Status Report

Long time no write again. Figured I owed a quick insight into what's happening.
On a positive note, I started my first "real" job 3 weeks ago, which has been the main factor keeping me busy. The first week was rough, as with all new things, but by the end of the second week, I figured I had accustomed enough to start my routine activities, such as playing new games, up again, but I fell ill. Despite the free time one acquires when sick, it's really not any productive. Not much you can do with a headache discouraging any thorough thought. A week later, I'm feeling better now though, so hopefully I can continue where I left off.
I have a finished game sitting in memory, waiting to be written into a review, so expect that real soon.

As for the future, I'm planning to move closer to the city center as soon as I pick out a suitable apartment, which would be in the next couple of weeks to months. That will of course also cause at least a week's worth of disruption, but should free up a significant amount of time each week from not having to sit in commute to work or wherever for as long.

The usual note on how many games I have in my backlog? I don't even want to think about it. I've been picky lately, but with how slowly I'm playing through them, no amount added is too low to not increase the backlog size.

End-of-week Report

Same as last week, really. However, I am starting to get maxed out in Warframe, the current league in Path of Exile is ending in a week, and I promised myself I would get a job in September. In other words, time consuming stuff is running out, and new, not game related time consuming stuff is taking its place.
Next week shall be my last peacefully mundane one in probably quite a while. I think I'll miss it.

I did reach 300 games, sadly, but I can still enjoy it while it's a round number. Not going to delusion myself into believing it's not going to increase beyond this, however.

• Games in backlog: 300 (+2)
• of which Early Access: 58
• Games reviewed last week: 0

End-of-week Report

Well, got to be honest with you, and myself. I've been playing some multiplayer games the past week which I've found to be more enjoyable than going through my list. Some ARAM in League, some Warframe, some Path of Exile... And those can take all of the time in a day, so I don't have any left.
But screw it, I'm enjoying myself. I'll run out of content eventually, and be forced to play something else, but until then - let the backlog grow. It sucks to never reach my goals, but at the same time, until I do reach them, I'll always have something to do.

Two games until the dreaded three hundred. Next weekend? The one after that? Or will I miraculously pull my act together?

• Games in backlog: 298 (+3)
• of which Early Access: 58
• Games reviewed last week: 0

End-of-week Report

How damn hard is it to not miss a week and then some days on writing something which is basically just whatever semi-coherent thoughts come into your head plus a bunch of numbers you can just fetch from a place.
Nah, but really, I've felt a tad less motivated to look through games lately. Maybe even with my helping scripts the influx is just too great. I finally caught up, so that's why the "end-of-week" report is on a Tuesday.

• Games in backlog: 295 (+5)
• of which Early Access: 58
• Games reviewed last (two) week(s): 2

End-of-week Report

Steam's Ignore functionality broke down Saturday morning, and hasn't recovered yet. As such, I don't have last 2 days' games in the list. Ah well, it's not like I have a shortage, and I'm sure the issue will be fixed soon, what with how many people it's affecting.
In other news, progress again this week. I'm hoping to get Return of the Obra Dinn over with soon, and I started Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity, which seems to have caught my attention for more than a couple of hours.

• Games in backlog: 290 (-2)
• of which Early Access: 58 (+1)
• Games reviewed last week: 2

End-of-week Report

I'm back. And despite the one week absence, I actually made progress compared to two weeks ago. That's great.

• Games in backlog: 292 (-1)
• of which Early Access: 57
• Games reviewed last week: 3

End-of-week Report

I am not completing as many games as I had hoped. I've no clue as to what excuses to give anymore, even. Time just vanishes somewhere.
I started with Return of the Obra Dinn a few days ago, and I'm quite enjoying it. It will probably take some 10-20 hours to complete, but it's rather exhausting to play in single sessions, so I might start some other games alongside it.

If anyone remembers, I talked about a scoring formula I made some time ago. I discovered a bit of redundancy in it not too long after, and I finally got around to crunching the algebra to simplify it. The weighing constants no longer looked as pretty, but as they were arbitrary anyways, I changed them around a bit, which in turn slightly changed the ordering of the games. These changes are represented in my backlog Sheet, but will also eventually make their way into the Steam Leaderboards site.

Finally, I am going on a vacation for almost a full week next week, so there will be no progress on anything then. Next week's report will be skipped, but expect a return the week after.

• Games in backlog: 293 (+3)
• of which Early Access: 57 (+1)
• Games reviewed last week: 1

End-of-week Report

Another week has passed. How time flies.
I can't really expect to not get new games to my backlog. It's usually 1-2 new ones per week, so if I want to get the counts down a meager 3 reviews per week just won't do. Still, it's better than none I suppose, and the numbers have gone down, even if only just a bit.

• Games in backlog: 290 (-1)
• of which Early Access: 56 (-2)
• Games reviewed last week: 3

End-of-week Report

Moving took a lot of my time and caused me to fall behind in progress a bit again.
I started playing Dead in Vinland. It's a game, not quite sure what I think about it yet - not super good nor bad.

• Games in backlog: 291 (+2)
• of which Early Access: 58 (+1)
• Games reviewed last week: 0

End-of-week Report

Continuing the fight against the dreaded third hundred of the backlog. Most of the week went on Path of Exile, some on board games with friends which I don't write about. Net positive progress though, so all's good.

