New Years Gaming Resolutions

The Year of the Water Tiger

Yes, we are already in February so it seems a little late to be writing an article about New Year’s resolutions. I was a tad delayed as I adapted to the little bundle of joy that decided to enter our lives over the Xmas period. That and sleep deprivation is an interesting feeling to have. I was almost on the verge of shelving this article but then I got thinking that if you want to make some changes to your life, you don’t have to wait till the 1st of January to do it. The change starts now.

That and it was also Chinese New Year so guess I get a second chance. Writing for a gaming website I am of course going to focus on this jolly little hobby and some changes that I have made over the years focusing on it. Along with some tips and lessons I learned along the way. So put that kettle on and sit down with your favourite drink as we go through some gaming resolutions.

That Backlog

One of the most common resolutions I’ve tried to tackle over the years is the infamous and endless backlog of games I have not got to. Back when I was a little kid you usually would get a new game (usually used in my case) every three months and boy did you have to make that last over that long period. Streets of Rage 2 was so well played I’m surprised the cart still functions today. With gaming moving more and more into the digital sphere and with games becoming cheaper, rather than more expensive, it’s really no surprise that many of us end up with literally hundreds of games we are yet to finish or even start.

For some, the backlog challenge may be choosing 10 games for you to tackle. Taking on the backlog is a great way to save money and appreciate the games you have. For me, I often found choosing a set number of games can come across as overwhelming and lead to some disappointment in myself if I don’t get to them. So I would suggest, don’t be hard on yourself and just tackle one game at a time at a pace that suits you. I would also suggest not to limit your choice to just games you’ve not played.

Replaying an Oldie

Maybe consider revisiting an old favourite? By replaying an oldie you might just discover something new about it you love. Plus it’s kinda interesting how you view old games through older eyes. One of my favourite examples of this is that I once worked a job where I commuted on the train for about 4 hours daily. I was quite exhausted at the time, something I would later realize was probably depression. So I wasn’t really in the mood for tackling new projects. So I installed Final Fantasy 7 onto a PSP and although I had played it before I found a new love for the game in those long commutes. I completed more of the side quests and attempted to upgrade all my characters to the max.

I spent so much time on the game it lifted my spirits more than I expected, and it turned miserable commutes into an uplifting experience. So if you do take on the backlog, be kind to yourself and go at a pace that suits you. If a game doesn’t click, don’t force yourself to finish. Thank the game and move on. Maybe you’ll return to it later. 

Save Some Change

An easy gaming resolution is to save money on what you spend on video games. As I mentioned before games are certainly cheaper than ever. New games are still very expensive. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in FOMO (Fear of Missing Out ) with a new game release. But if you want to really save some money, try and practice a little patience. This is something I learned quite early on in life since my family could rarely afford new games.

It probably wasn’t until I landed my first job after University that I even treated myself to new games and even new consoles. Before that, I often lived a console generation behind everyone else. So when friends at school were on the original Playstation I was still rocking the Mega Drive. Being a console generation behind usually means games are cheaper as folk are selling used games to get the new shiny themselves.

Now, these days this is not so easy as we head further into a digital age. But patience still has its place. All games eventually go on sale, sometimes for absurd prices. Just this Winter many pretty top tier titles were discounted 90% off. There’s also the added benefit that by waiting to buy a game later it will not only be cheaper but the game will be patched and run better so it’s a win-win all around. Also, if you return to this very website often, we’ll report the latest deals.

Saying Goodbye

Now I love collecting video games, especially physical ones. I love having the box with the manual on the shelf which I can pull out like a book and just hold it and remember fond memories. For many of the games I have in my collection I can remember instantly where I bought them (usually a car boot sale) and the memories I have playing the game. But than there are those games I have that I just don’t have that much attachment to, which brings us to the next resolution. Sometimes we just have to say goodbye to games and move on. The technique that worked best for me is holding every game and seeing if it still brings joy. This technique was made famous by Marie Kondo. It makes it much easier to sort what can stay or go. At least initially.

Unfortunately, I have had to relocate around the country many times which meant I had to make some pretty big game collection sacrifices. This meant saying goodbye to games that even still brought me joy, which I have to say felt pretty tough at times. Especially with some of the memories I had. But that’s life. Sometimes we all go through changes, both good and bad. The question is when you say goodbye what do you do with the game?

Well, you could sell them to get some money, maybe on eBay, car boot or trade them in somewhere. You could just donate them to charity so they can sell them to benefit their organization. One suggestion I do have is to consider giving some of your games away to a friend, family member or someone you know would like them. Maybe pass on that joy to someone that needs it. The fuzzy feelings you get will probably be better than any money you would receive otherwise. 

Try Something Different

Lastly, my big suggestion is to make sure your hobbies don’t solely lie in video games. Yeah, a weird entry considering this is a gaming website but hear me out. For a long time, video games were probably my only hobby. I would go to work come home and probably put a game on then the process would repeat. But over time I started to lose my love for the hobby. It was only when I stepped away and got back into volunteering that I started to appreciate the hobby more than ever. I also often link my hobbies of writing and podcasting to video games.

Lastly, if you can, I highly encourage you to play games with friends and loved ones. For me, video games have always been at their best when you get to share them with others. You can do this locally or even set up game nights with friends online. Some people even find joy in steaming games. When I lived at home my mother used to really enjoy just watching me play Rainbow Islands on PC. This is certainly a way to enjoy single-player games with others. Video games really have a lot of power to bring joy to peoples lives. 

So there you have it, my New Years Resolution, thanks for reading! Once again I want to state: if you do make changes, don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t go to plan. It’s good to commit to a change but sometimes results take time. Be patient and enjoy the journey. If you fancy it, you can share your resolutions below and have a Happy New Year!