The Waiting Game

Right now it’s 11AM on Tuesday the 29th of March. I’m sat at my computer trying to waste away some time by reading random top ten articles, checking Facebook, and chatting shite on MSN. I’m barely concentrating; I keep getting distracted by Twitter. Each time I hear TweetDeck chirp my eyes flit instantly across to the message box. If it’s not AceyBongos announcing that Mass Effect 2: The Arrival is ready for download from Xbox LIVE marketplace I’m not interested one bit.

I heard about the last Mass Effect 2 DLC instalment months ago, and I squealed and clapped my hands with excitement. The Mass Effect games are some of my favourites of all time and each add-on I’ve bought, with the exception of Pinnacle Station, has managed to add to my Shepard’s story and universe in a way I’m very pleased with.

Thing is, all the love I have for Mass Effect didn’t stop me from actually forgetting all about the DLC ’til yesterday morning when I read an article about it. My face lit up as I grinned stupidly; it was almost as though it was a surprise release, with only one day to go before I got to jump back on the Normandy for a brand new adventure.

This never happens to me. I pine after games that aren’t finished all the time. In the back of my mind even now is the fact that Battlefield 3 isn’t out ’til autumn, Gears of War 3 has been delayed ’til next year, and Half-Life 2: Episode 3… well… :'(

New games in the works get announcements, teasers, trailers, and previews. They also get official and unofficial websites full of news and discussions from gamers hoping and speculating about something that they can only hope and speculate about. And while finding information about new features or storylines is more than interesting, it just makes the time ’til release day seem even longer! I am terrible for getting caught up in hype and love the thought that the next game I play could be something incredible, so I’m like a kid at Christmas when I finally get my hands on it. But the delight I felt at realising I wasn’t going to have to wait very long to play The Arrival makes me wish I could forget these things more often. It’s likely that the only way I could ensure I have this experience again would be to never look on the internet or T.V, stop talking to people, and stay out of any shops for as long as I live. No shopping; it just ain’t gonna happen.

There’s the tweet! Right, I’m off. No more waiting for me. Woo hoo!