How to Survive a Gaming LullAugust 17th, 2008 by Mercedes
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CS hacks are annoying. Team-killers and other players blasting shitty techno through their mics on CoD4 aren’t even mildly amusing anymore. I log onto WoW to grind some rep and think, why am I spending so much time working toward a piece of virtual gear only to grow dissatisfied with it and yearn for another piece of virtual gear, all of which is worthless, if not scorned, in the eyes of others? It feels monotonous. It feels useless. It feels boring.
What is a girl to do when her favorite source of entertainment, the pastime about which she is most passionate, just doesn’t cut it?
You see, I have this problem with gaming. A big part of why I can’t finish games is because I lose interest in them. I grow bored, or I guilt trip myself out of devoting time to them, or I hold grudges against them if they aren’t what I expect them to be. If you’re like me, you’ll occasionally find yourself in a rut. A lull. No controller you pick up seems to sit right in your hands, the camera angles are all wrong and disorienting, and your favorite level doesn’t entice you anymore. But don’t worry; there’s hope for us.
You’re gonna kick yourself for not thinking of this first. Try a new game! If you can’t afford it, borrow one from a friend or rent one from Blockbuster. Hell, try a new genre. Step outside your comfort zone. Learning to walk all over again can be fun and awfully ensnaring. I always thought FPS’s were way out of my league and required too much skill that 
I didn’t have until I tried playing one. I fell in love, and it broadened my gaming possibilities, allotting me more opportunities to have fun.
Don’t forget about your old games, though. Classics are called classics for a reason. Blow the dust out of those cartridges in your garage! Download a ROM of one of your favorite childhood games and beat the crap out of that monster you never had the guts to face. Chances are there’s some mature humor in those games, too, that you never caught onto as a kid and will find pretty amusing now that you’re older.
Try setting some new goals for yourself within games you’re already familiar with. If you play multiplayer all the time, try replaying campaign on a harder mode or unlocking new features. Or conversely, if you’ve played campaign into the ground, don’t be afraid to play online. I was one of those people always afraid to play with or against other people, in fear of screwing up and disappointing/infuriating my teammates or losing to a shit-talking opponent. But you should keep in mind that it is a game, and just because you lose a couple times doesn’t mean you’re worthless. Keep at it with an open mind and it’ll be fun, I swear.
If all else fails, take a break. There’s no shame in putting your games away for a few days, a couple weeks. Some of the best advice I’ve received is to take everything in moderation. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, yadda yadda. I wouldn’t tell you to purposefully neglect games you enjoy so that you’ll have more fun with them next week, but if you’re growing weary of what you’ve got, put it away until you’re excited to play it again. You might forget some of the controls, but at least you’ll have fun rediscovering them.
And always remember to game for yourself. Don’t let your parents or friends shame you into thinking it’s a waste of time or that you’re devoting yourself to something fruitless. Enjoying a video game is as valid as taking pleasure in any other activity.
So what do you do when your games start to let you down? What do you turn to, and how do you get out of your gaming lull?
August 17th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
This is kind of a recent problem for me, and I spend a lot of time wondering whether I’ve grown out of certain things, whether they’ve grown out of me, or if it’s just that games these days attract the worst breed of people.
I SO give up on finishing games more than I used to, and for the same reason (I just lose interest). I do know exactly at what point, though: As soon as it looks like there are no new features left, only variations on what the game’s already shown me, that’s when it suddenly goes stale. Which sucks.
I know exactly what you mean about fearing that your pastime isn’t what it used to be. But I think we’re near a turning point for video games.
August 17th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Very true what you say about trying different genres. When I get frustrated with an fps, a good rts game usually gets me interested again.
August 17th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Around the release of Final Fantasy X, I was feeling down on traditional Japanese RPGs, because I didn’t particularly enjoy Final Fantasy VIII, or Final Fantasy IX, or Chrono Cross, and Disgaea hadn’t come out yet (which did a lot to rekindle my interest), and I started to worry that maybe I just didn’t particularly enjoy RPGs anymore.
But I went back and replayed Chrono Trigger and Xenogears, and a fair portion of Final Fantasy VI, and no, I still really enjoyed those. And I don’t think it was just nostalgia value either, cause I played both Illusion of Gaia and Terranigma for the first time, and got a real kick out of those too.
