The Backlog is a pillar of gaming discourse and general self-deprecating humor. A never-ending list of titles, new and old, at the whims of the player, sounds perfect on paper. You always have something to play … or so it seems.
The backlog is a list of games; they aren’t the literal games themselves. As such, it is less required for one to have the game to know that you want to play it. Gaming magazines like “Tips & Tricks” and “Nintendo Power” were the main source of game news during the ’90s and early 2000s. They’d have ratings and inside info on new and upcoming games, as well as details on the wide and unknown library of games available. Those were the “serious gamers.” If you had an internet connection, you might’ve checked company websites and waited 10 minutes for trailers to load. The availability of news is what makes learning about new games so accessible.
As the internet became more available, gaming events like the Electronic Entertainment Expo (or E3) in the summer were converted from boring trade shows into gaming news showstoppers. For years, you’d get the biggest news all at once from the big publishers and producers, new games and consoles would shine in the spotlight. Of course, as time went on and more money needed to be burned, that became less and less viable, and with Nintendo already showing for years that you can present gaming news on your own time through direct video presentations (or Nintendo Directs), E3 bit the bullet after 2020 and 2021, arguably losing its soul in the hopes to reach the widest audience, while losing its core group to the tl;dr’s of Gameinformer and IGN.
With Xbox Live Arcade and soon Steam and Epic Games taking over the online storefront, and the biggest games ranging from independent studios (or indies) to triple A companies (High Quality Production), there’s more to play now than ever. This is where the backlog comes in. It’s no longer a literal physical space where you need to sell games to make room for more games; it’s a digital drain of sales and media fighting for your attention.
So I would like to see what Brandeis is playing right now, and what is up next on the docket, and compare it to sites such as HowLongToBeat and Backlogged.
Sorry Chloe, but I have made a QR code for this Google Form for people to fill out, asking three things:
- What are you playing right now?
It could be anything or nothing. College is busy after all.
- What do you want to play next?
Once you have the time to start something new, what do you want to tackle?
- What game do you spend the most time playing, and how long?
Could be anything from Candy Crush to Street Fighter to Balatro to Red Dead Redemption.
I want to see what people are playing! Of course, with your consent. Happy gaming!
