Gaming Goals for 2018

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Link to 2017 thread

So, last year I started a thread to talk about what I wanted to accomplish in games. I felt it was different enough from a Pile of Shame list to warrant its own thread, because I had a goal of wanting to get back into RPG games. I had a plan, and while it turns out that I didn't totally follow that plan, I do feel I was ultimately successful in my goal, and really enjoyed my time in Witcher 3, a game that had intimidated me due to my previous struggles with RPG's

There were requests for another thread for 2018, so I'm starting it. For me I feel like my goal is just guilt free gaming. I probably listen to too many game podcasts on my daily commute, and have a giant Fear Of Missing Out problem where I'm enjoying my time in Total War Warhammer, but this week Three Moves Ahead is talking about some of their favorite games of the past, and as I own most, I drop my Total War game and play Myth II. Or I'll have a great night playing Overwatch with GWJ folks, enjoying the comrade and laughing most of the night, only to wrap up the evenings games and immediately be overwhelmed with the feeling that I wasted my time, and that I should have spent more time advancing the story in Horizon Zero Dawn since that keeps showing up on best of year lists. So the next night I'll play Horizon, finish up, and feel like I missed out on spending a night playing with awesome people in Overwatch.

Don't know, maybe for me this IS more of a Pile of Shame thing, but I think it is just me needing to find ways of being ok with how I'm spending my limited time. I always have fun in the moment, yet lately it seems like somehow find a way of regretting it when I'm done.

So for me, my goal is to find a way past those feelings, and just enjoy what I'm doing when I'm doing it, and once I'm done. Probably easier said than done, but I'm going to start by limiting myself to a few games installed at any one time, and just one from each genre. I don't need Total War Warhammer, Shogun Total War II, Starcraft II, Homeworld Remastered, Homeworld Deserts of Kharak, Ultimate General Gettysburg, and Rise of Nations all installed at the same time. Rather I need to pick one RTS(ish) game to have installed, and play it until I'm "done." Same with RPG's, same with shooters etc.

My other goal is to get back into game development some more. Work has been really stressful of late, so the last thing I want to do when I get home is stare at more code, but I do miss creating. I'm in the credits for the Godot open source game engine as I donate a fair amount of money to it each month. I need to start using it again.

So what are your goals for 2018. What do you want to accomplish with games?

Keeping it simple: I’d like to finish more games than I buy and thereby make some progress on the backlog.

Back on January 6th, 2017...

Eleima wrote:
Godzilla Blitz wrote:

6 - Concentrate on having fun with all of this.

That's pretty much my only goal. Although I know I'll be getting Mass Effect: Andromeda day one. And I do plan to try and finish more games than I added to the Pile.

So business as usual for me. I want to play games, and have fun, and try to keep my Pile to something a bit more manageable. I'm not exactly sure what 2018 will bring, but I'm looking forward to Tropico 6, the second season of The Wolf Among Us.
Here's to another great year of gaming!

For those of you who do want to get in on Pile Management, the 2018 thread isn't up yet, but the one for 2017 is still alive and kicking, and you're more than welcome to join us.

I think I have two goals for next year:

1. Play more retro and retro-inspired games
2. Worry less about "being part of the conversation" and enjoy my time playing games at my own pace

shoptroll wrote:

I think I have two goals for next year:

1. Play more retro and retro-inspired games

I can help with that.

Eleima wrote:

I can help with that. :D

Don't worry, King's Quest VI is on the list for this year. Demyx will be happy with this decision I think.

(Also, Monkey Island 2 and one of Gabriel Knight, Space Quest IV, Day of the Tentacle, or Full Throttle)

Like others, I want to be happy with what I have to play rather than having FOMO for the latest thing out at the moment. I want to continue working on the backlog and enjoy myself while doing so. I’ve already bought far fewer games this year than in the past, and I want to continue that trend. I have more than enough games to keep me busy for the coming year.

