I do feel guilty for cheating on each of my games, dropping them before the halfway mark, but it’s not out of a desire to seek other games – it’s because other games are so tempting, so demanding that my willpower had diminished in recent years.

Having more than one console doesn’t help either. It’s hard to think that it was only two years ago that I was a single console gamer, infatuated with my Wii. Throw in a 360 and all of a sudden the gaming dynamic has been a little more uncomfortable and a lot harder to manage.

Ironically, the games that require longer periods to completely finish them, to see and appreciate all of the little quirks and details, or to just play them to the point that you’re looking for another game to replace them, are the ones that disappear from the public eye quickest. GTA IV, Oblivion, Fallout 3 – these titles take months to explore thoroughly, but the post-release excitement dissipates within weeks.

GTA IV was on the public’s lips for a solid year at least before its release. I picked it up on day one, dedicated my every spare gaming moment to it (of which admittedly there are few – gamer with a job!) and yet everyone in the communities I’m a member of had finished and moved on before I’ve reached the middle island.

Do I stay behind and finish this game I’m enjoying more than any title I had in recent months/years, or do I skip the end and keep up with the industry? Foolishly, I chose the latter (I had to, because I’m also a games writer) and I’ve been dying to go back ever since – but more flings get in the way!

It’s also ironic that gamers (the average gaming public) expect games writers to be able to know and play more games in order to inform them, when in truth they’re far more qualified (in terms of how much time and experience they have playing a wide variety of games) than us.

Think that speaks volumes of us as good consumers! Sometimes its the pursuit of acquiring games rather than the playing. Its a lot quicker to buy a game than play it.

People in all industries need to learn the animators rule: action should be equal to anticipation and reaction (and the anti and re can be any ratio you want). For years it’s felt like all we do is anticipate the next thing while the current release languishes in its shrink wrap.

But yeah, it;s also like a strange flingy relationship too

Regardless, being attached to one game for a long time is very important as a gamer (if we never become addicted, where’s the push to keep gaming?), although I have realized I never want a game to be never-ending (though WoW players may disagree).

Incidentally, I’m a games writer and I abhor the flood of new games and relish the opportunity to nearly drown in the depths of titles many have cast aside.

I sunk more than 40 hours into the unassuming Patapon, not yet ready to begin Patapon 2. I’m currently at inexcess of 30 hours into Resident Evil 5, and know when and where most enemies will jump out from, where to find the loot and how to S-rate a few levesl fo The Mercenaries. I’ve put well over 150+ hours into Left 4 Dead.

*sigh* I fall so hard and so fast for so many games but, when something hooks you, it is an utter delight.