Ever felt like easing up on gaming?

[Champloo]

Might seem like a rediculous question to post here, but has anyone been through the same thing? It's not that I no longer enjoy gaming, I won't go into the details but having been going through a really ****ty period recently i've decided that I need to make some changes. I don't think all the time i've spent gaming over the years has really done me any favours.

I've been shoving most of my collection on ebay recently, some of my cube/ps2/xbox games have had to go, the saturn, my little xenogears/saga collection, the N64 and MD, gameboy games, loads - and there's more to go. I only really realised how little I use half of this junk after clearing it out and shoving it on ebay. There is some stuff i'll miss mind you, but it has to go.

I'm not going crazy, i'm still keeping a lot, mainly the stuff I think i'll use, but i'm trying to get rid of over half of it. My collection isn't half as big as some people's on here i'm sure, but its still a lot for me to let go.

Have the feeling I might regret this later in any case, never mind...

Anyway, I don't know why I made this thread. But its a big deal for me, I need to talk about it!

Anyone else done the same? Well i'm sure loads of people have had clearouts, but for the same reasons? Am I just going to end up buying it all back - gamer once, gamer forever etc etc.

And no 'shut up you fag' comments please.

[thebuddahman]

I completely understand mate, I go through stages of loving gaming to thinking 'why the **** do i buy this **** just to put in the cupboard'? I mean it's not like I have time due to a lot of university work and I feel like its just something I've got into a habit of doing rather than enjoying it like I did when I was a teenager. Sometimes I feel like throwing the whole lot on ebay and just enjoying one format or something. I miss the days when I used to buy N64 Magazine and sit in my room eyeing up games I couldn't afford. Now I can buy anything I want and it's not anywhere near as much fun.

[Kotatsu Neko]

These threads pop up from time to time. If you're bored of gaming go do something else. Simple as that really.

[Shozuki]

Might seem like a rediculous question to post here, but has anyone been through the same thing? It's not that I no longer enjoy gaming, I won't go into the details but having been going through a really ****ty period recently i've decided that I need to make some changes. I don't think all the time i've spent gaming over the years has really done me any favours.

I've been shoving most of my collection on ebay recently, some of my cube/ps2/xbox games have had to go, the saturn, my little xenogears/saga collection, the N64 and MD, gameboy games, loads - and there's more to go. I only really realised how little I use half of this junk after clearing it out and shoving it on ebay. There is some stuff i'll miss mind you, but it has to go.

I'm not going crazy, i'm still keeping a lot, mainly the stuff I think i'll use, but i'm trying to get rid of over half of it. My collection isn't half as big as some people's on here i'm sure, but its still a lot for me to let go.

Have the feeling I might regret this later in any case, never mind...

Anyway, I don't know why I made this thread. But its a big deal for me, I need to talk about it!

Anyone else done the same? Well i'm sure loads of people have had clearouts, but for the same reasons? Am I just going to end up buying it all back - gamer once, gamer forever etc etc.

And no 'shut up you fag' comments please.

i've felt like that many times, admittedly ive never gone so far as to offload my consoles but I have done certain games, and brought them back very quickly.

My mate on the other hand sold his DC/N64 collection and has ever since been re-buying what he can.

Gaming is a cursed way of life - but we love it all the same...

[Sigourney Beaver]

Now I can buy anything I want and it's not anywhere near as much fun.

This.

When I trade some of the stuff I thought I'd keep forever, I'm surprised how little I miss it.

[Champloo]

These threads pop up from time to time. If you're bored of gaming go do something else. Simple as that really.

I did say 'its not that I no longer enjoy gaming' - never said I was bored of it (although I don't enjoy it as much as I used to for the same reasons Buddahman mentioned) just that I think i've... over-dosed (for lack of a better word!).

Its my main hobby, so deciding to cut back on it is quite a big deal. I'm sure a lot of people can relate, gaming is definitely fun, but it can become a bit mindless when you're simply buying games for the sake of buying games. I feel stupidly greedy when I look at my collection, and the fact that I buy at least one new game a week. I do the same with CD's but I guess I don't feel so guilty about that, I listen to most of them, its not so much about collecting.

Anyway, don't get me wrong, i'm sure you'll still see me about the trading forums, but i'm definitely going to cut back.

Nice to see some people feel the same though.

Hopefully this thread isn't going to piss people off - its not a stab at people who collect games, i'm guilty of it as i've mentioned.

I've had a few pints tonight, so if i'm talking out of my arse, you can let me off.

[CMcK]

I've bought and sold my console stuff twice now. I had about 20 systems and tons of games. Then one summer I realised I just didn't have time to play it all. Maybe it was like a gaming overdose and that was the comedown.

Then I started buying it all again especially Saturn and MVS stuff. And I sold all that as well.

I think it's only natural as you get older that you will have less time for games. Stuff like your other half, kids, work all take up time you once devoted to games.