My main goals for 2018 are:

1. Get a Switch before spring (probably as a graduation college present for myself!)
2. Stream games more often now that I've upgraded my internet connection to not be junk. I'm not doing this with the goal of making a living from it or anything, but more for interacting with people while playing video games. This will also be a nice way for me to work through my backlog as it gives me the motivation to see the game through to the end.
3. Poke around with GameMaker and make a simple game that my son can play.
4. Actually finish a Monster Hunter game :laughing:

I think that's about it? I'm trying to go simple this year as I always seem to have the grandiose plans that ultimately just get missed or ignored completely.

CptDomano wrote:

4. Actually finish a Monster Hunter game :laughing:

Two of my goals for the coming year are somewhat similar: I'd like to finish a Western RPG, and I'd like to finish a JRPG. I start many of these each year, but I only rarely see them through to the end. I want to aim to finish one of each in 2018, either that I start in the new year or that I've already begun.

shoptroll wrote:

Play more retro and retro-inspired games

My other goal is similar: I bought an SNES Classic earlier this year, but I've only turned it on a time or two. I'd like to spend some quality time in the next year with it, with both the original games it came with and a selection of side-loaded ones.

Mine is to ease up on buying so many games!

I’m going to play all four Thief games to completion for once in my life.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

Two of my goals for the coming year are somewhat similar: I'd like to finish a Western RPG, and I'd like to finish a JRPG. I start many of these each year, but I only rarely see them through to the end. I want to aim to finish one of each in 2018, either that I start in the new year or that I've already begun.

This is one of my unofficial goals for next year (although it plays strongly into the "retro or retro-inpsired" one). I've got way too many JRPGs that I've started and haven't finished (enough to be a backlog in their own right), would be really nice to start popping that stack a little more,

Evidently I didn't post in last year's thread, even though I could have sworn I did.

I think in 2017 I discovered the joy of playing older games and feeling less pressure when it comes to playing the latest and greatest. I'd say I was pretty good with that this year, but now that we're in December I'm suddenly struck by the Game of the Year gotta-play-everything-I-can bug. I also ended up buying lots of smaller or great on-sale games that I never got around to, like Furi on my PS4. In fact, I just bought a bunch, including two indies I might not be able to finish because I feel some pressure to play more.

That is partially a guilty feeling of not playing enough indie games as well. There's so many fascinating ones, but at the end of the day I primarily play AAA. Some of my favorite games end up being indies when I get around to playing them, yet so much of my focus is on the big budget.

Focusing on the latest and greatest also means my desire to work on video content ends up clashing with desire to play new games, even though I feel like I'm finding increasingly little to say about them.

So with that in mind, I think I'm going to try and come up with some laws for myself in 2018.

Spoiler:

1. Don't buy a game unless I know I want to play it.

2. Don't buy a game if I have any misgivings about it.

3. Don't buy a game because others are praising it to high heaven.

4. Don't play a game just because it's new.

5. Old games have more material to mine for writing and video content than new games.

2 and 3 are basically support to number 1. Right now I'm waffling on Monster Hunter World, but the thing is I have misgivings. I'm afraid to start up the Beta because I have a feeling if I really like it, then I'll find myself buying it, barely playing it, and then moving on, or skipping out on other, smaller games releasing around the same time. It sucks because there are definitely some people on GWJ I'd love to play multiplayer with more, and that's a game I've always wanted to get into, but in some ways I have to ask myself: if I really wanted to play Monster Hunter wouldn't I be playing it already?

So that's the "mis-givings" factor. Third is ... well, I liked the look of Horizon on first announcement, but as they showed more of it I had mis-givings it would be a bit too Ubiworld. Nonetheless, I bought it on sale, and while I'm not hating it, I now feel obligated to see it through to the end (one might say I should add that as a rule, but the way I see it if I follow these rules then this will be less of an issue). I especially felt obligated to play because of all the praise, and yet it has failed to live up to everyone's praise. It's a good game, but there are plenty of great games I could be playing instead.

4 is more when it comes to what I play when I've finished a game. Before I played Horizon I looked at games like Batman: Return to Arkham or Dragon's Dogma on PS4 or even Murdered: Soul Suspect to replay, or looking at games from last year like Mafia 3, my friend's recommendation of The Witcher 3, or I Am Setsuna on Switch. Instead, I picked up Horizon. Now, I'm using that as a more recent example, but it has happened several times throughout the year. The only time I'm able to really quell this is when it comes time to record footage for my YouTube channel, which is what allowed me to have some phenomenal game time this autumn for Metroid games.

