Games and mental energy

After work I rarely feel like playing games. And if I force myself to I don't appreciate it as much.

Even on Saturday after a long hard week my mental energy can be down.

Right now I don't really feel like playing games.

I feel like maybe something a little less mentally strenuous like maybe watch movies or listening to music.

o....kayyy

HUH ?!?!

lol wut?

I thought this was a common problem...

Maybe I'm just getting old!

Sounds like you need something with a slower pace. Try a city builder, or Civilization. You can play them while listening to music and get the best of both worlds.

This is normal. Sometimes I notice after a long time of playing video games, you begin to get tired and lose interest in playing. You might go into a dry period of not playing anything for a while, and then suddenly get the urge to again. Some people can't play games nonstop, day in and day out. But I'm sure once a game that you're waiting for gets released, you'll want to play more. :)

@Black_Knight_00:

Yes, that might be worth a try. I'm not usually into civ. type games but the new galactic civ. 3 looks like it has potential.

Either that or maybe I just need to save my gaming for Sunday / holidays and maybe find a good tv series to watch on Saturdays/weekdays.

@koopa_kinte:

Well there might be some truth in that. I've certainly played a few games of late that haven't really hit the mark of my high gaming standards!

But I'm really looking forward to getting ultra street fighter 4 in steams summer sale.

I was like this basically for the past 2 years where I just started to lose interest in video games in general. I would rather just browse the web and listen to music even though I had unfinished games to play. I'm finally starting to get back into it though and I believe this happens to everyone. Sometimes you just need a break. I wouldn't worry so much about it and just play when you truly feel like playing.

I get like that too when life takes over with work or school. I feel burnt out. The best for me is in the morning...if I get the chance, otherwise I just watch youtube videos or waste time on here.

@thereal25: Absolutely lol. The only games I really remember freaking out over were L4D 1&2, Fallout 3/New Vegas, Skyrim, and RDR. Those were released years ago... so lately I'm just trying to bide my time occasionally playing other random titles until another great RPG comes out (Witcher 3) and when they announce Fallout 4! I love getting immersed in games.

I think the problem is that you have work too much. But it's good to say that I was working real hard 10 years ago and still I was doing real great in MOH. And it was a lot of fun.

I can really relate to that. lol

same here. I haven't gone nuts over a video game in ages. But I believe there is still hope that they'll release something great.

I think I just need more sleep. 6 hours just didn't cut it.

I got plenty last night and now I feel like I could play almost any game!

Yeah, the thing is, I'm not sure if it's just that I got tired/ burnt out or if I was actually losing interest in games. Or maybe just the games I have in my backlog are too crap - I don't know.

And there's another thing, if I don't play games much I almost feel a sense of guilt - like what am I doing with my life?

@thereal25: Well, I think the fact that you're on here indicates that you're still interested in gaming. I've been burnt out many a times. I've actually had that fear before that I was losing interest in gaming altogether and it kinda bummed me out, but I realized it wasn't that, and I was just getting burnt out. What kind of games do you have in your library? What kind of games are you interested in?

And yeah I bet sleep has a lot to do with it and your energy level haha.

Thanks. :) I don't like the idea of "growing out" of gaming. Because then what would my hobbies / interests be?

It's funny - it kind of works both ways: sometimes I feel guilty for gaming as though there is something more beneficial to do - but if I don't game much I tell myself that I should be gaming more!

As for games, I've been dissapointed by quite a few lately:

Skyrim: it's okay, but I don't know if I can take anymore - it gets tedious after awhile

Borderlands 2: I been playing this solo ALOT lately but I might go crazy if it's the only game I play

Wasteland 2: this game was supposed to be good, but it hasn't really done it for me so far. I'm trying to get past the AG centre but it's just so darn tedious.

Tomb raider 2013: I would've finished it if I didn't hit a glitch that I couldn't get past. I'm done with this game now! But it was decent enough while it lasted.

Max payne 3: It's not bad per se but it just seems to be the same thing over and over. Basically a gallery shooter with good graphics interspersed with cut scenes. I might get back into it - it seems okay.

Far cry 3: Another game that was supposed to be good - but is it? I can't say I've enjoyed it that much apart from the interesting bad guy at the start. Again, it's okay and I might get back into it.

South park: the stick of truth: I thought I'd really love this game but jeez! I haven't played much yet but my initial impressions are that it's damn hard and not necessarily fun either. But I should probably play more and give it a better chance. Maybe I was just too tired to give it the attention that it requires.

Games I'm interested in?

Lately I've been thinking about getting a fight stick for ultra street fighter 4. There is barely a bad review on that game - except for people complaining about networking issues.

Doom 4 - oh it's going to be good! Doom 3 was so good I used to stay up till 1 in the morning playing it with work the next day!

Wolf TNO - sounds great - I'm still waiting for a good discount.

Galactic civilisations 3 - I like competing with aliens over planets!

... and fallout 4 - This is the game I'm anticipating the most!

Gotta say all the games you've mentioned I've enjoyed at some level. Loved Tomb Raider, and Skyrim was a good game but I did take a very long hiatus before finishing it though... dunno why. But it's hard for me to jump back in for another playthrough. The quests aren't as fleshed out as I'd like.

I'm also on Borderlands 2 right now, and it's super fun but I can see someone getting a little stir crazy if they're playing it nonstop. Lots of backtracking. Max Payne 3 I didn't care for.

If you're into fighting games, you might enjoy Mortal Kombat X. It's really fun, the story mode is good, and online isn't so bad either... just quit if someone uses the same move over and over.

