Got a massive backlog- how to physically reward myself for finishing it?

[Texan Penguin]

I'm trying to spend less money on gaming- got a lot of other important things to deal with financially. Besides that, my backlog is HUGE. Some games I've finished (multiple times, even.), some I started but never completed, and some haven't been touched. But I've set a goal to complete them all anyway.

I guess the first incentive to finishing my catalog of games is this:
0-20%: No new purchases at all.
21-50%: One new title per month- max $10
51-75%: One new title per month- max $20
75-90%: One new full-price purchase.
91-100%: ?????

What would be a nice physical reward for finishing everything? We're talking 280 titles here, spanning from 1985-2016, and of varying length- and completion requirements, since some of them don't have a true ending (ie. Total War and the Sims). This might take a while. (I do have a full-time job, so I don't have as much time to play as I did when I was younger. I try to squeeze in time when I'm not doing family stuff, cleaning or pursuing other hobbies.)

I know it sounds so silly, but I want to finally sweep out most of these games from my backlog.

[Remilia]

Another backlog.

Joking aside, I guess whatever other hobby you have and just indulge a bit?

[Chrno]

montitor, keyboard, headset ... whatever floats your boat ^^

[Mifuyne]

The answer is always fapping.

[Texan Penguin]

montitor, keyboard, headset ... whatever floats your boat ^^

Shit, that's the problem. Aside from maybe a Nintendo Switch, there's literally no other console or hardware I want- I have virtually EVERYTHING.

NES
SNES
N64
Wii U (counts as a Wii)
Gamecube
GBA (OG and SP)
Phat DS
3DS x3 (One retired original, a NN3DS XL and a small NN3DS- the Pokemon 20th anniversary one- I got for myself for my birthday.)
PS3 Slim
Xbox One
PS4
PC that has at least $1200 invested in it- counting one post-purchase RAM upgrade, a low-end Steelseries mouse and a Razer Blackwidow keyboard. Oddly, most of the PC section for this challenge isn't current but rather 360 era or low-end like the Sega Classics collection. The most recent titles I have for are probably The Division or AC Syndicate.

[Chrno]

Shit, that's the problem. Aside from maybe a Nintendo Switch, there's literally no other console or hardware I want- I have virtually EVERYTHING.

NES
SNES
N64
Wii U (counts as a Wii)
Gamecube
GBA (OG and SP)
Phat DS
3DS x3 (One retired original, a NN3DS XL and a small NN3DS- the Pokemon 20th anniversary one- I got for myself for my birthday.)
PS3 Slim
Xbox One
PS4
PC that has at least $1200 invested in it- counting one post-purchase RAM upgrade, a low-end Steelseries mouse and a Razer Blackwidow keyboard. Oddly, most of the PC section for this challenge isn't current but rather 360 era or low-end like the Sega Classics collection. The most recent titles I have for are probably The Division or AC Syndicate.

/thread haha

[Texan Penguin]

/thread haha

What is that? A beer keg? A bong? I'm confused...

[Asmekiel]

What is that? A beer keg? A bong? I'm confused...

It's a BeerTender.

[Poppincaps]

Honestly if your backlog is anything like mine, I think you need to come to terms with the fact that unless you never buy another game (which is lame as hell) you'll never actually clear it out.

What I would suggest is to go through and play 30 minutes to an hour of every game that you own. Take note of the games that engage you well and if you find one that you really enjoy then just go ahead and play through it and continue down the list after it's done.

Many people have games that they accrued through PS Plus/Xbox Live Gold or through Steam Sales that they've never played before. Consider whether you actually even want to play them before putting them on your backlog.

As for rewarding yourself... it actually seems like your "rewards" seem more like punishment for having a huge backlog rather than a reward for clearing it out. Just be more conservative in what you buy and also understand that it's okay if you never complete some of your games.

[Texan Penguin]

I guess I'll post the actual list, if anyone is actually interested:

Super Nintendo
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy VI
Super Mario World
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2
Donkey Kong Country 3
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Earthbound
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Super Metroid

Nintendo 64
Super Mario 64
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo Tooie
Yoshi's Story
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Donkey Kong 64

Gamecube
Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Pokemon Colosseum
Pokemon XD: Gales of Darkness
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda 2: Adventure of Link
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
F-Zero GX
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron 2- Rogue Leader

Wii and Wii U
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Trauma Team
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Trauma Center: New Blood
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Super Mario 3D World
New Super Mario Bros. U
Mario Kart 8
Guitar Hero Live
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Game Boy and Game Boy Advance
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Super Mario Land
Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins
Wario Land 2
Wario Land 3
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
Pokemon Red
Metroid II: Return of Samus
Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga
Pokemon Ruby
Pokemon Fire Red
Metroid Fusion

