I love game pass. So far it's been a pretty good boon for gaming. But my worry is that it encourages a creeping buffet style for games. I mean, go to a buffet restaurant. None of the food is good - it won't give you botulism or anything but it also won't be your favorite. And that is because the goal is just to keep it filled up so people don't notice the quality drop. I worry game pass may end up like that. Look at online services like Tubi or such - stuff they get isn't great. But it's there and it's only there to keep a full menu of stuff for people to watch. Sooner or later that will happen with games - the games won't be good, they'll just be there to keep the menus filled up.
I recently purchased a Nintendo Wii and an New 3DS, hacked them, downloaded a bunch of games, and felt overwhelmed. So I’ve started to purchase games for them, to try to consolidate and enjoy the games I own. I do think we have too much, and we get to much hype from seeing things on the internet as well. We can view all the games that exist, lists of the most famous, the hidden gems, and all of that. It’s a difficult problem to solve on this modern era. We have to go the opposite way, against the culture of hyper consumption.
I'm on the same boat, last year I dusted off my old consoles and even got a few more, and I've been sticking with only buying games physically for the most part since then; while there were a few games along the way that didn't quite land and I ended up dropping, I do feel like the "bond" I make when I buy a new game, open it, and put it in the console and all that stuff, does help me enjoy them more like, I got a PS Vita along with 3 games for it last November, and by the end of January I had already finished all 3 of them and enjoyed it; for comparison, I don't think there's ever been a time I got 3 or more games on a Steam sale for cheap "to play later" that ended up with me actually finishing them, there's quite a few I never even bothered starting at all and have lost interest in playing by now, there's just always something else around the corner so yeah, while this *is* more expensive, I do think it's something worth doing to anyone who can afford it
It doesn't say anywhere but games stay on for a year so it's not really fomo baiting, it cost money for them to have the games on gamepass. Games do come back though and they might announce it a month or more before it does come back. In the end the service is good because if you like the game and it is about to leave, then you just buy the game. You got to play and now you then directly buy the game. Lots of ppl including myself buy the games after completing them on gamepass after they have been removed. Some devs say this themselves as they talk about the positives of gamepass.
Yeah I think Fomo is the wrong word, but for me a year for a potential 70 hour game is not that much and creates some sort of pressure, even if you know when it gets removed @@XFR18
I'm 47 years old. I've been gaming since the early 80s. I would always consume every bit of gaming content i could--every magazine, news story, glimpse of gameplay on Nick Arcade or Video Power. I haven't missed purchasing a major gaming device since 1999. When I clicked on this video, i thought "What can this kid tell me about video games that i don't already know?" The answer is: A lot. This video was eye opening and your delivery is sublime. Thank you for this.
One of my favourite games (after outer wilds (my beloved outer wilds)) is the Witness. I love the game because it almost forces me to leave it for multiple weeks to a month or two, it feels like I’ll end up not getting back into it, sometimes I do have trouble. But the way that is slowly chip away at its puzzles and mysteries is so so satisfying to me, it gives me a good feeling. Since I own the game I don’t have to worry about it leaving (which I guess doesn’t really vibe with the video premise but eh, comments are comments.) and it isn’t really like a choose to leave the Witness, it’s that the game is better with breaks. Like a good puzzle game, knowing nothing is best, and like a good puzzle game, it will bend your mind. I just have to leave, I’ll get all bent after a few puzzles and won’t be able to do any more, but I will have learned a bit more! It’s like leaving for a bit during a non-competitive scrabble game for a fresh mind.
Wow. Had the similar experience with The Witness. Got basic ending but still so much to discover (if you know you know). But had to put on on hold for a while, because I feel I have to grow intellectually and build my focus to progress further. It is definitely a slow burn and one of my favorite games of all time now. And I'm waiting years at this point to play Outer Wilds, from my intuition and small bits I just KNOW that this one is special, so I'm patiently waiting for the perfect moment. Might be this winter. I would love to discuss The Witness more but here is no place for even slightest spoilers.
Analysis paralysis is a real thing in general, not just for games. Even when we do decide on something, we can often end up feeling less satisfied with our choice when we consider all the other options that were available. Sometimes less can really be more. Less options for games in this case. This is actually one reason I don't mind this supposedly catastrophic lull in releases happening on the PS5 that have many gamers up in arms. Everyone needs to just chill, enjoy the amazing titles that are there, and more will come eventually.
Great video! I’ve actually done something similar recently in that I’ve created what I call a “Personal Gamepass”, which is basically all the games I own and am either actively playing, enjoy going back to, or want to play, and curated them into a list. I’ve also put a rule in place that I’m not allowed to buy any more unless it’s from a franchise I care about most like Kingdom Hearts or Fable, or it’s a release that looks absolutely up my alley like that new Indiana Jones game. Being intentional and curbing that wandering eye, as you put it, has really helped me to enjoy what I have and what I’m playing more. Hoping your experiment helps you that way, too! Again, really great video. I’m subbed and looking forward to what else you’ve got in store!
I love the "Personal Gamepass" idea, I kind of do something similar with games I consider to be "in my rotation". Really appreciate the kind words, thanks for watching!
What I started doing was that I only allow myself to buy a new game if I complete 150 hours of games I've bought already. Some games are long, for sure, but it helps me tick more off than I buy.
I've lost count of the numbers of games on game pass I've put aside at the slightest points of friction, so your point about commitment really resonates with me.
I play on Playstation and I find PS plus extra the same, we have played so many games we otherwise never would have. And we don't suffer paralysis because we are not afraid to just let something go if it's not for us. Thats the real benefit of a subscription service. Great video!
I was born in 86, my first console was a nes and I have been playing games ever since. One thing I notice about all sorts of media (games, books, music, movies) is that the discovery of a title, the surprise, the curation, the feeling that there's so much more hidden out there, all of these things add to the feeling of enjoying that media. Not only availability detract from the feeling, stuff like youtube, twitch etc also detract from it. Physical media enthusiasts feel the same way but they shrug against that feeling and argue that its about media ownership and preservation. It ALSO, definitely, is about those things, but our fetichism with owning material objects and the process of discovery and awe is the true driving force.
Wow! What a well made video. I know exactly what you’re talking about. I didn’t renew my Gamepass this year because I felt overwhelmed with too many games. I went back to just buying the ones that really matter to me.
I had the same thoughts after being on game pass for a year. Games that cost money, and were actually mine to keep, felt 10 times more enjoyable. Gamepass felt like a laundry list of games to play just because they needed to be played, if that makes any sense.
Yeah I feel like I drop most of the games I play in Game Pass after like 1 hour including new titles like Atomic Heart or Dead Space remake, on the other hand every game I buy I squeeze the last drop of it
Not to mention the fact that subscription services will start to be the customer for developers to appeal to. It adds another degree of separation between consumer and developer, and that only serves the shareholders and could actually harm the consumer's power to shape their own entertainment. I'm very close to ditching my Pass subscription, and have actively started trying to only purchase physical games and movies. Even dropped most streaming services for movies/TV, too, as the same problem plagues those industries already. Subscription services are no longer the pro-consumer choice to make, in any industry, and for any product.
I do fear the direction we're headed. Hopefully we can continue to be vocal as consumers about what we want to see in our products. Thanks for watching!
I stopped paying for Playstation plus and buy games from the store directly and get much more enjoyment from the games since i do that plus has taken away the fun in not owning these games and just having them for a limited amount of time
@@markmaxwelljr Thanks for the Video :) I subscribed to you please continue to make gaming positive content like this, It's nice to have someone not just making this whole hobby negative like so many channels out there do it
This is your first video AND you only got 9 subs? Must be cuz we both are new lol. Great video, i feel something similar back when i was a kid in school and a friend taught me emulation and piracy and hacked my PSP. Didnt have internet but the prospect intrigued me. As we got high speed internet i started pirating more but mind you this was still slow, just fast enough to play online so i was still pretty stuck with getting them as gifts from my parents, getting lucky goin to gamestop etc. It wasnt til after i graduated high school when i got into PC gaming and had PC 360 PS3 and Wii (Always Console but loved dabbling in everything I played kingdom hearts.... had to get a DS and PSP for the plot lmao) and when the free games started dropping i had so much to play i was overwhelmed. Couldnt play cuz i didnt know what to play. So what did i do? Halo 3 or something that caught my eye. Id play the games i bought. Even to this day i still do, most games i got for free on Epic Games store i never touched. Accidently bought a few on steam forgetting i even had them honestly then BEAT THE STEAM VERSION lmao. But to be fair i did accidently let a free trial of Xbox Game Pass go through and charge for a month, and ended up playin DMC5 before the Vergil DLC existed. Ended up buying it on PC before the Vergil DLC lmao. This has nothin to do with DRM, Preservation etc. Just strictly on the "too many games so little time and i get overwhelmed with my tiny little mind" Thats one reason i have an issue with Games going Digital only Sub Only The other being well Preservation and ownership issues but yeah again another topic for another time lol (ok Gamepass isnt free but same thing when it comes to all sub based services too, i rarley if at ALL touch my freebie PSplus or Xbox 360 Live Games for Gold before that was canned at least those free xbox games i can play without a sub unlike ps plus, cuz dont get me even started on the DRM Preservation stuff lmao they just delisted Spec Ops.... ) TLDR great video you got a sub, Ai kinda sucks tho so youll see push back tho on that if you continue to use it. Just mentioning it. seriously tho great work, mic and audio quality is superb. shocked i am to see a 9 in your sub count. your gonna go far. Keep up the great work man! Keep in mind most this comment was wrote 5 minutes in and added onto as i watched. Honestly one reason im here is this exact issue with decision paralysis, just easier to get stuck in a loop on youtube videos. Both a blessing and curse. lol
Something for me that makes steam overwhelming is for years I was restricted to xbox and I begged my parents to let me get a gaming laptop and for years I only played fps games and fps games are honestly getting worse. And I've switched to purely single player. And there are just too many great options. I got into Devil May Cry and Resident Evil because of Steam. So your point about Gamepass expanding your tastes really resonates with me
I had the exact same experience when I got my Steam Deck last year...the number of new potential games I had access to was hard to process at first. Thanks for watching!
How to avoid this problem, in my experience (you'll also save some money) - Do NOT binge on sales. - Try to buy just one game at a time - Start a new game and COMMIT to it until you're done with it - In the previous point "done" means either finished, or lost all desire to play it. - You can do this at most for 2 games at a time, for different time segments. - If you like service games only play a SINGLE GaaS at a time, and leave a time segment for a different type of game. - Never install a game if you're not finished with the last one. This has helped me appreciate each game more, buy less games, spend less money, and finally start tackling that backlog. I decided to start doing this bc I felt I was spending too much money on games I didn't play in the end, it has helped me immensely.
I don't think decision paralysis works as an explanation except in the context of our current cultural state. We are time stricken, and when you are so time stricken, so limited, then having a lot of choices means feeling potential regret due to not having enough time to try it all. I'm curious to see how much decision paralysis affects people with nearly unlimited time to play/watch/etc. all of it. I find that people feel this less with things like RUclips because it's not that hard to watch 5 videos a day and move on to something else and it's all technically free. You don't have to spend money, waste a bunch of resources, or dedicate massive amounts of time to that. Video games though? Massive cost (even subscriptions cost a lot over time), massive time investment, and we all work jobs now and/or have kids to care for. When you were a kid, the cost wasn't on you so you didn't feel it and you had virtual infinite time to try as much or as little as you wanted. So who cares if you make a bad decision. I think a lot more studies might need to look into the environment people are in when they make decisions at least as much (if not more) as the number of choices or what those choices are. I will agree with your conclusion though that ownership plays a big part. I really love the games I have precisely because I own them, yep even the digital ones. I have quite a few physical games, but for my digital ones? Well... regardless of what the law wants to say, I have backups of those (most of which are cracked using steam cracks). And there is definitely something to having the knowledge that it's with you and that you can come back to it anytime.
