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PaperclipPerfector  12d ago (text post)   2710 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.

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.

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