When and How do you find the time to play games?

As busy as life gets, when and how do you find the time to play the games in your collections?

With families, friends, work, school, other priorities, obligations or hobbies - I'm curious to know how you all manage it: whenever you happen to have the down time, do you have blocks of time set, or perhaps even you don't play as much as you'd like to?

The reason I ask is that I often feel I have far too many games that I have yet to even touch let alone finish and at the rate life goes I begin to question how appropriately I negotiate my time. I also get a guilty feeling playing games when there is work lingering and I don't consider myself an efficient multi-tasker.

In any case, please enlighten me! At my current pace, I'll finally get back to Shining Force II following my retirement...

I'm lucky in that I work shifts. If I didn't I'd get no game time at all as my wife, we could say, isn't as enthusiastic about black plastic boxes containing assortments of chips and electronics parts under the TV as I am. My main worry about game playing is choosing what to play, I have so many now that while playing one I feel like I should be playing another. Rather like a bigamist would feel about his or her other spouses I imagine!

Also, I tend to play games I know I can make good progress in and put off those I haven't properly started yet. Having said that, I have just bought a Dreamcast (always wanted one) having never played Virtua Fighter 3. I'm waiting on some vinyl dye and high gloss finish for this week's restoration project.

That's another thing, I find stuff like this takes me away from games too, I enjoy it as much as playing. I modded an MDII yesterday, and true to form once I'd screwed it all back together the switch failed where once it worked (:daze:), got it fixed though. So quite ironically, games systems sometimes keep me from gaming!

Stick to arcade types?

If you're going to play an RPG, I guess you should just try accomplishing smaller goals. Something like, gain an extra level, save, shut it off, pick it up tomorrow. In the case of a Shining Force game, it shouldn't take you more than a half hour to complete a single battle, should it?

Its easy, you just need sleep less and play more =D

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Originally Posted by midnightrider

Stick to arcade types?

If you're going to play an RPG, I guess you should just try accomplishing smaller goals. Something like, gain an extra level, save, shut it off, pick it up tomorrow. In the case of a Shining Force game, it shouldn't take you more than a half hour to complete a single battle, should it?

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I don't remember how long SF game battles take? But RPGs can be very problematic if free gaming time is an issue. Some of them will suck you in so bad, that you start neglecting real life in a serious way. And if you still have to do real life stuff on the side, it's just pure torture while your away from you fantasy world of Skyrim, Shining Force 3 & series, Dark Soul series, etc. And I never rush through S/RPGs. Ever. I savour every moment when I'm really into one and take my time. Otherwise said RPG never gets finished.

There is one genre that is perfect if real world life time is an issue. The 2D scrolling shoot'em up genre. All games in this genre can be played in quick bursts. But those new to the genre will have a though time getting into this genre. Just take it a day at a time until you discover a whole new world of gaming goodness that can also be played in short bursts. Because I've been through this transformation and it taking quite some time, I believe anyone now can get into it and enjoying as much as long as they don't give up on the genre ASAP.

The local automobile traffic makes the use of portables mandatory over here, even more if you spend around 1h30 inside the bus to move between your work and home.
However, I've read some books lately like The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers, and leaving to play this same time only when I'm already at home, before I go to sleep.

You need to HAVE time for a hobby.
If video gaming is the only hobby you have then it should be no problem.

Play shorter games.
Play the games you own, buy more when you're done with them.
Buy older games. Cheaper and as much fun as when they came out. Maybe even more fun.
If budget or storage is a problem, switch to digital gaming.
Find local friends with similar interests. Get them into your daily circle. Invite them over for some real gaming fun.
Play more, discuss less, etc etc.

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Originally Posted by Pyron

Its easy, you just need sleep less and play more =D

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This. I've learned to function off 5-6 hours of sleep due to my busy schedule.

Six hours of sleep is a dream. :D Seriously, though, I'm sick of the rat race.

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Originally Posted by Kollision

You need to HAVE time for a hobby.
If video gaming is the only hobby you have then it should be no problem.

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lol, this put a smile on my face.

Guess I never thought of it as I usually do have the time + videogames is my fave hobby.

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Originally Posted by Lastcallhall

This. I've learned to function off 5-6 hours of sleep due to my busy schedule.

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I can't function with less the 10 hours of sleep. Seriously, I wish it was possible to sleep less. :(