That's an interesting point about the "cost" equation-things were a lot different in childhood, even the very concept of time itself! Thanks for watching
Great first video man! Not many people get this viewership on their first attempt. Keep it up and don’t listen to the small nitpicks people are making. Do your thing.
Firstly, congratulations on your first video. I enjoyed it. I feel like what you've run into is a combination of getting older and therefore your approach to games changing, combined with the access, technology, and culture itself changing. In regards to getting older, I know once I got my first job the first thing I bought at the mall was a game for myself. There was something delightful about purchasing a game with my own money instead of birthday cash or receiving it as a present. It also unlocked the ability to buy what I want, when I want, even on release day (a habit further enabled once I began working at GameStop). By time you're an adult, you have more money but less time, and thus you're in the habit of buying what you want but not factoring in the time budget. This is the birth of the backlog, and I feel every grown gamer has that moment where they realize maybe they ought to slow down on the purchases. But, there were other factors at play. GameStop relied heavily on trade-ins, to the point that I recall purchasing Gears of War 3 and inside the bag they included a flyer to receive $40 trade-in credit for Gears 3, specifically. In other words, GameStop was encouraging players to go through a game once, then trade it in for a discount on the next game. I had several friends that only paid $60 for "the first" game, subsequently buying each after for $20 because they played a game, beat it, then traded it in to save $40 on the next release. I have a feeling these two factors, the ability to purchase games whenever and the trade-in frenzy, began to program this "one-and-done, next big thing" habit into players. GameFly similarly made a contribution, where you could queue a game up to be mailed to you upon release, and when you were done you'd send it back to wait for the next game. GamePass' slogan, "Discover Your Next Favorite Game", kind of feeds into this same idea. Your own story, however, highlighted another factor: playing Tears of the Kingdom when it was new in part to keep up with everyone else starting their own playthrough. When you were a kid and you got games for Christmas or your birthday, was "the discussion" online as important as it is treated now? People are afraid that, by time they get to a game, no one will want to talk about it. This is strange as, when I was first browsing Internet forums in the early 2000's, people were willing to discuss games new and old all the time. Similarly, my friends and I in high school talked about Final Fantasy IV, Chrono Trigger, and Ocarina of Time as much as we discussed Halo and Metroid Prime. So purchasing and playing habits have not only encouraged The Latest and Greatest, but algorithms and social media have as well. Now, a double-edged sword to Game Pass is that it can allow games that had been out for a while to find new life within the conversation. You discovered Persona 5 with a lot of other players that had not had an opportunity to do so, as well as Nier: Automata. This means there's room on the Internet to discuss those games! They're relevant again! At the same time, they're only relevant for so long, especially as every month Microsoft wants to push the NEW additions to Game Pass. Which leads into your point regarding expiration notifications: doing so would likely inhibit the amount of activations/engagement in a game as it approaches leaving the service, and they very, very much are incentivized to get you hooked so that, when you haven't finished the game, you are encouraged to purchase it. So, it's unfortunate you won't know until it's too late, and I myself missed the opportunity to play games because, by time I had the opportunity to play them, they were gone. Anyway, apologies for the huge comment. I liked and subbed, look forward to seeing more.
Thank you for the thoughtful comment and for taking the time to watch! The discussion factor is so true, it's like a fear of missing out. That's why I cleared my schedule for TotK, because I was late to the party when BotW came out and I wanted to be part of the discourse.
You have to admit that there is something special about playing a new game that EVERYONE else is playing and loving at the same time. I have experienced this with TOTK and Elden Ring in recent years and both times were very special fun moments in time that I look back on fondly. It’s not that people won’t talk about those games now, but EVERYONE was talking about them, playing them, loving them all at once. And it’s so rare for that to happen with how many games get released. It happened with BG3 as well and Palworld recently. These big gaming moments are really cool and it makes sense to want to be part of them, it’s fun.
@@takeyourheart1 You definitely raise a good point. Elden Ring was especially fun for me as it was a rare moment I was playing the same game as many of my friends. Interestingly enough, the games you list, with Breath of the Wild, Elden Ring, and PalWorld (not sure on BG3, haven't played it myself) is that there's also a sense of discovery. The games are both large enough and also mysterious enough in some way that players can play for an equivalent amount of time and have unique stories. Coming together they can share what they've found and discovered. That is certainly a positive experience, and if you arrive late then that sense of discovery becomes lost. It's old news to all the veterans and the answers have all been figured out. I find that there aren't too many games like that, honestly, but perhaps it also depends on what corners of the Internet you're on. Perhaps more linear action games have communities that have similar experiences with things like DMC5 or Bayonetta 3.
I agree. I had way more fun and joy when i was playing 1-2 games per year. I don't think Halo or Star Wars The Force Unleashed are bad games, but i feel like i was wasting my time by playing them and instead i should have played KOTOR, Mass Effect and Dragon Age. I especially regret not playing Mass Effect 2 enough. After i've realized that, i've limited myself to 30 games and now i cut even more, because i feel like even 30 is too much.
Great video, especially for your first! RUclips actually recommended me your 3rd video about how to get back into a game you’ve dropped, and now I’m checking all your stuff out. You just got another sub from me! 😊 also, don’t let the haters give you shit for using AI art. Do what you want, and make videos however you want. Especially since you’re new to this and probably not rich enough to hire artists for a pic that shows up for less than a few seconds. You don’t need to justify anything, AI is a tool like any other. Keep up the awesome work and I’ll be happy to say I was one of your first supporters when your channel blows up.
Heres a comment to help catch the attention of the algorithm gods! Hopefully they smile down upon you and spread your message to the masses. Rooting for you big dog. I enjoyed this video.
I also came to the same conclusion as you and why I unsubsribed from game pass. What I noticed is that more and more people are coming to the same mindset and why the numbers of game pass subscribers doesn't increase. People want to feel that they own something and with how physical games are slowly dying especially with xbox games you can see why xbox got hate for shutting down their physical games department. Very good video by saying it perfectly without triggering the fanboys!
I think you should consider buying the game if you are REALLY liking it, even if it's on Gamepass. That way you will never be stressed out if you will be able to finish it in time or not. RPGs like Persona are not the type of game that you will want to rush it
Great video! The best way I find to use Game Pass is to see it as a "try before you buy" tool. Most games don't have demos and if they do, I find most don't give a good sense if I'm going to like it. Either the demo isn't long enough, it only shows you the game much further in when you're all geared out or it's the opposite, it's the prologue that barely touches on the main game mechanics. Most retailers allow you to refund the game so you can try it out, but I find that extremely limiting and risky. Usually they give you about 2 hours, which depends on how much of a slow burn the game is, might not be enough time. Plus you feel pressured for time, so you might skip cut scenes or rush so you don't go over the invisible time limit. The other drawback is if you refund too often your account could be flagged which could 1) prevent you from refunding future games and 2) put the games you've already purchased at risk if your account is banned. The biggest downside with using Game Pass in this way is that saves don't always transfer... But the internet seems to have thought of everything and there's a tool out there that (if possible) can convert your PC Game Pass save to a local or Steam save. Would actually be interesting to know your take on game demos!
I think not starting games that are longer than 30 hours should be a mandatory warning if you recommend Gamepass to anyone. But Gamepass, alongside me buying a PS5, TotK and emulating a couple of games, allowed me to have a really special 2023 for gaming. Is definitely the year I've played most games at release, and I found myself enjoying that way more due to being able to be in the conversation and a part of a community.
I totally agree with you. I hate too many choices as well and I believe the commitment to something makes it so much more enjoyable. Recently I purchased a Switch and I very quickly realized how Nintendo was still on the older business model of buy and owning, with no game pass equivalent, but that didn't stop me from buying their excellent games and realizing it was something that made me so much more excited to play than anything else. I believe that these new business models give the consumers what they want, but not necessarily are the most satisfying and one must definitely find it's own best place to play.
Well done on exploring the topic, turned out great. Another subtle issue I came across is feeling guilt about not using the service enough per month to completely justify the cost saving instead of outright purchasing games. This is more likely to be the case for PC players who have access to a huge back-catalog of titles that are often on steep discounts or free via the Epic Game Store. If I'm playing on Steam, creeping thoughts of playing a Game Pass title instead to "save" money slip in. I've cancelled my subscription, only intend to use it again when there are Day 1 launch titles that would otherwise be full price to play such as Hellblade 2. Also, limited modding on PC for Game Pass titles, but that's an aside.
I totally feel you! Honestly, I cancelled Game Pass because I was feeling the exact same pressure you mentioned while playing a game. Instead of having fun, I was just rushing the game to make sure I was able to finish it before it leaves the catalog. I also came across many games that I'd (probably) not come across so soon, the Danganronpa series being the main one for me. Honestly, nowadays I prefer to just wait for a sale and actually buy the game, instead of having that easy access because of the service. After all, I'd probably spend as much as the price of the actual game, while probably only playing it on the service. In the end, it really wasn't clicking for me anymore, and nowadays I can't even imagine myself signing up for a games service like that anymore. It just feels SO MUCH better to buy a game, because I can play it and just chill about it while my inner peace is maintained!
"Looking at this year's game of the year contenders"... this video has been long in the making, hasn't it? ;) Great work and good on you for putting this video into the world! I thoroughly enjoyed it and looking forward to more.
I love that you made this video and for a first time its a master piece. I hope you make a video on how your solution has worked for you in the future.
First of all amazing video, I really enjoy it and loved the topic you brought to table I think nowadays the market is over saturated and its imposible to be playing something without putting an eye on another game. Like you said its all about commitment with the game you started and a good self reading to know if we are really having a good time with it or its just not worth of our time… This last thing will be diferent for everybody because we might be all gamers but we all have a diferent perception of videogames. Again, great work, got new sub here and I’ll be expectant for any new video. Greetings!
I need to ask. How young are you? To make this comment easier to understand, I’m talking about being a kid in Christmas and knowing the value of the games you get. By the time I was able to choose games as a kid (8) it was the PS2 era. And there was no way for me to decide the “score” of a game before playing it. Then there was the teenage year on PS3, COD dominated the quality of this console (don’t buy the series on PS4/5, please). So the yearly release + a few famous like Demon’s/Dark souls 1 + other FPS like Crysis and Battlefield, etc. The change from PS2 to PS3 is that the internet came and games like movie tie-ins became HORRIBLE! And nobody would buy them cause internet content creators were loud. Then the PS4 era is the same as today on PS5. We now live in a world where the gaming community is loud and we know the scores of each game (more like if it’s bad/mid/good). And the worst part, EVERY IMPORTANT GAME IS SPAMMED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SPOILERS ARE EVERYWHERE, therefore either you have to be a day 1 buyer, or a discount buy, but the general story is spoiled.
Really interesting video. I fully agree with your points here. I have actually recently unsubscribed from game pass and I have been enjoying my time with games more (although I still face some decision paralysis with my backlog). But without the pressure of game pass rotations and paying a membership, I am able to dive into older or longer games I already own without feeling like I’m not “getting my moneys worth” out of my membership. I highly recommend trying it. I’d be interested in seeing updates if you decide to go that route yourself.
Gamepass is good 1)to play short indy titles like Cocoon that I would never buy. 2) To try out long term games which often require more than 2 hours (steam refund policy) to see if I like it. Humankind for example. If I like the game I will buy it on Steam. 3) First party titles 4) To try out a long game like jrpg like Persona series and Sea of Stars and determine I going to continue playing until I finish them within a few months. Gamepass is not good with any game I would like to play long term and long games I want to take a break from like Persona 5 , Medieval Dynasty,etc . If there is a game on Gamepass that requires more than 30 hours and i don't know how long it's been on gamepass I will often avoid playing vs a new release . Since Persona 3 Reload just release I might decide to finish the game on gamepass. Gamepass is not good when it comes to games with DLC. ( I'm glad i didn't buy Starfield as after a month I played all I want. It was not bad it just wasn't anything special compared to their past titles. The "in Space" part of Fallout did more harm than good.) Even though I have gamepass I still buy and play games on Steam more than gamepass. My main aim with gamepass is to at least break even at $10 a month so it pays for itself.
