Current Events > Question about that thing where you stare at your game library and can't pick

(+) Yeah! (+)

Sometimes I get this. What does it mean?
Does it mean you don't actually want to play video games and are looking in the wrong place?
Or does it mean you've gotten bored of the games themselves? Or that while you still like the games, they no longer function as the escapism you're after?

Sometimes I run down the list and individually rule out every game but I find myself going "Oh if that was the pre-patch version of the game or the multiplayer was as lively as it used to be I'd be down to play it." which complicates things.

It means "time for a new game!".

TyVulpine posted...

It means "time for a new game!".

For real?
That's a whole other issue, finding and picking something out.
Last time I went to the store and looked at the shelf I recognised a bunch but nothing was tempting me.

it means youre depressed bro you should see a doctor about it

TyVulpine posted...

It means "time for a new game!".

I was like this last night but decided to get one, EA Sports FC 24

Only 1 problem, the countdown said 45 days and x amount of hours

indeciveness... i have the same issue
try to choose a game at random from a curated selection
once i start playing, i get into it quickly

Sputnik1337 posted...

it means youre depressed bro you should see a doctor about it

"Basically doc, I went down the list of games and what I found is that I want them to revert Payday 2 back to the early 2020 version of the game. You know, the version with the Akimbo Goliaths and Kingpin and the long range fire bullets. Would you be the first to sign my petition?"

ZaruenKosai posted...

indeciveness... i have the same issue
try to choose a game at random from a curated selection
once i start playing, i get into it quickly

I can't do that. If I just grab one at random I don't get invested at all. I've played them before so it's not like I'm going to see something new that hooks me.
I have to see or come up with something new that revitalises the game before I start playing otherwise it's just doing what the game asks me with no payoff.

Depends on what genres you enjoy but the solution for me was playing some casual genres for a while (skateboarding, racing and card games) which don't require that much time investment compared to big RPGs.

Alternatively you might be more interested in other hobbies at the moment, which is very normal.

"Man that game is awesome.... but i don't want to play it..." ~ Me

It means that this topic is for you.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/400-current-events/80530659

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analysis_paralysis

Joelypoely posted...

Depends on what genres you enjoy but the solution for me was playing some casual genres for a while (skateboarding, racing and card games) which don't require that much time investment compared to big RPGs.

Alternatively you might be more interested in other hobbies at the moment, which is very normal.

I'm not sure what my favorite genre is nowadays. I stopped buying games and because I stick to what I already know I like, it feels less like I'm going between different genres.
The most fun I've had recently was playing co-op with a first timer. Kind of like giving a guided tour of a game I like, trying to get them to laugh at how dumb it is.

That bit about other hobbies makes sense, but I don't like the idea of trading the glorious time sink that is video games for them.

UnfairRepresent posted...

"Man that game is awesome.... but i don't want to play it..." ~ Me

The mark of an A-tier game.
Better than the B-tier "Well, I don't play it, but I do watch a streamer play it sometimes."
But below the S-tier "I might play it later. Or tomorrow. I dunno."

You gotta figure out what kind of game you're looking for specifically and find a game that scratches that itch.

It means we have access to way too many games. It's the same as someone who buys new outfits every day, but when it comes time to pick what to wear, nothing is appealing.

When I was a kid, I had like.... the 5 games I owned, and occasionally we'd rent a game. I always knew what I wanted to play then.

Tyranthraxus posted...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analysis_paralysis

Makes sense. Good name too.
I don't think forcing myself to pick one and not minding if I could have made a better choice is the answer though. It's not like everything hinges on the choice, the game has to keep providing entertainment while I'm playing it.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Yeah I feel like you'd just have a longer list to go down and individually rule each out.
We might be at opposite ends of the same issue. You've got a thousand of them, meanwhile I've gotten kind of attached to my not-buying-any-games streak.

EmbraceOfDeath posted...

You gotta figure out what kind of game you're looking for specifically and find a game that scratches that itch.

Well I've been trying to do that for a while. It's not going well.

God_of_6strings posted...

It means we have access to way too many games. It's the same as someone who buys new outfits every day, but when it comes time to pick what to wear, nothing is appealing.

When I was a kid, I had like.... the 5 games I owned, and occasionally we'd rent a game. I always knew what I wanted to play then.

This is true but I don't know if this applies here. I really don't have a lot of games on Steam. I only buy something if I'm certain I'll actually want to play it.

And when you're a kid, the wonderment is intact. You wouldn't look at something and think it's derivative. You're new to video games at that time so they have a much easier job holding your attention by offering you something new.
It takes a while, but eventually most games start looking the same.