMING*force *GAMING* on the *GAMING*force Interactive Forums, I'm not sure that this topic is gonna get a whole lot of response

But for my part, I definitely don't play as much as I used to. Lately I've been gaming more than usual, having gotten Elite Beat Agents, Phoenix Wright, and Ys I and II Eternal within the same time frame (QUALITY, I say), but other than that, not too much. I was getting excited for the Wii, but now that it's out I'm filled with a profound lack of interest, for some reason. College, work, and life in general tends to overshadow those things.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I'm not ready to label myself a former gamer just yet...I'm still interested in plenty of upcoming titles and I always turn to some of the great 8/16 bit titles when I need a quick study break (I'm nursing Super Ghouls and Ghosts right now, while I work on a paper...Ouch is all I can say). College and real life has just put something of a dent in my game time and, unfortunately, my enjoyment. I mean, it's hard to justify plopping 40 hours into an RPG with homework and a serious job hunt down the line. It's all about moderation, but even when I HAVE the proper time, I just can't get comfortable. Not like, say, watching a football game, where I just forget everything for 3 hours.

Heh, just a month ago, my credit card got charged for a whole year of Xbox Live again...This is my third year. I played the hell out of it the 1st year, then not so much towards the end...the second, I used it 3 times (total) and I figured I wouldn't resubscribe because it was a waste of money. Too late now...I'm stuck with 11 months of Live service now. And the same ugly wire running from one room, through the hall and through the middle of my room.

For the record, I'm 25 and I have 20+ years of near-obsessive gaming background. I don't think I'm going down that easily...

I was speaking idiomatically.

I wouldn't say that I'm an ex-gamer like the OP seems to be implying, but I have to admit that I don't play games as much as I used to. I remember when I used to get a game, I would do just about everything in it, getting all the hidden/extra characters, various powerups, and fighting hidden bosses who were harder than the main final boss themselves (Emerald/Ruby Weapon from FF7, anyone?).

Lately however, and I'd say this has been going on for a good 8 of my last 20ish years or so of gaming, I haven't found myself as excited in most games. I still do splurge in them from time to time, but I don't find myself getting nearly as excited playing many of these games the way I used to (heck, I'm just now playing Kingdom Hearts, even though it's been out for a while now. Gotta say though, it's kind of fun).

As to why, I'm going to say college is the #1 reason, followed by work, and then just the past experiences of getting burnt on buying crappy games (buyer's remorse I guess. Plunking down $40-70 and finding out the game sucks really gets to you after a few times. The fact that the next gen games are in the higher range of this scale certainly doesn't help).

I don't think I'll ever stop playing games entirely. But I definitely don't have as much time as I used to, and even when I do, I'm really picky on what I want to play. I hope they don't release too many crappy games, or else I may break off entirely though lol.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I took a break from gaming in my 1st and 2nd year of uni. Played (well replayed mostly!) a bit in 3rd year. But then come my 4th I got into the whole online community thing and bang I'm stuck right back in. And just in time for the Wii too!

I don't have time to finish long games anymore (so it's kinda a good thing that recent games are shorter) and my specialty has gone from RPG and FPS to Action-Adventure Platformers. I think of this as a good thing as it's easier to pick the latter up, and what do you know, I'm actually good at them for once lol! Give me DMC4 over FFXII and FEAR ~

FELIPE NO

Over the past two years, i've been playing seriously less video games. Due in part, to my being pinned to the wall with finishing highschool, and having no money. My longest dry period was last year between January, and September, i literally did not touch any of my consoles (summer was a given, as i was working at summer camp all summer.) This year though, i'm making more money than ever, and i have more free time than every. I'm also discovering great prices on used games every weekend. I'm averaging about one new title to my collection every week now.

I became a former gamer, but i had every intention of coming back to it once i had the time.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?