Exactly. I have been spending more time with my Steam Deck recently because I have to think harder about what games I purchase there. Thanks for watching!
Seriously this is a great video, I’ve been going through the list trying to play the main 6 games of the year. Since I all I really played this year was Pikmin 4, lies of P and pushmo for 500 hours
I've been gaming for 45 years. I still love it but man, the modern industry has created such a problem. I use Assassin's Creed as an example to narrow it down. While they are good games, I don't play them. Simply because they came out with so many, so fast, it was too easy to feel overwhelmed, behind, and too far behind. Ubisoft is also a great example as they released so many games on their own they were literally competing with themselves on sales. Sales haven't helped. I deal with what I call "time anxiety" and my Steam library alone has created a daily "Option Overload" for me. I know very well many others feel the same way. The "Paradox of Choice" is surely a huge problem, especially when every game now needs to have FOMO, Live Service, timed events. How can you spend the time on a new game and treasure it when 100 others are demanding you log in today or lose out. As far as Gamepass goes, I treat it like a list of demos or Blockbuster rentals. I use it to try games I might want to buy, but I do not expect to finish any of them.
I completely agree with you. I'm 31 and don't have that much time to play games so, when I do, I want it to be well spent in a game I really enjoy. Now I only buy a game if I am playing it immediatly and commit to finishing it. Consequently, I also stopped getting games during sales because they would be on my library forever and I wouldn't touch them. This approach might not work for everyone but was great for me. In fact, it was necessary. I played elden ring for 6/7 months before finishing it for the first time. If I had 10 other games to distract me from it, I probably would have dropped it. The thing I have to accept with this is that I have to be ok with playing games far later than everyone else. I am yet to play tears of the kingdom, jedi survivor and horizon forbidden west. All games I really want to play but I know I will get to it eventually
The conclusion you came to at the end, with self-limiting yourself has been something I've also been doing on Gamepass for a little while now. The only games I have downloaded to my console are the ones I want to finish. I've found having a couple games to jump between strikes a good balance if I get bored and need something different. Limiting to around 3-5 games and leaving the rest for the backlog means I'll usually only start a new game if I've just finished another. And if I abandon a game, it's usually not worth my time to come back to, so I only let it go if I know I'm not having any fun. Good luck to you in 2024! With such a high-quality caliber as this video is already I can't wait to see where this channel goes.
I feel similar to you but I've never touched game pass. I grew up playing the same few games for months at a time before getting new ones, but now I'm on my own with a very high paying job and tons of free time. For me $60 or even $70 is not a significant amount of money. I'll often buy a game on sale and if it's not hitting with me I'll just delete it from my SSD/SD card and move on. Games meant more when you could only play a few.
Ive done 2 year long experiments with gaming for myself. Mostly because becoming father gives you mid-life crisis lol 1. First experiment i did was no spending money on games for 1 year. But i had Playstation plus for a year. And i had a lot of similar feelings as you did. 2. My current experiment, if you even call it a experiment is a monthly budget without a any 1 year subscriptions. And this is interesting because it sorta makes deciding which games to play like b-day and xmas all over again. With ff7r coming out i had to think months ahead and have that money saved and which games im going to play while i wait. I also look at hyper very different. I cant just hope on palworld or enshrouded because i didnt have the funds saved. I think one think we need to ponder about is the thought pattern we have about playtime = dollars spent... this is an old era thought process. Games have 100s of thousands free to play games, game pass exsit for millions hours plus.... what do you think would happen if you ran out of money to buy new games, and you completed your back log? I think part of the problem is we dont get bored anymore. Ya. Idk... just a thought.
Lot of interesting points you bring up here. The relationship between playtime and $ spent is something I'm interested in and might explore in a future video. Thanks for watching!
I'm in the same boat. I came to the conclusion to use Game Pass the same as I would if I were buying a game - subscribe only when I want to play something specific. It is also great for the game that I want to check out, but not sure if I'm ready to play full price. I've been trying to watch out if should I pick the subscription or a game on a deal - and for this year I'm trying to stick mostly with deal games from backlog and game pass only for games that I really want to play on release.
I totally live in constant choice paralysis and losing out on temporarily free games. Played a fair bit of Stray on PS+ Extra and left it long enough for it to leave. So your video spoke to me for sure.
I cannot believe this is your first video. Your sense of storytelling and how to weave research through narrative is incredible. You’ve made me reconsider my PlayStation subscription and how it’s impacted my enjoyment of video games. I’ve subscribed, and I can’t wait to see what else you put out!
Restaurant waiter : I attack you with choice parálisis! Me: Thou fool, my gluten intolerance cancel your power and i receive instant counterstrike. I chose chicken salad! Restaurant waiter: Impossible! He made is choice in less than 10 seconds!
Trying to get into the video, but that one dude in the orchestra is rocking out so hard I keep losing track of where I am 😂 Loving it so far! Good stuff. Also: Shout out to (what I'm pretty sure is) The Sims pause music in the end of the video.
We’re spoiled for choice these days, and our brains are overwhelmed by it. Doom scrolling through Netflix and Game Pass is a real issue, one we didn’t have back in the day with a limited amount of channels on TV, and renting games at a video store. I think for the few hardcore gamers, Game Pass is a great deal, but most gamers do not consume games that way. It’s hard to justify a monthly subscription when you play a handful of games per year. Even for us hardcore gamers, there is just too many games, and some of us lucky enough to have the means of owning several consoles or a PC are just spread too thin for Game Pass to make financial sense. As adults, were money rich and time poor. And kids these days seem to only be interested in social games like Fortnite and Roblox. I don’t think Game Pass will survive in the long run. There just isn’t a large enough audience for it. Edit: I also tend to only stick with and finish the games I buy, even though I have Game Pass. It’s just too easy to drop games I got for “free.”
The way I do it is at the end of every year I tally how much I played game pass compared to how much I paid for it. P5 Tactica, Starfield, Hi-Fi Rush, MHR, Atomic Heart and Wo Long are all games I’d have happily paid full price for you. Mind you I didn’t finish all these game and I do agree with your point that I’d have definitely stuck through if I’d actually paid for them. I definitely enjoyed my time with the ones that I play till the end. The other thing I agree with in the is choice paralysis. Holy moly does it hit me in balls sometimes. So I’ve decided to basically ignore game pass until I get through my list of “major games” Game Pass is great is for folks with limited budgets. Except I basically have an unlimited budget for Games and that makes the backlog just torturous
@@markmaxwelljr well Microsoft just laid off tons of important devs and most likely outsource many other developers which will not put their heart into these games.
The exact thing about persona happened to me, but i ended up picking up persona 3 reload when it launched on gamepass and recently bought p5r on steam (100% worth it) Gamepass is 100% less of free games and more of a game trial to see if I want to actually play it
I completely agree with the commitment portion of your video. I’m gravitating towards going out and physically buying games before choosing a digital option because of the commitment it takes to not only decide which game to play but to also travel to a store with said game and buying it. This leads to sentimental value, the same value we attached to the few games we had as kids regardless of the quality of the game. Removing options and limiting ease of access has helped me appreciate games better.
Good video. I've never subscribed to game pass even though i have been with xbox from the start and the reason is because i would never actually finish a game because my mind would keep telling me to try something else in the library. It's just too much for me to handle so i prefer to just buy the games i want to play and finish and replay. I'm an old gamer and back in the 80s/90s the excitement of buying a game was mind blowing and i could not wait to play it traveling back from the game store but i just don't get that feeling any more with this age of gaming.
I realized Game Pass wasn't for me when I realized that it wasn't going to stop me from purchasing games that aren't on Game Pass, and as long as I'm making purchases of games, I will *always* prioritize my time with those games. I finished maybe 2 or 3 games in my 3 years of subscribing to Game Pass.
Fantastic video, especially for your first! You put into words exactly how I've been feeling. I recently unsubbed to Gamepass, but I'll definitely start paying again when I want to go back to the free games I enjoyed before, I have discovered quite a few games on there that I ended up paying for (RE7 for example) because I knew I'd be playing them again and again and was grateful for the oppprtunity to play them in the first place
I had the same experience with P5. This video has really helped me understand what I’ve been going through the past couple years of gaming. Once I get hyper-fixated on a game (Stardew Valley, Hades, Civ6) I get that old feeling, but whenever I try to spread my attention, I enjoy nothing. Right now I’m bouncing between P3 reloaded, Star Ocean 2nd, and Hogwarts. Most nights I just sit there and play nothing.
It's nice to hear I'm not alone in this. In a sense I really like game pass, because of how much you get. But multiple things about it doesn't sit well with me as well. Like you say, the game can disappear from the service, you never "own" any of the games, and the stress of playing the games you want to play on it is not great. The stress is kinda like when I go into World of Warcraft, but that is another can of worms. Subbing and playing games on game pass also makes me feel guilty, because I have a huge backlog on steam and I also want to play bunch of them, maybe that also adds to the stress. Something that has helped me in some ways, have been to play small/short games on game pass. Overall I currently just try to not buy any games or look at any new games and focus on what I have on my plate already, go through my backlog, and I'm having a good time with it. I'm currently playing Noita, and it's tough but I enjoy it :) Also what a great video! I'm definitely subbing as I also enjoyed your "how to get back into a game" video. Look forward to seeing more :)
This video is gonna change the way I buy games now, I never realized that since growing up I've gotten too used to just having money to buy games, like when I want too.
I get it about owning a game and sticking to it is more powerful than just having a subscription and playing basically for free, but for me is more about patient gaming and enjoying one single game at the time and what brings me, and if its not good just pass to another. Before Game Pass looked good but even with free games I try to stick with one at a time at all or by genre (e.g one multiplayer and one single player or just finish what i started), and with that I never had a problem with a backlog, because I had a small collection of games and just pick one at a time and getting what the game has to offer, without pressure to continue or quit.
There's definitely something to investment that can compel you to stick with a game longer than you otherwise would and that can lead to more appreciation for it. I don't have this problem with Game Pass because I don't passively subscribe to it. I find something I want to play and if it's on game pass I'll subscribe and try and finish before my month is up. So it's a much smaller investment, though it is an investment still. When you just have it all the time and it's your main source of games though, I can definitely see how you can develop an attitude of not particularly caring.
Learned this lesson before game pass / subscriptions became what they are now luckily. Around the PS3 era that was when I first had my own job and income as a budding 19 year old who went years not really getting the games i would point out i wanted as a kid. The result was I had spent so much money buying games whether they were in A+ territory of definitely going to be played, or even as low as a C- "maybe someday," it didnt matter the priced i was just collecting to collrct before i feasibly realized how long i actually took to play and enjoy games. I had a stint with being a completionist around then as well so not only was the hording aspect daunting, but the idea that I began to see the game as another checkbox in a long list of checklists to complete definitely led to me burning out and only playing the same 5 or so games each year with a few new ones rotated in. I definitely feel like the choice of overload is real though, I have game pass and PlayStation Extra, I justify it by telling myself that I will spend less annually compared to buying my games outright and my interest in modern games doesnt last long before a few months at best. I still get a itch on my neck when I see incomplete completion logs or achievements, or seeing games I have yet to hit; but I constantly remind myself that im likely never going to get it all done because of how insanely saturated the market is as well as my interests only lying as deep as a few games and mechanics. This video was impressively done as I've thought about mulling my thoughts into a video like this as well.
