After watching me play for 19 years, my daughter is just now starting to branch out from The Sims into other games. It started with Hogwarts, a game I loved but got bored with. She made a character—spent HOURS doing so and was instantly sucked in. At first she couldn’t manage walking and manipulating the camera. Watching her character bounce of walls was comical. When combat started she’d hand the controller to me. That was late last winter. Now, she is way better than I have ever been. I love watching her play, especially how quickly she figures out boss patterns. She’s about done with Hogwarts. She finished Star Wars: Outlaws. Now she is halfway through the rather difficult Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. I can watch her play for hours. Which is good because if nothing stops her, she’ll do just that.
Anyway, it’s age. The commenters here are all in a range (45-60) and all suffering from a similar malaise. It is normal. I’ve been on a pendulum for about 10 years where I play, I quit, I play, I quit. Right now I am an enthusiastic player again. But only sims and only for about 1 hour per day. Building the helicopter was a HUGE addition to my QOL. It was frustrating and (as you all know ad nauseum) devastating. But when the build was going well, I’ve never been happier. The floatplane rating was a short but intensely satisfying experience. Running still brings me a lot of joy. Aerobatics—meh, not so much anymore for some reason. But I won’t quit unless I break it. Part of me really wants a boxer BMW. That’s the only wish-browsing I do these days. (My wife and daughter both forbid me from actually pulling the trigger.)
