How long do you play a new game before moving on?

[Taskmage]

Just out of curiosity. I used to be the type of person to completely sap the life out of a game before moving on to another one. My ChronoTrigger file had everyone at level 99 with a prevent status item on and another that gave either protect or shell, with all stats maxed except for strength on Marle and Lucca, which I had gotten close with tabs. Super Metroid I played repeatedly until I could beat it with 100% in under two hours.

Lately though, it's a rare game that holds my attention past the point of completing it, if that long. Okami is made of so after beating it I went back and got all the stray beads and completed all the sidequests, but I haven't even made myself sit down and beat R-Type Final and Gradius V which used to be my other favorite genre. If the story and characters weren't so great I probably would've gotten bored with FFXII by now, and the battle mechanics aren't any more shallow than previous FF games I enjoyed.

I dunno if I've just become jaded over time, or the difference is the drop in disposable time and rise in disposable income since I was a kid. Or maybe FFXI is to blame somehow, either by demanding my attention more than traditional games or making me dependant on the ever dynamic element of other people to keep my interest.

Not that I'm complaining or anything, just noting the shift in my playing patterns. Kinda interested if anyone else has noticed the same thing.

[Nakti]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

I have a tendency to try and max all the characters in a game (and, boy, does that take a while in the Suikoden series). So it can sometimes take me a looooong time to finish games. Right now I'm in the middle of FF12 (still ><) and Suikoden V. And I'm pretty sure I still have some unopened games like Vagrant Story >.>

FFXI takes up a lot of my free time so I only switch to the stand-alone games when I need a break from it. I'm more likely to finish a game if I'm playing it with my husband. I don't have his childhood-honed-videogame-reflexes and he doesn't have my patience and timing. So together we do very nicely getting through games like Kingdom Hearts.

I really wish there were more games that have a New Game+ option. I find myself wanting to drag out the ending simply because I want to use the super-cool-uber item for longer than 5 minutes of storyline. Even without New Game+ I'll play a game over again (later) if I like the story.

[Feba]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

depends. Mostly, I only play console games when my PC isn't working, or when they're amazingly good.


FFXII, I played until I beat the story, and then some, and plan to come back to it when my attention span allows. .hack, I played some, then put in katamari, and rolled until I got to the rose level.

[DakAttack]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

Most console games don't offer Coop play, and that's what I'm all about. What's the point of playing a game if you don't have friends there to enjoy it with?

[Caspian]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

Most console games don't offer Coop play, and that's what I'm all about. What's the point of playing a game if you don't have friends there to enjoy it with?

Agreed.

I really have a short attention span with games, and FFXI makes it even worse. I used to play a game almost to the point of beating it (Did this on three different other FF games, and a few others.), and then would just quit playing it and move on to something else. Now I only play a game much if I can play with friends. Haven't beaten a game I don't think, since Halo2. I play for a bit, then quit pretty quickly. FFXI just demands too much of my time.

[Kirsteena]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

Depends on the game. Some I just pick at, get the end, move on. I've been playing Dungeon Siege II recently, and I find myself having to get everything - clear all quests, get all the chants etc...

[Murphie]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

Completely depends. I play until I'm no longer interested in playing anymore. Whether that's the end of the game or not really varies pretty wildly from game to game.

[Gobo]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

Varies from game to game. FF/Zelda/RPG games I'll play until I can't do anything new. Action/Adventure games I'll pick up and put down or just play it really slowly. I usually replay those games over and over again.

FF12 is the exception. Still not done with it.

[Marlon]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

before i started playing ffxi, i used to only play star wars games, like kotor1 and kotor2, and some others. FFXI has ruined any chance i will ever have a video game diversity, i am a total fiend but i love it. Anyway, i have 13 xbox360 games other than ffxi, and my gamerscore is 1900, 1000 of which is from oblivion, which i finished b4 i got ffxi, so 900 gamer achievement points in a year, rest of the time playing ffxi, greatest game of all time IMO

[DrivenTooFar]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

When I was a kid I would play a game constantly until I figured out everything about. Now I find that I can't even get half way through a game even if it's short. I partly blame FFXI for that but maybe it's because I have so many things to do as an adult that I can't be bothered with more than one game at a time.

[Neomage]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

For me, it depends on how good the storyline is. If it is really involved with lots of extras like Tales of Symphonia, I usually play it 3-5 times through and collect all the goodies. Other games with a decent storyline but ok gameplay I play mabye twice, usually once. If the game just bombs, I use cheat codes and hacks to speed through it just so I can see the ending.

On an unrelated note, I also read alot of books...

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

I really spread out my games lately, I don't really focus on one, I kinda just play them in an episodic way. Might be because I don't watch TV at all. Right now I'm rotating, FFXII, FFVI, Phoenix Wright: Justice for All, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin and Hotel Dusk. Plan to get Shin Megami Tensei Devil Summoner this week, though I still need to get around to completing Digital Devil Saga first.

What's the point of playing a game if you don't have friends there to enjoy it with?

They lack the most annoying quality of online games, which is you need other people to enjoy them. That's a big plus for me. There's only so many times I can beat you in online Tetris, Halo or Soldier of Fortune II before it gets old. And its kinda sad when I'm beating you with nothing but throwing knives.

[Raydeus]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

Yeah it really depends on the game, and for me it isn't about maxing stuff (although I tend to do that too), but about how much I enjoy playing.

If I enjoy my time playing is very likely I'll max everything (and keep playing for a while afterwards), if not I wont go too deep even if there's still 60% content left to play.

[Jarre]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

It does depend on the game, RPG's I will stick to and play until I finish the game, then play again to get the bits I missed first time around. games like half life 2 etc I only play multiplayer versions when i want to release some pent up rage by fireing a fridge or exploive barrel at someone during a deathmatch. Games I have picked up and put down quickly include Unlimited saga (I just don't get it!), Perfect dark, just got boring, Splinter cell ( I just can't keep stealthy) etc etc.

At the moment I am juggling FFXII and ocasionally Halflife deathmatch and FFXI when I am not in the mood to play the other 2. Incidently currently got Vaan lvl 39 with Fran and the sky pirate (can't spell his name) at 37 & 38 respectively with Ashe, Basch and penelo 29, 28, 26 respectively all with half of the liscence grid filled. I have killed 10 marks and just reached the Phon coast with headhunter Clan rank and 7 items in my Skypirate den. I have been playign only for 2 weeks. After I finish this I still have Dragon Quest VIII to finish.

[Ruler_of_all]

Re: How long do you play a new game before moving on?

For me, and many others apparently, it depends on the game. With RPG's and all, I tend to max out the game completely - but sometimes leave in the middle because it got boring or something.... this summer I plan on finishing all the games I have so.. yeah.