I cancelled most of my subscriptions last year. I already have a giant backlog of games I bought or roms. I also have a giant backlog of books I own. I made a spreadsheet and it was intimidating. I got GamePass twice in the past, only for a month each. I wanted to try a couple of games before I would commit and grab the game on Switch. But for the time I spent on those games in GamePass, it would have been a better idea to get on Switch from the start.
The spreadsheet can get scary for sure. I try to tag and filter titles so that I can create a "default" view that doesn't look as overwhelming. Thanks for watching!
Spot on video. I have ps+ and gamepass and drop games if i dont love it within a few hours. I have hundreds ofgames with1-2hrs played, then Civ6 at 1.5k hours and Ark at 3.5k hours. I get bored with new games and return to titles i bought and enjoyed. Im born 1981 and alike you had to make commitment to amiga500 games id buy at xmas and birthday. Now its catalogues and reviews online to help pick winners, often leaving me more disappointed. I feel bad for my kids, other than minecraft that seems universally loved by 10 year olds, they quit at games if stuck and move on. I remember it took me and my siblings hundreds of hours to complete the Simpsons bart vs mutants on amiga500+ , tedious platforming, but we commited due to no choice !
Small games are affected in other way by Game Pass like services. They will receive way less time spent from players compared to games that are longer or are more replayable and in turn will be less likely to be signed for the service. Make no mistake, services like Game Pass will inform gamedev trends for the next decade and they will shift the commercial gaming scene a lot. And not in a good way imho. And yes, I feel somewhat like you for subscription services like that. I feel they are good for consumers in the short run since they make them feel good on not spending money games. However, I feel it is terrible for the gaming in the long run, since it will ultimately make the consumers unwilling to pay for games in general (out of habit), will shift monetization towards shady practices and will consolidate the means of distributing games in the hands of a few companies (that will be the winners of the subscription service wars), basically undoing what the previous 10-15 years of internet distribution of games achieved. It will be just like the 90s but worse since it will be digital and you won't own the game, just hold a temporary right to use it. For that reason alone I am unwilling to ever use Game Pass even if they paid me money to do so.
This is an important point. The industry is absolutely shifting because of these services, and that will have implications for many years to come. Thanks for watching!
Good video man. In the last year or so I decided to unsubscribe from ps plus, due to price and just not having enough time to warrant having it. This consequently has made me look at my back log and finish/play alot of games I put down. It's honestly refueled my passion for gaming. I'm not rushing. I just pick a game and sit with it for awhile, enjoy it's content and story. I don't think us humans are supposed to have access to so much all the time, all at once. We miss the point and just breeze through stuff, on to the next piece of entertainment. Anyway, again great job on the video.
I don't know if this will help you, but I always keep track of what is removed from the program for the subscriptions I have and have a small list with the playing time. That helped me, but I'm also the person who plays 25 hours of person 5 royal and then only stops because I happened to notice it and that's not so healthy. But I also don't have those moments where I don't enjoy a game until later. I can tell very quickly whether I'm having fun or not. I also keep a backlog of what I'm playing and what the status is. But Game Pass has also helped me to cancel games when I'm no longer having fun. before that, I always tried to blast through them until I hated them. Now I can say for myself okay that's enough for me I'm not having fun anymore. for example in Hades when I was already twice at the top but not yet finished in itself but the new stuff just bothered me or in another game where the game consisted of having incredible freedom in what you do to get stronger and get new skills but then after half of the map at least you were forced to do the rest or totally under leveled to somehow get through it.
I definitely agree that it works well for people who feel like they HAVE to finish games bc they've paid for them. Takes the pressure off. Thanks for watching!
Great video man, I can relate to a lot of this especially the decision making on what games to ask for come Xmas time. Subscriptions simply do not work for me, I like to play one game at a time and completely immerse myself in that world for how ever many weeks or months it takes to finish it to a degree I'm satisfied with. I play games on my terms and now in my early 30s I've never had such great experiences playing. Keep up the great content anyway I'm sure this channel will be successful if you carry on at this level, good luck 👍🏻
I really enjoyed your video! You'd make an excellent documentary filmmaker. I agree 100 percent with your feelings. I was born in '95 so i also grew up with Blockbuster and Pay-per-view and VHS 😂. I owned a Sega Genesis and an original Xbox for most of my childhood, as well as a Windows 98 PC. I know how it feels to go from playing 1 or 2 games that you got for Christmas and playing those games to absolute death, to now having soooo many choices today. Im a huge advocate for physical media so i personally wouldn't sign up for Game Pass or Steam. I'm gearing up to buy a Series x or One X, and I'm really hoping to just buy the games i want (especially the xbox 360 games i missed growing up), but on the other hand, this Game Pass thing is very cost-efficient. So i understand your feelings very well.
When we were children our parents bought our games at there own expense because they loved us. Now we have to budget our money and set ourselves a certain budget for games. It makes it kind of like a job which makes the gaming experience less fun. Since we have to be more responsible. I don't think gamepass is the right choice. Even tho it's cheap. The games are limited and paying every month adds up. Where I get the most enjoyment is buying used games for next to nothing and loving them. It kind of lifts the burden of the responsibility. When I buy games, I do look for great deals. But sometimes I just have a certain feeling to play a specific video game. I'll just go and get it. If you go on feeling and not just on the thought that "I like games so I'll just consume games" you'll find alot more pleasure in it. Don't be afraid to jump from game to game and not finish them. They sometimes bloat games on purpose to get you to spend money. Or they didn't put much effort in making the game interesting enough for you to finish it. Most of the time when I go back to a game. I'll play it a little longer then I'll stop again. If I was already satisfied with it. I personally go by how I feel. I go by if I'm satisfied with the game. Not by if I finished it. Because games arnt always fun to finish. I no longer really have a back log due to budget. I just go back to a games I want to replay or continue when I feel like. I dont set myself a number of games I have to finish. That feels more like work then fun. Live in the moment. If you live in the year you'll say your year was slow and boring, Unsatisfactory.
Really loved this video I had a similar experience with game pass, switch online and ps plus. I definitely get a lot out of the services when I have them but I also notice this paralysi with picking something to play and then not sticking with it. My current subsciption is ps plus which I'm using as an economical way of playing more games while I save for a holiday. But appreciating the games I own is something I miss and I definitely wanna apply a similar logic to what you came to by the end of the video
I left Xbox for PC and I’m gaming more than ever now that I don’t use Gamepass anymore. I decided not to get it on PC and only get Steam games on sale. 2023 was a banger year for games. Lies of P, Dead Island 2, RE4, Alan Wake 2, Cyberpunk, Baldur’s Gate 3, and so on and so on. I had a blast.
Yea I wont do subscription stuff for this very reason. I hate to treat games like they're just disposable. No real sense of attachment, just another piece of content to consume. Shit, I still buy all my music! Aside from the fact that I can listen to it offline and everything, it also just makes it more certain that I'm going to really listen and get more out of what I buy. And that's ultimately more important to me than some purely on-paper consumer value equation.
i feel like gamepass is awesome for people getting into gaming but its benefits fall off pretty quickly if you mainly play on PC because the sales. Steam/gog sales make any subscription feel like a waste now and then you throw humble bundle into the mix and you have a ballooning catalogue unto yourself haha. I love gog because most of their games are DRM free. makes making a digital purchase a lot easier when you know you own the software outright.
Definitely-I recommended Game Pass to my sister when she got her first console, because it's a great way to explore what kind of stuff you might be interested in. Thanks for watching!
I live in fear of game pass and other services like it because that’s just way too much choice for my brain to handle. Like you said, you’re quick to put down games that could be a hit just because your brain tells you there could be something better out there. I hope you get to finish P5 because that game is fantastic.
Great video man, I totally relate to this nostalgia of simpler times feeling, when less games meant more enjoyment. I believe that taking a minimalist view on this issue would led to solve some of the problems that comes with this new era of consumerism in video games. My only criticism on your video would be the excessive amount of vocal fry you use at the end of every sentence, once I noticed it, it's was really hard to focus on what you were saying. Anyway, great video, keep them coming!
Tbh i saw all the releases and 2024 is my 2023. I was only able to play ff16 and re4 as i dont have much time. Now im gonna spend 2024 playing 2023 games
Nice video and well thought out. Subbed! I tend to be a year behind on games and I only play the ones that stand out. I recently added gamepass but I don’t think it’s right for me.
I hope more people realize what u did. Ownership isnt about having a mountain of games to collect. Its about feeling like ur money turned into something tangible something u can always come find at a later date. With subscriptions ur just turning ur money in an access key. Once ur not throwing money at it that access is gone and u have nothing to show for it
I never would have discovered how much I love Lies of P without Gamepass, but at the same time I found myself putting down Rollerdrome within a hour. I can't really blame Gamepass, I'm an adult with too many Steam games too.
I play games at too slow a pace for game pass, I went back to buying stuff on sales
That makes perfect sense! Thanks for watching
I refuse to pay for any gaming subscription of any kind. I only buy used physical games or games on GOG for PC.
Good job.
I only buy games discounted, and it works great. No downsides that OP is mentioning.
Same. I tried gamepass and immediately noticed this problem. Im just not built for the blitz type gaming 😅
So this whole video is about how gamepass made not enjoy game cause you have no self control?
I love game pass. So far it's been a pretty good boon for gaming. But my worry is that it encourages a creeping buffet style for games. I mean, go to a buffet restaurant. None of the food is good - it won't give you botulism or anything but it also won't be your favorite. And that is because the goal is just to keep it filled up so people don't notice the quality drop. I worry game pass may end up like that. Look at online services like Tubi or such - stuff they get isn't great. But it's there and it's only there to keep a full menu of stuff for people to watch. Sooner or later that will happen with games - the games won't be good, they'll just be there to keep the menus filled up.
Not getting botulism is a pretty low bar heh. I agree, hope developers don't lower their standards as a result of these services. Thanks for watching!
I recently purchased a Nintendo Wii and an New 3DS, hacked them, downloaded a bunch of games, and felt overwhelmed. So I’ve started to purchase games for them, to try to consolidate and enjoy the games I own. I do think we have too much, and we get to much hype from seeing things on the internet as well. We can view all the games that exist, lists of the most famous, the hidden gems, and all of that. It’s a difficult problem to solve on this modern era. We have to go the opposite way, against the culture of hyper consumption.
So true, and it really is a personal struggle on many levels. Thanks for watching!
I'm on the same boat, last year I dusted off my old consoles and even got a few more, and I've been sticking with only buying games physically for the most part since then; while there were a few games along the way that didn't quite land and I ended up dropping, I do feel like the "bond" I make when I buy a new game, open it, and put it in the console and all that stuff, does help me enjoy them more
like, I got a PS Vita along with 3 games for it last November, and by the end of January I had already finished all 3 of them and enjoyed it; for comparison, I don't think there's ever been a time I got 3 or more games on a Steam sale for cheap "to play later" that ended up with me actually finishing them, there's quite a few I never even bothered starting at all and have lost interest in playing by now, there's just always something else around the corner
so yeah, while this *is* more expensive, I do think it's something worth doing to anyone who can afford it
I have had the same experience, so I totally get you.
Games like Persona 5 being made available on a service like Gamepass only for a limited time is the ultimate form of instigating Fomo...
It so is!! Thanks for watching
It doesn't say anywhere but games stay on for a year so it's not really fomo baiting, it cost money for them to have the games on gamepass.
Games do come back though and they might announce it a month or more before it does come back.
In the end the service is good because if you like the game and it is about to leave, then you just buy the game. You got to play and now you then directly buy the game.
Lots of ppl including myself buy the games after completing them on gamepass after they have been removed. Some devs say this themselves as they talk about the positives of gamepass.
Yeah I think Fomo is the wrong word, but for me a year for a potential 70 hour game is not that much and creates some sort of pressure, even if you know when it gets removed @@XFR18
I'm 47 years old. I've been gaming since the early 80s. I would always consume every bit of gaming content i could--every magazine, news story, glimpse of gameplay on Nick Arcade or Video Power. I haven't missed purchasing a major gaming device since 1999.
