I don't wanna play boring games, but interesting games are addicting

As the thread title says, I don't wanna play boring games, but interesting games are addicting. This is a consistent problem.

I mean, I can amuse myself using Solitaire, Minesweeper, Mahjong Solitaire, or Ink Ball, but it feels so empty after I'm done with it. Perhaps it's good as a temporary diversion, in that it makes me feel unfulfilled even if it's gotten my click-happy hand its fix. Now sometimes, I can spend several hours furiously clicking away at maps of mines our putting cards in order. But generally speaking they're not very interesting or addicting.

On the other hand, you have those games that actually are fun. They are engrossing, they are immersive, and they are inevitably addictive. Especially if they're complex. To think ahead several turns in Fire Emblem, to decide whether to save those water crystals for mermaid shoes or to forge gilded swords in Recettear, to monitor and play the metagame of Pokémon, to keep track of the skills and inventory of my clan in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and to piece together the space pirate logs in Metroid Prime. But these are the games that I actually want to play, because they've got so much to do, so many strategies to try, so many locales to explore and secrets to uncover, and so much story to uncover. But then I want to keep playing these games, and when I'm done playing them, I will almost inevitably keep thinking about them for days, weeks, even months on end.

And frankly speaking, it's not that easy to think about the Navier-Stokes Equations when you've got E Vs and STAB on your mind.

Anyone got ideas of how to solve this?

Er, I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. That small, free games designed solely as time wasters aren't as intricate or enjoyable as games designed with the purpose of being intricate and enjoyable?

I'm trying to say that those that are designed to be more intricate and have more depth are more addictive and stick to my mind while I'm trying to think about real life stuff.

The result is that I usually try to avoid playing games that are very engrossing if I know I have to do important stuff. Which, unfortunately, is like always.

I don't think this problem is solvable. If you find interesting games addictive, then for you, games you find interesting will invariably be addictive for you.

And yes I know I was essentially repeating myself there, but it's just how it works.

I'm trying to say that those that are designed to be more intricate and have more depth are more addictive and stick to my mind while I'm trying to think about real life stuff.

Um, yes? This happens with anything that's interesting and appealing enough to people. It's not an unusual thing, and not the sort of problem that needs any dramatic attention. You just need to pace yourself and learn to focus.

Well, are there really interesting games that are easy to put down and pick up anytime?

No, there aren't, because by definition of being interesting, they are difficult to pick up and put down. Especially that whole "put down" part, that has to be the hardest.

I amused myself for a while with Poke Park Wii: Pikachu's Adventure. Check it out.

Best solution I can think of is finding a game where you can save anywhere. Then you don't have thoughts like "Oh, I only have to go a little point more to find a save point!"

Other than that, it's all you, bro. You have to be able to put down a game when push comes to shove and you need to start working.

Okay, I read your posts again. Sounds to me like you're in a bit of a situation, and I don't think there's an obvious answer.

You either really need to learn to stop thinking about games while you work, somehow, or stop playing games.

edited 28th Feb '11 1:40:49 PM by Deathonabun

Alarm clocks. Set timers to manage your game-playing time. I do a similar thing, by always checking the clock.

Touhou. More addicting than crack and you have the bonus of plenty of tropers talking about it!

Of maybe if it bothers you that much, just don't play games anymore?