DS and 3DS
Trauma Center: Under the Knife
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2
Pokemon Heart Gold
Pokemon Diamond
Pokemon White
Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time
New Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario 3D Land
New Super Mario Bros. 2
Pokemon Y
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D
Bravely Default
Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Pokemon Sun (Pre-ordered.)
Yoshi's New Island

Playstation 3
MLB: The Show 13
NHL 13
The Last of Us
God of War
God of War II
God of War III
Kingdom Hearts HD
Kingdom Hearts: ReChain of Memories
Kingdom Hearts 2 HD
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
Spyro the Dragon
Crash Bandicoot
Gran Turismo 6
Mortal Kombat 2011

Playstation 4 (Most recent acquisition, so my library for it is kinda small...)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered [COMPLETE- October 27, 2016]
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (Pre-ordered.)
Drake's Fortune
Among Thieves
Drake's Deception

Xbox 360 and Xbox One
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Halo 2 Anniversary
Halo 3
Halo 4
Halo 3: ODST
Halo: Reach
Halo 5: Guardians
Gears of War: Ultimate
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 3
Gears of War: Judgment
Dark Souls III
Dark Souls
Far Cry: Primal
Battlefield 1
Grand Theft Auto V
Tomb Raider 2013
The Deer God
WWE 2K16
Red Dead: Redemption
Fable II
Fable III
Battlefield 4
Battlefield Hardline
Star Wars Battlefront

PC
Dead Space
Dead Space 2
Dead Space 3
FIFA 15
Mass Effect
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 3
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Bioshock
Bioshock 2
Bioshock Infinite
NBA 2K15
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Call of Duty: Black Ops [COMPLETE- September 22, 2016]
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Fallout 3
Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout 4
Call of Duty
Borderlands
Borderlands 2
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Far Cry 3
Far Cry 4
Fable Anniversary
DOOM
DOOM 2
DOOM 3
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham City
Batman: Arkham Origins
Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed II
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed: Revelations
Assassin's Creed III
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Assassin's Creed: Unity
Assassin's Creed: Rogue
Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
Grand Theft Auto III
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto IV
Rollercoaster Tycoon
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II- The Sith Lords
The Witcher
The Witcher II: Assassins of Kings
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Portal
Portal 2
Half-Life
Half-Life: Opposing Force
Half-Life: Blue Shift
Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2: Episode One
Half-Life 3: Episode Two
Quake
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Jet Set Radio
Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure 2
Metro 2033
Alien: Isolation
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition
Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition
Call of Duty: World at War
Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition
Total War: Napoleon
Medieval II: Total War
Total War: Rome II
Total War: Shogun II
Total War: Empire
The Sims 2
The Sims 3
The Sims 4
Cities: Skylines
Sim City 4
Civilization IV
Civilization V
Civilization: Beyond Earth
Quake
Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age II
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Sonic CD
Rome: Total War
Diablo III
Overwatch
Hearthstone
Medal of Honor 2011
Battlefield 3
Mirror's Edge
Diablo II
Burnout: Paradise
Warcraft III- Reign of Chaos/The Frozen Throne
Crysis 2
Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3- Uprising

Sega Genesis (Technically they're all PC titles. But I listed them separately.)
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Alien Soldier
Alien Storm
Altered Beast
Beyond Oasis
Bio-Hazard Battle
Bonanza Bros.
Comix Zone
Crack Down
Decap Attack
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
Dynamite Headdy
Ecco Jr.
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco: The Tides of Time
ESWAT: City Under Siege
Eternal Champions
Fatal Labyrinth
Flicky
Gain Ground
Galaxy Force II
Golden Axe 3
Gunstar Heroes
Kid Chameleon
Landstalker
Light Crusader
Phantasy Star 2
Phantasy Star 3
Phantasy Star 4
Ristar
Shadow Dancer
Shining Force
Shining Force 2
Shining in the Darkness
Shinobi 3
Sonic 3 and Knuckles
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic 3D Blast
Sonic Spinball
Space Harrier
Streets of Rage
Streets of Rage 2
Streets of Rage 3
Super Thunder Blade
Sword of Vermillion
The Revenge of Shinobi
Toejam and Earl
Toejam and Earl in Panic on Funkitron
Vectorman
Vectorman 2
Virtua Fighter 2
Wonder Boy III
Wonder Boy in Monster World
Golden Axe

NES
Metroid
T&C Surf Designs: Wood and Water Rage
Karnov
Kid Niki: Radical Ninja
RC Pro Am
Burgertime
Ninja Kid
Commando
Top Gun
Castlevania
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Puss in Boots: Pero's Great Adventure
3D Worldrunner
Mickey Mousecapades
Rygar
Dr. Mario
Mighty Bomb Jack
Ghosts and Goblins

Well, there it is... Long-ass list of games. Two down, 278 to go.

