My gaming rut -- think I know the reason

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 3:48 pm

Guys:
 
 I´ve been in a gaming rut the last week or so. Even though I´ve played, it´s been somewhat lackadaisical except for the always-fun NFL 2K3 games on XBL with my brother-in-law and the occasional XBL Moto GP 2 race.
 
 Nothing against my Xbox. I still dig it. But my rut might be an indictment of my gaming library.
 
 I took a look at my library last night and realized that every game I have is a sim or at least a pseudo-sim:
 
 Ghost Recon
 NFL 2K3
 NHL 2K3
 Inside Pitch 2003
 Moto GP 2
 Pro Race Driver
 
 The only game that´s may not be a pseudo-sim is IP 2003. And that might be the game I´m having the most fun with, well, that and Moto GP 2.
 
 But still, I think I´m lacking an "over the top, screw realism" arcade-style game. That might inject some fun into the operation again and force me to just f*cking relax and not take every game so damn seriously.
 
 So I just might pop out tonight and pick up Midtown Madness 3. Or I just might stay the hell away from gaming for a bit.
 
 Ah, f*ck it: MM 3 probably will join the stack soon.
 
 Anyone else ever get into ruts like this? Does everyone want me to keep my gaming catharses to myself? <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 4:15 pm

Paul
 
 Some potential cures for you
 
 PC - Rise of Nations, Morrowind, Rise of Nations
 
 gamecube - Animal Crossing..always has me laughing, or Zelda.
 
 You could, of course, try reading a book or something improving like that, or listening to some music while NOT playing games. Try picking up that Mogwai CD, or Mum.
 
 That´s while you count down the hours to NCAA 2004.
 
 <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 4:27 pm

PK, don´t keep anything game related to yourself, please. It´s too much fun watching you go through trials and tribulations.
 
 I get into ruts myself as well. I find if I mix in some non-sports stuff like RPGs or space sims, then I get the urge back.
 
 It´s just a cycle we all go through. I usually just switch genres for a bit.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 4:32 pm

Dave:
 
 Yeah, I think a change of pace will help. But I guess I´m one of about nine gamers in the U.S. who isn´t going to buy NCAA 2004. I´m waiting for the NFL games. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 James:
 
 Damn, didn´t realize I was such a f*cking freak show ... <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif"> <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif"> <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 4:38 pm

PK,
 
 WAKEBOARDING UNLEASHED DAMMIT. Get it, love it, and get out of the "realistic" rut.

BBReBozo · Post by **BBReBozo** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 4:38 pm

I´ve had a Morrowind jones for a few weeks now. I had the game a while back but lost interest after a few weeks. Now that it´s in the $20 price range as an XBox classic, I´m thinking of "pulling a PK", re-buying the game and putting a few more hours in the game.
 
 Other than that, MotoGP2 has kept me quite happy indeed. My next major purchase has got to be NCAA2004, I´m just debating whether I´ll purchase it for PS2 (for the online play) or stick with the XBox version (for better graphics, and basically unlimited memory to create players, teams, etc.)

RandyM · Post by **RandyM** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 5:22 pm

I´ve been playing lots of mindless MechAssault, Paul. If that helps <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Randy

FloridaGators · Post by **FloridaGators** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 6:24 pm

I am on the verge of gaming retirement. I don´t even play anymore besides MVP Baseball here and there. That isn´t even that fun. I have 2 games in my library:
 MVP Baseball and Tiger Woods 2002
 I don´t touch Tiger. I need something fun ASAP. Possibly IndyCar Series.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 6:29 pm

Randy:
 
 Yeah, I tried MA online. Didn´t care for it at all. Too many stationary slugfests for my taste.
 
 I think Midtown Madness 3 or maybe Morrowind at $20 new might snap me out of the rut.
 
 Gators:
 
 I know I´ll get flamed for this, but try games outside of the EA box. EA´s watered-down console games can breed lethargy.
 
 Or f*ck it -- just drop the coin for an Xbox. That will kick-start your gaming You must be getting some bread as a graduation present, right?
 
 I´ll get flamed for that graph, too. Flame away! I´m Nomex personified -- I can take it. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK

FloridaGators · Post by **FloridaGators** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 6:47 pm

I played NBA 2k3, NHL 2k3, and NFL 2k3 and burned out on them.
 
 I never liked NBA 2k3.
 
 I played NHL 2k3 to death and really enjoyed the title.
 
 The dropped balls and lack of sacks killed NFL 2k3 for me.
 
 I still have to try World Series Baseball, WE, and IndyCar Series.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 7:43 pm

I wasted a bunch of time monkeying around with OOTP Baseball last week. The GM options are fun, but the game simulator is so out of wack that it ruined the experience for me.
 
 I was grumpy about gaming until I fired up a new season of WE6. Ahhhh, that hit the spot! I´m also going to dive back into Morrowind to finish the Tribunal expansion.

Neckthai · Post by **Neckthai** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 8:01 pm

PK,
 
 We all know you are a few weeks away from adding IndyCar Series to the stack too. And you will play the living s*** out of the game <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">.
 
 neck

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 10:25 pm

Neck:
 
 You know me too well. We spend too much time together every May at Indy. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK

Neckthai · Post by **Neckthai** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 11:34 pm

Well, not THAT much time... <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">

wabash97 · Post by **wabash97** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 12:05 am

RobV,
 
 Sounds like was a similar experience with OOTP.
 I downloaded 5, set up everything, got some rosters (the totalminors), tried to sim to mid-season and pick up the Mets - I checked rosters throughout the league and they were so screwed up by whatever logic the game uses that the season was virtually unplayable.
 Starters, good ones too, for most teams were sitting in AAA. I´m sure it had something to do with th rosters, but it seems like the game is more focused for the online league crowd, which I don´t really get excited about.
 I want to like it, but so far it´s been a headache and I don´t want to manage every team´s roster just to have a reasonable season.
 
