There are very many ways to do this, as well as many innocent victims involved (usually the controller being used or the person you’re screaming to about how unfair life is). That said, I love videogames. I always have and it is not something that I grew out of (as much as my parents prayed for that outcome). Given this, I have a lot of different experiences related to dysfunctionally playing, but not finishing games is by far the error I have committed the most.
As aforementioned, there are several ways to do this. The first and possibly most common stems from bouts of pure frustration. There are degrees to which this can go: from merely shutting down your console losing your save data to shutting the game away in its case and never taking it out for a really long time if not ever (yes “Dark Souls”, that two year break was more than necessary, you know I’m talking to you…AND if you don’t somehow magically get me through the Four Kings trials I WILL BOX YOU FOR GOOD!). This is the case in which often the controller becomes an innocent victim and has been known to be slammed against floors, thrown against walls, launched out of windows and strangled to death through firm grip.There is even an image of a Chinese man who smashed the monitor with his head.
Nonetheless, not finishing games happens in many other cases and is not exclusive to when a game is merely so frustrating you want to snap the disk and eradicate it from existence. One of these cases is related to a very specific kind of game and has a lot to do with perfectionism: open world games. I finished the story in Skyrim at about three hundred hours logged. It’s so easy to get lost in side quests and random travel that the hours really pile up. I am also encountering the same struggle with “Zelda, Breath of the Wild” (though it is amazing!). I happen to have ZERO street smarts, maybe even less if it’s possible to go negative. I get lost, a lot. This is not a good thing in open world games: I am quite sure that at least fifty of the logged hours are just me being lost.
The last case I want to mention is over purchasing and it has always been a problem. This one usually comes up during the sales, holidays and on birthdays. For me it usually starts with buying the “ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE TO SURVIVE” seasonal releases. Then a couple of games with Christmas money.
This is where the sales come in: how can I say no to a 2 for 3 offer with deluxe editions? How can I not take advantage for both Switch and PS4? Oh my god, the “Life is Strange 2 season pass” is available 70% off on Steam and I need it! You get the point, it’s too many games. Some are bound to be forgotten about as I jump on the more awaited titles.
This is something I don’t advise you to do.
I love videogames, as already said, and find them an amazing and most of the time relaxing pastime. I hope you share my love for the franchise and enjoyed the post.
Yours sincerely,
Dysfunctional Girl
How NOT to be functional 