I have major issues with sticking with one game. If I can consistently log into a game with people I know and it doesn't get interrupted, I will stick with it for a very long time. But the second it gets inconsistent, I usually will get side tracked with other games and hop from game to game. It's a major problem I have with single player games. I'll stick with one for 30% of the game, then a friend will ask me to jump onto a game with them, and I'll never touch the single player game again. I've been considering just stopping multiplayer games entirely to beat my backlog (or part of it at least) but I like multiplayer too much.
Right now I've been jumping between Lineage 2, Runescape, and Black ops 4 for multiplayer, and playing Silent Hill 4, Pathologic HD, and The Silver Case for single player games. But I rotate so much it's hard to stick with anything. I just play until they don't sound fun, then go back when they do.
Other players actively interacting with me has the same sort of effect. If I'm being engaged and engaging with others while gaming, it's enough mental stimulation to help me shut out other ideas for a while.
Odd how that works. It definitely supports the idea that long-term engagement with a game is best achieved through facilitating some familiarity between players in a group/guild. A tangible connection to other like-minded folks can be a strong motivator.
I agree, you need some form of engagement, but in my mind it can't be forced. I've noticed here, people like to jump into the forced grouping idea, but in all the older MMORPG's I stuck with, grouping was always an option. You could always go out of your way to group, but you could also solo. It was the interactions even while soloing that promoted me to stay. Just sitting back chatting in clan chat, or talking in shout with other players in the area.
You mentioning shutting out other ideas is also interesting, I do notice I tend to pay a lot less attention to what I am doing while chatting with other people, and a lot more attention to the conversation, which in a monotonous game would allow you to continue doing menial things like grinding. Maybe that's why I like grinding games so much, I associate grinding with being able to chat it up with other players.
This looks like when nerds Gary and Wyatt hacked into the government supercomputer to create their own personnel girlfriend with super powers in the 80's classic weird science.
Who could question the morality of hacking government computers to create your girlfriend? We all tried to do it.
I have major issues with sticking with one game. If I can consistently log into a game with people I know and it doesn't get interrupted, I will stick with it for a very long time. But the second it gets inconsistent, I usually will get side tracked with other games and hop from game to game. It's a major problem I have with single player games. I'll stick with one for 30% of the game, then a friend will ask me to jump onto a game with them, and I'll never touch the single player game again. I've been considering just stopping multiplayer games entirely to beat my backlog (or part of it at least) but I like multiplayer too much.
Right now I've been jumping between Lineage 2, Runescape, and Black ops 4 for multiplayer, and playing Silent Hill 4, Pathologic HD, and The Silver Case for single player games. But I rotate so much it's hard to stick with anything. I just play until they don't sound fun, then go back when they do.
Other players actively interacting with me has the same sort of effect. If I'm being engaged and engaging with others while gaming, it's enough mental stimulation to help me shut out other ideas for a while.
Odd how that works. It definitely supports the idea that long-term engagement with a game is best achieved through facilitating some familiarity between players in a group/guild. A tangible connection to other like-minded folks can be a strong motivator.
I agree, you need some form of engagement, but in my mind it can't be forced. I've noticed here, people like to jump into the forced grouping idea, but in all the older MMORPG's I stuck with, grouping was always an option. You could always go out of your way to group, but you could also solo. It was the interactions even while soloing that promoted me to stay. Just sitting back chatting in clan chat, or talking in shout with other players in the area.
You mentioning shutting out other ideas is also interesting, I do notice I tend to pay a lot less attention to what I am doing while chatting with other people, and a lot more attention to the conversation, which in a monotonous game would allow you to continue doing menial things like grinding. Maybe that's why I like grinding games so much, I associate grinding with being able to chat it up with other players.
I would submit that, even back then, once you hit cap, to continue progressing you were forced to group. Areas like Darkness Falls had levels that just weren't accessible by solo players, even at cap. At least, not in a way that will be productive to your character. As I understand it, most or all of those first gen MMORPGs forced you into group content at max level. That still holds true today. I hate that "bait and switch" philosophy, btw.
pretty much rotate, because there is not an mmo out there that can keep my attention longer than a month. The games I stuck to for longer than a month are sadly gone like Shadowbane, Vanguard, city of heroes
I have major issues with sticking with one game. If I can consistently log into a game with people I know and it doesn't get interrupted, I will stick with it for a very long time. But the second it gets inconsistent, I usually will get side tracked with other games and hop from game to game. It's a major problem I have with single player games. I'll stick with one for 30% of the game, then a friend will ask me to jump onto a game with them, and I'll never touch the single player game again. I've been considering just stopping multiplayer games entirely to beat my backlog (or part of it at least) but I like multiplayer too much.
Right now I've been jumping between Lineage 2, Runescape, and Black ops 4 for multiplayer, and playing Silent Hill 4, Pathologic HD, and The Silver Case for single player games. But I rotate so much it's hard to stick with anything. I just play until they don't sound fun, then go back when they do.
