Soapbox: Why do we want more games when we already have too many?

The features of Soapbox allow our individual authors to express their own opinions on current topics, opinions that are not necessarily the voice of the site. In this piece, the guide editor Glen wonders why we are constantly asking for new games while the ones we already have offer so much …

There are two opposing feelings that I have both expressed and heard the players express over and over again: this the game is coming out! "and" Man, I have a huge backlog of games that I really should work on before buying any more games. "They do not really sit comfortably next to each other, is not it?" It's not really a problem shared elsewhere in our lives. "We're not looking for more food when our plates are already full.

Similarly, I recently quarreled with one of my friends to find out why he does not get a Nintendo Switch because there are not enough games yet. When in a hurry, he made it clear that he meant exclusive games, but it's a guy who maybe plays one or two a year in the lead. If it is all he cares about Super Mario Odyssey and Splatoon 2 alone would keep it full until the next big first exclusive party arrives – and that's without mentioning The legend of Zelda: Breath of nature, whose version Wii U has remained in its packaging since he bought it on the first day. The ability to play nowhere would be a game changer for him but he cares more about what the switch do not to have instead of what he does.

I think these two game attitudes are related, because we seem to have reached a point where we want more, more, moreand we did not really stop thinking about why. Why is it Pokémon Let's go more attractive than Chronicles of Xenoblade 2, who has not left his film retractable since you 've enthusiastically bought it on the first day of last year? Why do we consider a console that has "more games" more worthy of our time and money than another that offers a much better way to play while we do not even have time to play at all the ones we want?

Another contradiction commonly voiced by the players is that we miss the good days we have finished. Final Fantasy VII four times a year. We really seem to have a penchant for times when we had maybe three games a year but we played the absolute Bowsette (I invent the term, OK?) On them. Certainly, some of these complaints are a matter of timing – as adults, we have responsibilities now and our free time is more valuable. But there is still no reason why we can not spend all our time playing all the nooks and crannies of Hollow knight, is there?

Instead, we are already obsessed with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Metroid Prime 4, and the next F-Zero, which might not even end up happening. Why? Why do we like these games that we have not played yet, that we have put on a pedestal, on games on our shelves that have rave reviews and that we have also have not played yet (or at least not played to destruction)? In addition, is it really more attractive to participate in several different games a month than to simply enjoy the Zelda landscape? Just stop and ask yourself these questions the next time you start your Switch.

Before falling into a cycle of self-hatred, this mess is not your fault. It's about capitalism. Publishers and developers need this consumer drive to support their bottom line. So it is important that you buy their game. Spend time getting 100% on? It does not matter – unless it's a game run as a service, in which case you need to stay hooked to the engine so you can (hopefully!) Keep spending.

To be fair, not everyone who works in games is like that, and it is actually Nintendo himself who made me understand the mistake of my habits. Whenever we get a new Direct, Nintendo spends a lot of time underlining free updates of the games we already have. Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Tennis Aces, and ARMS see regular content updates that do not cost us a single penny.

And I remember asking myself Why. Why support a one year game with a new DLC that costs nothing to the end user? This could be cynical – a tool used by Nintendo to boost sales to an older game – or it could be an act of appreciation for players. In any case, it does not really matter. What has been done is that I paused for a second to resume one of last year's games and give it another chance. To invest – a bit like I did when I was playing games when I was young.

There is something in the switch that makes quality time with a game much more appealing, and I am convinced that this lies in portability. When I sit on the couch, I make a conscious decision to play a game, and I usually want to stay true to something I can invest a lot of my time on. everything comes out of the window. Instead, I usually just want to do something quickly – whether it's a dungeon The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim or a quick tour of paladins. It's something that the PS4, the Xbox or the PC never offer as comfortably as my Switch, and that often leads me to invest again in these games during my free time.

To sum it all up, let's go back to a previous point. No, it's not your fault if you have a greater urge to buy the shiny new thing than playing an "old" game that sits on your shelf. However, it is your responsibility to try to change this state of mind, and the Nintendo Switch offers a much greater possibility to do this than any other console on the market. You can play anywhere, which means you're more likely to start something you would not normally see on your TV, and the fact that Nintendo is actively revitalizing old content will encourage you to come back as well.

I invite you all to break your habits. Take out that filmed copy of this weekend and play it. Or go back to Breath of the Wild and finish all the sanctuaries instead of just saying that you are Go at. You have absolutely no excuses – the switch can go where you go. You might just find that you stop obsessing on the next big thing because you're too busy having fun – like the good old days.

Can you relate to the feelings expressed in this soap box? Did you find that the portability of the Nintendo Switch allowed you to invest more time in your favorite games? Are we just talking about a load of old Bowsette ?! Let us know in the comments section below!