Am I getting to old for gaming? Life after WoW.

[Xavier434]

I get that way sometimes. My issue is that I am very much a solo kind of guy when it comes to gaming. This depends on the game of course. I play WoW which is obviously online and interactive, but when it comes to games like FPS and many other RPGs I really prefer single player solo content most of the time. I play MP online FPS sometimes but it usually only entertains me for about an hour no matter which game I play. Playing many older games which were more focused on single player content often works for me. When it comes to recent titles, Lost Odyssey and GTA IV entertained me quite a bit and I can play those for hours. So many new games are online MP focused these days though and there are just way too many FPS games. I feel that we need more variety of quality titles especially when it comes to consoles.

 

[QuantumPion]

Same boat here, although I still play WoW. I'm totally bored with WoW except for raiding, because I love the social aspect of it. I can't get into new games because they seem so boring and lonely compared to an MMO. For example, I loved the graphics in Oblivion but I just couldn't get into it because it felt like playing WoW with no other players around. I feel like, what is the point of grinding for gear and levels in a single player game? I really want to still play PC games and be into them like in the 2nd golden-age of PC games (2001-2004), but nothing lately can hold my interest.

On the weekends when my guild isn't raiding, lately I've been extremely bored. I have like 3 new games around and countless older classic games, but every time I try to start playing them I just get bored and stop after an hour. I want to play NWN2, but I want to play it all the way through, and I only have the weekends to play it (because I play WoW on weekdays). Shooters are just totally out of the question any more except for CS on occasion.

I'm not sure if it is WoW that has ruined all other games for me, if it's just that I'm getting older, or if it really is that the PC gaming industry is dying. I don't think it's just WoW though, because I used to play Ultima Online back in the day and that game did not ruin other great single player games of the early 2000's (Jedi Knight 2 & Academy, Civ 3, etc).

I think the problem is that shooters have entirely lost their charm now, new fancy graphics just doesn't cut it any more. Half Life 2 was fun because of the physics and the story, but the two expansions were very tedious to play through and I didn't enjoy them. Portal was neat, but I doubt whether a full length sequel would hold my interest. The last great RTS that I played was RoN I think, no other RTS has come close to the polish and balance. SoaSE was fun for a day or two, but the extremely dumb AI and unplayably-buggy multiplayer has ended my time with it, for now. Likewise, Civ4 was the last great TBS, and while I can get sucked into it for hours at a time, you can only play it so much. I think NWN2 will be fun once I can get into it, although the interface is annoyingly clunky and hard to work with.

I miss the days of the simple, straight-forward and polished games of yore. MoM, MOO, X-Com, etc. I think that's what made Portal so popular, it was simple, challenging, fun, and new. Spore has potential, although I suspect I'll get bored with it after a few days. Starcraft 2 will probably have a good single player campaign worth going through, but I bet the multiplayer will be so uber-competitive that it will be just as frustrating and unfun as WC3.

So, what genres have hope of being fun and new in the future? Perhaps a perpetual MMO-RTS, or some sort of hybrid RTS/FPS. Mass Effect might be worth a go. Blah.

 

[Modelworks]

Well for one thing there really has not been anything lately that is innovative.
Its all a rehash of games past.
Years ago you had a lot of developers trying new things, but now all they want to do is regurgitate what worked before.
They don't want to take risk like before.

I see all gaming right now as stagnant on both pc and consoles.
We need some new concepts not just the same thing with different graphics and sounds.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Well for one thing there really has not been anything lately that is innovative.
Its all a rehash of games past.
Years ago you had a lot of developers trying new things, but now all they want to do is regurgitate what worked before.
They don't want to take risk like before.

I see all gaming right now as stagnant on both pc and consoles.
We need some new concepts not just the same thing with different graphics and sounds.

We also need to lessen the grip that publishers and stock holders have on devs. How much do you want to bet that many of them are responsible for large chuck of the reasons why we are seeing much less creativity? They are too scared about what their stock holders will do if they take chances.

 

[RallyMaster]

I used to play CS Source non-stop almost any time I had a break during the day. Then it all just kind of went away because I started playing Battlefield 2, which is a lot more immersive and a completely different animal. Now I don't even play BF2 much any more (got to 8000 points or so and haven't played much since) but instead I'm on a game that was released back in 2004/5 that I enjoyed - Xpand Rally. It's definitely not like any of the other racing games on the market today because I can actually make the car respond like it should with a 360 controller. Sometime last year, I also played Sega GT, which was released only minimally in the PC market. I ended up beating almost the whole thing and intend on completing it sometime this year (note that this is a 6-7 year old game). None of these games are new...I just don't find any of the new games really interesting any more.

