We have all been there toying with the idea to just give up on gaming and live a normal life they say. But sometimes you have to wonder to yourself if there is such a thing as a normal life without games.
I had this episode about 3 months back after a long run with Microsoft's console that is the Xbox 360.I was playing as regular as every day and starting to get very bored with the online aspect that dominates console gaming now. Nightly sessions of online mammoths such as Call of Duty and Halo were getting tedious. I think I was starting to hit a wall with gaming so to speak as most things I was playing on the Xbox were not giving me enjoyment that gaming as a hobby is supposed to. At that moment in time I was wanting a killer single player experience which I love by the way which I think this whole blog piece I'm writing about boils down to.
Gaming fatigue or burnout I think they might call it was setting in as paying for a Xbox Live sub was getting tedious as in all fairness I was paying it to play online and felt a little conned at services behind a pay-wall and paying to play online were as PlayStation users could enjoy the Instant game collection and various discounts which I did know about but didn't really read into seeing as my friends are the typical Xbox is the only console worth having attitude and just following suit, as you do sometimes.
Then the announcement of the Xbox One.Everything I thought Microsoft were not going to do, they were. Although now the dust has settled and they are not going to do everything they said it still left a bitter taste in the mouth, especially the price for myself.
Then Sony announced the PlayStation 4 and there intentions, safe to say this sat better with me as a gamer and this made me ditch the Xbox 360 for a PlayStation 3. It felt risky at the time as I was settled but bored at the same time of the whole Xbox way of life in regards to gaming.
After a few hours of searching Google and N4G. I purchased a PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Plus sub and set myself away with the PlayStation 3 way of life and was happy to find games for free in a sense and services not stuck behind a pay-wall. As well as starting games such as Uncharted and God of War, games that showed me there was new ideas to be had in gaming and developers showing the single player experience still mattered.
While I'm getting adjusted to all things PlayStation a friend purchases The Last Of Us and has no time to play it so he loans me the game for a week. Now dont get me wrong I had seen the review scores and hype but put at that just Hype. I didn't check any game-play videos or read any reviews and just started it.
It was safe to say the faith in single player being catered for lovingly was more or less restored as the story telling mixed with solid game-play was once again found thanks to Naughty Dogs efforts I think as the game actually made me enjoy the hobby that is gaming again along with the fact Sony are about the gaming experience and not just catering to online and many of there own games are Single player centered which I love.
I truly think Microsoft need some new franchises and concentrate on game-play and new ideas to do well Next gen as Sony I think in my honest opinion are doing this already and feel I should have jumped on the PlayStation 3 way of gaming earlier much earlier.
Although I do still admire what what Microsoft have done for online gaming its just that it seems they concentrate on the online gaming side of games rather than catering for both party's as there is still a fair few of us that love a good quality single player experience and with this, there's a feeling of burnout for myself and many others I imagine as growing up and playing on classics such as The Ocarina of Time and Shenmue and Final Fantasy and various other single player orientated games truly nailed what a single player experience should be about.
So now gaming fatigue or burnout whichever you choose to call it is no longer an issue now.
So thank you Sony.
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Good blog although it seems like you got bored halfway-through while writing :D
Sony definately deserves praise for the efforts they make in gaming.
I still think that they, on par with Nintendo, are the most passionate game companies out there who really want to offer value to their customers. Microsoft on the other hand is your typical american company like EA or Activision which primarily have your $$$ in mind, so I have absolutely no sympathy for them.
Congratulations on giving the PS3 a fair shot. If more X360 gamers put their loyalties to XBox aside and gave PS3 a try, they'd be amazed at what Sony's machine has to offer. Try a few of these games--you won't be disappointed.
1. 3d dot game heroes -- if you like the original zelda on nes, you HAVE to check this one out and vey reasonably priced used at Gamestop.
2. Guacamelee -- great metroidvania game with loads of style & drop-in/out couch co-op.
3. Killzone 3 -- great single-player, online, and 2-player couch co-op.
4. Ratchet & Clank Tools of Destruction or A Crack in Time -- excellent all-around platformers that are challenging and fun to play and suitableto play in front of kids.
5. Sly Cooper The Collection or Thieves in Time. Very under-appreciated games. Suitable for entire family, but can be very challenging. Don't be fooled into thinking these are kids' games.
6. Uncharted games, especially Uncharted 2!
7. Mod-Nation Racers. It takes the best of Mario Kart and adds in extremely robust character, kart, and track creation tools. Load times can be long, but well worth the price.
8. Little Big Planet 2 - if you like creation-type games, this one has it in spades. Platforming can get frustratingly tough at some points, but the ability to jump onto other users' created worlds is awesome and play 4 player multi-player local or onlne is awesome.
9. InFamous 2. SPECTACULAR game and very under-appreciated. The first game is very good, but 2 improves graphics and gameplay, the missions offer more variety, and the mission creator works well. What's not to like about a game that lets you choose whether to be good or bad, and has entirely different outcomes for each choice?!
Wow
Mircosoft WANTS you to play online more than Sony. They focus heavily on the online aspects of their games to get more people resubscribing to XBL Gold. Single player/story mode ends up suffering a lot this gen because of this way of thinking, that's why MS and COD go hand-in-hand. Just like MS the CoD games want you invested in their online community so they can sell you their DLC maps and add-ons.
Either way, if you do anything too often you'll eventually get bored of it. PS3 gaming is just that refreshing new thing. I'm definitely a Sony gamer first an foremost but MS have their own interesting titles too. I think you got bored because they're holding all their titles off for the X One release, leaving the 360 deprived of any new exclusives. I still welcome you to the Sony side though, the more the merrier! :)
Check out Dragon's Crown too, though I'm sure all those PS+ games will probably be keeping you busy for a while to come.
Well, now that you have a PS3, do yourself a favor and play: Resistance 3 with a pal, Little Big Planet, Ratchet and Clank a Crack in Time, Sly Cooper Thieves in time, Journey, Flower, Heavy Rain, both Infamous games.
It's all PS3 exclusives that are unique, just out of the top of my head, I'm certainly missing some more.
To this day, I cannot think about someone calling themselves a gamer, a true gamer, and not having a PS3 (along with an Xbox 360 mind you, there are unique franchises not to miss in there too).
Take care and have fun, a PLUS subscription will keep you busy for some time ;)! (and find new gaming-friends, lol).