Again, if I follow rules 1 through 3, then 4 should be easier to follow.

As for five, this is more of a reminder for rule 4, though it should be kept in mind that I more specifically mean replaying old games. If I've already played a game and it's been a while since I've put out an article or wrote something up on my blog or need inspiration for YouTube, then playing something I'm already familiar with means it'll be easier to open a more critical eye and get something new out of it.

Hopefully that will result in a happier, more productive 2018... and finally get some of that Steam backlog out of the way maybe.

Rule 1: Stop playing MMOs. I keep going back to them, trying them, and growing tired of them all within a week or two's time.

Rule 2: Play more multiplayer games. You guys are all awesome. Every time I find myself gaming alone, I play for an hour or so and quit. When I am playing Overwatch or any games where I'm interacting and hanging out on voice chat with the goodjers, I never want to STOP gaming.

Rule 3: See rules 1 & 2

Last year I said I wanted to play on my 3ds more aaaaanndd...I failed miserably at that. Maybe that again, but I also said I wanted to enjoy my games more and I feel I did that.

For next year, I want to finish Zelda and possibly try streaming a little bit more. It’s the commentary with streaming I’m not great at.

Play the Witcher 3.

Finish some of the big games I started in 2017 (e.g. Doom, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Nier Automata)

Buy fewer games. I quit compulsively feeding the pile in September, and it's been flipping great. Really given me space to focus on the gems of the pile.

Win a Racing Dorks race (which will either involve getting a *lot* better, or more likely a giant first corner pile-up in which I'm the only one with 4 wheels left on the track).

Get back into either Fallout 4 or Witcher 3, both of which I faded out of 10-20 hours into.

I want to play and finish Dishonored and Dishonored 2.

1) Try to keep a diary and stick to a budget again. I will be back once I've plucked a number out of the air.

2) Buy games I'm sure am going to play and avoid pile fodder by resisting PSN sales.

3) Try and stick with Fallout 4, rather than drop off, restart, drop off, restart... and repeat.

4) Monster Hunter World, play a lot of it. It's a game I should love and the beta hasn't contradicted that thought, at all!

5) Stop talking about buying a Switch and blooming buy a Switch. This may have a bearing on point 1).

6) Play more board games.

That'll do.

Man, 2018 is gonna be a weird year. I have to force myself to buy fewer games because I need a new PC (gonna shell out for a pre-built this time, so tired of building myself), so I suppose my big goal is:

Spend time and enjoy the games I already own.

Which, admittedly is quite a lot.

My other goal is to use the consoles I've purchased more. I own a 3DS, Vita, Dreamcast, PS2, PS3, Genesis and GC-Compatible Wii, and I own a plethora of games for them, so I need to pull myself away from the PC every so often and appreciate the other hardware I own.

May you all reach your goals in 2018!

I'm going to fully embrace my handhelds. I have a vita and a 3ds that get neglected in spare moments for phone surfing.

Also, I plan on some sort of journal effort to track what I have been playing. I discuss my current games through a Google Hangout with several friends and that really adds to the enjoyment and inhope writing about the games will add more as well.

Lastly, I want to play more multiplayer with the GWJ community. With 0 no physical friends in the area since my move to Indiana, I need to Branch out and embrace our online groups.

Buy less.... Play more.

Play through the SNES Classic library! Seems achievable... I guess.

Gravey wrote:

I’m going to play all four Thief games to completion for once in my life.

Props to you for including Shadows of the Metal Age as a Thief game. (What else could you have meant) That's the only one I haven't finished.

Next year I'm going to get good at a video game. I'm not going to get distracted so easily, thanks to a divorce my game spending has been sharply curtailed. So I'm going to really give Forza 7 a shot and stick with it.

Running Man wrote:
Gravey wrote:

I’m going to play all four Thief games to completion for once in my life.

Props to you for including Shadows of the Metal Age as a Thief game. (What else could you have meant) That's the only one I haven't finished.

