I haven’t bought a game since Skyrim

Ok, this is getting less than topical but it’s only been out for over 3 months and I’m still playing it so I’d like to write about something I’ve discovered in the long term with this game. Firstly, it’s not as addicting over time, I’ve found I can sit and do a single mission/quest over the course of a hour and be sated for the evening and turn it off. This is probably the best place to be in a video gaming experience, it’s so easy to balance life with something like that. I think most of the original time sink was discovering all the locations out there, the expansive world; but, besides the very obscure areas, I’ve gotten the key locations found and explored so I don’t need to do that ever again. My main point though, is that this game removes my need to play other games, which means it’s so good that it’s bad for other games.

My guy has never looked anything like this

I’m a huge fan of the Devil May Cry series, the God of War series, and Bayonetta for example. These games are interesting and have stages/levels for pacing yourself but the actual game is so short that in comparison you can finish it on normal within a week just playing it a few hours a day. Not so with Skyrim, this game has so much to do that you’ll find yourself playing it maybe even a full year after purchasing, that seems to be the case with me. When I think of playing vid’s at home these days I immediately think of Skyrim because 1. It’s awesome and 2. There’s more left to do. Other games I’ve gotten this much gameplay out of have either been RPGs where you’re playing a long-ass linear story with side-quests or fun shooting/slashing games where you want to go for the harder difficulties on replay. With Skyrim you just never finish the game! The main story is just one of many veins to tap into in this series. Each side-quest evolves into a greater story all on its own. 

I beat you on Dante Must Die mode, then never played you again

So here’s the kicker, I haven’t bought another game since I got Skyrim, I haven’t felt the need. I wonder how game sales are being affected by this. I used to buy a game every 2 weeks (new or used or online), my current record is 3 going on 4 months (bought AC: Revelations on release day)! That’s a long time to go without any need to purchase a game, that’s just how good this game is! It’s not even some kind of personal challenge; I simply haven’t felt there was any reason to get a new one. Other games have been coming out and with Mass Effect 3 coming in less than a week, I’m not sure what I’ll do for that, but there’s no harm in waiting, letting the game move off the shelf for a few months before I pick up my own copy won’t affect my experience. I was planning on going through Mass Effect 1 and 2 again before starting the finale anyways so I have at least a couple of months before I’ll be at the point where I’ll be ready to get into the final addition.

Anyways, if you want to know what truly defines a great game and makes the world of difference in the quality of your purchase? Lastability, how long the game entertains you and the quality of that entertainment throughout. The result of Bethesda Softwork’s work is a game that will entertain me for months on end, the quality of that entertainment being quite significant. By purchasing this game I’ve saved the cost of probably 5 or 6 other games due to the sheer immensity of the environment, the story, and the gameplay. If that isn’t a testament to how truly awesome a game is, I don’t know what is. Sucks to be other game companies having to compete with that.