Why I Won't Be Playing BioShock Infinite

'Ewok' at GameGrin writes: I've lost count of the number of times people have said to me that I "must play" a particular game. BioShock Infinite is apparently the latest in this long list of games I "have" to play, a list that is getting rapidly out of control.

[DeadSpaced]

"I'm not going to play BioShock Infinite. I'm going to play some Skyrim."

Both are great games, but you can't take some time that you would spend grinding in Skyrim to play an amazing game? I don't see the logic in that.

[JoGam]

He's secretly playing Bioshock. He just needed something to write about today on N4G.

[joab777]

How about, I don't give a damn what u play. But the theme is strange. Dont tell me what to play but two of the biggest recommended games r skyrim and tomb raider. The title shoulda been " why I can't play every game on launch day". He will try it at some point. What a waste of my prescious time. Like most ppl who need to eat, I work too, and 45-50 hrs a week. And guess what, I take ppls recommendations to heart but ultimately play what I want to play. What a revelation this was.

[Nimblest-Assassin]

Can I just ask... who the hell approves these crap articles?

[omi25p]

lilbroRx
DeadSpaced
CouldHaveYelledUiiW
ShadowPraxis
WonsAuto
Garethvk

[snipes101]

These articles are things because people actually feed the trolls here. It's like we have a dinner bell that we ring every day, calling trolls in droves to feed upon the bountiful harvest that we here at N4G provide them.

I could say STOP DIRECTING MICE TOWARDS THESE ARTICLES AND COMPRESSING THE LEFT CLICK BUTTON JUST SO YOU CAN COME HATE THIS PERSON - but what good would that do? Why would we spend our energy elsewhere on more positive pursuits? It doesn't make any sense to find something to like about our hobby. It makes so much more sense to find something or someone within it that we can hate.

For these reasons, the trolls will always find a home at N4G, and the cycle will continue. I need to find another lighthouse...

[Ewok]

Thanks for commenting,

I'm sure I could take some time out to play a great game, but my point is there are so many great games that there just isn't enough time.

It's not specific to this game of course, it's just the latest in a series of "must play" games.

Admittedly it's a bit of a first world problem sort-of piece, but it grew from discussions I had with fellow gamers in similar positions who just don't have time to play everything that people push them to.

I thought it was a situation a lot of gamers might empathise with, but judging by the below comments I may have been wrong...

[joab777]

That should be the title then. Why I am so picky these days. Its true..the industry is saturated. I havnt been able to play dead space, crysis and many others b/c I work a lot and I hav a huge backlog of games to finish. To me, bioshock is different. Its a game that I put everything down for. I listen to others but always play what I want. I love rpgs too and its the reason that I am buried in titles. Times hav changes for me and I am a lot pickier nowadays. But bioshock is getting played before anything...and that's my opinion. As like everything, regardless of how astonishing it is, it isn't for everyone.

[DeadSpaced]

I understand the struggle, but I think the biggest issue for most readers is Bioshock Infinite is considered such a great game (and rightfully so) that they're confused why you wouldn't take a small amount of time just to see if you'll enjoy it.

Forsaking a game with such high praise for another that was released several years ago doesn't click with me.

[jcnba28]

I think the real reason is you weren't pulled into the series after playing a bit of the first Bioshock. I'm the same way, I only played a bit of the first and it didn't appeal to me so I stopped playing.

[da_2pacalypse]

If there is so little time... why are you wasting your time writing about it? Couldn't you use this time to play?

[BattleTorn]

I feel ya, I get way too many "must haves" to know what to do with. (and rarely have enough time for them all)

Worst of all, is when a new release has me dying to re-play an older game.

I started playing Far Cry 3, loved the (albiet short) crafting system -- so I went back to put another 50+hrs into Skyrim.
I started playing Bioshock Infinite, didn't like how forced all the action was (lack of stealth) -- so I'm currently replaying Dishonored now. (lovin it btw)

[KwietStorm]

If it applies to any game at any time, then what was the point of the write up, for this game at this time? Certainly it has nothing to do with the overwhelming appraise of BioShock Infinite at this current time..?

[adorie]

"I'm sure I could take some time out to play a great game, but my point is there are so many great games that there just isn't enough time. "

Hey. I can understand this, but still.. if you value your time and want to try a quality game that's freshly released, try out Infinite. It should or could be one of those games you bump to the front of your que.

[WolfLeBlack]

No, I think it is very much something other games can empathise with. I do game reviews and struggle to keep up with the flow of awesome games as well!

I think the problem here is that it's not really a strong basis for an interesting article. It didn't have much of a point,if you see where I'm coming from. I didn't get to the end of it with a new view on the subject or anything like that, I just read somebody taking about things I know: there's loads of games, and never enough time to play 'em all.

As you say, first world problem, indeed :D

Sorry for being blunt about it, but I always reckon that's the best approach to take. I look forward to reading your next piece, though.

