This idea came about because we are going to be moving soon and I was trying consolidate my possessions. While organizing all my media I noticed how many games I owned that I haven't really put much time into. So I thought, I really should play these games or get rid of them. So I'm going to try to play through them. I thought it might be interesting to blog about that process.
WHY START THIS SITE?
- For one to save money and get something out of the investment I already put into this large pile. Even if I only paid $5 for each game, that is still over $200 of money spent that I haven't gotten much entertainment out of yet. I'm going to downgrade my Gamefly account to decrease that bill which will also give me more gaming time to tackle this pile.
- My fondest memories of games are of one that I have completed. "Lesser" games that I have played to completion have been more memorable to me than "great" games I only played a few hours of.
- While searching the Internet I didn't find any recent blogs that covered this specific topic. I think it could open up some interesting discussions.
RULES
- I will try to play one of the games on my list at least once a week and blog about it. I will possibly post more and will probably play more than that but my goal is once a week.
- I will play every game on the easiest difficulty. The point is to get through the games and experience them; not prove my mettle as a gamer. I have never felt a game wasn't fun because it was too easy (aside from some sports and music games), only because it was too hard.
- If I get stuck I will use a guide or a walkthrough. Getting stuck at a frustrating part is the main reason I shelve a game. I will define "getting stuck" as failing at the same task three times or more. I have no qualms about walkthroughs, I have rarely felt remorse for using one.
- I will define "completing" a game as finishing the single-player story or campaign mode. I have not yet decided what to do if I am unable to finish a game.
NOTES
- The list is of games I currenlty own copies of.
- The list ordered based on criticial acclaim, a few podcasts I want to listen to (like Rebel FM's Game Club), a desire to play games in a series chronologically, and personal preference. Rock Band 2 is at the top of the list because I'm having a kid soon and the rocking out will have to be kept to a minimum.
- My goal is have taken at least 10 games off my list by a year from now.
- I have a full-time job, a wonderful wife, will soon have a new baby, three other sites that I write for, and a normal life full of other hobbies so I may miss a week or two occasionally.
I am planning on kicking this blog of for realzies at the beginning of April. I'd love to hear what you guys think. Feel free to comment with gameplay tips, thoughts on the games, opinion which games you'd like to me to tackle next, or anything else. Let me know, I look forward to any feedback.
So check back in a week or so for the first "real" post.
Posts
Hey Mark!
ReplyDeleteSeems like a great idea to me. I also have a huge pile of games I haven't yet completed. Although completion to me, is a little different than your definition. I define myself as having completed a game if I have gotten through the campaign/story and have gotten all the achievements from that game (that are possible to me, sometimes this is ruined by impossible achievements or multiplayer achievements). I am no achievement whore, but I consider them a checklist to my completionism, if that's even a word.
Anyways, I wish you the best of luck. Can't wait to see some posts!
Matt,
ReplyDeleteThat is a fine definition of completion. There are a number of reasons I'm trying not to take achievements into account. One is not all of my games are on 360, about a third of them are probably, so it would be hard to gauge against Wii,PC, and DS games. Secondly, a number of games require multiple playthroughs to get all achievements. My list is far too long to take time to do that.
I do agree though that Achievements are a good way to measure your game experience to what the developers intended. I try to complete about 1/4 of the achievements in each 360 game I play. I think the old Achievement Junkies podcast explained achievements best as a way developers help guide a player through their game.
I also think you should have a picture of the pile. Just to get a grasp of the scope :)
ReplyDelete