I have videogame A.D.D..
I mean, that’s the only explanation right? I play a lot of games. In the last month, I have played: Call of Duty 2, Quake 4, F.E.A.R., The Movies, Indigo Prophecy, City of Villains, City of Heroes, EVE Online, Civilization 4, Battlefield 2 (And the Spec Ops expansion), GUN and UFO: Aftershock (Which has spawned this post). I’m not sure how that compares to most people, but bear in mind I also work an average of 55 hours a week, have a girlfriend and a social life. All of which cut into my important gaming time. Needless to say, sleep is a memory.
I think I have videogame A.D.D., because I never grow bored with a game. It just happens. I will be playing along, engrossed beyond human intervention and suddenly I will lose all interest in playing. It’s abrupt, instantaneous and ultimately terminal to my interest in the title. Granted, months down the line I may get the sudden, irrepressible desire to play a ‘dropped’ game again – but it never lasts. Ultima Online taunted me this way for nigh on 5 years, until it dropped so far behind the developmental curve I couldn’t bring myself to play it anymore – too ugly, too old. Like seeing an old flame at your high school reunion who has gotten fat and lost their teeth. Good memories, but man – no way.
And oh the grief I have gotten. For whatever reason, I’m good at selling people on games they don’t really have much interest in (mostly MMOGs). I manage to get them interested, revved up and into EB with their credit cards and a will to play. I stick around in-game for at least a couple days after they’ve started a character, then I jump ship like a prescient rat. This doesn’t make people happy with me.
However, I attribute this post not to any online game, but to UFO: Aftershock. It is the rusty crowbar that broke this camel’s back, forcing me to yammer about my problem to you, The Internet. Sunday evening found me as it usually does – squeezing in a final few hours of gaming time before I have to hit the sack. I got up to use the restroom, and by the time I returned to my desk, all interest in the heretofore completely addictive game was gone (No, no defining moments occured in the restroom). I sat on the couch and started reading a book. Haven’t played the damned thing since. I have no intention to either. I can’t explain it.
Can you?
