I've found that with three kids and little time to play, I'm preferring shorter games now. I find that while I enjoy long RPGs, the small amount of time I currently have causes me to lose track of what I was doing or getting things accomplished takes to long (real time - weeks rather than a day or two to make any progress).

I do experience something similar to this when I finish a game. I often find it's tough for me to start a new game right away because I've become so used to the one I just finished playing that thinking about learning the new controls and mechanics of a new game makes me just not want to fire it up right away. So I often go for days or a couple weeks before starting a new game.

However, one thing I do find is I've been purchasing fewer and fewer lately simply even when they're on sale because I have so many in my backlog and just can't justify spending money on yet another game (unless it's something I've really, really, really been wanting) when I have so many stacked up to play. And I know that no matter how good a deal looks right now, it will eventually come around again so I can just buy it later when I'm in need of something new.

Maybe the quality of shit out today does not meet your standards anymore?

I'll be honest with you. I'm over a decade younger than you and I'm also very wary of new releases. If I look at one of those so-called "AAA" games, I will be wondering what game it horribly rips off now. If I see a new indie game, I will be wondering if it is pretentious, gimmicky, has pop culture references or mocks the genre it mostly resembles.

The only game that has lately surprised me is Unepic. Sure, it most definitely looks like an indie game and it has lots and lots of pop culture references but for some reason I can't explain, I just love the game. (Perhaps it fills the void left by Konami's refusal to create more 2D Castlevanias.)

Personally, I go through phases. By this I mean that for long periods, only certain things hold any appeal and then that wanes and something else is the main thing that interests me. For many years, gaming just wasn't a huge draw - reading or catching up on movies or for a while, jigsaw puzzles, were top of my preferred activities. So some of what you're experiencing could be due to a kind of cyclic phasing of interest.

The other thing is that I, probably like most people, enjoy being good at something - it's comforting and comfortable. For me, adventure games usually are a known quantity and fill that need but lately I've gotten my gaming bug back and I'm trying a lot of different genres.

And lastly, some of this existential blah-ness comes from an ever-increasing awareness of the finiteness of time which in and of itself isn't a bad thing - it tends to focus one on what is truly important.

So I wouldn't worry overly much - this too shall pass ;-)

I find that I'm rarely interested in AAA releases these days, but I think that's a combination of several factors:
-Many AAA titles are first-person shooters, and personally I just don't like that genre;
-AAA titles tend to build on formulas that have already proven popular, which can result in a "Meh, seen it" effect for those of us who've been around for a while;
-Back when only meganerds like me bought games, most games were targeted at meganerds like me. With gaming entering the mainstream, the big releases are targeted at an audience whose tastes are less "niche" than my own. That's not a complaint, just an observation.

Though I'm not shy of a steep learning-curve, the added responsibilities of adult life do make it difficult to devote the kind of time needed to learn complex games - which means that I only get to play them when my being in the mood to do so coincides with actually having time to do so.

I'm also 45 so I suppose I'm qualified to comment. My attitude is that there are already so many incredible PC games in existence that even if the PC games industry is going to hell - and I'm not convinced that it is, since I keep coming across so many well-reasoned and creative thoughts in regard to games in general - it is still worthwhile buying a PC to play games because so much great stuff has been created already, and if you can actually get the older games to work on your PC then you already have enough to keep you going for a lifetime, if you can remain young in your soul for long enough, that is. It's an arena for creativity and I still love it even though I sometimes wonder whether I oughtn't to be doing something more "responsible". I don't hate "new" games, all I hate is the rejection of brilliant older games which have been rejected for what in my opinion are inadequate and too-hasty reasons.

I would post more but I need to go and collect my pension from the post office.

im 31, and i've experienced that i can control my bowels less. no joke. i wish i had only your problems.

Agree 100% with what you're saying here.

Yeh - definitely a phase thing. Been there a couple of times so far. I am currently at the opposite end of the spectrum - buying everything in sight and trying out all sorts of genres I'd always avoided.

Starting a new game is difficult for me. I would rather replay a game I'm bored of than start a new game I'm actually interested in. It's the same feeling as with actual work vs procrastination.

I'm in my mid 50s and been a gamer since pinball was all there was. So many great comments so far, all I have to add is my aversion to the sameness of so many of the console titles nowadays. I do realize it is about making money. However my rule with stand up is if they aren't laughing it isn't funny. Same with games, if it isn't "fun" it isn't much of a game.

I can go back and play XCOM or fire up the SNES and play Mario Kart and have much more fun than 99% of the poop being shoveled out today. Those are some oooold games kids, but they are fun.

I want fun put back in my games or so help me I'll fill this Depends so fast it'll make your head spin!!!!

Well phrased. This is exactly what I was getting at in my post, only you said it much better and much more succinctly.

I have found this as well, as more new games are announced, they become more....meh, but I get excited with old games coming here (eg. SS, Severance etc.), Also, the only new games I have been excited about recently would be Divinity OS and Grim Dawn.

Maybe we are just looking for comfort in our old age :)

45? WOW, If the US didn't do the whole independence thing you wouldn't be far off the halfway mark for birthday card off the queen.

But yeah, I'm 31 and I have already started getting the same feelings as you.