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General discussionOfficial Stop Buying Games Self-Help Group(863 posts)(863 posts)
(863 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted January 07, 2015
I found the perfect way how to get my gaming addiction in check: Buy all the games, then it becomes far less likely for a game you don't own suddenly showing up at a great discount. Of course, then you'll still have to resist the urge to buy giftable copies.

It's like that thing Deng Xiaoping was talking about: You gotta have capitalism first, then you can establish communism. Think of your game-buying addiction as a transition phase to addiction-free bliss!

Peace be with you, my fellow Goglodytes!
Post edited January 07, 2015 by fronzelneekburm
Posted January 07, 2015
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ET3D: I believe that if you want to achieve that goal you should actively work towards it, and I hope that you're doing more than just keeping design notes. There's no replacement for actual development work when it comes to learning to create a game and working towards one.
At the moment, most of my programming brain power is spent on a more pressing non-game-related project which is also the current source of my livelihood, so while I'd love to dig in and start experimenting with Unity or some other such engine I don't think I'd be able to split my focus to two vastly different programming tasks at the same time. Hopefully when my current project has gotten to a certain point which no longer requires massive effort on my part to develop and maintain, I will be able to start actually taking practical steps towards creating my first game.

I've also just gotten back into serious gaming over the past 3-4 months after more than a decade of having little interest in the activity, so I'm still in exploration mode about what the current state of gaming is like and what kinds of games I'd like to create. So in this way, researching/purchasing/playing games and keeping notes are the first steps helping me to better define what elements I'd like to see in my own game, and what I'd like to accomplish with the creation of a game. I suppose in many ways I am also defining what gaming means to me now, as I think I am past the point of simply accepting it as a leisure activity meant to pass time (although certainly there are some games and times where I think this is appropriate).

But I do take your point and thank you for the reminder that sometimes it's best to just begin taking action rather than simply thinking about taking action, lest we end up stuck again simply mulling over all the potential paths and never venturing forth onto one of them.
Post edited January 07, 2015 by the.kuribo
Posted January 07, 2015
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the.kuribo: But I do take your point and thank you for the reminder that sometimes it's best to just begin taking action rather than simply thinking about taking action, lest we end up stuck again simply mulling over all the potential paths and never venturing forth onto one of them.
If you're at a stage of exploration then by all means explore. The only reason I encourage you to do something is just "don't do as I do". I mean, I'm very good at coming up with things to do, but not that good about implementing them. I enjoy much more coming up with stuff and learning new things on the way to implement it than actually doing the low level work to get it done.
Posted January 07, 2015
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KiNgBrAdLeY7: You get rid of an addiction, by growing yourself SICK OF IT. There is no other way. Much like food... You like strawberries for example? Eat a kilo straight at once until you vomit, and i assure you, you are never going to touch the damn stuff ever again.
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tinyE: Nice idea but if you try that with drug addiction you either die or turn into Keith Richards.

To paraphrase Norm Macdonald, 'My father caught me smoking cigarettes and I thought I was in for the whipping of my life but instead he locked me in a closet with a box of cigars and wouldn't let me out until I smoked every single one of them. So that's when I started smoking cigars really heavily.'
Just noticed the Norm MacDonald quote when scrolling though page2 (as GOG forums don't seem to be able to send you to where the first unread post is...unlike all other forums).

Check out some Mike MacDonald standup, he's freaking hilarious too :-)
Posted January 07, 2015
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ET3D: There's research showing that people are less happy with what they buy when there's a great selection because whatever they buy they know there's always something better in at least some respects. In gaming the problem doesn't seem to be with what you buy, because games are just so cheap these days, but with what you play. No matter what you choose play, it's always possible that another game you own would have given you more pleasure.
I know this problem. However I managed to gain a different view - instead of looking for flaws and thinking about what I'd rather do I try to see the beauty, creativity and effort the makers put in the product (be it game, movie, book or anything else). I try to understand the intent, the vision behind the product or piece of art. That way I don't really feel the need to think of a "better" alternative. It's like going to a sizable gallery - instead of rushing through and taking a glimpse at every single exhibit ("I payed for seeing them all!"), I try to take my time with every single piece and explore it. I think this makes for a richer, and in the end, more fullfilling (=> happiness) experience.
Posted January 07, 2015
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toxicTom: .
That's an interesting point of view. Does this mean that you continue to play games even if you find them very flawed?
Post edited January 07, 2015 by ET3D
Posted January 07, 2015
Dunno how much I spend per game on average, but it's pretty low (definitely under 10$, probably around 5$).

