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General discussionWhy can I never finish a game?(72 posts)(72 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted February 02, 2017
I've been playing games my whole life, but I can only think of a handful of games I've ever completed: Spyro 1 (went back and completed it in my mid-twenties, when the game was now effortless to me) some old game about submarines for the ps1, which I completed using cheat codes, chrono trigger which was the first game I completed legitimately. Kingdom Hearts 1 (which I've completed several times, including a few times on hard difficulty). And, no other. Literally. Okay, I've completed the main story lines for some games like arkham city, but I never finished the side quests. I also didn't complete my first pokemon game until I was like 26 or 27, and even then all I did was defeat the elite four I never got to capture the legendary birds or mewtwo (this was on pokemon leafgreen).

I keep collecting games, even though I never finish them. I literally have piles of dozens of games I've never finished.

My problem? I hit a road block that I can never surpass and end up giving me. When I was young I would spend months playing everyday to complete a single level. Now, if I just give up after half a dozen tries.

And often times, something disastrous happens that makes it impossible for me to continue no matter how badly I want to. A few years ago I tried to complete a legacy challenge for the sims 2. I ran into a bug that made my pets unable to advance to the top of their careers, even if they met all the requirements. A year or so ago I tried to complete neverwinter nights 1. I was going through the final area for chapter 1, and my rogue kept dying every fight, forcing me to backtrack to retrieve him just so I could advance. I just got sick of having to walk back through the same damn dungeon after every single fight just so my worthless little henchmen could unlock a door for me to the next area. I also have legend of grimrock. First playthrough, I got into an area full of those fire elemental things that I couldn't beat. I don't know why, I had killed plenty before, I think the area just had too many for me to handle. I tried a second time, with a better designed party, and I couldn't even make it that far.

Why is this? Why can't i ever complete a game? No matter how hard I try, something goes wrong that makes it impossible for me to finish. I hardly even want to try anymore. Hell, I've had games where my computer busted in the middle of a play through, causing me to lose my save file. A while ago my subscription to dc universe online expired. I had a deal where I got legendary membership at a bargin, but that was with an old credit card so I couldn't renew it. Yeah, I could get another, but that would've cost me 3 times as much unless I could give them the number for a card that didn't exist anymore. I was forced to stop playing right then and there. Yeah.

I honestly believe I'm fucking cursed. I obviously have really shitty luck, both in my games and real life. Its a miracle I'm still alive to give you an idea. Honestly, there's no rational reason why I should still be alive, or even have a home.

Everyone thinks your delusional if you believe in luck, for me its over overwhelmingly obvious that luck exists. Seriously, if I actually spent more time outside I'd probably get struck by lightning or hit by a car in the middle of my own front yard or some shit like that.

Is there anything I can really do to change this? I doubt finding a four-leaf clover or some stupid shit like that would really make a difference. Besides, I'd probably get bitten by a snake while doing that if I tried.
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Posted February 02, 2017
We are on the same boat. For the very same reason, when i started my GOG account, i had inside only 10 games... Those i finished before finding gog and i would (and did) replay, fully, through. Now, i have 210 games and of those, i am more than certain, that i won't even finish 100. Sales, cheap prices, free games gifted, me being a collector and needing to complete a franchise from which i got only one game initially, you name it, i got it.

I beat a game fully only whenever it appeals fully to me and matches my tastes perfectly. Rarely difficulty is the issue. At other times, i finish a game, but not 100% (with all secrets, achievements, content). Now, with fangames in the picture, too, it is even more rare for me to finish something... Especially since fangames are free and lately, strangely somehow, of great quality and replayability value...

But i find motivation and can share the "buttons" to it. Watch a youtube video. See the endgame. Feel the need to make your player/character as powerful as seen there, or build whatever it is you control and upgrade to its final, endgame form(s). See how others play, see how they overcome an obstacle, go do the same. For me, it has worked for more than 10 games; doing this helped me decide go and struggle to beat said game, through and through. Go get a walkthrough, or a list of tips&hints, spoil yourself, learn beforehand the tricks and all possible routes, choose yours in advance... I have been urged to sit through an adventure otherwise i never would, just by reading through the plot and all branching options, or riddles solving, before playing it. In my case, i want to know everything in advance, then proceed to make my choices, but always, based on knowing everything, of course. This way, you save valuable time, by not wandering in game pointlessly, being stuck in a riddle, or being unable to beat something/someone that can be your gamestopper.

Good luck! But hey, it isn't likely that even ONE person, would/could or probably ever did, play through all of their libraries/collection of games... It simply is impossible. Life has obligations, work, activities, a plethora of things and time is always limited... Even if you actually have lots of it (seemingly) spare.
Post edited February 02, 2017 by KiNgBrAdLeY7
Posted February 02, 2017
No shame in using a walkthrough or two. And if you gotta whip out a cheat code to get past something that prevents you from continuing on then so be it. It's your game - do what you gotta do in order to finish it.
Posted February 02, 2017
You are doing better than I am. In the last few years I can barely get myself to start playing a new game, let alone get far enough to lose interest or get stuck in one.
Posted February 02, 2017
Find games you like and play them until you're done.

Many games aren't worth completing. That's not your fault. They either stop being fun, become overly complex, don't give story updates and you forget where you're at, or they are too long and don't given enough variation or growth in gameplay.

So enjoy aying your games. Relish the ones you conquer, but enjoy the ones you don't finish too. Many games have an awesome first few hours but become worthless to keep on playing.
Post edited February 02, 2017 by Tallima
Posted February 02, 2017
I can relate. I have more fun testing games and playing them for fun or trying to "explot" them rather than just going straightforward and finish them.
For example, I have finished the Punisher only 2-3 times, but I have played the chop shop and funeral home levels like 156 times each.