I just picked up Wolfenstein and omg this game is awesome. I got it for about $20 or so at GameStop and it's worth every penny so far. And I also love the Doom franchise, I played the hell out of 3 on the original Xbox and I'm eagerly anticipating the next one. But all in all... I'd recommend you check out Wolfenstein, MKX, I think Mafia 2 is still free on 360 Games for Gold (good story), and if you're into the looting and questing that Borderlands has, you might like Diablo 3 (especially if you've ever played a game like Gauntlet Legends, pretty fun).

Have you played Mass Effect? If not, I'd recommend that if you're into a space and alien theme.

Ah, finally someone with good taste!

Welcome to Gamespot.

And thanks for recommending my fallout 3 review too btw, preciate that!

...

Yes, my fightstick might come in handy for mkx too. It looks pretty decent. But I'll likely wait for the Komplete ed. :)

... Mass effect 2 would prob. make it into my top 5 games of all time.

And yeah, good ol' wolfenstein - hopefully I can pick that up along with the the old blood expansion for cheap in the upcoming summer sale.

This is because you masturbate and watch porn too much. Your dopamine gets depleted and you stop enjoying other things in life, seriously. gl with attempting to quit your porn and fap addiction, I know I can't.

@thereal25: From what you're saying it sounds like you're a PC gamer? Sorry, I mainly stick to my X1, so I'm not sure what games are also on PC :X And you're welcome! Just caught the news that they've worked on a Fallout 4 trailer. Super excited about that now.

If I run into you again on here, lemme know how you like Wolfenstein/MKX!

You play Borderlands 2 solo. You should try some co-op gameplay, it might get your interest back, also it makes the game a lot more fun if you find some fun players.

Yes, I'm exclusively a pc gamer. But I've been tempted of late to get a ps4 for a couple of their exclusives.

Great to hear about a fallout 4 trailer! Bout freakin time! ... lord knows I've seen enough fake ones on youtube!

Wolf tno will be very interesting. I've heard mixed reviews, so I'm really looking forward to seeing for myself. As for mkx, I'll prob. get it down the track but I'm not expecting it to be that much different from mk9.

For some reason I didn't play co-op. But I've actually almost finished the main campaign solo, so I'll be happy to finish it.

Speaking of co-op, I might get Killing floor 2.

I only play videogames if I'm in the right frame of mind otherwise I would just watch a movie instead.

Ehmmm ok and you thought this knowledge was interesting why? or what did you want to debate?

@sukraj: @mdk12345:

Come to think of it my original post indicated that something was wrong with my life. Games - any games - are generally thought of as a relaxing activity. So if I'm too tired for them then I gotta fix my life up!

So yeah, I guess it's a bit lame. It's almost as if I was talking to myself. But I think the lesson I've learned from this is that I need more sleep.

I overestimated myself.

how much sleep do you get lol

@sukraj: Only about 6 hours!

But, I think I've been in a bit of a "games rut" also. I need to just focus on games that suit/interest me rather than getting sucked into the hype!

I feel you there, man. I like to really be "there" when playing games. I like to fully absorb the experience. If I'm tired, or just mentally fatigued, I usually just watch a movie or something instead of investing time in a game that I want to develop a meaningful connection with. Either that or I play Resogun or something. No emotional connection there.

Yeah, sometimes I'm just flatout not in the mood to game. It tends to be a strain in my hands and on my eyes, and depending on how complex the game is, even my head. Sometimes I don't even feel like sitting up so I just lay down and read a book instead.

Videogames are a workout man. Ever notice that all the top league players are always skinny bastards? Common sense would have someone assume someone who spends the majority of their time trying to be the best at a videogame would be a poor lifestyle choice when considering one's health and weight. Yet I don't think there's one fat bastard on the top 100 SC2 player list.

don't force yourself to play games and just wait or look for something you truly want to play. I have gone months without touching a game... No big deal. I mean, this year I have only played like 2 or 4 games at most.

Good points. Yeah, there are some games that don't really matter too much - that's probably why I've spent a lot of time playing Borderlands 2 lately - because it's just the same stuff over and over!

I've felt that way too. That I'd actually prefer to lie down and read a book instead!

... Which is kind of interesting because they say that reading is one of the best ways the exercise the mind - but maybe gaming tops that - who knows!

I must say though, one of the main reasons I play games and take an interest in forums such as this is simply to exercise my mind!

Yes, the mind and body are connected. Chess masters are usually pretty healthy in body too.

Great advice. I've bought quite a few mediocre titles over the last 3 or so years, but I think I've learnt a good lesson.

It's not about how popular a game is or how high the review scores are - it's about what I actually want to play!

I would think it has to do with the stimuli. When you're reading, you're simply taking in words, and your brain processes them and generates the imagery at your own pace. When you're reading too much, you tend to slow down and digest the information.

When you game, you are being bombarded with audio and visual information. You have to be aware of what your character is doing, where they are in the environment, what is happening in that environment, the sounds and music. Any time you have to take an action, your brain is making many calculations simultaneously. Should you go there? Should you do this? What will happen when I make this move? On top of all THAT, if the game has a compelling story of its own, you have to then pay attention to the narrative as well.

Yes, reading seems quite adaptable. If you're tired you just do it slower and maybe take in a bit less.

As for gaming, I'm the kind of gamer that takes it all quite seriously. Like if I'm playing fallout new vegas for example, I'll try to make the BEST possible decisions and choices for my character. I'll pay attention to even the finest details - like weapon choices, ammo conservation etc.

Whereas, I must confess, alot of gamers are not like that. They'll just curl up on their couch, half asleep, not really caring about what the **** is going on. If they die they're just like "whatever".

Dont worry you'll come back to gaming, its a very addictive world, the interest cant be lost so easily for.