Monday Gaming Diary: Cleared out the Stack of Shame

I fell for a particular bit of clickbait last week and read (or skimmed) through an article about how to become a happier gamer. Most of the suggestions I laughed at and rolled my eyes, but one really stuck out at me, and it was to buy fewer games. In my case, as a game reviewer, this one isn’t that possible. Technically, I rarely buy games, but that’s not the point of the recommendation; it’s about cutting down the need to play so many games. After reading this one tip, I looked over at my own stack of shame and felt that stressed out sensation creep up the back of my neck and head. As much as I would love to play and finish every single one of the games in my stack of shame, I know it’s not possible. Maybe if I didn’t review games and guides it would be possible, but I don’t think even then it would be since I want to play the newest hot items on the market.

I’ll hear friends recommend things, or I’ll see the Interwebs praise one game I hadn’t heard of, and I’ll get interested and buy them. Which means either that gets added to the stack or something else I was playing gets added.

This weekend was high time I actually cleaned up my office (it’s not just because my parents are coming in town either), and as I was picking up all of the games, guides, and random scraps of paper that were littered across my floor, I forced myself to take a long, hard look at my stack of shame. Sure, I want to play all of those games eventually. Maybe. Well, it would be nice if I could. But so many are monster RPGs. Others are LEGO games that will command hours from me because I’ll “have” to try to get that Platinum trophy in them. And others just never hit my radar that I need to play them when I actually get some free time.

It’s time to re-prioritize.

Most of my stack was removed and put back on the shelves. Since they’re PS3 and Xbox 360 games, there’s little to no point in even trying to sell them, although there are a few I should sell as I know I’ll never try them or finish them: Batman Arkham Asylum and Batman Arkham City. Dragon’s Dogma seemed so amazing, but ugh, I know I’ll never get around to it with all of the RPGs I really really want to play, including those I know I want to play again. coughDragonAgeOriginscough

Most of the LEGO games were also removed at this time. Only LEGO Marvel Super Heroes and LEGO Batman 3 made the cut. These are more important, and if I get around to it, I’ll try to Platinum in the rest, but I’m not going to worry about it anymore. LEGO Jurassic World will release in June, and well, yeah I’ll try to Platinum in that one too. I’ll most likely be reviewing it for work and the strategy guide.

Fallout 3 and The God of War Saga also got shelved. I don’t even think I’ve removed the games from their wrappers. I feel doubly guilty about that because they were gifts.

So what remained?

I have the following games in my official stack of shame/pursuit of Platinum:

• Dragon Age Inquisition
• Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
• LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
• LEGO Batman 3
• Resistance 3
• Assassin’s Creed Rogue
• Diablo III
• Diablo III: the Ultimate Evil Edition

I can’t explain why Resistance 3 made the cut other than I loved the first two games a lot and I want to see where the story goes. Assassin’s Creed Rogue is there because I love AC games and I heard this was one of the best from the last generation of consoles. And the original D3 is in there because I only need 2.3 million gold to go to Platinum in it. Mmmmm I can just taste it.