When I clicked on this video, i thought "What can this kid tell me about video games that i don't already know?"
The answer is: A lot.
This video was eye opening and your delivery is sublime. Thank you for this.
One of my favourite games (after outer wilds (my beloved outer wilds)) is the Witness. I love the game because it almost forces me to leave it for multiple weeks to a month or two, it feels like I’ll end up not getting back into it, sometimes I do have trouble. But the way that is slowly chip away at its puzzles and mysteries is so so satisfying to me, it gives me a good feeling. Since I own the game I don’t have to worry about it leaving (which I guess doesn’t really vibe with the video premise but eh, comments are comments.) and it isn’t really like a choose to leave the Witness, it’s that the game is better with breaks. Like a good puzzle game, knowing nothing is best, and like a good puzzle game, it will bend your mind. I just have to leave, I’ll get all bent after a few puzzles and won’t be able to do any more, but I will have learned a bit more! It’s like leaving for a bit during a non-competitive scrabble game for a fresh mind.
Wow. Had the similar experience with The Witness. Got basic ending but still so much to discover (if you know you know). But had to put on on hold for a while, because I feel I have to grow intellectually and build my focus to progress further. It is definitely a slow burn and one of my favorite games of all time now.
And I'm waiting years at this point to play Outer Wilds, from my intuition and small bits I just KNOW that this one is special, so I'm patiently waiting for the perfect moment. Might be this winter.
I would love to discuss The Witness more but here is no place for even slightest spoilers.
WTF man this is only your first video! I had a great time listening to this! Welcome to RUclips, can’t wait to see more from you!
Analysis paralysis is a real thing in general, not just for games. Even when we do decide on something, we can often end up feeling less satisfied with our choice when we consider all the other options that were available. Sometimes less can really be more. Less options for games in this case.
This is actually one reason I don't mind this supposedly catastrophic lull in releases happening on the PS5 that have many gamers up in arms. Everyone needs to just chill, enjoy the amazing titles that are there, and more will come eventually.
#patientgamers. There is so much great stuff out there. Thanks for watching!
@@markmaxwelljr Hey just noticed this is your first video. You're off to a great start!
Great video, my Nana passed away a year ago and I remember the christmas where she gave me Gears of War 3...will always be a 10/10 to me
Great video! I’ve actually done something similar recently in that I’ve created what I call a “Personal Gamepass”, which is basically all the games I own and am either actively playing, enjoy going back to, or want to play, and curated them into a list. I’ve also put a rule in place that I’m not allowed to buy any more unless it’s from a franchise I care about most like Kingdom Hearts or Fable, or it’s a release that looks absolutely up my alley like that new Indiana Jones game. Being intentional and curbing that wandering eye, as you put it, has really helped me to enjoy what I have and what I’m playing more. Hoping your experiment helps you that way, too!
Again, really great video. I’m subbed and looking forward to what else you’ve got in store!
I love the "Personal Gamepass" idea, I kind of do something similar with games I consider to be "in my rotation". Really appreciate the kind words, thanks for watching!
What I started doing was that I only allow myself to buy a new game if I complete 150 hours of games I've bought already. Some games are long, for sure, but it helps me tick more off than I buy.
I've lost count of the numbers of games on game pass I've put aside at the slightest points of friction, so your point about commitment really resonates with me.
Yes!! The bar for dropping a game is so much lower now with subscriptions. Thanks for watching!
I play on Playstation and I find PS plus extra the same, we have played so many games we otherwise never would have. And we don't suffer paralysis because we are not afraid to just let something go if it's not for us. Thats the real benefit of a subscription service. Great video!
Thanks for watching!
I was born in 86, my first console was a nes and I have been playing games ever since. One thing I notice about all sorts of media (games, books, music, movies) is that the discovery of a title, the surprise, the curation, the feeling that there's so much more hidden out there, all of these things add to the feeling of enjoying that media. Not only availability detract from the feeling, stuff like youtube, twitch etc also detract from it. Physical media enthusiasts feel the same way but they shrug against that feeling and argue that its about media ownership and preservation. It ALSO, definitely, is about those things, but our fetichism with owning material objects and the process of discovery and awe is the true driving force.
This is spot on-I love the feeling of discovering something that I didn't know about. Thanks for watching!
The90s, the 00, even the 10s.
Those are the best gaming decades ever.
Wow! What a well made video. I know exactly what you’re talking about. I didn’t renew my Gamepass this year because I felt overwhelmed with too many games. I went back to just buying the ones that really matter to me.
Thank you for the kind words! Gotta do what works best for you
I had the same thoughts after being on game pass for a year. Games that cost money, and were actually mine to keep, felt 10 times more enjoyable. Gamepass felt like a laundry list of games to play just because they needed to be played, if that makes any sense.
Exactly! Thanks for watching
Yes had the exact same feeling
That’s a you problem
Yeah I feel like I drop most of the games I play in Game Pass after like 1 hour including new titles like Atomic Heart or Dead Space remake, on the other hand every game I buy I squeeze the last drop of it
Not to mention the fact that subscription services will start to be the customer for developers to appeal to. It adds another degree of separation between consumer and developer, and that only serves the shareholders and could actually harm the consumer's power to shape their own entertainment. I'm very close to ditching my Pass subscription, and have actively started trying to only purchase physical games and movies. Even dropped most streaming services for movies/TV, too, as the same problem plagues those industries already.
Subscription services are no longer the pro-consumer choice to make, in any industry, and for any product.
I do fear the direction we're headed. Hopefully we can continue to be vocal as consumers about what we want to see in our products. Thanks for watching!
I stopped paying for Playstation plus and buy games from the store directly and get much more enjoyment from the games since i do that plus has taken away the fun in not owning these games and just having them for a limited amount of time
Exactly! Thanks for watching
@@markmaxwelljr Thanks for the Video :) I subscribed to you please continue to make gaming positive content like this, It's nice to have someone not just making this whole hobby negative like so many channels out there do it
You have a very pleasant voice cadence and writing style, the video flew by
That means a lot, thank you for taking the time to watch!
This is your first video AND you only got 9 subs? Must be cuz we both are new lol. Great video, i feel something similar back when i was a kid in school and a friend taught me emulation and piracy and hacked my PSP. Didnt have internet but the prospect intrigued me. As we got high speed internet i started pirating more but mind you this was still slow, just fast enough to play online so i was still pretty stuck with getting them as gifts from my parents, getting lucky goin to gamestop etc. It wasnt til after i graduated high school when i got into PC gaming and had PC 360 PS3 and Wii (Always Console but loved dabbling in everything I played kingdom hearts.... had to get a DS and PSP for the plot lmao) and when the free games started dropping i had so much to play i was overwhelmed. Couldnt play cuz i didnt know what to play. So what did i do? Halo 3 or something that caught my eye. Id play the games i bought. Even to this day i still do, most games i got for free on Epic Games store i never touched. Accidently bought a few on steam forgetting i even had them honestly then BEAT THE STEAM VERSION lmao.
But to be fair i did accidently let a free trial of Xbox Game Pass go through and charge for a month, and ended up playin DMC5 before the Vergil DLC existed. Ended up buying it on PC before the Vergil DLC lmao.
This has nothin to do with DRM, Preservation etc. Just strictly on the "too many games so little time and i get overwhelmed with my tiny little mind"
Thats one reason i have an issue with Games going Digital only Sub Only
The other being well Preservation and ownership issues but yeah again another topic for another time lol
(ok Gamepass isnt free but same thing when it comes to all sub based services too, i rarley if at ALL touch my freebie PSplus or Xbox 360 Live Games for Gold before that was canned at least those free xbox games i can play without a sub unlike ps plus, cuz dont get me even started on the DRM Preservation stuff lmao they just delisted Spec Ops.... )
TLDR great video you got a sub, Ai kinda sucks tho so youll see push back tho on that if you continue to use it. Just mentioning it.
seriously tho great work, mic and audio quality is superb. shocked i am to see a 9 in your sub count. your gonna go far. Keep up the great work man! Keep in mind most this comment was wrote 5 minutes in and added onto as i watched.
Honestly one reason im here is this exact issue with decision paralysis, just easier to get stuck in a loop on youtube videos. Both a blessing and curse. lol
I appreciate the kind words!!
There's no way this is your first video.. no way... U have experience in storytelling end editing. If id had the money, I'd hire you
Something for me that makes steam overwhelming is for years I was restricted to xbox and I begged my parents to let me get a gaming laptop and for years I only played fps games and fps games are honestly getting worse. And I've switched to purely single player. And there are just too many great options.
I got into Devil May Cry and Resident Evil because of Steam. So your point about Gamepass expanding your tastes really resonates with me
I had the exact same experience when I got my Steam Deck last year...the number of new potential games I had access to was hard to process at first. Thanks for watching!
How to avoid this problem, in my experience (you'll also save some money)
- Do NOT binge on sales.
- Try to buy just one game at a time
- Start a new game and COMMIT to it until you're done with it
- In the previous point "done" means either finished, or lost all desire to play it.
- You can do this at most for 2 games at a time, for different time segments.
- If you like service games only play a SINGLE GaaS at a time, and leave a time segment for a different type of game.
- Never install a game if you're not finished with the last one.
This has helped me appreciate each game more, buy less games, spend less money, and finally start tackling that backlog.
I decided to start doing this bc I felt I was spending too much money on games I didn't play in the end, it has helped me immensely.
That's a lotta rules for a fun hobby. Hope it works for you, I don't think it could for me though
2:59 I live so close to here so seeing this is a shock, I pass through these gardens almost daily lmao
bros doxxing himself
I don't think decision paralysis works as an explanation except in the context of our current cultural state. We are time stricken, and when you are so time stricken, so limited, then having a lot of choices means feeling potential regret due to not having enough time to try it all. I'm curious to see how much decision paralysis affects people with nearly unlimited time to play/watch/etc. all of it. I find that people feel this less with things like RUclips because it's not that hard to watch 5 videos a day and move on to something else and it's all technically free. You don't have to spend money, waste a bunch of resources, or dedicate massive amounts of time to that. Video games though? Massive cost (even subscriptions cost a lot over time), massive time investment, and we all work jobs now and/or have kids to care for. When you were a kid, the cost wasn't on you so you didn't feel it and you had virtual infinite time to try as much or as little as you wanted. So who cares if you make a bad decision. I think a lot more studies might need to look into the environment people are in when they make decisions at least as much (if not more) as the number of choices or what those choices are.
I will agree with your conclusion though that ownership plays a big part. I really love the games I have precisely because I own them, yep even the digital ones. I have quite a few physical games, but for my digital ones? Well... regardless of what the law wants to say, I have backups of those (most of which are cracked using steam cracks). And there is definitely something to having the knowledge that it's with you and that you can come back to it anytime.
That's an interesting point about the "cost" equation-things were a lot different in childhood, even the very concept of time itself! Thanks for watching
Great first video man! Not many people get this viewership on their first attempt. Keep it up and don’t listen to the small nitpicks people are making. Do your thing.
Really appreciate the kind words!
Firstly, congratulations on your first video. I enjoyed it.
I feel like what you've run into is a combination of getting older and therefore your approach to games changing, combined with the access, technology, and culture itself changing. In regards to getting older, I know once I got my first job the first thing I bought at the mall was a game for myself. There was something delightful about purchasing a game with my own money instead of birthday cash or receiving it as a present. It also unlocked the ability to buy what I want, when I want, even on release day (a habit further enabled once I began working at GameStop). By time you're an adult, you have more money but less time, and thus you're in the habit of buying what you want but not factoring in the time budget. This is the birth of the backlog, and I feel every grown gamer has that moment where they realize maybe they ought to slow down on the purchases.