 

[Genx87]

Unfortunately I am going through the same thing. Games have lost their luster for me the past 8 months. I even turned my game machine in a Windows 2008(E6600,4GB ram, MB) server running Hyper V. But of course it took 2 weeks of using the wifey's computer to get parts for a hold over machine(E8400, 4GB ram, MB). And I felt guilty having an 8800GTS paired with an A64 3000+.

I play COD4 but even that only holds my interest for a few minutes at a time.

I think rea life and the fact these games are the same games I have been playing for over a decade but with a different coat of paint is doing me in. I am actually getting into simulation games. Currently playing Hearts of Iron 2 as a National Socialist United States. Basic 1994 graphics but a deep combat, political, and production system.

 

[Baked]

Go read a book or two. I've also given up on hardcore gaming. I do play Wii for 30 min at a time, mostly Wii sports. I don't know, everything you see out there are just the same, but w/ a different shell on every iteration. I think I'm gonna bring Wii to my friend's house next time I go over. Should create lots of LOLs.

 

[imported_Section8]

I'm like you only older. I will never want to play more than a few hours of PC games a week, too many other life options. One thing that keeps me comming back is hanging out with friends. We get on vent and chat about goings on and such and play some multiplayer or solo stuff. Kinda like hanging out at the bar for a couple of beers. I got off wow about a year ago and will never go back.

 

[BladeVenom]

Try some LAN gaming.

 

[newguy05]

Grand Theft Auto 4 should keep you busy for some time.

 

[gamepad]

Try another MMORPG.

 

[supaidaaman]

Thanks for the replies guys! Its cool to know people are going through the same thing!

Ive got Age of Conan sitting here on my desk unopened...Im debating whether or not to install it

 

[Capitalizt]

You just gotta force yourself to start playing. I had Bioshock sitting on my desk for like 3 weeks, and finally decided to install it. I took 4 shots of vodka followed by ice cold sunkist...turned out the lights...turned the volume up, and got down to some quality gaming. I think I played 10 hours straight before stopping. Once you get going with a good game, you're BACK BABY!

 

[Mide]

Oh I agree, Portal and Bioshock were great. COD4 was short but fun, but all in all there is this huge lack of immersion within games.

 

[VulcanX]

Im 20 and having the same shit, im still playing CoD4 and like War3 or even CS Source, but they all getting old and boring, but for now im playing Juiced 2 and its the best fun ever! but i really am not impressed by the standard of games and they are all similiar and they are getting the same designs etc

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: supaidaaman
Thanks for the replies guys! Its cool to know people are going through the same thing!

Ive got Age of Conan sitting here on my desk unopened...Im debating whether or not to install it

How long until you can no longer return it to get your money back? If possible, I would wait at least a month while keeping a close eye on how the game is shaping up to be. I have heard a lot of mixed feedback, but everyone seems to agree that it is really buggy which is no surprise but still. Also, the more I read about it the more it seems to not be very appealing to casual MMO gaming so if that is at all important to you then you may want to at least wait until people have had a chance to play it more and offer feedback. In the end, it doesn't sound like a bad game no matter how you slice it though so a lot will also depend on how picky you are.

 

[SpunkyJones]

I'm a old fart of a gamer at 42ish and I've slowed down quite a bit, but its more due to life (wife, kiddies, that dam job thing, etc..) than the games. I also think the fewer hours I put in per week has helped me appreciate the games I do play. I still find enjoyment in locking myself away in my den/office and playing a fps or Civ IV for awhile, very relaxing after wrestling with the rest of my obligations all day.

 

[Scrimmy]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: supaidaaman
Thanks for the replies guys! Its cool to know people are going through the same thing!

Ive got Age of Conan sitting here on my desk unopened...Im debating whether or not to install it

How long until you can no longer return it to get your money back? If possible, I would wait at least a month while keeping a close eye on how the game is shaping up to be. I have heard a lot of mixed feedback, but everyone seems to agree that it is really buggy which is no surprise but still. Also, the more I read about it the more it seems to not be very appealing to casual MMO gaming so if that is at all important to you then you may want to at least wait until people have had a chance to play it more and offer feedback. In the end, it doesn't sound like a bad game no matter how you slice it though so a lot will also depend on how picky you are.