• Games in backlog: 289 (-2)
• of which Early Access: 57
• Games reviewed last week: 2

End-of-week Report

Well, I've finished my studies. I successfully defended my bachelor's thesis last week. All that's left is the graduation ceremony, but for all practical purposes, I've finished university.

As far as other stuff goes, the summer heat is getting to me somewhat. I'm feeling quite lethargic from the near-30 degree weather in an apartment without any air conditioning (or ventilation) - it reduces my appetite and my motivation to do anything. Feels a bit like a certain state of mind I'd rather avoid.
But that's just excuses not to play more games. And who wants to make excuses for something wonderful like that. I'm going to be trying Path of Exile again after multiple years next week. Overall, the old log increased again last week, but that's how it goes if I don't complete anything.

• Games in backlog: 291 (+3)
• of which Early Access: 57
• Games reviewed last week: 0

End-of-week Report

I got something done after all. At this seemingly temporary pace, only 2-3 more years to go.
I'll get my last summer vacation starting middle of next week, save for any time I decide to be unemployed for an extended period of time in the future. I really can't tell if I'll have more or less free time after I get a job, but I'm sure life will at least be a bit different.

Ah, but who am I rambling to? Have a look at numbers going down.

• Games in backlog: 288 (-3)
• of which Early Access: 57 (-1)
• Games reviewed last week: 2

End-of-week Report

Well well, what's this? Progress? It's only temporary, I assure you. Next week is exam week, and the week after that I got to defend my thesis. Still, I'm glad I got to laze for a little while.

• Games in backlog: 291 (-1)
• of which Early Access: 58
• Games reviewed last week: 4

End-of-week Report

There. Done. 85+ hours, but it's finished. The review will be up tomorrow, and the report of how all the accumulated games have completely filled my backlog in the meanwhile is down below. I got one more week of moderate relaxation, and then up to two more weeks of the hell of finishing uni.

Surprisingly, the amount of Early Access games still continues to go down, even as the overall amount increases. Perhaps putting your game in Early Access is no longer trending and people are back to publishing finished games?

• Games in backlog: 292 (+7)
• of which Early Access: 58 (-1)
• Games reviewed last week: 0

End-of-week Report

Has this blog been more about vague hints regarding my personal life and studies than games for the past months? Probably so. Do I have the time to do anything about it, short of stopping posting altogether? Probably not. I noted 5 weeks ago, how there's still a bunch more coming after my thesis deadline, but this still feels like the big immediately hurdle looming over the horizon right now, so I'm still hoping for the "it'll be over in 2 weeks" scenario.
Have a report:

• Games in backlog: 285 (+2)
• of which Early Access: 59 (-1)
• Games reviewed last week: 0

End-of-week Report

3 weeks until my thesis deadline, and I am now, for sure, on the last stretch of Berseria. Mostly unrelated events, but I wonder which will come around first.
Life's been a bit rough this last week, but that just makes it more likely that it won't get even worse. Got to keep my eyes on the prizes, not the potential doom and and gloom.
Have a report:

• Games in backlog: 283
• of which Early Access: 60 (-1)
• Games reviewed last week: 0

End-of-week Report

I got another session of Tales of Berseria in. According to my current low standards, that's a successful week.
Honestly, I hate this, but I have 4 weeks left to go. I'm making steady progress IRL, at least.
Have a report:

• Games in backlog: 283 (+2)
• of which Early Access: 61
• Games reviewed last week: 0

End-of-week Report

5 more weeks until my suffering ends. Last week was hell, next will probably be too - don't expect anything. Have a report.

• Games in backlog: 281 (+2)
• of which Early Access: 61 (+2)
• Games reviewed last week: 0

End-of-week Report

I tried actually restricting my time to work and play these last few days. I somewhat hate such rigid methods of self-discipline, but I suppose it might be necessary when facing a large task - my thesis - which I can't complete by just binging it until it's done, but rather have to self-manage my time to do it. It also gives me more freedom when playing, since I can feel like I really earned this play time, and I've done enough work that I will not fall behind in getting things done.
Overall, I'd say it was positive, as I managed to continue Tales of Berseria after nearly 6 months. I hope I can do more streams in the near future, and that this time allocation scheme, unappealing as it may be, makes me spend my time better until I finish all I need to do.

I was pretty upset at reaching even 200 games, but now I have to fight against reaching 300. Realizing I have a problem with my time management, and not making excuses, is the first step. The willpower to start fixing it is the second. The third step, perseverance, should hopefully be easier, as long as I'm pushing in the right direction and see my efforts getting me closer to my goals.

• Games in backlog: 279 (+2)
• of which Early Access: 59
• Games reviewed last week: 0

End-of-week Report

I know how dumb it is, not getting anything done week after week, yet still putting up a weekly message saying how I did nothing. I just want to keep this rolling, and not let it completely die.
Truth be told, I probably have time, but I have a bit more than a month left to write my thesis, which is giving me anxiety, and that in turn is causing me to procrastinate, which leaves me with no time to play new games. One way or the other, the cycle will break early May, but then exams are close, and after that it's the thesis defense, finishing uni, and then I have to worry about moving and finding a job for the first time. They're all the same kind of not-that-time-consuming-but-pretty-stressful activities aaaand... I don't like that. Nothing to do but to endure though.

• Games in backlog: 277 (+2)
• of which Early Access: 59 (+1)
• Games reviewed last week: 0