 B

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 12:27 am

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-06-16 20:34, Neckthai wrote:
 Well, not THAT much time... <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 I´m hurt, you silly b*tch! <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">
 
 Out,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 16-06-2003 21:28 ]

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 1:32 am

You sure it´s the sim that you are tiring of, or the xbox live? Seems like you have all Live games, except for PRD.
 
 In my experience, Live is a blast for a while, but then unless you become involved in a league or tournament or something, the ´one-off´ games or races or whatever get a ´been there, done that´ feeling pretty quickly.
 
 On another note, what happened to World Racing?

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 9:32 am

This is the best time of the year to get into a gaming rut.
 
 With the weather finally breaking here in MI., outside activities are the way to go. I am still chugging along on a HH PC season and love WE6, but I just love being outside until 10:00 actually able to do some things.
 
 PK, I know you dig the outside activities, look at it as a chance to do even more. The games will come, and so will winter.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 10:48 am

Web:
 
 I´m not tired of Live one bit. In fact, Live provides that unpredictable element that I like, and the interaction with other gamers is fun. I guess I´ve had less trouble with cheesers and juveniles than some.
 
 Live definitely isn´t the problem.
 
 As for World Racing, it was a combination of boredom and funds needed for new games. I just wasn´t playing it that much anymore, as the racing model didn´t thrill as much as it used to. The driving model and draw distance of the graphics remained outstanding, but I just didn´t find the racing that compelling once I had played Pro Race Driver for the Xbox.
 
 Also, I really tired of driving nothing but Benzes. Yes, there are a ton of different Benzes in the game, but after a while you realize that many of them are just derivations of a certain model.
 
 I´ve put World Racing into the category of "Yeah, I may pick it up again on eBay or half.com for $20 or less later this year." It´s a good game. But I always sell games when I tire of them, using the profits toward new games.
 
 Tight -- that´s me. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK
 
 P.S.: How´s the bambino? <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 10:49 am

Pete:
 
 Spot-on, man. I also watched two hours of TV last night -- can´t remember the last time I´ve done that outside of a sporting event.
 
 "The Office" on BBC America is bitingly funny. Highly recommended if you´re into sarcastic, dry, observational humor with a British twist. Good, good stuff.
 
 Take care,
 PK

RandyM · Post by **RandyM** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 12:08 pm

pk,
 
 well, it wouldn´t kill ya to log on late at night and check for me on motogp 2. I finally get the game and yer never on!
 
 Randy <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_confused.gif">

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 12:40 pm

Hey Wabash,
 
 It is definitely frustrating. All the pieces are in place for an excellent game, but there are just too many flaws still, IMHO.
 
 I didn´t notice the GM AI problems as much as the in-game simulation issues. It´s a shame they can´t combine the GM structure of OOTP with the sim-engine of Diamond Mind, which is virtually flawless in that regard.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 12:52 pm

I get into ruts almost every week. Sometimes I wonder why the hell I game at all, but there is something instilled in me that I cannot shake. I am hopelessly addicted. I go through games like most people go through toilet paper. I buy, then trade, buy, then trade, buy, then trade...It´s an endless cycle.
 
 I can go a week without gaming and then do nothing but play. Hell, I haven´t had a chance to play IP in 2 weeks. Not one single game. And it´s my favorite game I own right now.
 
 The verdict is still out for me on whther or not LIVE play´s novelty is wearing off on me or I am just too busy lately to fully get into it, but my really good, fun LIVE sessions are few and far between lately.
 
 I have been having fun with Midnight Club 2´s offline career mode. It gives me that frustrating adreneline that keeps me coming back for ´just one more race´. It is a tough little game but I am having fun.
 
 I am hoping that Midtown Madness 3 will spark my LIVE experience again. I definitely need more friends to play with though. I think I have a hard time playing with strangers and most of the time I am playing, my friends list is mostly offline. If I had a couple of good friends (like PK´s NFL rivalry with his Bro-In-Law) that I could constantly game with online, I think it would be more fun for me. However, the only close friend I have who has LIVE, has a 2 month old baby and does not have much time for gaming lately. I guess I am going through the ´getting older and more responsible´ phase and my gaming habits are having a difficult time finding their role in it. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_confused.gif">

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 2:31 pm

PK,
 
 To clarify, it´s not so much that the action in the games themselves that gets old on live, but the fact that there isn´t much ´depth´ to the online portion of most Live enabled games. No seasons, tournaments, extended campaigns, etc. I expect a lot of that will change with XSN.
 
 I know it is a time commitment, but I´ve found leagues to fill that void for now. I´m anxious to start K Mosely´s IP league, and I´m in an NHL league on xboxhockey.net where I´m getting my ass handed to me regularly. BTW, HUGE talent in that league.
 
 Anyway, I know that is why I still play a lot offline.
 
 Let us know what you think of MM3!
 
 Drew is great! Best thing in my life! But being a parent, you know this already. And now I can appreciate your ´Blown Butt Gasket´ comments better...
 
 <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 2:33 pm

Web:
 
 LOL on the blown butt gasket comments! Funny, funny! Welcome to parenthood, bro. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 As for the depth aspect of Live, well, I hardly ever play seasons or leagues offline, so the lack of those modes online has no effect on me. I´m more of a pick-up-and-play guy.
 
 Take care,
 PK