I also wonder if the current games scene is having an effect on older (30+) gamers like myself. I find a certain lack of commitment to see games through these days and tend to stick with quick fix stuff and retro games.

I won't say too much on the collecting for the sake of it stuff because that's something I just don't understand.

[Kubrick]

By all means get rid of the stuff you don't want. It feels good to clear out games and systems that don't get played much/at all now and again.

My guess is though, that you'll eventually buy it all back and return to square one again.

[Fireproofradiator]

I'm not convinced it's the healthiest of passtimes to have as a main hobby.

In fact it's probably not a good idea to have anything as a main hobby - better off having a few things you flit between.

That said, videogaming, although it can take up too much of your time (and it's certainly doing this for me again, despite resolutions at the end of last year) is such an easy one for me to indulge in. I do scriptwriting part time so if I want to relax it's the easiest thing in the world to just have a quick game of lumines on live or check out NTSC...

Basically, there's no right or wrong here, you just have to be aware when you're not getting the balance correct, as you seem to have done Champloo, and make a change. I started going to the gym and playing squash at the end of last year once a week each and I've now gone down two notches on me belt!

[Johnny]

To be honest, no. From I was realy young with my C64 to the MD in my pre-teen years, to the PSX and Saturn in my early teen years, all I did was game. That's more or less what everyone knew me for.
Then I enter my "teen rebel" phase where I only played my bros PS2 and Cube and didn't own my own (did play it quite a bit though and I did buy a DC but in my infinite 16 year old wisdom, thought that being a rebel was "me").

Then literally overnight I thought "screw this" because living a life of one type of music and being a revolutionary (I was into the punk/politics thing) was just not for me and I got back into gaming in a hardcore way and it's been like that ever since.

TBH, I'm almost 23 now and as I get older I do see myself buying less (due to other commitments) but I do honestly believe that I'll be gaming in some way until arthritis sets in. I've been really, really passionate about gaming - playing, collecting, reading about, talking about etc - from I first played Space Invaders on my C64 aged 4 or so and it's not something I see myself ever getting out of

[Johnny]

I'm not convinced it's the healthiest of passtimes to have as a main hobby.

In fact it's probably not a good idea to have anything as a main hobby - better off having a few things you flit between.

This is true. For me, gaming is #1 but I also buy and watch an unhealthy amount of anime, read manga and watch movies so if there's a lull in gaming releases where I've nothing to play, I can easily leave it for a few days, do something else and come back.

[Adam Stone]

Champloo, don't feel bad about it mate. It could be a good thing. I have cut down a hell of a lot in the past couple of years and by doing so has increased my enthusiasm incredibly.

I tend to only buy the games I’m desperately interested in... and i only play one (maybe two) games at a time - when i can find the time. Can happily go weeks even months without playing anything...

But I still love videogames as much as i always have - still gibber like a little girl on important announcements and dance around the house excitably when the postman comes with a new game – and that’s not going to chance. I may play less and i no longer collect, but my passion is as strong as ever

[Salsa Party Animal]

I have a problem with over buying games, so I decided to stick to two games a month for now and aim not to buy more than 30 games this year. So far I bought 3 (Need of Speed Carbon, Lost Planet, and Outrun 2 (Jap PS2) and waiting for one.

[dogen]

I can understand how games can become a focal point, and a first choice when looking for something to do. I've had ocassions where I've needed to take a break from videogames alltogether, but I've never gone to the extent of selling all or most of my gear.

I have six consoles hooked right now, which is probably stupid because I don't used them all regularly. I've seen myself packing them away just to get rid - out of site out of mind and all that.

But, I mean, you must have other hobbies or activites you can do instead. I know after I spend some time on playing guitar or painting, and come back to games, it feels a lot less like a guilty pleasure.

[Champloo]

I can accept all the comments here really.

Kubrick: I know what you mean, I may end up buying some of it back. But as I said, its not just stuff i'm bored off - I feel quite bitter when I look at all the games i've got - it's not so much a matter of, 'I don't play this so i'll sell it for a bit of cash'.

Fireproofradiator: I can agree that its definitely not the healtiest of past times! I definitely feel better when i'm abroad for example and away from games. I'll try and follow you're example and cut back.

Adam Stone: Cheers Adam, I didn't think it was a bad thing, in many ways its a relief. I don't know if, like you and Legendary, i'll be cutting down so much, but I definitely won't be buying games unless its something I really want to play. After i've done this clearout, there's a few games i've missed, so i'll try and pick up those, and then take it easy with new releases.

Dogen: I do have other hobbies But nothing that takes up so much time. Its not just gaming, tbh I spend far too much time sitting about on the PC. All my work gets done on the PC really. And I like to travel, walk the dog, cycle, but thats about it. I've more or less giving up on my workout routine (i'd say we've all been there ) so i'm not as active as I should be, but i'm not too bad either.

Anyway, lots to do today, but I should have finished off-loading all of the stuff onto ebay tonight. I started selling it all last sunday, its taken AGES to get it all up and its not even that much.

Wish me luck.