All those crazies buying new AAA games buy the equivalent of 6-10 of my games each time they buy a game.

I'm just spreading the wealth a bit more :P.
Post edited January 07, 2015 by Magnitus
Posted January 07, 2015
Thanks to my old bank i'm clean and became a beggar since 2014. 05. 05 . :(
Posted January 07, 2015
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ET3D: That's an interesting point of view. Does this mean that you continue to play games even if you find them very flawed?
Depends, really. I continue to enjoy my daughter's drawings even though she's only 7 years old and they certainly can't be called "high art". But I see the love, intentions and effort she put into them and it's quite fascinating.

I will lay down a game if it incorporates mechanisms that I don't like or that I'm not in the mood for. An example would be excessive grinding in an RPG. And when I'm not in a mood for reading I will not play a game that requires lots of it (i.e. Zafehouse Diaries). And when I'm too tired for twitch gaming I will not play Painkiller, but rather fire up some point'n'click adventure.

I will also quit games if I find them frustratingly hard (Psychonauts, Meat Circus Level) or excessivly boring. I will put them on hold and play something else if I'm just not in the mood, or postpone them after trying them and finding out I had too much i.e. fantasy settings recently.

But I will not quit a game, even if it's "flawed", just because there might be something better lurking on my shelf (or on GOG sale). When I'm able to enjoy a game, I will not let myself get distracted by the thought of other, maybe better games. Hey, when you are with your girlfriend/wife, would you constanly think of all the other women out there that maybe have nicer boobs and maybe don't make that strange sound when you know what happens? Wouldn't you rather enjoy that moment right now as much as you can, even if it isn't perfect in every way?
Posted January 07, 2015
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Magnitus: Dunno how much I spend per game on average, but it's pretty low (definitely under 10$, probably around 5$).
I used to spend under $10 on average. Problem is, without a hard limit on money spent it's easy to buy way too much. It's not a tough limit, the vast majority of AAA titles (and of course indies) reach this price range after a few months, a year at most. Nowadays as I mentioned before I resisted $2 and $4 deals for games I'd love to own because they'd still just be added to my backlog. (But I didn't resist the Square Enix surprise box, because it was a fun game of chance.)

The real problem is those "incredible deals", like the current Indie Gala Hostile Waters. Right now for $1.49 you get not one but two copies of the bundle, each containing 10 games. So buying this gets you 10 games and 10 games to gift. Doesn't matter if the games aren't the greatest, it's still 7.5 cents a game!

And no, I haven't bought the bundle, but it's always hard to resist these deals.
Post edited January 07, 2015 by ET3D
Posted January 07, 2015
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toxicTom: But I will not quit a game, even if it's "flawed", just because there might be something better lurking on my shelf (or on GOG sale). When I'm able to enjoy a game, I will not let myself get distracted by the thought of other, maybe better games. Hey, when you are with your girlfriend/wife, would you constanly think of all the other women out there that maybe have nicer boobs and maybe don't make that strange sound when you know what happens? Wouldn't you rather enjoy that moment right now as much as you can, even if it isn't perfect in every way?
I think it still lowers the bar for quitting. I mean, if you knew that there are women out there with these better qualities, and you could get with any of them right now, no need to date them, you'd just go and live with them, and if you don't like that, you'd easily go back and your girlfriend won't think anything of it, would your really not take advantage of it? And would you return to your current girlfriend if the other one really turns out to be better in most ways?

And from your description, you're already doing that with the games, hopping from one to another based on your current mood. So are you really not affected by this, it doesn't happen that you think "well, I enjoy this game more, I'm not sure I'll go back to that one"?
Posted January 08, 2015
Anyone guilty of this Thursday release?

I am because I am a sucker for extremely long games with many features, that Avernum: Escape From The Pit claims it will take months to finish feed my addiction to the moon.

I failed, only being clean for one day only...... haizzzz.......
Posted January 08, 2015
high rated
This is a fascinating topic. Pinned, and thank you, awalterj!

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PaterAlf: *snip* I plan to play more or less every game I've ever bought.
^ This pretty much sums it up for me. I want to play ALL the games! *_* ... though of course some more than others. I've been very discerning with what I buy lately, especially with circumstances being what they are.

I was able to gift a few games over the holiday season (which made me really happy!) and I splurged and bought a few of the spendier (for me) ones for myself. The way I decided was, "Will I play these before the next big sale?" and the answer for these games was, "YES!" I already played, finished, and reviewed Valiant Hearts: The Great War. I enjoyed it very much, so I'm very happy with the purchase. ENSLAVED: Odyssey to the West Premium Edition and Max: The Curse of Brotherhood were the two others I HAD to have now, and they've both been installed. The nicest thing about it is that I paid zero out-of-pocket for these games, thanks to selling off my trading cards.