IMAGE(http://i.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/robert-de-niro-loves-world-cup-soccer-crash-party.gif)

This may seem pretty spartan but I've been thinking a LOT about how I spend my time and how I WANT to spend my time over the last month. Justifications to some of these aren't listed for brevity.

Gaming Goals for 2018.

1. If my kids are home and awake, I* will not be playing videogames.
2. No gaming past 10p.m. (you should be in bed).
3. No mobile gaming (and social media) on my personal phone.
4. Any online games I need to be playing with friends.
5. Does this experience add value to my life? (No games with grind, no time wasters)

*Gaming with the kids is okay within screen-time limitations.

This list is to be posted above my P.C.

troubleshot wrote:

This may seem pretty spartan but I've been thinking a LOT about how I spend my time and how I WANT to spend my time over the last month. Justifications to some of these aren't listed for brevity.

Gaming Goals for 2018.

1. If my kids are home and awake, I* will not be playing videogames.
2. No gaming past 10p.m. (you should be in bed).
3. No mobile gaming (and social media) on my personal phone.
4. Any online games I need to be playing with friends.
5. Does this experience add value to my life? (No games with grind, no time wasters)

*Gaming with the kids is okay within screen-time limitations.

This list is to be posted above my P.C.

I like this list and should add this to my post. I'm guilty of breaking 1, 2 and 5. I've been gaming way past 10 on week nights and getting about 6 hours of sleep max, which is starting to catch up to me.

troubleshot wrote:

This may seem pretty spartan but I've been thinking a LOT about how I spend my time and how I WANT to spend my time over the last month. Justifications to some of these aren't listed for brevity.

Gaming Goals for 2018.

1. If my kids are home and awake, I* will not be playing videogames.
2. No gaming past 10p.m. (you should be in bed).
3. No mobile gaming (and social media) on my personal phone.
4. Any online games I need to be playing with friends.
5. Does this experience add value to my life? (No games with grind, no time wasters)

*Gaming with the kids is okay within screen-time limitations.

This list is to be posted above my P.C.

Don't forget to list the things you WILL DO INSTEAD, else it is just a black void you will create, get you depressed and start gaming again.

When I quit smoking I cold turkey, I had cravings like a maniac. Every time I wanted to light one I

+ put up a cattle of water and make a cup of tea
I didn't like tea, I don't like tea... but it took 7 minutes and took my mind of a cigarette

or
+went for a walk with the dog

I helped, though I have to add (with some shame) that at work, walking out of my office and start a row with the second or third person you see was an option that helped... not that I am proud of it.

93_confirmed wrote:

I've been gaming way past 10 on week nights and getting about 6 hours of sleep max, which is starting to catch up to me.

This year I found that stopping around 10 and then reading for about 30 minutes before bed has been a really nice way to wind down for the day.

Peoj, I'm a primary caring dad of a 1 and 4 year old so I find any potential voids are quickly filled with the many things that always need doing (usually laundry). Thus far I've never really had to tussle with depression, thankfully.
That said, I will have a list of things I want to keep on top of including gardening and home improvements, excercise, meditation, financial planning and general self improvement. I just didn't list them here thinking it might be drifting off topic.

I have a goal of "one in one out" I don't expect to finish all the games I have but I want to only add to the pile if I finish something I have. So if I a game comes out that I just can't live without then I need to retire something (in the world of Steam I guess I really don't get rid of games sometimes but at least I can uninstall them)

troubleshot's list is something many of us may aspire to, so I may borrow some.

1. Spend less time gaming when my son is awake (He is not yet mobile. This will change.)
2. Easy on buying new games until I finish the ones I have. (I'm usually good about this, but it's always worth repeating. I always have a backlog, but this enables me to mainly buy games on steam when they are 60% or more off, which keeps my costs down. I'll have to be careful now that I have a Switch).
3. Related to #2, go back and replay games I liked in the past.
4. Try to do more gaming with friends. (Usually I have just played solo, but I want to start getting more social again. Scheduling with children makes this harder, obviously).
5. Find a long term game. (I usually play a game, then move on. I've been thinking of looking for a game I can keep going back to as my gaming time likely decreases. I'm getting my grips on EU4 now, but it could be Stellaris, or even a more relaxing city builder like Anno 1404).

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