[dedicatedtogamers]

Different games appeal to different people. Infinite was not a very "Bioshock"-ish Bioshock title. It has the least freedom, the least exploration, the most generic enemies, the strongest focus on shooting, and the fewest compelling options in combat. I'm probably gonna replay Dishonored and tell myself that the title of the game is "Bioshock: Whale Oil".

[kreate]

I... totally.... agree...

w ur bioshock analysis.

I want the little sister and the big sister back. Find adams and lay traps for the big daddy and unravel a twisted story.

I especially.. want to go under water again.

[CalvinKlein]

Boo hooooo. I liked it alot, and I knew I would. SP FPS have been my favorite games for a long time. glad I dont let other people enjoying something I do ruin it for me. damn hipsters

[lizard81288]

That is my Steam list. Out of like the 400+ games I own, I have only beaten 3 games (I have had my steam account for about a year and a half)

For those wondering,
Sonic CD
The Walking Dead
and
BioShock Infinite

Are the 3 games I have beaten.

[brish]

I wasn't wondering what games you've beaten. I was wondering why bother buying so many games when you don't finish them.

[vickers500]

The dealz!!!

Seriously though, they are tempting and addictive. I'm in a similar situation to lizard. I initially bought a bunch of games off of steam sales, thinking if I got a lot of games, I'd become more comfortable with pc gaming.

Yet the only ones I've actually finished are the first Bioshock (and that was only a few days ago), Ghostbusters (do not know why I beat that over so many other better games), Portal, and Half Life 2 and its expansions.

Though I don't have quite as many as Lizard, my library says I have 105, though about 10 or 15 of those are freeware titles (some of them that installed themselves without my knowledge) and many of them are bundles which came with games I never intended to play.

But I did realize it was getting out of control, and hard as it is to resist many of the sales, I've cut down quite a lot the amount of pc games I purchase. Though not entirely, as I just got Spec Ops The Line and The Darkness 2 bundle for 4 bucks. I still plan to get into pc gaming eventually. It will be nice to have all these games waiting for me when I do.

[lizard81288]

Yup, the deals. I buy games when they are on sale, because i'm cheap. I don't like to pay over $10 on PC games. Alot of the games I bought were on sale or bundled. My Steam Profile says I have 652 games

0_o;

Bioshock Infinite is the 1st game I paid full price/$50 or $60 for, but that was waiting for reviews, ect, ect.

[MoveTheGlow]

Sonic CD!!! I don't blame you. It's the best Sonic, the best Sega 16-bit era soundtrack, and it's an over-colorful seizure-inducing time capsule of early 90's nostalgia.

[adorie]

I'm starting to hit that ceiling too. The deals are just too good to ignore sometimes. Sometimes I buy games when I don't even want to buy games.

Take yesterday for example. They have Torchlight 2 for 9 bucks! Had to get it. :)

[yesmynameissumo]

I'd be more interested in an article stating why I (or anyone) should give a shit what you play and don't play.

[Swiggins]

Ummm...Ok...your loss bub.

[MelonSaurus]

Does this article explain why we should care?

[JoGam]

Umm no but stay tuned. He needs something to write about tomorrow.

[Gigaguy777]

7edgy9me

[Tokyo_reject]

Why do you think we care....????
An reason you give, justs makes me laugh at how you are missing one of the best games in a long time....i think u just mad cause you cant afford it bwaaahahaaha!!!

[goldwyncq]

No one gives a damn.

[Tokyo_reject]

Haha looks like the writer is going around an disagreeing with us to make himself look better

[yesah]

Why i wont be reading this article- i dont give a sht what this guy plays

[SonyPS4]

Well you kind of did, considering you clicked on the article and posting a comment.

[theDECAY]

It's honestly fine if he doesn't play Bioshock Infinite, but just as long as he knows his opinion is wrong. Also, how is he not bored of Skrim after 100 hours?

[danitanzo]

I'm not playing it either, but do you really need an article about it... Imagine if everyone made an article about games they didn't play... >.>

[Ewok]

Thanks for the comments guys.

The reason I though people might care is that I thought people might be in the same situation. There are just so many games out there that most of us will never get the chance to play all of them, so we have to make the choice of what to play and what to skip.

That's certainly the impression I've got from talking to people anyway, which is why I wrote it. The piece is from my perspective, but I don't think I'm the only person in that situation.

It a situation that's certainly not specific to BioShock Infinite, but that serves as the latest example of a "must play" title and it's a game I've made the choice to skip based on the gaming time I have available.

Anyway, it's down as an opinion piece and those were my opinions. I'm sorry that many of you don't feel the same, but I appreciate you reading and commenting nevertheless.

[theDECAY]

You're right, there are a lot of games we will never have a chance to play, but why miss out on one that actually tries to do something a little different? You are doing yourself a disservice by not trying it. It doesn't take that long and it is loads above Skyrim in storytelling, atmosphere, and cool. I can't really take you seriously as a game "journalist" when you would miss out on one of the truly well-made games of this gen because "you don't have time." My point; there are other games you could miss, not this one.