Other players actively interacting with me has the same sort of effect. If I'm being engaged and engaging with others while gaming, it's enough mental stimulation to help me shut out other ideas for a while.
Odd how that works. It definitely supports the idea that long-term engagement with a game is best achieved through facilitating some familiarity between players in a group/guild. A tangible connection to other like-minded folks can be a strong motivator.
I agree, you need some form of engagement, but in my mind it can't be forced. I've noticed here, people like to jump into the forced grouping idea, but in all the older MMORPG's I stuck with, grouping was always an option. You could always go out of your way to group, but you could also solo. It was the interactions even while soloing that promoted me to stay. Just sitting back chatting in clan chat, or talking in shout with other players in the area.
You mentioning shutting out other ideas is also interesting, I do notice I tend to pay a lot less attention to what I am doing while chatting with other people, and a lot more attention to the conversation, which in a monotonous game would allow you to continue doing menial things like grinding. Maybe that's why I like grinding games so much, I associate grinding with being able to chat it up with other players.
I would submit that, even back then, once you hit cap, to continue progressing you were forced to group. Areas like Darkness Falls had levels that just weren't accessible by solo players, even at cap. At least, not in a way that will be productive to your character. As I understand it, most or all of those first gen MMORPGs forced you into group content at max level. That still holds true today. I hate that "bait and switch" philosophy, btw.
That's true, I guess I'm okay with endgame forced grouping now that I think about it as you are right, most games now a days requires some form of group to do any progression. I think I just need a way to progress through levels without it being forced grouping. Just so I can learn on my own. Also thinking about it, there was alternative things you could do (not necessarily progression based things) by yourself if you didn't want to group. I remember in some games being able to grind out mounts or reputations without needing a group.
I'm all about the rotation. Games come into play and move out every few weeks or so. I'm back in a Hearts of Iron 3 mode, supplemented with X-Com, Cities:Skylines (my newest rush), Fallout Shelter and Civilization VI (or 5 or 3). I've not logged into EQ1, EQ2 or LotRO in weeks now, but I'm sure I'll be back.
Logic, my dear, merely enables one to be wrong with great authority.
Jump around quite often depending on my mood and who is online, other whims.
Currently spending the "me time" on AC: Odyssey, playing PUBG or Forza Horizons 4 when friends are online, and mixing in some Star Wars Battlefront 2 (still!) and ESO from time to time.
Might be playing through some more Monster Hunter: World with my bro soon, and then Fallout 76 and Battlefield 5 on the near horizon...
Also maybe picking up Pokemon for Switch on Nov 16th, because 1) never played a Pokemon game 2) need something new for my Switch 3) it's my bday so F it!
(Also might buy CoD: Black Ops for the Battle Royal mode, and also might get new Shadow of Tomb Raider if it's on a Black Friday sale.)
I always buy games to play with people, and the first couple play times are great. Then someone stops, then another stops and then I'm left alone in a multiplayer game, get pissed and quit.
If I wanted to play alone I'd've spent my money on a good singleplayer game from the beginning. Either that or some peeps try to always tell me how to play my game without offering to pay my playtime, which also pisses me off. Or single no-kid-having friends want me to sink a ridiculous amount of time into a game with them to be able to 'keep up,' which I don't even try to attempt any more.
So, short answer, I rotate through games rather than sitting and spinning in one.
I stick to one game at a time. Not out of loyalty or habit but because I'm extremely picky. For every game I stick with past the first couple hours, I've tried and uninstalled 10-15 others.
There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody's expense but his own. -- Herman Melville
Comments
You mentioning shutting out other ideas is also interesting, I do notice I tend to pay a lot less attention to what I am doing while chatting with other people, and a lot more attention to the conversation, which in a monotonous game would allow you to continue doing menial things like grinding. Maybe that's why I like grinding games so much, I associate grinding with being able to chat it up with other players.
Aloha Mr Hand !
Logic, my dear, merely enables one to be wrong with great authority.
Currently spending the "me time" on AC: Odyssey, playing PUBG or Forza Horizons 4 when friends are online, and mixing in some Star Wars Battlefront 2 (still!) and ESO from time to time.
Might be playing through some more Monster Hunter: World with my bro soon, and then Fallout 76 and Battlefield 5 on the near horizon...
Also maybe picking up Pokemon for Switch on Nov 16th, because 1) never played a Pokemon game 2) need something new for my Switch 3) it's my bday so F it!
(Also might buy CoD: Black Ops for the Battle Royal mode, and also might get new Shadow of Tomb Raider if it's on a Black Friday sale.)
If I wanted to play alone I'd've spent my money on a good singleplayer game from the beginning. Either that or some peeps try to always tell me how to play my game without offering to pay my playtime, which also pisses me off. Or single no-kid-having friends want me to sink a ridiculous amount of time into a game with them to be able to 'keep up,' which I don't even try to attempt any more.
So, short answer, I rotate through games rather than sitting and spinning in one.
Gut Out!
What, me worry?
There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody's expense but his own.
-- Herman Melville
If you want a new idea, go read an old book.
In order to be insulted, I must first value your opinion.