Most of my gaming Lulls now are caused by my stubborn refusal to consult an FAQ on the matter (particularly near the end of Okami), like trying to crack a programming problem, taking a few days off can do wonders. If I’m feeling like gaming, but don’t have any game in particular I feel like trying to progress in, I have a small cache of very simple puzzle games that I usually grind out a bit of time in. It’s not exactly the most cerebral activity, but I find it more engaging than watching TV.
August 17th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Duri - I’m actually very excited about a few games coming out later this and next year. Recently I’ve been getting tired of my usual go-to’s and I’m looking forward to new releases. Thank goodness for E3. It inspired me to keep gaming and reminded me that new stuff is in development all the time. Nothing like a little news and research to find new things to get excited for!
William - I am actually the opposite with FAQs, sometimes to a fault. I consult them too much, I think, so much that I eventually realize I haven’t played half the game but allowed a walkthrough to take over for me. The same with add-ons and mods in WoW. Recently I’ve gotten better about that, but a little help never hurt anyone, I don’t think.
August 17th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Also, I forgot to comment. I’ve felt, ever since I got into the industry (six months ago, or so), that something of the sort is coming in the game industry.
I went up to GDC SF this February for the first time, and, having no idea what to expect, I was concerned that it was going to be a lot of sweaty fanboys talking about how good they are at Halo.
I don’t know if any of you have been to GDC before, but wow, I was totally wrong. I talked to people looking to hire programmers to produce rhythm games in Singapore, people wanting to create casual games to suppliment on the job training, people who want to create interactive documentaries to promote social change, and was introduced to the IGDA Writer’s Special Interest Group, a whole host of industry people just as passionate about video games that withstand literary criticism as I am.
Maybe other people already knew this, so I’m just slow, but not only is new stuff in development all the time, I think by the time we’re all in our thirties (I’m 22), the face of games will have changed completely. When you look at what’s going on right now, then remember that 12 years ago, we were all pissing our pants at the amazing graphics on Chrono Trigger.
Likewise, in the past 12 years, game music has really broken through. Japan has been ahead of us in this regard for a while, but Video Games Live, and the average quality of game music (production quality in particular) has shot up like a rocket recently. Even more exciting (for me, as a writer) is the increased emphasis on writing and narrative design. Though it didn’t blow me away, the fact that people are even TALKING about Braid in that sense thrills me to no end.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Excellent post! I find days where I describe my gaming desire as “meh”. Not that I don’t want to play, but rather I can’t decide what to play because so much of it seems like the same.
I just recently purchased Braid on XBL and that is definitely a nice change of pace and kept me entertained for quite some time.
It’s just sad when you can’t find the motivation to play the MMO you’re paying for…
August 19th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Admittedly, I didn’t beat Windwaker for a long time because I hit the Triforce part and said forget it. I swore I had beaten the game and went back two years or so ago and found out I hadn’t, then quickly got around to fixing that. but still, I know what you mean.
My gaming ADD is the worst on the DS, I think 90% of my games I haven’t even played past the first half.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:36 pm
It’s weird that you should use a picture from Rainbow Six Vegas because this is exactly the game that I’m trying to force myself to complete. I should really just rent something else, but I feel enslaved by a desire to finish games, otherwise I feel that I’ve somehow “cheated” the story.
Please tell me I’m not the only one.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 am
I’ve had the same problems with Grand Theft Auto IV, or any long game that takes forever to finish. I sometimes run out of steam so a break is in order. Sometimes, it’s not really the length but the difficulty of a game that drives me to other pursuits.
To survive a gaming lull, I play other games. Many other games.
If I get lucky, I start on a certain game that I continue playing until I finish it. That’s a bit rare though, since I have a very short attention span.
What am I doing here again?
August 26th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Great tips. When i get bored with gaming i just immerse myself in something else, catching up on some books or getting some work around the house finally done. Soon enough a new must have game will beckon.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I realize this comment is late, but I really enjoyed reading this article. I feel the EXACT same way a lot of the time. Sometimes I feel that way simply because when you pay money for a game like WoW, you feel obligated to play, even if you lose temporary interest… I think that what you said about setting new goals for yourself is a good idea. :o) Great article! I love you guys!