I appreciate most games, and I give credit where credit is due. Perhaps I just expect too much from a game, because I often seem let down, even if the game is enjoyable. I just seem to find things that are missing or that could have been better. I wonder if the developers do this too?
There are some games that have totally impressed me and kept me interested for years. I think it's the combination of the games setting and atmosphere, it's immersiveness and graphics, and it's gameplay that are key factors. Some games deliver on all these but after they end, replaying them isn't nearly as fun.
This isn't a bad thing for me, because I am interested in a lot of different games, and I like to move on from to the next, preferable after I've completed the game. The problem I have, is that I don't have the time, and I am not very good at most games, so I rarely finish them. That doesn't stop me from getting excited about newer games on the horizon and checking them out, though.
I wish it was winter when the whooe mess of games released. I like to be outdoors in summer, if its not too hot and humid, but I find myself inside, sitting comfortable in the AC, playing games throughout the summer.
Its always the busy season for video game releases. I bogs me down. I wind up purchasing more games that I can actually spend time playing, sometimes resulting in a game sitting on the shelf for months, still in its wrapping from the store. I get to them all, though. Sleepness nights are much more common in the summer . . . up all night. That's the way of a gamer.
I am really excited about this summer of 2007. Let me see, just off the top of my head . . . Lair and Heavenly Sword for my PS3, the two biggest reasons why I bought the expensive machine. It is a great system to have, though, and The Darkness is really keeping my mind of the near future releases that'll ultimately be my bread and butter for the summer. Overlord for the Xbox 360 is keeping me busy until Mass Effect andBioshock come out, and for the PC, I am playing Lordo of the Rings Online, still enjoying it in smaller doses that what I am used to in a mmorpg. I guess another summer will come and go without the release of Fallen Earth, the mmo I have been waiting for, it seems for ages.
So summer is here, and I say let the games come. I spend a lot of time with the family during the day, having fun at the beach and enjoying the outdoors. Nighttime is when I get to gaming, and coffee becomes my best friend. Why do so many games release in summer, and there is such a lag period during the spring? I know that December will be another big time for releases, but still nothing like the summer bloom of video games.
Anyway, I am thankful for it. I hope I can muster the patience I need to hold off on buying the games all at once, so I can play one or two for a while, finish them, and move onto another later on. Yep, that's my plan, and I'm stickin with it.
How to make best use of my free time . . . hmmm. That's easy. Video games! I'm a very happy Dad. My wife is very understanding of my hobby. I have only a few hours each night to indulge in it. So how do I get the best out of it?
I used to play mmorpgs, mostly. I still love them. I am really looking forward to some coming out this year. However, it is not realistic for me to play these games and get the most out of them unless I lose a lot of sleep. I plan on choosing one that can be enjoyed at a moderate pace. One that I can play for a couple hours a night and get things done. I haven't even come close to giving up on mmorpgs just yet, but it is a challenge trying to get enough playtime in.
PC or Console? I love my computer. I've upgraded it a couple of times but it is old and I really wanted a new PC with Windows Vista this year. With upgrades to our house, the money I had set aside for the new PC has been shuffled back, and so maybe next year I'll have a nice new rig. Until then, I can still enjoy many great single player games and a good mmorpg that will run (not Vanguard, apparently). My consoles are great, because I never have to worry about games not running well on them, unless the developer really screwed up! I've got all three "next-gen" systems and each one has its strength. I buy specific games for each, and it works out well. Again, finding the time to play is the biggest challenge.
A family fun time! With the Nintendo Wii system, my wife has finally picked up a controller (in this case, a Wii remote) and started to play. She loves Wii Sports and gets a kick out of some other games I got for the system. Its nice to see her take some interest in a hobby I've loved since I was just a lil' tot.
I love my consoles, but I hate controllers. I am much more comfortable with a mouse and keyboard, and much better at FPS for the PC.
Console controllers don't respond as quick or as accurate for me. I know that some folks are opposite. I can tell because of how quickly I get fragged in Gears of War or Resistance:Fall of Man. However, in a multiplayer game of F.E.A.R. on the PC, its a totally different story.
The keyboard can be hooked up to consile with USB, but I wonder if the mouse will ever be supported. I admit, I like to sit comfortably on my sofa and play. With a mouse and keyboard, it just wouldn't be the same. But I would also like to be more competitive in console online games, and the only way I can see that happening is if I get my preferred controls.
