I have a sizable collection of games across retro and current platforms, as well as a Steam Library and a huge itch.io bundle of software. I have opportunities abound for games that I could play. But some days, I get stuck trying to figure out

  • Which game to play
  • How long do I have to play it
  • What about other stuff I need to do
  • How can I turn this into something meaningful

And it only gets compounded when I try to factor in streaming or writing for a website that I’m a part of. I dunno how many other Twitch/YouTube/TikTok streamers are here but once you reach Affiliate or have a consistent audience it sure seems easy to feel like your gaming time should only happen when you’re streaming. And as a hobbyist writer I feel like I then have to tie in writing about my gaming experiences.

I don’t have anything closely resembling success with these ventures but it feels like if I stop, then I’ll never have that success, like, it feels obtainable when I’m turning my hobby into digestible content for others.

I’ve been trying to break out of this self-defeating cycle by starting a new island in Animal Crossing. Just making small progress, an hour a day, by myself. No distractions, no mental hangups, no “side hustles”.

Just wondering if I’m alone in this or if anyone else has similar experiences, whether or not you stream or whatever :)

  • PenguinTDEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    First, for purchase, since I am not really a content creator, at the moment I only buy games that I will have time to play. So, say if 2 games are released around the same window, then I only but one of them and buy the other when I finished the first.

    Second, since my “main game” is rocket league, if any other games that requires grinding of any kind, I can only do at most 1 such other title. And if possible, on PC and use cheat engine to reduce useless grind.(I did so for AC: Odyssey) So that means I have to give up other competitive games that requires time commitment to practice, keep up with update/balance changes/roaster changes. As such I do not play any competitive shooters or fighting games. Even though I used to enjoy and play those.

    Third, backlog, I mostly just give up on trying to finish them. Say, those games I got from humble bundles, some games I got from Epic, or older summer sales, I only install and play when wanted to and put absolutely no pressure for me to finish them. Cause there is no point in doing so.If I want to know the story or plot, there is always digestible video doing such.(ie, video explains Nier plot and universe after I finished all main endings.)

    Last, which game to play? Well, just pick whatever I feel like playing. It a game I don’t feel like playing I will simply uninstall so it won’t even occupy my view when I open the launcher. And most frequently played will have it on my favorites or desktop icons.

    Source: 45yo with a kid