2012, end of the world, or end of your pile? - the 12 month thread

ccesarano wrote:

Because I feel the need to be exposed to them. I don't know how to really word it. I've spent so much time keeping up with this industry, keeping my ear to the ground, studying design, etc. etc., it just feels like I must play these games and see what the big deal is.

I understand that, and it's how I approached gaming until fairly recently. However, when I realized that I was spending dozens of hours playing games that I wasn't getting much enjoyment out of, I decided it was time to stop feeling like I needed to slog my way through something just because other people loved it. What I found was that while I was playing these things as a learning experience, I wasn't actually learning much. That time could have been better spent playing something else or doing something else.

In terms of Uncharted 2, the game isn't horrible enough that I hate it. The game also seems like it might have a decent story. It just feels like they threw in too many mechanics without polishing them all properly. I'm also counting on Chapter 5 being decently far in. If it's not, then I might just give up early after all.

There are twenty-six chapters.

Duke Nukem Forever, though, is like playing through history. It's fascinating to see the design choices through the decades, in a sense. The problem is, despite being fascinating, a lot of it is just no fun to play.

Every now and again, I get tempted to buy this just because of its history. It sounds like it's an artifact that's more interesting to talk about than to play.

You've been exposed to Uncharted 2 and you aren't really enjoying it. I'd say that's a perfect time to jump ship.

For Duke Nukem, you could probably youtube a lot of it to satiate your curiosity.

RE: Games that you want to just play so you know what was up. I did that with the God of War series, Halo 1-3 and the original Gears of War. I think I"m starting to break free of such 'requirements'. There are just too many games I want to enjoy to keep grinding through the barely enjoyable stuff.

mrtomaytohead wrote:

RE: Games that you want to just play so you know what was up. I did that with the God of War series, Halo 1-3 and the original Gears of War. I think I"m starting to break free of such 'requirements'. There are just too many games I want to enjoy to keep grinding through the barely enjoyable stuff.

I had a strong desire to do this with Assassin's Creed but not owning a PS3 or 360 at the time and the word of mouth about the PC ports kept the overall interest at bay.

Unfortunately, this was offset by a couple of PS2 JRPG purchases from Atlus and XSeed which I might not get around to. I blame Persona 3 for introducing me to JRPGs not made by Nintendo or Square-Enix.

If there's really that many chapters in Uncharted 2 then I'll just give it to my friend. There's no way this game suddenly gets better.

I find the tastes of the mainstream more and more questionable each year.

I'm in this year. I'm trying to hold myself to a no purchases rule as well but not sure how well that will go. That has more to do with saving money than the pile though.

shoptroll wrote:

I blame Persona 3 for introducing me to JRPGs not made by Nintendo or Square-Enix.

I blame Minarchist.

m0nk3yboy wrote:
shoptroll wrote:

I blame Persona 3 for introducing me to JRPGs not made by Nintendo or Square-Enix.

I blame Minarchist.

+1

Someone clue me in on the in-joke.

Minarchist tends to be the person who introduces you to life-crushing relatively obscure Japanese games. A pusher, if you will.

Remember, the first hit is free!

shoptroll wrote:

Someone clue me in on the in-joke.

The in-joke is that Minarchist is a fan of JRPGs of all shapes and sizes, but he's most especially fond of the Persona series. He got after monkeyboy and me for a long, long time to play them until we both finally caved. For awhile, he and I were playing through Persona 3 at the same time until the late-year release season crushed us both with new games.

Edit: Tannhauser'd.

Damn. I was starting to feel pretty free and clear, as far as backlog games were concerned, but the law of unintended consequences has just bitten me in the backside. I've recently purchased a 32" HD TV (I'm trying to mention this in every thread I visit) and it's had a profound, if rather odd, effect on my game playing.

I was stunned by how great my current games looked so I went back and loaded up games I'd just played recently. Needless to say, they also looked fantastic. A few days later I started to wonder what my older games would look like so I worked my way back in time, putting in games, playing a minute or two, gasping with amazement and then taking them out so I could load the next one.

I am now back playing Rainbow six: Las Vegas, Viva Pinata TIP and Burnout: Takedown (B:TD looks charmingly retro.) All three games I had been comfortable with crossing off my backlog list half finished (or in Pinata's case not played at all) but playing them on a large screen in HD has, somehow, resparked my interest and now I need to play them through. I'm also intending to replay a lot of games I've finished once including Bioshock 2 and Halo Reach.

Basically feel like all my favorite 360 games have just been rereleased in HD.

In a few weeks I'll be getting my first new gaming computer in 10 years (yes, really). But even though I avoided buying a new computer for so long and content myself with replaying the older games in my library, for several years now I've been quietly grabbing every decent new game that drops below $15 on steam.

