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PaperclipPerfector  11d ago (text post)   2706 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for April 26, 2024

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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Anyone here lose interest in the entire genre of complex games that they used to love?

Had the day off and decided to load up some old games. Opened up Rimworld, Divinity Original Sin 2, and Fallout 76, on which I've collectively spent probably 1,000+ happy hours years ago. Quit each within 15 minutes because they all felt overwhelming to figure out given the numerous different systems and controls. My goal going into it had been to relax and have fun, but the prospect of playing them felt like work. Back when I used to play them, I recall really enjoying all the optimization and googling/redditing, but now I don't think I will ever go through that again. Guess it comes with growing old.

I do have one theory, though. Ten years ago, or maybe 20 years ago, the world felt simpler, maybe because it was less connected and people were less tribal due to social media, and as a result, we savor complex games as a way to add spice. Today the world feels crazier, and our mental cycles are drained by things optimized to capture our attention, and so simpler games that don't demand as much are relatively more enjoyable.

I can't really play new games any more, don't have the attention span. I cycle through RimWorld, Factorio, Slay the Spire and EU4 like I have for years. I think the last new one I picked up was Hades which was pretty good and critically it let you start playing the game within 2 minutes of launching it.

I just feel like any game that I start these days I have to finish (in a week or so, don't delay) or otherwise I wont ever pick it back up. But what helps I found is to dedicate a 1-2hr time to dive into a game (new or old) and if after that the desire to close the game still there, well......

But I also noticed that there are some game mechanics I simply cannot tolerate these days, so I just skip the game when the reliance on those mechanics increases. Like doom eternal, no I don't want to hippity-hop all over the "combat arena" and swap weapons 1500 times in rapid succession. I loved doom 2016, look how they massacred my boy (

I'm not sure it's so much complexity I'm avoiding now but games that don't respect my time.

I used to love JRPGs, it was my favorite genre. I can't really do it anymore. They seem like so much pointless busy work. Closest thing to one I've been able to play a bit of (and even then) is Triangle Strategy, and that's a tactical JRPG. I guess tactical RPGs I can still stomach a bit because fights feel like distinct chapters that I can do one and feel done with for the night while feeling I've actually moved forward.

On the opposite side, three genres I never imagined I would ever enjoy, have become my favorites: hard simulators (the harder and drier the game, the better), shmups and fighting games. All of which are so much more challenging and complex than JRPGs, which are usually only difficult if you're impatient and don't level up properly, but all of which feel so much more significant than raising arbitrary numbers because I need them to move forward.

I feel most people past 28 or so who still play complex games are going back to the well of The One they started a decade ago: Dota, WoW, Counterstrike, TF2, EU4, Football Manager. Pick your poison.

I don't think changing times factor in at all, because I vaguely perceive young people forming similar attachments to games with names like "PubG" or "Genshin Impact".

Maybe I'm permanently ruined for complex games, but I think I'm just slower on the uptick.

The thing with all these is if you can get over that first 30 minute hump, you're golden. Factorio and The Witcher 3 have fairly complicated control schemes and in-depth stuff going on. After learning the keyboard shortcuts I sunk 100+ hours into each....

But then when I would switch between them I would have to spend another 30 to get reacclimated! I've got too much shit in my proverbial RAM. I'm managing a marriage, a house, multiple teams, an old car, children, friendships, exercise.....

I'd like to blame it on the culture changing but I suspect it's vanilla mental decline and an order of magnitude greater responsibility that are the real culprits.

but the prospect of playing them felt like work.

yeah, that's exactly how I feel now trying to learn some new complex game. I just don't have the spare brain energy to want to play it. The only games that I actually enjoy anymore are casino gambling games, where it's simple enough that I don't have to think about it, yet there's still a real stake (money) and a crowd of real people.

Depends. I go back and forth on games like that. Nowadays I treat them like Zen gardening; play the optimized strats I know and listen to music or podcasts while I relax and turn my brain off. I have had to dump some games. Haven’t played Minecraft in years, not since my sister destroyed my entire server in a fit of pique. I have a lot of good memories of building a very intricate rail system with my friends when I got home after tending bar.

I still occasionally enjoy these complex games. But I also often crave simpler mindless titles.

Stardew Valley is a fun way to cleanse your palette. It can be played either as a fun cute little farming game, or you can go hardcore with twenty wiki tabs for the game open while you optimize crop planting and gift giving.

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