[MoveTheGlow]

"Getting back to the BioShock franchise, I probably played about 25% of BioShock and exactly 0% of BioShock 2.

Are you judging me? It's easy to see why you might."

Not from those. Bioshock 2 is utter BS - well, other than the DLC like Minerva's Den, which is just enjoyable, not crucial. The original is great to a point, but it seems like they, uh... felt like they needed to justify the price after the "golf club" scene was over and padded it to the end.

But before you pick up Nazi Zombie Shootery Thingy 5,000 or Planetside 2, take a look at Super Mario Galaxy 2. It's a whirlwind course in level design.

But, uh -

"many of the people I talk to are surprised by just how few of the so-called 'classic' games I've played to completion. "How can you not have played Call of Duty: Black Ops 2? I thought you wrote about games for a living!"

Those many people need to shut the duck up. Bioshock Infinite (you've played enough of the original Bioshock to get the idea, but maybe not to enjoy the ending *quite* as much). SMG2. The rest of those? Optional. Especially the latest CoD.

[_QQ_]

Tomorrow i want an article sharing what you have for breakfast.

[gamingzen]

Badly dissapointed in bioshock infinite. This game was so boring to playing through and it was nowhere as good as the original bioshock it had no atmosphere no puzzles how and why it got all these rave reviews is beyond me. Personally dishonoured is a much better game with hell of a lot more to do the reason i mention this game as i feel bioshock infinite looked and felt abit like this game but nowhere near as enjoyable

[jcnba28]

Why is Wii U tagged in this article..

[Roper316]

your loss noone elses. I agree with so many great games as I currently have close to 40 unopened games but for me Bioshock went right to the top of the pile.

On another note the game is great but is noway deserving of perfect scores. I had 2 freezes, saw some screen tearing and what the hell's up with the save files? I currently have 44 save files on my PS3 from their auto save system. WTF is up with that?

[_LarZen_]

Is this gaming news? I thought this site is called n4g? News for gamers....

This is not news, this is not close. It's just one man writing a diary. When stuff like this gets approved it just shows that people approving are not doing their "job" right.

This site is going down the drain with all the crap articles.

[tweet75]

im not playing it cause there were so many other great games that came out this month im broke lol

[DRM-Killz]

Your loss dip shit. You can go jerk the girk while the rest of the world enjoys one of the best games ever.

[Agent_00_Revan]

Sounds to me like u need a new job.

[GrathiusXR]

You know what's funny? I used to work 40+ hour week, go to the gym 4-5 times and play indoor soccer once a week. On top of that I still had time to play all the latest games and classics, review them AND write articles for the site I write for.

Someone obviously isn't managing their time properly at all and decided to write an article if you would even call it that explaining to us why he isn't going to play Infinite.

Apart from Shadow of the Colossus, Super Mario Galaxy and Tomb Raider, I've played all the games you've listed whilst doing everything I've listed. I knew I was wasting my time clicking the link.

[theDECAY]

It wouldn't have taken him much more time to play Bioshock Infinite and then write and article about it, rather than write this waste-of-time article.

[HiGwA]

Dude is a terrible gaming journalist.... Way to list all the great games you haven't played.... And BTW working 35 hours a week... Is not that much....

[Kurt Russell]

My thoughts exactly. I work more than that and have played all the games listed... I don't know how you can call yourself a game journalist if you don't play any games? I won't bother reading anything from him in future as anything written clearly won't have an objective point of view.

[PersonMan]

I must be the only person on this planet that doesn't find this game interesting. Looks like a first person shooter with some RPG elements mixed in.

Booooorrrrrring.

[theDECAY]

Have you played it?

[PersonMan]

I watched my girlfriend play it for a little while. Doesn't look like my type of game to be honest with you.

I don't really find first person shooters as fun as I used to. I'm also not into Skyrim and other RPGs.

It just doesn't seem like a game that would hold my attention. I hope that doesn't bother you.

[kirkules]

A true example of a fake gamer girl.

[kirkules]

That was a joke, by the way. We all have different tastes, and it's up to him if he wants to miss out on some of the good stuff. He loves XCOM, so we can forgive him, right?

[Psychonaut]

Bioshock infinite is amazing. When I have free time from work im playing that, or replaying GRID. (which is my personal favorite racer this gen.), and im looking fword to DriveClub on PS4.

[upallnightgamer]

Do play it, don't play it, it doesn't matter to me. I played it and loved it.

[Dfooster]

Calm down for god sake. There's a summer games drought coming up and bioshock can be beaten in about 12 hours. It's really not worth getting so emotional over.

[famirymattels]

there's a version of you in an alternate reality that totally played bioshock infinite and totally loved it and the only way you're going to be able to change that is to kill yourself