But, there were other factors at play. GameStop relied heavily on trade-ins, to the point that I recall purchasing Gears of War 3 and inside the bag they included a flyer to receive $40 trade-in credit for Gears 3, specifically. In other words, GameStop was encouraging players to go through a game once, then trade it in for a discount on the next game. I had several friends that only paid $60 for "the first" game, subsequently buying each after for $20 because they played a game, beat it, then traded it in to save $40 on the next release. I have a feeling these two factors, the ability to purchase games whenever and the trade-in frenzy, began to program this "one-and-done, next big thing" habit into players. GameFly similarly made a contribution, where you could queue a game up to be mailed to you upon release, and when you were done you'd send it back to wait for the next game.
GamePass' slogan, "Discover Your Next Favorite Game", kind of feeds into this same idea. Your own story, however, highlighted another factor: playing Tears of the Kingdom when it was new in part to keep up with everyone else starting their own playthrough. When you were a kid and you got games for Christmas or your birthday, was "the discussion" online as important as it is treated now? People are afraid that, by time they get to a game, no one will want to talk about it. This is strange as, when I was first browsing Internet forums in the early 2000's, people were willing to discuss games new and old all the time. Similarly, my friends and I in high school talked about Final Fantasy IV, Chrono Trigger, and Ocarina of Time as much as we discussed Halo and Metroid Prime. So purchasing and playing habits have not only encouraged The Latest and Greatest, but algorithms and social media have as well.
Now, a double-edged sword to Game Pass is that it can allow games that had been out for a while to find new life within the conversation. You discovered Persona 5 with a lot of other players that had not had an opportunity to do so, as well as Nier: Automata. This means there's room on the Internet to discuss those games! They're relevant again! At the same time, they're only relevant for so long, especially as every month Microsoft wants to push the NEW additions to Game Pass. Which leads into your point regarding expiration notifications: doing so would likely inhibit the amount of activations/engagement in a game as it approaches leaving the service, and they very, very much are incentivized to get you hooked so that, when you haven't finished the game, you are encouraged to purchase it. So, it's unfortunate you won't know until it's too late, and I myself missed the opportunity to play games because, by time I had the opportunity to play them, they were gone.
Anyway, apologies for the huge comment. I liked and subbed, look forward to seeing more.
Thank you for the thoughtful comment and for taking the time to watch! The discussion factor is so true, it's like a fear of missing out. That's why I cleared my schedule for TotK, because I was late to the party when BotW came out and I wanted to be part of the discourse.
You have to admit that there is something special about playing a new game that EVERYONE else is playing and loving at the same time. I have experienced this with TOTK and Elden Ring in recent years and both times were very special fun moments in time that I look back on fondly. It’s not that people won’t talk about those games now, but EVERYONE was talking about them, playing them, loving them all at once. And it’s so rare for that to happen with how many games get released. It happened with BG3 as well and Palworld recently. These big gaming moments are really cool and it makes sense to want to be part of them, it’s fun.
@@takeyourheart1 You definitely raise a good point. Elden Ring was especially fun for me as it was a rare moment I was playing the same game as many of my friends. Interestingly enough, the games you list, with Breath of the Wild, Elden Ring, and PalWorld (not sure on BG3, haven't played it myself) is that there's also a sense of discovery. The games are both large enough and also mysterious enough in some way that players can play for an equivalent amount of time and have unique stories. Coming together they can share what they've found and discovered. That is certainly a positive experience, and if you arrive late then that sense of discovery becomes lost. It's old news to all the veterans and the answers have all been figured out.
I find that there aren't too many games like that, honestly, but perhaps it also depends on what corners of the Internet you're on. Perhaps more linear action games have communities that have similar experiences with things like DMC5 or Bayonetta 3.
I agree. I had way more fun and joy when i was playing 1-2 games per year. I don't think Halo or Star Wars The Force Unleashed are bad games, but i feel like i was wasting my time by playing them and instead i should have played KOTOR, Mass Effect and Dragon Age. I especially regret not playing Mass Effect 2 enough. After i've realized that, i've limited myself to 30 games and now i cut even more, because i feel like even 30 is too much.
I really need to revisit Mass Effect. Had so much fun with ME3 and haven't played any of the others. Thanks for watching!
Great video, especially for your first! RUclips actually recommended me your 3rd video about how to get back into a game you’ve dropped, and now I’m checking all your stuff out. You just got another sub from me! 😊 also, don’t let the haters give you shit for using AI art. Do what you want, and make videos however you want. Especially since you’re new to this and probably not rich enough to hire artists for a pic that shows up for less than a few seconds. You don’t need to justify anything, AI is a tool like any other. Keep up the awesome work and I’ll be happy to say I was one of your first supporters when your channel blows up.
Heres a comment to help catch the attention of the algorithm gods! Hopefully they smile down upon you and spread your message to the masses. Rooting for you big dog. I enjoyed this video.
Thank you kind sir, really appreciate the help!
I also came to the same conclusion as you and why I unsubsribed from game pass. What I noticed is that more and more people are coming to the same mindset and why the numbers of game pass subscribers doesn't increase. People want to feel that they own something and with how physical games are slowly dying especially with xbox games you can see why xbox got hate for shutting down their physical games department. Very good video by saying it perfectly without triggering the fanboys!
I think you should consider buying the game if you are REALLY liking it, even if it's on Gamepass. That way you will never be stressed out if you will be able to finish it in time or not. RPGs like Persona are not the type of game that you will want to rush it
Yep, I will 100% be buying P5R. Thanks for watching!
@@markmaxwelljr great video!
Great video! The best way I find to use Game Pass is to see it as a "try before you buy" tool. Most games don't have demos and if they do, I find most don't give a good sense if I'm going to like it. Either the demo isn't long enough, it only shows you the game much further in when you're all geared out or it's the opposite, it's the prologue that barely touches on the main game mechanics.
Most retailers allow you to refund the game so you can try it out, but I find that extremely limiting and risky. Usually they give you about 2 hours, which depends on how much of a slow burn the game is, might not be enough time. Plus you feel pressured for time, so you might skip cut scenes or rush so you don't go over the invisible time limit. The other drawback is if you refund too often your account could be flagged which could 1) prevent you from refunding future games and 2) put the games you've already purchased at risk if your account is banned.
The biggest downside with using Game Pass in this way is that saves don't always transfer... But the internet seems to have thought of everything and there's a tool out there that (if possible) can convert your PC Game Pass save to a local or Steam save.
Would actually be interesting to know your take on game demos!
I think not starting games that are longer than 30 hours should be a mandatory warning if you recommend Gamepass to anyone.
But Gamepass, alongside me buying a PS5, TotK and emulating a couple of games, allowed me to have a really special 2023 for gaming. Is definitely the year I've played most games at release, and I found myself enjoying that way more due to being able to be in the conversation and a part of a community.
I totally agree with you. I hate too many choices as well and I believe the commitment to something makes it so much more enjoyable. Recently I purchased a Switch and I very quickly realized how Nintendo was still on the older business model of buy and owning, with no game pass equivalent, but that didn't stop me from buying their excellent games and realizing it was something that made me so much more excited to play than anything else. I believe that these new business models give the consumers what they want, but not necessarily are the most satisfying and one must definitely find it's own best place to play.
Well done on exploring the topic, turned out great. Another subtle issue I came across is feeling guilt about not using the service enough per month to completely justify the cost saving instead of outright purchasing games. This is more likely to be the case for PC players who have access to a huge back-catalog of titles that are often on steep discounts or free via the Epic Game Store.
If I'm playing on Steam, creeping thoughts of playing a Game Pass title instead to "save" money slip in.
I've cancelled my subscription, only intend to use it again when there are Day 1 launch titles that would otherwise be full price to play such as Hellblade 2.
Also, limited modding on PC for Game Pass titles, but that's an aside.
So true, the guilt is something I have absolutely felt with Game Pass. Thank you for the kind words!
I totally feel you!
Honestly, I cancelled Game Pass because I was feeling the exact same pressure you mentioned while playing a game. Instead of having fun, I was just rushing the game to make sure I was able to finish it before it leaves the catalog. I also came across many games that I'd (probably) not come across so soon, the Danganronpa series being the main one for me. Honestly, nowadays I prefer to just wait for a sale and actually buy the game, instead of having that easy access because of the service. After all, I'd probably spend as much as the price of the actual game, while probably only playing it on the service. In the end, it really wasn't clicking for me anymore, and nowadays I can't even imagine myself signing up for a games service like that anymore. It just feels SO MUCH better to buy a game, because I can play it and just chill about it while my inner peace is maintained!
"Looking at this year's game of the year contenders"... this video has been long in the making, hasn't it? ;) Great work and good on you for putting this video into the world! I thoroughly enjoyed it and looking forward to more.
Haha you nailed it...took me longer than I thought it would. Thank you for the kind words!
I love that you made this video and for a first time its a master piece. I hope you make a video on how your solution has worked for you in the future.
Really appreciate the kind words!! I will definitely be thinking about a follow-up at some point
Beautiful, thoughtful essay. Thanks for sharing. You've got my sub!
Thank you for the kind words, much appreciated!
First of all amazing video, I really enjoy it and loved the topic you brought to table
I think nowadays the market is over saturated and its imposible to be playing something without putting an eye on another game.
Like you said its all about commitment with the game you started and a good self reading to know if we are really having a good time with it or its just not worth of our time… This last thing will be diferent for everybody because we might be all gamers but we all have a diferent perception of videogames.
Again, great work, got new sub here and I’ll be expectant for any new video. Greetings!
Yes! I wish my brain could just forget that every other game exists when I'm playing something. Thank you for the kind words!!
I need to ask.
How young are you?
To make this comment easier to understand, I’m talking about being a kid in Christmas and knowing the value of the games you get.
By the time I was able to choose games as a kid (8) it was the PS2 era. And there was no way for me to decide the “score” of a game before playing it.
Then there was the teenage year on PS3, COD dominated the quality of this console (don’t buy the series on PS4/5, please). So the yearly release + a few famous like Demon’s/Dark souls 1 + other FPS like Crysis and Battlefield, etc.
The change from PS2 to PS3 is that the internet came and games like movie tie-ins became HORRIBLE! And nobody would buy them cause internet content creators were loud.
Then the PS4 era is the same as today on PS5. We now live in a world where the gaming community is loud and we know the scores of each game (more like if it’s bad/mid/good).
And the worst part, EVERY IMPORTANT GAME IS SPAMMED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SPOILERS ARE EVERYWHERE, therefore either you have to be a day 1 buyer, or a discount buy, but the general story is spoiled.
Really interesting video. I fully agree with your points here. I have actually recently unsubscribed from game pass and I have been enjoying my time with games more (although I still face some decision paralysis with my backlog). But without the pressure of game pass rotations and paying a membership, I am able to dive into older or longer games I already own without feeling like I’m not “getting my moneys worth” out of my membership. I highly recommend trying it. I’d be interested in seeing updates if you decide to go that route yourself.
Glad to hear it has taken some of the pressure off, hoping it will have the same effect for me. Thanks for watching!
Gamepass is good
1)to play short indy titles like Cocoon that I would never buy.
2) To try out long term games which often require more than 2 hours (steam refund policy) to see if I like it. Humankind for example. If I like the game I will buy it on Steam.
3) First party titles
4) To try out a long game like jrpg like Persona series and Sea of Stars and determine I going to continue playing until I finish them within a few months.
Gamepass is not good with any game I would like to play long term and long games I want to take a break from like Persona 5 , Medieval Dynasty,etc . If there is a game on Gamepass that requires more than 30 hours and i don't know how long it's been on gamepass I will often avoid playing vs a new release . Since Persona 3 Reload just release I might decide to finish the game on gamepass. Gamepass is not good when it comes to games with DLC.
