curbzone

Imhotep Evil

Too much of a good gaming thing



I wrote last Sunday about the embarrassment of riches that video gamers are experiencing over these four weeks, when an absolute buttload of major releases hit back-to-back-to-back in advance of the holiday shopping season.

And now I realize that what seemed like kind of a joke is actually, genuinely causing me some stress. It hit me when I was reading a post on Kotaku/Gamasutra writer Leigh Alexander's blog, where she nails the feeling of anxiety that gamers (and game journos) are experiencing with this flood of releases, the guilt that comes with actually being stressed about something so trivial, and the multiple Sophie's Choices that some gamers must make. You've only got enough time or cash for one game over the next month; which do you pick? Fable II or Fallout 3? Saints Row 2 or Dead Space? Resistance 2 or Gears of War 2? Wii Music or... actually, don't get Wii Music. Unless it's for your mom.

The delay of LittleBigPlanet might almost be a blessing in disguise, although it just bunches the release of the game up with the equally all-ages Guitar Hero World Tour. And then it's followed by Gears and Mirror's Edge and Resistance 2 and Banjo-Kazooie... aaaiiieeeee! Too much! Too much!

I finished Fable II last night, but instead of diving back in and playing through a second time as an evil woman instead of a pious dude, I need to move on to Fallout 3. As awesome as everyone says it is, Dead Space has already been resigned to the "play when you have time, ie. possibly never" pile, next to Saints Row 2 and likely to be joined by Far Cry 2, all three of which I had been dying to tackle.

Being in the biz of writing about games not only adds employment-related pressure to stay on top of things, but presents the double-edged sword of sometimes getting stuff early, which right now means even more to do. I've got a LittleBigPlanet build to play until the game hits retail, a date to grind through Gears of War 2's campaign next week, and the New Xbox Experience sitting on my 360, weeks before general release. And the aforementioned Fallout 3, my single most lusted-after game of the year, in my hand a week before it comes out. With the shrinkwrap still on. Cripes.

I'm not asking for pity, but I think I now understand how winning the lottery can actually mess up people's lives. Sometimes it's better when joy is doled out in small, spread-out parcels, when you have the proper time to savour it.

Meantime, I secretly fantasize about breaking my leg and having to spend several weeks off my feet. With a controller in hand, and a stack of game boxes at my side.

The Diva

I sympathize!

It sounds like the sensation I get when there is a gigantic designer SHOE sale!

Consumer confidence is a tricky thing, the BIG brands are not selling that much... what to do with the surplus? MEGA SALE!

So , if it helps, do what I do... don't hyperventilate , and take what you can one a at time
If a pair, I mean a game, escapes you for the moment, don't worry you still have plenty of good ones in hand.
Maybe the one that escaped was a passing fad anyway...

In the meantime I'll take your advise and not bother with Wii MUSIC. I'd rather play the real thing ( musical instruments that is) anyway.