A few years ago I consolidated all my games into one of those giant CD/DVD holders. Skimming through it to see if anything interesting stands out, I’m taken by how many games I never really put any time into. These aren’t really a backlog since I don’t feel any need to play them or justify owning them. Essentially, I’ve written them off.
Just a partial list:
Laser Squad Nemesis
America
Earth 2160
Zoo Tycoon
Soldner
Prey
GTA San Andreas
Battlefield 2
Europa Universalis II
East Front
World at War
Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis
Heroes of Might and Magic V
Fantasy General
Age of Rifles
Steel Panthers II
Realms of Arkania III
Elder Scrolls Arena
CivNet
Dungeon Lords
Dungeon Siege
Odyssey
Stronghold
Celtic Kings
Majestic
Real War
Industry Giant II
Soldiers of Anarchy
Most of them are older titles and I think I do a lot better job of choosing games nowdays, but looking back at this reminds me why I don’t need to buy so many games as I used to.
It would take me a few hours to construct a list of all the games I own but haven’t yet played. Okay, it might not really take hours, but the list would be pretty damned big!
I keep playing through till I get outside the first Area of the Dead. I can’t hold on longer than that first hour. I’m not sure why, but the presentation has something to do with it. There’s weird quirks to the engine that bother me now but I’m sure wouldn’t have then. And I’m a big Fallout fan, so I know engine quirks and dated graphics.
I keep telling myself ‘One of these days, dammit, one of these days’.
Wow, I just so happen to be replaying PS:T for the third time and I’m totally loving it. I admit the starting point at the mortuary is a bit slow… aside from Morte hitting on the zombie chicks, but after that, it’s pure gold. I guess you really gotta think of it as more of an experience like a book, rather than a game, and I guess that just doesn’t work for some gamers. At any rate, the game generally keeps getting better and better the longer you play it. So try to stick with it if you can.
I played Left 4 Dead once I think. Maybe twice. It’s terrific but unless I’m playing with a certain group of friends I can’t be bothered with MP FPS games.
I too have never finished Planescape: Torment, to my shame as well. I should pop that in. I’ve also never finished Anachronox, so I should give that a whirl as well. I think if I went through my game list, I’d come up with a long list of titles I’ve played, but never actually finished. Sigh.
Edit: Just looked at my list. Out of the 250+ PC games I own, I’ve finished…35 of them…yeeesh…
Most games that I buy and don’t play I don’t really care about. If I get to check them out, fine. If I don’t, that’s fine too. But as I said in another thread lately, these are the classics I haven’t finished, but really will get back to one of these days:
Planescape: Torment
Baldur’s Gate 2
Independence War 2
Yeah, I’m with you, Rock8Man. I don’t really feel any pressure to finish (or even play) the games I own. It’s nice to have them around in case I want to experience them, but do they make me worried about my ability to participate in gaming culture? Nah. I think the concept of the ‘backlog’ is flawed and ridiculous at its core.
That said, I’ve heard PS:T is wonderfully well-written, and an incredible and unique gaming experience, and hope someday to enjoy it.
There are very few games that I’ve purchased and didn’t play at all. The only one I can think of is Blade Runner.
There are a number of games that I only played for a few hours before becoming disgusted or bored:
The Guild 2 (Crap compared to the first one)
Rail Simulator (Boring even though I love trains)
Battlecruiser 3000 (no need for commentary here)
Vietnam MedEvac (Despite really enjoying Coastal Heroes)
Rails Across America (Didn’t live up to RR Tycoon 2)
