I’m back! Well, at least for Christmas, New Year and a tiny bit after that. But that’s still a couple of weeks for me to download everything and play online as much as I can. And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing these past few days; I’ve downloaded about 20-30GB from Steam and PSN (more from Steam, since it seems to be much faster than PSN) and I’ve been playing Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead and Black Ops online. I’ve somehow managed to finish off my University work during these last few days; although I’m sure I would have done it a lot quicker if I hadn’t been reconnected.
Anyway, enough about what I’ve been doing over the past few days, how does it feel to have my ‘essential’ online gaming back? Truthfully, it’s not that much different; I haven’t missed online gaming as much as I had thought, I don’t actually need it like I thought I did. See, over the past few months I’ve still played games and I’ve still written about things I’ve learned from playing without online.
Sure, it’s nice to have PSN in the background; it’s nice that I can jump on an online game any time I want; it’s nice that I can download my purchases from Steam straight away; it’s nice my XBL Gold Subscription isn’t going to waste any more but it’s not radically different, the only thing it has done so far is hindered my work by allowing me to play more games. There have been several pros and cons throughout this series, although not being disconnected is better simply for the fact that I don’t miss Steam or PSN or anything else.
If anything, being disconnected has taught me that I worry too much. I worried about what it would be like without some internet functions, but now I realise that it was stupid to worry about that. I’ve still been playing games and having just as much fun; I might have missed out on things but there are offline alternatives to keep me entertained. I’ve realised that I don’t need any of these things, online is just an add-on to my console. The things that matter are the games, patched or not.
And I’ve still been playing them, I’ve put hours and hours into Rock Band, I’ve played through Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Enslaved and a few others. I’ve enjoyed the Black Ops singleplayer and I’ve watched my friends play Metal Gear Solid 4, Heavy Rain and God of War. I’ve loved every minute of these experiences; I’ve still been having a lot of fun and I’ve had almost everything I’ve needed. What’s the problem?
I’ve always focused these articles on being disconnected from online gaming and other, related things; but there are more important things that I had lost some connection with over the past few months. Firstly, I’ve been away from my family and local friends for the majority of the time, I’ve been away from my home… all of these are far more important than not being able to play a game online or download that deal from Steam.
In a way, I’ve been selfish. What makes me deserve online gaming? I have enough as it is, I don’t need it at all, and after all, I managed to survive the first 14 years of my life without it; it can’t be that ‘essential’ at all if I can live without it easily. As I come to the conclusion of this series, I realise that it was pointless to complain in the first place; these articles have helped me realise something important: I shouldn’t worry about not being able to download a game on release or play another online ever again, there’s much more important things that I might miss out on.
Next time PSN goes down, I won’t be complaining. And neither should you; there’s other things you can do with your time.
MadBoJangles
Great read! :)
I’m not one for playing many online games personally.
It was one of the main reasons that I didn’t renew my Live sub when it ran out. I used to just play single player games while connected to Live for the majority of the time, which does seem like a total waste of money in hindsight!
Now my PS3 is my main console of choice, I still do the same thing. I do like being able to patch/update my games though :)
Life without online gaming? I could do that.
Life without the internet? I could, but don’t think I would want to! lol
Jackarseboyz
I hate people that decide a certain gaming purchase is not “worth it” simply because of the lack of “Online Multiplayer”. What happened to other forms of re-playability?
matthangzhou
Exactly. With the arrival of trophies there have been a big drop in easter eggs and unlockable costumes/cheats in games of late. I’ve only just got Resident Evil 5 which is full of unlockables. It makes replaying a game much more enjoyable in my opinion if you can do so in a different or comical manner.
freezebug2
It’s only since the PS3 was born that I have done any online gaming and it is pretty awesome. I was dubious at first because I was fine on the PS1/2 without any online gaming, but I guess it’s like the old saying “what you’ve never had you won’t miss” but when you have had it you will miss it if taken away. The fact that a games shelf life is extended due to online play is also a major positive for me.
In all I think think that I would miss online connection if it was not available.
Chogoria
Same, even when I first got my ps3 I didn’t play much online until about a year after I brought it when i finally picked up warhawk after playing the demo.
A friend and I hooked up a ps2 slim online to play a racing game online not long after it was released, we waited about 15 mins for a game lobby and then the game lagged so much I never played a console game online again for about 2 years.
Charmed_Fanatic
Very true! Since my PS3 died and my friends router was broken, it seemed the world had ended, then we realised there were real people in the world and had fun with them!
Rocket_345
Online play on my PS3 only really started once i bought Modern Warfare and i wasn’t that bothered then. However as i got the PSN names of more friends i started to like online gaming alot more. However it isn’t something that i am bothered about as when PSN goes down there are plenty of Single Player campaigns tht i’ve got to finish.
Also these articles have been brilliant Blair and i’ve looked forward to reading everyone of them since the ontro article.
bunimomike
I don’t think you were selfish, Blair. You just didn’t know otherwise. Now you do. Life experience, fella. We all suffer and enjoy it, however, it’s good to see your realisation of it in word-form. Top stuff.
4lf13
I agree that it isn’t necessary to game connected, but there are other aspects of life which nowadays depend on it. One example is when I once crashed my school’s email server for a day (accidentally of course) and it descended into chaos. It was quite funny, but don’t tell anyone I said that.