[bjelkeman-again]

Are we turning into old farts with our old games? I play a 25 year old game on a cloned server (EverQuest clone, 1999 MMO). And a newer first person shooter, but free to play.

I was looking forward to a new Homeworld. Shame.

[thepuppet33r]

I think we just probably have less time to play. In college I could blow an entire weekend on a subpar game and be fine with it, because I didn't really have competing priorities.

Now, if I waste $60 and four hours on an abysmal game, it's $60 that I could have used to take my kids to the movies, get takeout for my wife and I, or any number of other things. Same with the time. Five hours is time I could have spent cleaning the house, working on my side projects, etc.

I love gaming, and I destress by playing games, but it's not worth the now much higher opportunity cost to play the newer (usually worse) stuff.

That said, not all new games are terrible. Dredge is a game made last year that was absolutely phenomenal in my mind, and well worth the cost and time. Spent way too many late nights fishing in that game.

[amerkhalid]

Same. And another issue with games is that every game is so long. Games like Tomb Raider used to be 10 hours. Now such games are more than 20 hours. It is a bigger commitment even if you like the game.

That’s why I prefer to buy older games that have received enough reviews from regular people.

[thepuppet33r]

Yes! I tried to play the new Spiderman game, and just the sheer amount of stuff to do was overwhelming. Especially because I like to do all the side missions.

I know I sound like the oldest gamer here, but I miss the ratchet and clank style games. Long enough to be engaging, very replayable, but not a full-time job.

[Laforet]

> I love gaming, and I destress by playing games, but it's not worth the now much higher opportunity cost to play the newer (usually worse) stuff.

This appears to be the reason with all the recent remakes of “not so old” games. People like us are much more likely to pay to relive our past joys in 4K resolution.

However a part of me often wonders if video games have got to the point where every viable idea has been attempted and it’s only downhill from here. When I was a teen, I definitely did NOT envision myself still playing Age of Empires 2 PvP with strangers online but scene is still here.

[BLKNSLVR]

I viscerally feel like I'm wasting time when i play computer games, such that it ruins the enjoyment.

I'm making a list of all the games I want to play in retirement...

[thepuppet33r]

I usually listen to an audiobook or a podcast while I play Factorio or another story-light game, so as to offset that feeling.

[litenboll]

I use the two hour return policy on Steam to make sure I avoid paying for bad games (and get out before I spend too much time on it as well)

[cjbgkagh]

I think part of it is because gaming used to be avant garde and now it's being made for the general masses - especially the more expensive games. This is probably why I like Factorio - it knows what it is and really leans into it.