Video Game Backlogs: A Critique

Thanks to the various Christmas gifts I have received and the amazing annual holiday sale on steam I currently have a backlog of games that intimidates me in ways I can't explain. But I shall try.

Mostly contributed to being a broke ass student this is the first time I have found myself in this position and coming up with a plan of attack has ultimately remained futile. Reading message board posts on this topic brought me to the most obvious strategy. That being the self assured and sometimes internet proclaimed promise that "Hence forth I shan't play another game till Red Dead: Redemption has seeneth its end!". Which besides the funny Larping voice that I read that in is probably the best strategy out there. But personally I no longer think this tactic is valid.

The way that gaming has skewed as of late has made this tactic ultimately self defeating. With achievements, multiplayer progression and rediculously long stories it leaves almost every game you shall ever play with a sour tang. For instance Mass Effect 2 is the game that I currently am playing, and easily with zero hesitance this is one of the greatest games I have ever played. But I only came to this conclusion after walking away for several hours because during playtime I HATED it. Because no longer was Mass Effect the amazing universe it was anymore but just one of the many games standing in my way of finally moving on to more recent games.

Because of all the substance that is in this game I end up hating it. Every cutscene that stretches on a little too long, every death and every conversation tree bursts a tiny bit of my patience and frustration grows ever so slowly. It reminds me of the generalized account of video game journalists as a whole when they account for the enjoyment of games following their departure from the industry; "I like games more now that I don't have pressure on myself to play them." So in order for both of us to move on to our backlogs I say this in a funny larping voice; "By order of "Chemicalamore" hence forth all think twice before posting internet proclamations of video game backlog strategies and unnecessary self pressure for what is ultimately a hobby!" -followed by the man shouting this passing out from the long winded nature of this quote…and trumpets.