( I'm glad i didn't buy Starfield as after a month I played all I want. It was not bad it just wasn't anything special compared to their past titles. The "in Space" part of Fallout did more harm than good.)
Even though I have gamepass I still buy and play games on Steam more than gamepass. My main aim with gamepass is to at least break even at $10 a month so it pays for itself.
Exactly. I have been spending more time with my Steam Deck recently because I have to think harder about what games I purchase there. Thanks for watching!
Seriously this is a great video, I’ve been going through the list trying to play the main 6 games of the year. Since I all I really played this year was Pikmin 4, lies of P and pushmo for 500 hours
I've heard a lot of good things about Lies of P, will probably be checking that out this year. Thanks for the kind words!
@@markmaxwelljr it’s a great time, + keep up the videos
I've been gaming for 45 years. I still love it but man, the modern industry has created such a problem. I use Assassin's Creed as an example to narrow it down. While they are good games, I don't play them. Simply because they came out with so many, so fast, it was too easy to feel overwhelmed, behind, and too far behind. Ubisoft is also a great example as they released so many games on their own they were literally competing with themselves on sales. Sales haven't helped. I deal with what I call "time anxiety" and my Steam library alone has created a daily "Option Overload" for me. I know very well many others feel the same way. The "Paradox of Choice" is surely a huge problem, especially when every game now needs to have FOMO, Live Service, timed events. How can you spend the time on a new game and treasure it when 100 others are demanding you log in today or lose out. As far as Gamepass goes, I treat it like a list of demos or Blockbuster rentals. I use it to try games I might want to buy, but I do not expect to finish any of them.
I completely agree with you. I'm 31 and don't have that much time to play games so, when I do, I want it to be well spent in a game I really enjoy. Now I only buy a game if I am playing it immediatly and commit to finishing it. Consequently, I also stopped getting games during sales because they would be on my library forever and I wouldn't touch them.
This approach might not work for everyone but was great for me. In fact, it was necessary. I played elden ring for 6/7 months before finishing it for the first time. If I had 10 other games to distract me from it, I probably would have dropped it. The thing I have to accept with this is that I have to be ok with playing games far later than everyone else. I am yet to play tears of the kingdom, jedi survivor and horizon forbidden west. All games I really want to play but I know I will get to it eventually
The conclusion you came to at the end, with self-limiting yourself has been something I've also been doing on Gamepass for a little while now. The only games I have downloaded to my console are the ones I want to finish. I've found having a couple games to jump between strikes a good balance if I get bored and need something different.
Limiting to around 3-5 games and leaving the rest for the backlog means I'll usually only start a new game if I've just finished another. And if I abandon a game, it's usually not worth my time to come back to, so I only let it go if I know I'm not having any fun.
Good luck to you in 2024! With such a high-quality caliber as this video is already I can't wait to see where this channel goes.
It really is all about striking that balance! Thank you for the kind words
This is a great video in terms of script, ideas, pacing and more! I found it thoughtful and poignant and am impressed by your first video. Well done!
Really appreciate the kind words!
I feel similar to you but I've never touched game pass.
I grew up playing the same few games for months at a time before getting new ones, but now I'm on my own with a very high paying job and tons of free time. For me $60 or even $70 is not a significant amount of money. I'll often buy a game on sale and if it's not hitting with me I'll just delete it from my SSD/SD card and move on.
Games meant more when you could only play a few.
Less is more in many aspects of life. Thanks for watching!
Ive done 2 year long experiments with gaming for myself. Mostly because becoming father gives you mid-life crisis lol
1. First experiment i did was no spending money on games for 1 year. But i had Playstation plus for a year. And i had a lot of similar feelings as you did.
2. My current experiment, if you even call it a experiment is a monthly budget without a any 1 year subscriptions. And this is interesting because it sorta makes deciding which games to play like b-day and xmas all over again. With ff7r coming out i had to think months ahead and have that money saved and which games im going to play while i wait. I also look at hyper very different. I cant just hope on palworld or enshrouded because i didnt have the funds saved.
I think one think we need to ponder about is the thought pattern we have about playtime = dollars spent... this is an old era thought process. Games have 100s of thousands free to play games, game pass exsit for millions hours plus.... what do you think would happen if you ran out of money to buy new games, and you completed your back log? I think part of the problem is we dont get bored anymore. Ya. Idk... just a thought.
Lot of interesting points you bring up here. The relationship between playtime and $ spent is something I'm interested in and might explore in a future video. Thanks for watching!
This is a superb video. Where have you been dude lol 🎮👊
Really appreciate the kind words!
I'm in the same boat. I came to the conclusion to use Game Pass the same as I would if I were buying a game - subscribe only when I want to play something specific. It is also great for the game that I want to check out, but not sure if I'm ready to play full price. I've been trying to watch out if should I pick the subscription or a game on a deal - and for this year I'm trying to stick mostly with deal games from backlog and game pass only for games that I really want to play on release.
Deals feel more satisfying to me, even when I'm only saving $2 :) Thanks for watching!
@@markmaxwelljr Agree on that. I build up quite a big backlog with it - the best thing is - I don't need to feel rushed to finish a game.
It’s… You aren’t alone. For older gamers, we do “bond” with our games and expect a ROI. That withers with subscription services. Unfortunately.
I totally live in constant choice paralysis and losing out on temporarily free games. Played a fair bit of Stray on PS+ Extra and left it long enough for it to leave. So your video spoke to me for sure.
I cannot believe this is your first video. Your sense of storytelling and how to weave research through narrative is incredible. You’ve made me reconsider my PlayStation subscription and how it’s impacted my enjoyment of video games. I’ve subscribed, and I can’t wait to see what else you put out!
Restaurant waiter : I attack you with choice parálisis!
Me: Thou fool, my gluten intolerance cancel your power and i receive instant counterstrike. I chose chicken salad!
Restaurant waiter: Impossible! He made is choice in less than 10 seconds!
Trying to get into the video, but that one dude in the orchestra is rocking out so hard I keep losing track of where I am 😂 Loving it so far! Good stuff.
Also: Shout out to (what I'm pretty sure is) The Sims pause music in the end of the video.
We’re spoiled for choice these days, and our brains are overwhelmed by it. Doom scrolling through Netflix and Game Pass is a real issue, one we didn’t have back in the day with a limited amount of channels on TV, and renting games at a video store. I think for the few hardcore gamers, Game Pass is a great deal, but most gamers do not consume games that way. It’s hard to justify a monthly subscription when you play a handful of games per year. Even for us hardcore gamers, there is just too many games, and some of us lucky enough to have the means of owning several consoles or a PC are just spread too thin for Game Pass to make financial sense. As adults, were money rich and time poor. And kids these days seem to only be interested in social games like Fortnite and Roblox. I don’t think Game Pass will survive in the long run. There just isn’t a large enough audience for it.
Edit: I also tend to only stick with and finish the games I buy, even though I have Game Pass. It’s just too easy to drop games I got for “free.”
The way I do it is at the end of every year I tally how much I played game pass compared to how much I paid for it. P5 Tactica, Starfield, Hi-Fi Rush, MHR, Atomic Heart and Wo Long are all games I’d have happily paid full price for you. Mind you I didn’t finish all these game and I do agree with your point that I’d have definitely stuck through if I’d actually paid for them. I definitely enjoyed my time with the ones that I play till the end. The other thing I agree with in the is choice paralysis. Holy moly does it hit me in balls sometimes. So I’ve decided to basically ignore game pass until I get through my list of “major games”
Game Pass is great is for folks with limited budgets. Except I basically have an unlimited budget for Games and that makes the backlog just torturous
Amazing first video btw. Congrats!
UNLIMITED BUDGET?? Haha that does honestly sound like more of a curse than a blessing :) Thanks for the kind words!
It’s also the first party quality of games, devs are forced to pump out games too fast and the quality diminishes.
I'm definitely curious how developers are changing course given these subscription services. Thanks for watching!
@@markmaxwelljr well Microsoft just laid off tons of important devs and most likely outsource many other developers which will not put their heart into these games.
The exact thing about persona happened to me, but i ended up picking up persona 3 reload when it launched on gamepass and recently bought p5r on steam (100% worth it)
Gamepass is 100% less of free games and more of a game trial to see if I want to actually play it
I completely agree with the commitment portion of your video. I’m gravitating towards going out and physically buying games before choosing a digital option because of the commitment it takes to not only decide which game to play but to also travel to a store with said game and buying it. This leads to sentimental value, the same value we attached to the few games we had as kids regardless of the quality of the game.
Removing options and limiting ease of access has helped me appreciate games better.
Good video.
I've never subscribed to game pass even though i have been with xbox from the start and the reason is because i would never actually finish a game because my mind would keep telling me to try something else in the library. It's just too much for me to handle so i prefer to just buy the games i want to play and finish and replay.
I'm an old gamer and back in the 80s/90s the excitement of buying a game was mind blowing and i could not wait to play it traveling back from the game store but i just don't get that feeling any more with this age of gaming.
100%. I really do miss reading the game manuals on the way home from a new purchase at Gamestop. Thanks for watching!
I realized Game Pass wasn't for me when I realized that it wasn't going to stop me from purchasing games that aren't on Game Pass, and as long as I'm making purchases of games, I will *always* prioritize my time with those games. I finished maybe 2 or 3 games in my 3 years of subscribing to Game Pass.
Great video man, got me hooked all the way to the end. Keep it going!
Thank you for the kind words, much appreciated!
Fantastic video, especially for your first! You put into words exactly how I've been feeling. I recently unsubbed to Gamepass, but I'll definitely start paying again when I want to go back to the free games I enjoyed before, I have discovered quite a few games on there that I ended up paying for (RE7 for example) because I knew I'd be playing them again and again and was grateful for the oppprtunity to play them in the first place
I appreciate the kind words!
I had the same experience with P5. This video has really helped me understand what I’ve been going through the past couple years of gaming. Once I get hyper-fixated on a game (Stardew Valley, Hades, Civ6) I get that old feeling, but whenever I try to spread my attention, I enjoy nothing. Right now I’m bouncing between P3 reloaded, Star Ocean 2nd, and Hogwarts. Most nights I just sit there and play nothing.
I am subscribing, but I call cap no way the youngest doesn't get to pick a movie.
It's nice to hear I'm not alone in this. In a sense I really like game pass, because of how much you get. But multiple things about it doesn't sit well with me as well. Like you say, the game can disappear from the service, you never "own" any of the games, and the stress of playing the games you want to play on it is not great. The stress is kinda like when I go into World of Warcraft, but that is another can of worms. Subbing and playing games on game pass also makes me feel guilty, because I have a huge backlog on steam and I also want to play bunch of them, maybe that also adds to the stress. Something that has helped me in some ways, have been to play small/short games on game pass. Overall I currently just try to not buy any games or look at any new games and focus on what I have on my plate already, go through my backlog, and I'm having a good time with it. I'm currently playing Noita, and it's tough but I enjoy it :)
Also what a great video! I'm definitely subbing as I also enjoyed your "how to get back into a game" video. Look forward to seeing more :)
This video is gonna change the way I buy games now, I never realized that since growing up I've gotten too used to just having money to buy games, like when I want too.
I get it about owning a game and sticking to it is more powerful than just having a subscription and playing basically for free, but for me is more about patient gaming and enjoying one single game at the time and what brings me, and if its not good just pass to another. Before Game Pass looked good but even with free games I try to stick with one at a time at all or by genre (e.g one multiplayer and one single player or just finish what i started), and with that I never had a problem with a backlog, because I had a small collection of games and just pick one at a time and getting what the game has to offer, without pressure to continue or quit.
There's definitely something to investment that can compel you to stick with a game longer than you otherwise would and that can lead to more appreciation for it. I don't have this problem with Game Pass because I don't passively subscribe to it. I find something I want to play and if it's on game pass I'll subscribe and try and finish before my month is up. So it's a much smaller investment, though it is an investment still. When you just have it all the time and it's your main source of games though, I can definitely see how you can develop an attitude of not particularly caring.