Erm, I don't think everyone agrees the game is really buggy, actually. I've been playing since Early Release (and late closed beta before that) and there are only a few big bugs or unfinished parts that stand out. The biggest thing is probably that the traders/banks aren't enabled now. Yep, this is annoying and something that needs to be fixed asap. The other thing is an unfinished zone that crashes the client (Lacheish Plains). Also, the game will often crash when you shut it down for some reason. There may be some other little things, but I can't think of them right now.

On the whole, I'd say AoC is in better shape than WoW was at release (remember the Guardians of Blizzard blocking off all the unfinished zones, or the boats and zeppelins that would drop people off with unrecoverable bodies while zoning?), but not as polished as LOTRO. The servers have been holding up fine, the only hard crashes in the game I've had were in the bugged zone, and latency has been very good (usually 50-60ms) with occasional lag spikes, although I don't know if the lag spikes are Funcom or Comcast.

 

[knawlejj]

Originally posted by: silpherx
Same here dude, i'm 23, quit WOW maybe 9 months ago, after being on and off for about 3 years. I find games boring now too, I can get so excited about a game beingreleased, then after i get it i get tired of it within the first hour. It's been probably a good year or so since i've played through an entire single player campaign.

The only games i enjoy now are console games with RL friends, ie Smash bros or NBA 2k8 or Halo3

I second that.

 

[Harmattan]

Just to echo what 10 people have said already, I'm really bored with most games nowadays. I've played all types in my day: MMO, FPS, Strat, RPG since the days of Nintendo and a C64 and 386 (I just turned 30). I'm a fan of all genres. But lately, most stuff, even the most highly lauded titles, are just... bleh. I find myself going back to old standards. Hell, I didn't even like GTA4 or COD4 that much I feel like I'm insane cause everyone thinks these titles are the baals (although I bought them...).

I have a PC and every console and have played most major titles to some degree (Gamefly is a god-send). That said, there were a couple recent games I thought were very under-rated (apart from Portal) and brought back my love of gaming back, at least for a short while. I've also had fun with some Wii games since the GF is into them to a point that's not normal (Pro Evo Soccer, Mario Kart). You may want to give these a try if you haven't already:

- The Witcher (just a great all around RPG with a lot of character)
- Condemned series (II is better than I; one of the only really scary games I've played)
- Drake's Fortune (fun as sh3t)
- Galactic Civilizations II (yes, it's relatively old, but they keep adding content)
- Trauma Center (stupid, but educational to some extent and strangely addictive)
- Okami (great concept; feels like you're playing in an old folktale)

Really looking forward to Conan...

 

[NiKeFiDO]

im in the same boat like a year + after "quitting" WoW. kinda sucks. I can't get into games that much...unless it has a fun multiplayer aspect, and even then, only really if im playing with friends and chatting with them and what not

 

[wanderer27]

Yeah, I know how you feel. I'm pretty much that way these days too.

I think it's the quality of the games these days, that and all the rehashes. You get one good game and everyone copies it. There's extremely little originality these days.

I have about a half dozen games of so currently loaded on my Computer. I tend to cycle through them, and it helps some in keeping my interest up, but it's not a total solution. The ones I have on are all different types/genres - Far Cry, Sim City 4, Settlers 4, Civilization 4, Oblivion, MOO3, Madden NFL (forget which year), Rome: Total War, and Tropico. Civ 4 & MOO3 are the closest to being similar, but there are enough differences to make them interesting.

I have Galacitic Civs II on here as well, but I just haven't been able to get into it. I have Age of Empire III still wrapped in a box I got a couple years ago, and just haven't been in the mood to break it out. Same for Sins of a Solar Empire - I've installed it, but I just haven't felt like starting it up.
I've got a ton games that I've just never reinstalled since reformatting some time ago, several that I've never bothered to complete.

I never had an interest in online gaming. I just get the impression that they (online games) pretty much set your schedule for you, and I have more than enough of that in life already.

I'm an old fart too (48), and I've been doing this since the TRS-80 days. Never got into the Console thing, I use my Computer for more than just gaming.

Heck, I find that I only go to a handful of sites on the Internet even anymore. I used to spend hours just surfacing all over the place.

 

[samduhman]

I still play WoW but I know how you feel. The whole online thing kind of wears on you since you rarely feel you accomplish anything when you just play a fps. I find myself having the most fun with single player games again these days.

 

[skace]

Yea well, I've got like 500 games to play and I'm friggen playing http://www.realmsofdespair.com again! Guess that's how it is.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Personally I think it's two things. First, I honestly think mmo's change your psyche when it comes to games. Ever since I logged into my first MUD I have a had a much harder time getting into the kind of games I grew up on.

Second, a lot of us who grew up with atari/c64/nes are finally getting 'old'.