So now I've got nearly every well-reviewed AAA PC title of the past 5 years sitting in my steam library waiting to be played for the first time. I have no idea where I'll start.

Beckett wrote:

I have no idea where I'll start.

Backloggery fortune cookie, random.org, or a trusty D20 is your friend.

Stolen from trueheart, of course:

Games in my collection I want to finish/watch the credits roll.
This list is so going to hell during the course of the year...

  • F-1 Race (GBC) *
  • Final Fantasy Legend III (GBC) *
  • The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (GBC)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (GBC)
  • T2: The Arcade Game (GBC)
  • Tetris (GBC)
  • WWF King of the Ring (GBC)
  • Metal Gear (NES)
  • Metroid (NES)
  • Power Blade (NES)
  • Punch-Out!! (NES) *
  • The Three Stooges (NES) - one of the better 2 endings. If only the controls didn't suck so much...
  • Jurassic Park (Genesis)
  • Flashback: The Quest for Identity (SegaCD)
  • Earthworm Jim (SNES)
  • Out of this World (SNES)
  • Fire Emblem (GBA) * - after 8 years and 3 continents, it's time to end this.
  • Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1)
  • Final Fantasy IX (PS1) *
  • Parappa the Rappa (PS1)
  • ReZ (Dreamcast) *
  • Space Channel 5 (Dreamcast)
  • Ikaruga (Dreamcast/Gamecube) *
  • Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (Gamecube) *
  • Resident Evil 1 remake (Gamecube) *
  • The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (Gamecube) *
  • Silent Hill 2 (XBox) *
  • Clock Tower 3 (PS2) *
  • God of War 2 (PS2)
  • Shadow of the Colossus (PS2) *
  • The Mark of Kri (PS2)
  • Xenosaga, Ep. III: Also Sprach Zarathustra (PS2) *
  • Patapon (PSP)
  • Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth (DS)
  • Chrono Trigger (DS)
  • Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (DS) - aka "9-9-9!"
  • Trauma Center: Under the Knife (DS) - carried over from last year. Will probably never beat the final story mission (5-9).
  • de Blob (Wii)
  • Metroid Prime (Wii) *
  • No More Heroes (Wii) *
  • Amnesia: The Dark Descent (PC) *
  • Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood (PC) - LOVED the original largely due to the voice work of Marc Alaimo!
  • Dark Fall: The Journal (PC)
  • Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy (PC) - from last year's list
  • Ghost Master (PC) *
  • GTA: San Andreas (PC) *
  • Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge HD (PC)
  • Overlord (PC) - from last year's list
  • The Saboteur (PC)
  • Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (PC) *
  • Syberia 2 (PC)
  • Transformers: War for Cybertron (PC)
  • The Witcher (PC) *
  • Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines (PC) *

Status: 0 of 54 (0%)

* = In Progress
= Abandoned
/ = Finished / Completed

2012 Releases I will be purchasing

  • The Last Guardian (PS3) - Possibly week / day 1
  • Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii) - Pre-order

Status: 0 of 2 (0%)

2011 and Prior Releases I might purchase on the cheap

  • Alice: Madness Returns (PC)
  • Bastion (PC)
  • Battlefield 3 (PC) - IF it ever comes to Steam
  • Castle Crashers (XBLA) - if I get a 360
  • Dead Island (PC)
  • Flower (PSN) - if I get a PS3
  • Fallout 3: GOTY (PC)
  • LA Noire: Complete (PC)
  • Mega Man 10 (Wiiware) - carrying over from last year's list
  • Pathologic (PC) - IF it ever comes to Steam
  • Pinball FX 2 (XBLA) - if I get a 360
  • Portal 2 (PC)
  • Rage (PC)
  • Read Dead Redemption GOTY (360) - though I would prefer it on PC...
  • RezHD (XBLA) - if I get a 360
  • Serious Sam 3: BFE (PC)
  • To The Moon (PC) - if it comes to Steam
  • WWE All Stars (360)

Status: 0 of 18 (0%)

Side Goals

  • Clear out my Gameboy/Color backlog. This will involve 7 more games, and with Tetris I will have to find a score and level limit to set.
  • Knock off 5 or more NES games.
  • Whittle the pile down to 70% unfinished (73,5% or 1190 titles as of Dec 22nd, 2011)

Status: 0 of 3 (0%)

I, AUs_TBirD, solemnly pledge to take part in the Pile of Shame monthly threads. Even if it is just for one game, I will put forth effort to clear my ever-growing pile, one game at a time. (Assuming no more games are ever made and I live to age 658 with no further degradation of fine motor skills and reaction time, this should be possible.)