So WHY do I collect games?

There are many factors involved, the primary of which is the fact that I play games as an escape. An escape from chronic pain and illness (though I've been doing MUCH better lately!), and an escape from the stress of daily living. It's probably why I like my games to be so very immersive; because they occupy my mind to the point that I forget that I'm hurting (etc.), and let's face it, playing games is fun!

Games are something that I can collect without physically cluttering up my living space, and that is a HUGE plus for me, 'cause I hate messes! >_< (What to do about all those boxed copies, though... lol~)

Anyone who can see my Steam collection knows that I have a lot of games -- 489 at the moment, up 400 since this time last year *^_^* Back before I discovered GOG, I would redeem every game in a bundle even if I had no interest in it, thinking that maybe someday I might like it... and it seemed such a waste to have unused codes. This is of course before I realized that I could trade and give away codes! In this past year, games were given to me, some were freebies, some games I traded for, some I won in giveaways... and a big ol' hunk of those games came from bundles. I'm still redeeming games I'm not interested in if they offer trading cards. Why? They pay for my gaming addiction! Yes, I'm a game addict, I admit it, and I love my games! *pulls games close around her in a possessive gesture* I'm so happy when I get a shiny new game, especially if it's a game I've been dying to play. I know that I don't have time to play them all the way I want to, but they still make me very happy ^__^
Post edited January 08, 2015 by genkicolleen
Posted January 08, 2015
This.
Posted January 08, 2015
Oh my, so many replies here, it will take ages to respond...I've already started to hide from my own thread despite being online because of the increasing load of contributions. Of course, I don't have to comment my 1,5 cents on everything everyone says but I do feel an obligation to interact as it's a topic I started not for lolz but sincerely. And so many great posts from all of you, very interesting!

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TrevorWilliams: I need to join! A year and a half ago, I owned zero digital games. Today, at least a thousand, over 400 here, with maybe 10 or them played.

I guess I'm a hoarder, shopaholic, and obsessive collector. I just can't resist these sales or bundles where the games average a couple bucks or less.

I honestly want to install and play them all someday, but realistically I know it's never going to happen.
Welcome, TrevorWilliams :)

Never say never! Admitting your problem is a first and most crucial step. If hoarding and collecting made you happy and you can afford it, all would be well. But it appears you're not happy no matter how many more games you buy. Although I don't want to push anyone into not buying games for while, it might be a way for you to regain control of your own will. I've been clean for 10 entire days now and while I'm experiencing massive withdrawal symptoms, I realize that I don't actually need to buy games all the time at every chance. Even though I haven't bought anything for 10 days, I'm still alive and feel a bit better, more in control. Looking at the promos is still painful, I almost caved in for Space Rangers HD but I just relaxed and said to myself, I don't need it. Not now, anyway.

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awalterj:
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AnimalMother117: Thanks for the insightful reply, and here I was just making a cheap joke. Although I too have not purchased any games for a while the last time being Agarest War, mostly because I want to support GOG getting more Japanese games. That said I will try to play through more of my games before buying more, so good luck to all of us!
I understand, in fact I feel guilty when GOG adds to their catalog a game I voted for on the wishlist and I then don't buy it immediately on release day. I feel the obligation to put the money where the mouth is, not just to support GOG but also to show the publisher that GOG customers are a force to take seriously.

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silvrbacgorrila: Hi I'm silvrbacgorrila and I'm a game buying addict. I've been clean since Jan 1st 2015.

It started with consoles. Purchasing a new release here, buying a hidden gem from a resale shop there. But back in March of last year I built my first gaming PC and that's when the problem started. Since then I've purchased nearly 100 games on Steam, and a dozen or so here on gog. I knew I hit rock bottom when I resorted to buying a few on Origin. I've only completed 3 or 4 of those games. I need help...but the sales...the flash sales oh god the community choice sales...
Welcome, silvrbacgorrila! If you're still clean today that's 8 days, more than a week already. A good start.
I had to LOL when you say you hit rock bottom and even bought games on Origin, that's indeed sinking very low. You need help :)

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ggf162: Haven't bought a single game since 14/09, it's super easy when you don't have money
True that, I currently have no money either so that works. However, does it take care of withdrawal symptoms? You've been clean for so long, do you still have withdrawal feelings or does that go away after a while?
Post edited January 08, 2015 by awalterj
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionOfficial Stop Buying Games Self-Help Group(863 posts)(863 posts)
(863 posts)