Also I have never finished Baldur's Gate, even if I easily have 200 hours on it. Too much reinstalling OSes without backing up, I'm afraid.
Post edited February 02, 2017 by javihyuga
Posted February 02, 2017
There is no shame in consulting a FAQ or asking for a hint if you really stuck in a game and can't proceed. More so if you don't have much time for gaming. Most of us are not kids anymore and can't play games for hours a day and waste time by dropping half-won games.
Posted February 02, 2017
Way back when I recall only having a few games on hand at a time to play. If I got stuck on one, I would spend a good deal of time trying to solve before moving on to another as a diversion and then later returning to try and get unstuck.

Now, if I get stuck, bored, etc, there are 100s of games waiting to be played and once I leave to play another, it can be years before I come back to it.

I just don't have the patience anymore to spend days, weeks, months on a game I'm not enjoying when I have a shit ton backlog chomping at the heels. So I feel you. We all feel you :)
Post edited February 02, 2017 by foxworks
Posted February 02, 2017
It's like Tallima says. You shouldn't play games just to complete them, you should play them because you have fun playing them. Technical difficulties are annoying but when the game gets too hard, too repetitive or too boring, you shouldn't feel bad for not playing them anymore.

I've been through the "I paid good $$$ for this game and I should finish it to enjoy every last dime!" stages, but if it starts feeling like homework or an obligation instead of fun, then it's not working for you. No one really cares if you finish it, but you. You're not getting a grade for it. It's not your responsibility to finish it. Hell, I bet you've got other real responsibilities around the house. How are those doing? :D
Posted February 02, 2017
RPGs are typically long and grinding. Pick another genre to play. Casual games, by definition, are short and casual. Some action games' single player campaigns are pretty short tpp. Limbo, Inside, Gone Home, and Among the Sleep can be finished in 4 hours each.
Posted February 02, 2017
I agree with some of the previous posts, especially the age thing and the free time we can spend to play (sometimes boring) games. Since you ask for advice, here's some:

• Don't buy a lot of games. Really. Personally, I find it difficult to focus in one game for a long time, if I have a huge backlog (especially if the backlog includes a lot cRPGs). So, since the damage is already done in your case, refrain from buying any more games until you play most of what you currently have. Even if you don't finish them.
• Don't have too many games installed at the same time for the same reason as above.
• I think it's very common for a gamer to not finish a game just because it became dull after a while, the box said the game is awesome but eventually you think it's not and a hundred more reasons.
• If you really want to finish a game but "OMG I stuck on this level" or "where was I supposed to go" or "who da funk is Alice", it's perfectly fine to use a walkthrough or three. There is no shame, unless you're a kid trying to impress your friends.
• Consider buying/playing games from genres you really enjoy playing. Buying the x racing game because everyone says it's great, won't gonna make any good to you if you don't like racing games.
• Take a break from gaming and spend your time in something else you like. In case you don't want to take a break from gaming for any reason, try a sandbox game where you set the goals and there is no predetermined course/story.
Posted February 02, 2017
Here's my thoughts :)

Pick games that don't take too long to finish and actually can be finished. You'll never finish games like Civilization, any MMO or some of the recent RPGs (which tend to get bigger and bigger all the time). I regularly finish my games that way, even though it regularly takes a good long while. I also try to only begin a new game once I've finished one that I've been already playing (tbh, this can be difficult and I regularly break my rule ;) ). This way I am able to keep my number of unfinished games on the lower end.

Before you get a new game you might ask yourself, what your expectations are and if you're interested in it only because there's some hype around that game and all you want to is to know, what it's all about (don't). Or are you genuinely interested in the genre, setting or franchise (go for it)?. My number one priority in any game for example, is a decent single player campaign. I'm not interested in multiplayer, pvp or even modding.

Also try to prioritize. You'll never be able to play everything you're possibly interested in. At least that's the case with me. Pick the ones you really love and would like to see through. This way you'll stay motivated and engaged, even after a setback. If you get stuck, try to look up on youtube how other people beat that level you got stuck in. No shame in doing that.
Post edited February 02, 2017 by amurgaming
Posted February 02, 2017
Interest shifts and that's normal, but if you force yourself to finish a game you might be done with it eventually, but it might not bring you the enjoyment it would otherwise. Just play what you feel like playing and don't be too worried if you don't finish many of them.
Posted February 02, 2017
My early gaming history was full of games that I never finished. I got a lot of value out of demos, though, let me tell you! I don't know how many times I played the first level of Descent...!

I had similar issues, the game would just stop working, I'd lose a save file, or the video card fan would go, or Windows ME just did its thing... But I had fun anyway! I think the first game I ever finished was Myst.

It's only much more recently that I started finishing more games. Pick something 5-8 hours tops and put it on the top of your list. Play it until you finish and then move on. Then ask yourself - did I actually enjoy that experience more than sampling lots of games on the early levels?

If you still want to finish something, especially with stories, get walkthroughs. Enjoy the games on your terms!
Posted February 03, 2017
pleasant worries. if you were born few decades sooner you may got shot to pieces somewhere in real vietnam or you could be born somewhere in sudan and be hungry child with some extremities chopped off.

dont be frustrated by games. they are there for you, not you for them. i can remember only two games i finished..
maybe you are more enjoyed even by just collecting games than playing them ;-)
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionWhy can I never finish a game?(72 posts)(72 posts)
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