That's an interesting way of approaching Game Pass, sounds like it could work for some. Thanks for watching!
Ignore these anti AI dweebs. I liked the video, do whatever you feel comfortable with and don’t let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn’t do.
Learned this lesson before game pass / subscriptions became what they are now luckily. Around the PS3 era that was when I first had my own job and income as a budding 19 year old who went years not really getting the games i would point out i wanted as a kid.
The result was I had spent so much money buying games whether they were in A+ territory of definitely going to be played, or even as low as a C- "maybe someday," it didnt matter the priced i was just collecting to collrct before i feasibly realized how long i actually took to play and enjoy games. I had a stint with being a completionist around then as well so not only was the hording aspect daunting, but the idea that I began to see the game as another checkbox in a long list of checklists to complete definitely led to me burning out and only playing the same 5 or so games each year with a few new ones rotated in.
I definitely feel like the choice of overload is real though, I have game pass and PlayStation Extra, I justify it by telling myself that I will spend less annually compared to buying my games outright and my interest in modern games doesnt last long before a few months at best. I still get a itch on my neck when I see incomplete completion logs or achievements, or seeing games I have yet to hit; but I constantly remind myself that im likely never going to get it all done because of how insanely saturated the market is as well as my interests only lying as deep as a few games and mechanics.
This video was impressively done as I've thought about mulling my thoughts into a video like this as well.
I cancelled most of my subscriptions last year. I already have a giant backlog of games I bought or roms. I also have a giant backlog of books I own. I made a spreadsheet and it was intimidating.
I got GamePass twice in the past, only for a month each. I wanted to try a couple of games before I would commit and grab the game on Switch. But for the time I spent on those games in GamePass, it would have been a better idea to get on Switch from the start.
The spreadsheet can get scary for sure. I try to tag and filter titles so that I can create a "default" view that doesn't look as overwhelming. Thanks for watching!
RUclips Recommendations brought me here early
same. minus the Ai dude has a strong future.
Thanks for giving me a chance!
Spot on video.
I have ps+ and gamepass and drop games if i dont love it within a few hours.
I have hundreds ofgames with1-2hrs played, then Civ6 at 1.5k hours and Ark at 3.5k hours. I get bored with new games and return to titles i bought and enjoyed.
Im born 1981 and alike you had to make commitment to amiga500 games id buy at xmas and birthday. Now its catalogues and reviews online to help pick winners, often leaving me more disappointed. I feel bad for my kids, other than minecraft that seems universally loved by 10 year olds, they quit at games if stuck and move on. I remember it took me and my siblings hundreds of hours to complete the Simpsons bart vs mutants on amiga500+ , tedious platforming, but we commited due to no choice !
Game pass is not mistake when ever you want to play gamepass games subscribe and whenever you don't want you can unsubscribe and play othergames
Small games are affected in other way by Game Pass like services. They will receive way less time spent from players compared to games that are longer or are more replayable and in turn will be less likely to be signed for the service. Make no mistake, services like Game Pass will inform gamedev trends for the next decade and they will shift the commercial gaming scene a lot. And not in a good way imho.
And yes, I feel somewhat like you for subscription services like that. I feel they are good for consumers in the short run since they make them feel good on not spending money games. However, I feel it is terrible for the gaming in the long run, since it will ultimately make the consumers unwilling to pay for games in general (out of habit), will shift monetization towards shady practices and will consolidate the means of distributing games in the hands of a few companies (that will be the winners of the subscription service wars), basically undoing what the previous 10-15 years of internet distribution of games achieved. It will be just like the 90s but worse since it will be digital and you won't own the game, just hold a temporary right to use it.
For that reason alone I am unwilling to ever use Game Pass even if they paid me money to do so.
This is an important point. The industry is absolutely shifting because of these services, and that will have implications for many years to come. Thanks for watching!
Good video man. In the last year or so I decided to unsubscribe from ps plus, due to price and just not having enough time to warrant having it. This consequently has made me look at my back log and finish/play alot of games I put down. It's honestly refueled my passion for gaming. I'm not rushing. I just pick a game and sit with it for awhile, enjoy it's content and story. I don't think us humans are supposed to have access to so much all the time, all at once. We miss the point and just breeze through stuff, on to the next piece of entertainment. Anyway, again great job on the video.
Rushing is the #1 enemy of fun for me. Thank you for the kind words!
5:24 Doesn’t RUclips make creators tell them if stuff is AI generated? Obviously all the previous stuff is also AI.
I don't know if this will help you, but I always keep track of what is removed from the program for the subscriptions I have and have a small list with the playing time. That helped me, but I'm also the person who plays 25 hours of person 5 royal and then only stops because I happened to notice it and that's not so healthy. But I also don't have those moments where I don't enjoy a game until later. I can tell very quickly whether I'm having fun or not.
I also keep a backlog of what I'm playing and what the status is. But Game Pass has also helped me to cancel games when I'm no longer having fun. before that, I always tried to blast through them until I hated them. Now I can say for myself okay that's enough for me I'm not having fun anymore. for example in Hades when I was already twice at the top but not yet finished in itself but the new stuff just bothered me or in another game where the game consisted of having incredible freedom in what you do to get stronger and get new skills but then after half of the map at least you were forced to do the rest or totally under leveled to somehow get through it.
I definitely agree that it works well for people who feel like they HAVE to finish games bc they've paid for them. Takes the pressure off. Thanks for watching!
Have you been youtubing before? This is so well made for a channel’s first video
Great video man, I can relate to a lot of this especially the decision making on what games to ask for come Xmas time. Subscriptions simply do not work for me, I like to play one game at a time and completely immerse myself in that world for how ever many weeks or months it takes to finish it to a degree I'm satisfied with. I play games on my terms and now in my early 30s I've never had such great experiences playing. Keep up the great content anyway I'm sure this channel will be successful if you carry on at this level, good luck 👍🏻
Thank you for the encouraging feedback!!
I really enjoyed your video! You'd make an excellent documentary filmmaker. I agree 100 percent with your feelings. I was born in '95 so i also grew up with Blockbuster and Pay-per-view and VHS 😂. I owned a Sega Genesis and an original Xbox for most of my childhood, as well as a Windows 98 PC. I know how it feels to go from playing 1 or 2 games that you got for Christmas and playing those games to absolute death, to now having soooo many choices today. Im a huge advocate for physical media so i personally wouldn't sign up for Game Pass or Steam. I'm gearing up to buy a Series x or One X, and I'm really hoping to just buy the games i want (especially the xbox 360 games i missed growing up), but on the other hand, this Game Pass thing is very cost-efficient. So i understand your feelings very well.
When we were children our parents bought our games at there own expense because they loved us. Now we have to budget our money and set ourselves a certain budget for games. It makes it kind of like a job which makes the gaming experience less fun. Since we have to be more responsible. I don't think gamepass is the right choice. Even tho it's cheap. The games are limited and paying every month adds up.
Where I get the most enjoyment is buying used games for next to nothing and loving them. It kind of lifts the burden of the responsibility.
When I buy games, I do look for great deals. But sometimes I just have a certain feeling to play a specific video game. I'll just go and get it. If you go on feeling and not just on the thought that "I like games so I'll just consume games" you'll find alot more pleasure in it.
Don't be afraid to jump from game to game and not finish them. They sometimes bloat games on purpose to get you to spend money. Or they didn't put much effort in making the game interesting enough for you to finish it. Most of the time when I go back to a game. I'll play it a little longer then I'll stop again. If I was already satisfied with it.
I personally go by how I feel. I go by if I'm satisfied with the game. Not by if I finished it. Because games arnt always fun to finish.
I no longer really have a back log due to budget. I just go back to a games I want to replay or continue when I feel like. I dont set myself a number of games I have to finish. That feels more like work then fun.
Live in the moment. If you live in the year you'll say your year was slow and boring, Unsatisfactory.
Gotta go by feel, totally agree. Thankfully I've made progress on not needing to finish I game I start. Thanks for watching!
Really loved this video I had a similar experience with game pass, switch online and ps plus. I definitely get a lot out of the services when I have them but I also notice this paralysi with picking something to play and then not sticking with it. My current subsciption is ps plus which I'm using as an economical way of playing more games while I save for a holiday. But appreciating the games I own is something I miss and I definitely wanna apply a similar logic to what you came to by the end of the video
Thank you for watching!
I left Xbox for PC and I’m gaming more than ever now that I don’t use Gamepass anymore. I decided not to get it on PC and only get Steam games on sale. 2023 was a banger year for games. Lies of P, Dead Island 2, RE4, Alan Wake 2, Cyberpunk, Baldur’s Gate 3, and so on and so on. I had a blast.
Yea I wont do subscription stuff for this very reason. I hate to treat games like they're just disposable. No real sense of attachment, just another piece of content to consume. Shit, I still buy all my music! Aside from the fact that I can listen to it offline and everything, it also just makes it more certain that I'm going to really listen and get more out of what I buy. And that's ultimately more important to me than some purely on-paper consumer value equation.
The question is, can you justify spending full price on a title you already had "free" access to on GamePass?
I did the same thing with Persona 5, started playing, and in the middle of the game, I was kicked because it was no longer on Game Pass
i feel like gamepass is awesome for people getting into gaming but its benefits fall off pretty quickly if you mainly play on PC because the sales. Steam/gog sales make any subscription feel like a waste now and then you throw humble bundle into the mix and you have a ballooning catalogue unto yourself haha.
I love gog because most of their games are DRM free. makes making a digital purchase a lot easier when you know you own the software outright.
Eh that is still more expensive then a game pass subscription.
@@oo--7714 oh yeah! you def right but $5-10 here and there on some bundles is nice :)
Definitely-I recommended Game Pass to my sister when she got her first console, because it's a great way to explore what kind of stuff you might be interested in. Thanks for watching!
I live in fear of game pass and other services like it because that’s just way too much choice for my brain to handle. Like you said, you’re quick to put down games that could be a hit just because your brain tells you there could be something better out there.
I hope you get to finish P5 because that game is fantastic.
Oh I WILL, it's too good to not :) Thanks for watching!
Personally I never feel like I have to finish a game to have gotten what I want from it, so I absolutely love having all this choice.
Great video man! I hope it gets the attention it deserves!
I appreciate it, thanks for checking it out!
Great video man, I totally relate to this nostalgia of simpler times feeling, when less games meant more enjoyment. I believe that taking a minimalist view on this issue would led to solve some of the problems that comes with this new era of consumerism in video games. My only criticism on your video would be the excessive amount of vocal fry you use at the end of every sentence, once I noticed it, it's was really hard to focus on what you were saying. Anyway, great video, keep them coming!
Tbh i saw all the releases and 2024 is my 2023. I was only able to play ff16 and re4 as i dont have much time. Now im gonna spend 2024 playing 2023 games
I feel this for sure, have so much I didn't get to last year. Thanks for watching!
Nice video and well thought out. Subbed!
I tend to be a year behind on games and I only play the ones that stand out. I recently added gamepass but I don’t think it’s right for me.
I hope more people realize what u did. Ownership isnt about having a mountain of games to collect. Its about feeling like ur money turned into something tangible something u can always come find at a later date. With subscriptions ur just turning ur money in an access key. Once ur not throwing money at it that access is gone and u have nothing to show for it
Ownership is definitely getting more and more difficult to define in the digital era. Thanks for watching!
I never would have discovered how much I love Lies of P without Gamepass, but at the same time I found myself putting down Rollerdrome within a hour. I can't really blame Gamepass, I'm an adult with too many Steam games too.
NOOO Rollerdrome is so good, please give it another chance. But I hear you, Game Pass just changes things. Thanks for watching!