Starting a new game

[MartyG]

Does anyone else have issues starting a new game?

I'm sat here looking at my list of shame, the unplayed RPGs and 4X strategy games which I'd like to start, but learning the systems and that new start slog means I just slip into starting up older titles I've already put countless hours into (like Skyrim or Factorio). I'm not completely sure whether it's having to learn a new game or just an overwhelming list of unplayed titles that it's difficult picking one out I want to spend time with.

I did put 8 hours into Europa Universalis IV yesterday, but either that game is really tedious or I'm seriously missing something that makes it great - I've little desire to go back to that one (I find Hearts of Iron IV much better).

So, yes, the point: I find games I've spent hours already playing more fun than trying to start new games.

[Dogg Thang]

Yep, I can relate to this. I downloaded the Octopath Traveler demo, a game which is excellent by all accounts. But after about five minutes of reading text bubbles I turned it off and played Sonic Mania, which is kind of like playing old Sonic. A new game is a commitment whereas an old game is like putting on a film you know really well. A) You already know you like it. B) You already know it so it's not as much of a commitment - you can mentally dip in and out if you want to.

[Wools]

Oh god, yes!

I've cooled down with gaming over the past few years but still have a toe dipped in the hobby. Recently picked up Deus Ex Mankind Divided and played the first few hours of it, loved every second but I then put it down and... Have never returned. Also picked up several games on the PSN January sale like Firewatch, Stardew Vallery, but haven't even loaded them up.

It's an age / enthusiasm thing. I have such limited free time now, I've found over this past 2 years that the games I play are rehashes of games gone before, I find them too boring. Combined with the passive nature of them, I've found myself also watching less films and TV too.

If I want to chill, I tend to read online about things that interest me or do something creative like level editing or programming on my Mac. Gaming, Film and TV seem to be occupying less of my free time now, I just can't be ****ed with it!

Despite that, I've found the time to enjoy Dear Esther, Gran Turismo Sport, Project CARS 2 and have greatly enjoyed revisiting the port of Resident Evil (Sorry, RE:Birth) on PS4. Long gone are the glory days of Dreamcast and Xbox 360 though, where I was gaming all the time!

[QualityChimp]

Oh definitely, but it's more about dithering about starting a game I'm supposed to start.

I had God of War from my friends for my birthday in April, but procrastinated, not wanting to commit to playing it and eschewing all others, so I ended up playing some other stuff like Import Tuner Challenge following Supes' thread and then Portal with my son, then Portal 2 because I liked replaying 1 so much.

Now, I loved playing all of those games, so I have no regrets, but I couldn't figure out why I didn't want to play GoW.

Maybe it's that step of commitment that scares me! Once you're playing, I only like playing that one game until I'm done and the backlog is always nagging. If you're not enjoying it, I hate dropping a game until it's done.

It's the same with TV and movies though. I'm trying to watch new things, rather than rewatch things I enjoyed before.
It's like I'd rather watch or play something you definitely enjoyed previously, rather than risk something that disappoints, but if I didn't do that, I'd have missed out on Westworld or Godless, Portal 2 and Trine 2.

[J0e Musashi]

I love starting a new game. I have no list of shame, so nothing to blame. Repeating old games, is kind of lame.

Apart from Hyper Fighting.

[QualityChimp]

And Souls games?

[Neon Ignition]

Definitely, especially for titles I know are longer commitments on my time. I end up finding that if I put them off for a week or so and play 2-3 very short, arcade experiences that can be completed quickly I can kind of slingshot effect that sense of progression into the longer game then and be alright but going in cold can be hard to have the effort for.

[Zaki]

I end up finding that if I put them off for a week or so and play 2-3 very short, arcade experiences that can be completed quickly

Pretty much my habit at the moment. The last new game I played was God Of War (I borrowed it from a friend at work). I've had it for a month and I'm only on chapter 2.

I don't think I can play anything new without having holiday booked anymore

[wakka]

Yep, I'm in exactly the same position Marty. Recently finished Persona 5 which was this multi month 150 hour undertaking, and now I'm dithering about what to play next. I picked up Mario Tennis Aces and finished the (short) SP, but I find it really difficult online. I'm just not very good and I don't have the energy to turn it on and get thrashed when I get in from work in the evening.

[MartyG]

I'm glad it's not just me

I did give Endless Legends a go this afternoon for a couple of hours, seemed okay as 4X games go.

[speedlolita]

Yep, I'm in exactly the same position Marty. Recently finished Persona 5 which was this multi month 150 hour undertaking, and now I'm dithering about what to play next. I picked up Mario Tennis Aces and finished the (short) SP, but I find it really difficult online. I'm just not very good and I don't have the energy to turn it on and get thrashed when I get in from work in the evening.

Well, that's better than me. I played the beginning of Persona 5 twice to the first save point and never progressed any further out of a lack of interest. The last big video game I completed was MGSV, after two years of procrastinating, when I was off work without an internet connection. lol