Video games are a unique medium.
Like TV or movies, we often measure their success in the entertainment value they bring. That said, the area that makes them different is their length, making for an interesting dynamic regarding investment.
That investment can mean a few things including monetary, time, and just overall interest. It is this area that can make leaving a game that isn’t working for you hard.
Often, people advocate for a player to just move on from a game that isn’t working for them. This is excellent advice, but there are many factors that can make this harder to implement.
For one, players often sink money into a game, adding an monetary incentive to complete it. I paid for this game so I should see it through.
There are obviously ways around this including buying during sales, using subscription services such as Game Pass or PS Plus, or renting from your local library.
Furthermore, a demo can provide good insight into a game but those are designed to hook a player. What worked in the opening hours may not sustain itself throughout the game’s entirety.
I point all this out because having a financial investment in a game makes it so much harder to leave it if it isn’t working. I felt this with Valkyrie Elysium.
This was a perfectly serviceable game, but one that, for me, grew old quickly. I was ready to ditch it about halfway through but pushed through because I kept reminding myself I paid for it and I didn’t want to waste my money.
Sure, there are some things I could’ve done to ease this pain but it is a dilemma many gamers face.
Money isn’t the only factor. Many gamers feel that if they’ve already sunk time into the game, then they should see it through.
This sense of loyalty is a weird reason, but it is still one that permeates among gamers. It’s right up there with a gamer’s sense of duty to not lower difficulty.
Again, not everyone has this struggle, but it is big enough that I’ve seen it keep someone invested in a game longer than it should have.
Now, at this point, it may seem like I’m defending the notion of staying involved in a game if it isn’t. I’m not. Rather, I’m saying that it’s not that simple.
Gamers are a unique breed. Many of us come from a time when you could only buy a few games a year so got the most out of them. The landscape has certainly shifted since those days but that doesn’t change the mindset.
With a new landscape also comes some solutions. I mentioned the subscription services earlier and those are great options that can allow players to try games and ditch them with little consequences.
It’s one of the upsides because you are paying for the service, not the game. It’s what makes TV viewing easier with streaming services. Sure, there are other challenges, but this is one of the benefits.
Furthermore, you are more likely to find hidden gems that you wouldn’t have tried otherwise. That was the case for Scarlet Nexus for me.
Look, gaming is an expensive hobby. From rising game costs to a saturated market, it can be pricy to find the right game for you. The right answer will be different for each person.
This all, however, can make enjoying this hobby hard when that should not be the case. While the answer should be as simple as moving on to the next game, it’s unfortunately not that simple or even doable.
Gaming shouldn’t be this complex and yet, here we are.
What about you? Do you find it hard to leave a game after you got started? What prevents you from simply leaving it? What solution have you found that works best? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.
Featured Image: Square Enix (via Steam)
Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games
The Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games – is the flagship show of the Boss Rush Network and Boss Rush Media. Each week, hosts Corey Dirrig and LeRon Dawkins are joined by friends, fellow creators, indie developers, and industry veterans to discuss the latest in the world of video games, including news, rumors, new releases, and what they’ve been playing. They also answer listener questions, debate important industry topics and Boss Rush Banter discussion points, and feature a rotating weekly segment. New episodes post every Monday.
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