I've posted this subject before, but I thought I'd revive it. How do all of you feel when you complete a game to its final screen?
Usually, I feel two emotions: 1. Excitement--I did it! 2. Sadness--it was a fun game, and now it's over.

Good topic,
When I finish a game its either 1 of 3 emotions
1:Sweeet, I made it!
2:I can't believe its over!
or 3: I played all this time for a 20 second cutscene...

Of course, 1 and 2 vary based on the tone of the ending, but when I have my 3 response I'm usually angry. I can't stand it when the game is good until the end where it seems as though the ending was hastily thrown together.

I always remember how my youngest reacted at the end of our joint play through of Final Fantasy 9 (He was 7 or 8)

I looked over and he was crying and when I asked him what was wrong, he looked at me with big sad eyes and said Oh Mom, I loved this game so much! but now ... it is all over and we can't play it anymore...

If it is a great game, I sort of feel the same.

Edit: and it is the hope that I will feel that sense of loss that the game is over... that keeps me (as a gamer) opening new game after new game. Few hit that high bar, but when one does - THAT is what keeps me playing games

I usually have two responses to games:

1. This game goes on the shelf because I will play it again.

2. Not too bad.

There is another category which you did not imply:

3. I have not intention of finishing this game because it is dumb.

Hi, Doug!

When I'm playing a computer game that I'm really enjoying I have mixed emotions because I can't stop playing, yet I don't want it to end. I know I can always replay them (and I have), but it's not the same because I know what's gonna happen next.

Susan

I love playing a new game for the very first time, and when it gets to the end I do feel sad but I also want to go back and see what I missed, especially if it's a game where's there are Easter eggs or lots of clues.

The more I have enjoyed playing a game, the sadder I am at the end, but happy too because of the whole experience!
Then there are the games that make me happy just because I was able to finish them as opposed to those games that I can't finish for one reason or another. Those are the real downers.
I'm not very picky about how a game ends, like whether it makes sense or not, or was it finished with the story and all that jazz as it is the interaction of the game that counts most with me, not the story, so the ending doesn't really upset me if it is rather abrupt or short or *to be continued* or whatever. Every game does end, one way or another, and then it is time for the next game.
BTW, Douglas Bregger, I've missed your posts since you haven't been around much lately!

When I complete a game I am very proud of myself and if I really enjoyed the game I looked forward to playing it again. I always find the second time around I discovered things I missed the first time because I'm more relaxed.

Thank the Lord, that's over e.g. Aurora and Simon-Chaos happens
Can't just leave a game unfinished-won't be beaten at all costs

I just hope it is not I can't believe I paid for that game. Hopefully it is I hated to see this end.

That's funny that some are just happy it's over. It's extremely rare that I'll absolutely hate a game - I generally enjoy what I'm playing to one degree or another - but of course, there are some games I enjoy more than others.

For those I especially enjoyed, like others here, I am sorry that the game has ended but also happy that I have completed such a wonderful game. I also love a good ending, so I'm generally happy to see the final scene as well.

For those I didn't enjoy as much, I'm still happy I got through them, and hopefully there was some aspect that I enjoyed. Although I may feel disappointment as well if the game didn't live up to what I thought it might be.

By the way, Laura, I really loved that story about your son. It was very cute, and that's great that he enjoys games so much!

I guess I'm a freak. I am still mourning over the loss of "Grim Fandango" and some others. Unfortunately I now have Vista and can't go back to some of my old friends. Gabriel Knight III is one of them. They are still on my shelf and I can't bear to part with them. Wish they would bring them out again to be Vista compatible. Teddo

Teddo, I love Grim Fandango and Gabriel Knight 3. They are among my favorite games.

I'm not sure if this would work because I don't have Vista, but did you try using DOSBox?

If I loved the game, I feel a sense of accomplishment and sadness. But I almost always will play it again - sometimes to see if I can do it differently or faster.

