Video games are awesome. At least, that’s what I tried to convey in my recent article of the same name. It’s true, they are, and I love them very much. I write for and edit the content of a video games website while I study and make games at University, and I have done both of these things for almost four years. Video games are part of my common vocabulary, and I know far too much about them.
But it’s not awesome when you don’t have enough time to play them. I’m in my fourth and final year of University with just weeks to go, and I’m doing TSA stuff every day, but I don’t play many video games. I think the last big game I played to completion was Killzone Shadow Fall back when the PS4 launched. That was because I was reviewing it.
And it’s probably my own fault. I love TSA, and will often prioritise doing something on here over anything else. Then I realise I’m falling behind on my Uni work, so go to do that instead, after an hour or two of procrastination. The rest of the time I’m either watching TV to get away from things and relax at night, socialising with my friends or sleeping more than I should.
It’s not that I don’t play games – I’ll play Smash Bros. or FIFA for a good while with my friends some weekends, it’s just that I’m no longer progressing through single player games at the pace I used to, my backlog is growing bigger, and I honestly just miss sinking time into a big adventure.
Take Assassin’s Creed IV, for example. It’s a wonderful game, I absolutely love it and I don’t want to ever stop playing. Those are my thoughts when I play it, for about an hour every two weeks, which I’ve been doing since Christmas. The time that I play usually overtakes sleeping time.
You’d think, with my life firmly centred around video games, I’d play more of them, but that’s not true. The reason I love reviewing games is not only because writing is one of the most incredible ways to relax and feel productive, but because I know I’ll actually complete them in the allotted time rather than leaving them for weeks or months.
Today, I finished a good chunk of University work and I’m really happy with the outcome. I think I can take some time soon to play games, but I’m worried – and I know – that I won’t be able to do it. I could complete Assassin’s Creed IV tomorrow, but I’ll distract myself with something else and never turn it on.
So, what’s the solution? Peter, who you’ll know as the Editorial Director of this site, says he plays games as he’s doing work, taking 15 minutes to do work and then playing a section of the game. I’ve tried this, and I ended up leaving the game paused for three hours while I did work. I’m really not a workaholic, I just can’t switch my attention between tasks. When I start writing or coding, I don’t stop, even to shoot someone in the face or sail the high seas.
Titanfall’s out later this week in the UK, and I’ve never been as excited for a multiplayer shooter as I am for this. Multiplayer isn’t a word I really understand now – I can’t organise times when I don’t know if I’ll be available and I can’t just “jump on” when asked. But I really want to play Titanfall.
So maybe, this weekend, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll play Titanfall. I’ve got an assignment due on Friday, but the weekends are my time. It’s that time which I usually use to catch up with friends, but this weekend will be different. I’ll still catch up with friends, but only online as we skip about the map and ride huge mechs. I’ll play some video games.
Should I be scheduling time to play games, just as I schedule content for TSA? Should I be dropping things which I perceive as more important and relax for a bit? How about I stop watching TV shows, and gain a couple of hours per day for gaming? I don’t know. I’m sat writing this right now, it’s only taken about thirty minutes so far, but what could I have played instead?
I think I just prefer writing, actually, though perhaps that’s because I don’t play games enough.
Tuffcub
I think games have just got too big. I love AC Black Flag but I’ve played it for hours and barely completed 10%.
Kreisash
I have a reputation in work for staying up late playing games, often not sleeping until 3am in the morning.
The reality is that I’m probably only playing about 2-3 hours a night with the rest of the evening/night doing house stuff (cooking cleaning etc) and spending time with the wife.
I’ve made a conscious decision to sacrifice sleep (I average about 4-5 hours) to get more done, but understand that it’s not for everyone.
Bobby Peru
For me remote play is a blessing. I can play PS4 games on my Vita on the sofa while my wife is watching TV. I play PS4 games an hour a day, and Vita games on the bus/train. It’s better than nothing.