[Texan Penguin]

You have a problem, sir ^^ - and I bet it relates 100% to "- got a lot of other important things to deal with financially." You mike kill two birds with a stone if you sold all the games and consoles?

This is honestly like an addiction. I seriously suggest professional help or a hardcore cut:

Ok, before we start flinging assumptions around... I didn't buy some of these. NES? Belonged to my grandmother. SNES? Brother. Some games were birthday/Christmas presents growing up. I bought lots of my PC games on sale or in a Humble Bundle. A few are GWG, Origin On the House... I like cheap, and I like free even better.

The money isn't the issue. I am cutting my entertainment spending so I can save for a car and my own place... The issue is not being able to commit to finishing a game. I get distracted, forget about it for a month and when I get back to it, it's like, "The hell was I doing? Gotta start over."

[Atrea]

Sell all the older stuff to collectors, and use it to do something for your future.
You're never going to get through this "backlog" of yours, and you know it. You're a procrastinator, and likely have poor time management skills, hence why your backlog is so long to begin with.

Put a down payment on a house, or buy a car, or something.
Future you will be happy you did it, trust me.

[Texan Penguin]

Another backlog.

Joking aside, I guess whatever other hobby you have and just indulge a bit?

Well, I am learning how to bake from scratch. I would love to get cookie sheets that weren't lit on fire, maybe a baker's scale, a mixer... I definitely have other hobbies.

[anaxie]

My steam backlog is 300 games strong not counting Origin games. That said. I've played probably 3 I have owned skyri . Gta5 witcher 3, all bioshocks, all mass effects, DAs, wolfeinsteins , divinirys, metal gears. I have never LAUNCHED any of them. And I'll probably drop $1000+ more this winter on steam

[Poppincaps]

Yeah there's no way in fuck you're getting through that. Do what I said, spend a few months giving each game 30 minutes to an hour of your time, and cross off the ones that truly don't interest you.

As for everyone giving the dude shit, honestly I've discovered that I personally really like collecting games, even if I know I'll never play them. Collecting games has become almost as big of a hobby as playing them at this point, so owning a game you'll never play isn't necessarily a waste of money.

[Deleted]

Honestly if your backlog is anything like mine, I think you need to come to terms with the fact that unless you never buy another game (which is lame as hell) you'll never actually clear it out.

I'll never accept that. NEVER!

@Ulgaan: If you need something to reward you for playing, you don't seem to enjoy it that much. Playing in itself should be enjoying. I get that different people get different things out of games, but I think this central point should be true for all: It should NEVER be something you feel forced to or make you feel like you have to reward yourself for doing it with something else.
Though I get that it seems daunting how many games you have, and seemingly not nearly enough time to play them all. Especially since there are many new good ones coming out, and the backlog seems to get bigger and bigger. I and many others are in the same boat. So just start stuff, try to enjoy it, and if you don't: Put the game away, start something else, and don't look back.

[Eldonia]

To me this seems like a case of "The Cereal is the Prize". Good luck with all of them.

[zsecmmo]

I'll tell you my secret to clearing your back log. I look for newer games that are coming out on Steam or etc and look through my library for any prequels before it. Download them all and set them as favorites in steam. This way you don't see all the games at once and you get mind blown. Go ahead and play all of these and then if you are inclined buy the new sequel to and finish it. Now you have finished one whole series of games. It also helps that when you complete a game set it to "hidden" in your library so that you'll never see it again. Unless you just like it so much you want to play it again for achievement purposes.. Hope this helps, I have about 250+ games on Steam and i've finished about 100+ of them so far.

[Justpassing]

Another backlog.

Joking aside, I guess whatever other hobby you have and just indulge a bit?

Off-topic: How is this guy a moderator, with such lewd images? Isn't MMO-C a NSFW site?

I mean if my boss saw this shit while I'm scrolling or smt., I'd be in deep shit.

[jeepguy16]

As someone else suggested, give each game 30 min, maybe an hour, and see if you are interested. I actually had been meaning to come back to the Uncharted games for years myself. Made it half way through the first one, tried the second one for a couple hours, and decided they didn't need to be in my backlog. I want to like them, I really do. I just don't. Although I still plan on trying Uncharted 4 soon.

Some games though, after 30 - 60 min, you are going to get attached to. I had that happen with FTL, sat down to try it and suddenly it was morning. Put probably 40 hours into it the next two weeks and even now....it's still kind of in my backlog....I must play more FTL....

Also, try not to treat it so much like work. Having a list is great but it is a little too much like a to do list, which kind of has negative vibes for most people. Easiest thing to do is to just pick one, and play a bit. If it grabs you, keep playing. If it doesn't, remove from list.