If I hated the game - it was just something to "get through" and it goes in the inactive cabinet.

If I didn't like it, didn't finish it (which is rare) - I put it aside and sometimes in this forum someone will sing it's praises and I give it another try. Many times I end up liking it too.

I am like most of you, I have mixed feelings when I finish a game that I really loved playing . While I am playing it I don't want to stop but yet I know it has an ending and the ending will be sad because it will be the end of the game that I been soooo enjoying . I try so hard to slow down playing a game that I am enjoying so it will last longer but it doesn't seem to work. I rush through the games too fast. Just like when I was a child I got a wrap gift for Christmas, I only took just a little time looking at the gift before I open it. Then all the excitement that was building up is gone, it is over. So that is how I feel when the game is over . SO SAD game over.

If I like a game a whole lot I feel: Sadness--it was a fun game, and now it's over.

I always have a sense of satisfaction, at least. If it was a tedious game, I'll be glad that it's over, but it does at times happen to me that I feel a sense of loss and emptiness.

Sometimes I simply miss the gameworld, but, for instance with GK2, I actually missed the characters as well!

It depends on the game...I'm sorry to end some and can't wait for possible sequels. Others I just hope to finish with building anxiety to get to the next one in my exponentially expanding queue of games to play.

Some games I get rather attached to my character(s) and feel like I'm saying goodbye to a friend while at the same time feeling the sense of accomplishment for completing the quest/adventure.

A few others I just feel "whew, I'm glad that's over" and hope the next one will be better.

I'll sometimes go back and play the game over again for extras. Sometimes I'll keep playing it because of Multiplayer or what not. Either way, RPG's are the hardest games to finish. You do eventually get attached to the characters in them and generally do get a little down when you finally finish it.

It totally depends on the game and how much I enjoyed playing it:

1) I absolutely loved the game, want to play it again and am stricken with grief that it's already over even if it took me 30 hours to finish (Gabriel Knight, Longest Journey, Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars, Keepsake). Typical reaction: "Oh noooo, it's over, how can it be? What will happen to Lydia/April/Gabriel/Grace? I need to know! I want a sequel! Now!"

2) The game entertained me; I liked it well enough and would recommend it to friends but will not be necessarily be playing it again (Edna & Harvey, Secret Files, Dreamfall, Moment of Silence): "Ah. That was nice."

3) The ending is completely messed up and fails to answer questions that have been in my mind throughout the game (NiBiRu, Black Mirror, Belief & Betrayal): "What? What kind of ending is this supposed to be? Are you kidding me? I want a sequel! And answers! Now!"

4) The game hasn't been entertaining at all; it was too hard for me, I got bored, didn't like the characters/the story, it just wasn't my cup of tea - you name it (The Cameron Files: Loch Ness, Runaway): "Phew. Glad this one's finally over."

5) I absolutely hate the game and won't finish it at all for various reasons (Necronomicon, Myst): "What the...? I won't waste another minute on this game. No way."

6) I have to play a game because I volunteered to write a review: "Ok, where are the screenshots? What to write first, where are my notes? How do I rate this game?"

Of course, all of the above reactions can be combined - for example, I absolutely loved Black Mirror but was very disappointed with the ending; same with Still Life. And there are games that I merely finish because I've started to play them and want to see how events turn out - games that I neither love nor hate, games that are somewhat inbetween, mediocre games that I want to finish even though they fail to grab me completely.

With the online role playing game Guildwars, I take a moment to decide which type of character I want to beat it with next time. You don't play a warrior the same way you play a monk, for example.

There are some adventure game characters I miss very much and have to play the games over and over again, and I'm always saddened when I finish again (Discworld Noir, Monkey Island series, Tex Murphy series).

When I finish a game:
1. I actually finished the game without consulting Gameboomers for any help (LOL)
2. Glad that one is over.
3. Sad because it says "to be continued" and the "continued" is not out yet.
4. Happy because it was a great game and I will certainly play this one again.