I also pledge to do everything within my ability to restrict my game purchases to those that I've listed, and, if I should falter, will shamefully add them to the pile in full sight of this support group.[/quote]

I'd consider Tetris beaten when you can get the best ending in Mode B.

Here's my list - I'm keeping it short for now so it seems manageable. All of these games are ones I've started and am in the process of beating.

1. Mass Effect 1 and 2
2. Batman AA
3. Skyrim (complete main mission and thieves guild)
4. Assassin's Creed 2
5. Dawn of War Chaos Rising
6. Dragon Age 2
7. Starcraft 2
8. Empire Total War
9. Guild Wars Nightfall

DLC I want to complete:

1. Civ V Korean Campaign
2. Dragon Age Awakening
3. Shogun 2 Rise of Samurai

Games I will buy (probably for full price)

1. Mass Effect 3
2. Guild Wars 2
3. Diablo 3
4. Starcraft Zerg expansion

I'm thinking about putting together a deathwatch list of games that get one more chance to suck me in before they're off the pile forever. Anyone else planning something like that?

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I'm thinking about putting together a deathwatch list of games that get one more chance to suck me in before they're off the pile forever. Anyone else planning something like that?

That's a brilliant idea. I have several games I picked up on Steam sales that just didn't grab me after the fact. I'm looking at you Command & Conquer.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I'm thinking about putting together a deathwatch list of games that get one more chance to suck me in before they're off the pile forever. Anyone else planning something like that?

Not gonna happen in my case. Once it's in my possession, a game will never leave through a choice of mine - even the crimes against humanity like Hydlide and WWF Wrestlemania on the NES.

After all, Clocky figured it out: I'm trying to build a house out of them!

ClockworkHouse wrote:

(shoptroll) consider this: if each of your unfinished games was in a standard console clamshell and you stacked them all on top of each other, your literal pile of games would be just over 15 feet tall. That's one and a half stories!

Spoiler:

This is a fun game! Aus_TBird's pile? That behemoth of a thing? Yeah, just shy of 60 feet tall. Holy mother of God.

I'll get this down in the trueheart™ format later, but here's what's on the bubble, in danger of being cut:

  • Bastion
  • Alien Breed Episode 1
  • Strongbad Episode 5
  • Crystal Defenders R2
  • Fusion: Sentient

I just started Bastion tonight, and I'm really digging it. It's simple, but Nintendo simple. Easy to learn, but loaded with tricks. I was giddy when I discovered countering with the shield before the game told me about it.

I don't anticipate getting any games for Christmas, so I should be able to cross this addition off the list before the New Year.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I'll get this down in the trueheart™ format later, but here's what's on the bubble, in danger of being cut:

  • Bastion
  • Alien Breed Episode 1
  • Strongbad Episode 5
  • Crystal Defenders R2
  • Fusion: Sentient

I've always thought pruning the pile is an important maintenance activity, so many times something you wanted to play 2 years ago just isn't something you want to play now

I have been really pleased with my end of the year grinding - knocked out both Dead Space and Batman, and I am doing pretty well on Warhammer: Kill team, also Too Human has been started. Pile, I shall defeat ye!

Spoiler:

That said, I have a metric sh*t-ton of MP grinding over the next 6 months:(

A bunch of Amazon credit for Christmas is going to make my pile-clearing efforts more complicated.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I'll get this down in the trueheart™ format later, but here's what's on the bubble, in danger of being cut:

  • Alien Breed Episode 1

Can the Alien Breed remakes be played over the Internet? I've got that trilogy sitting in my pile and I'd be happy to play through them with someone.

I might be adding at least one game to the pile today. Amazon has Dungeon Siege 3, F.E.A.R. 3 and X-Men Destiny for half off, and Rage is $20.

I have to see how much is in my account, but I'm definitely leaning towards X-Men (I don't care if it wasn't fantastic! I like Silicon Knights and want to give it a whirl!)

I'm not going to make some list because my gaming habits are random, without pattern, and I don't get to actually do a lot of it anymore beyond random Sunday afternoons. What I will do though is pledge to not buy a single game in 2012. Will I fail? My backlog is certainly long enough to easily push me through it.

Vrikk wrote:

I'm not going to make some list because my gaming habits are random, without pattern, and I don't get to actually do a lot of it anymore beyond random Sunday afternoons. What I will do though is pledge to not buy a single game in 2012. Will I fail? My backlog is certainly long enough to easily push me through it.

Do it! I, too, am committing to no purchases at all this coming year!

Vrikk wrote:

I'm not going to make some list because my gaming habits are random, without pattern, and I don't get to actually do a lot of it anymore beyond random Sunday afternoons. What I will do though is pledge to not buy a single game in 2012. Will I fail? My backlog is certainly long enough to easily push me through it.

There's the loophole, if you crumble, buy more than one in that instance