This past holiday season was a big one, especially in the world of gaming. It was probably one of the most convoluted and expensive quarters in recent years for any gamer with several new games and systems released all within weeks of each other. For any casual gamer, it comes down as a matter of which game to buy or which system to favor. But for the hardcore, for those of us who have three or four platforms, it becomes something much more involved.

With so many gaming releases, just what do you play? How do you mange your gaming time to experience everything this season has offered without missing out? Hopefully this article will help any of you who have been struggling to finish those Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanzaa gifts that are still sitting in their shrink-wrap. Don't lie; you know that somewhere in your house there is a game that you put down with every intention to pick it back up but never went back to. It's okay though. Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery.

1. Prioritize

One of the biggest problems many gamers face, especially during the fall quarter is the deluge of new games being pumped out into the market. I know that by October of this past year I had a list of at least 11 games spread out over four different systems. And I know there are many others out there who probably had double that. A good starting point for anyone who feels overwhelmed is to make a simple list. Write down which games you want and rank them based on personal anticipation. If you're unable to sleep because the next Zelda game is about to come out, you're obviously going to want to rank it higher on your list than a game that you have only a general interest in. This can also save you money in the long run. Instead of dropping $60 a pop on a brand new game that you've ranked last on your list, wait for a sale or find a used copy. Even waiting a week or two can save you ten or twenty dollars. If you wait even longer, you can save even more.

2. Finish what you start!

The only reason this item comes second is due to the fact that you need to know what you want to play before you can actually play it. Personally, this is the biggest thing that causes me to not finish a game. But the solution is simple. When you buy a game, finish it before starting anything else. Yes, I know the temptation to throw everything else aside and pop in a new release is great, but just think of the hours invested in some of your unfinished games and ask yourself, what was the point then? If you are going to spend hours, and in some cases dozens of hours playing something, give yourself the satisfaction of knowing that you've been able to finish it. And in reality, many games can be beaten in a few weeks time even for the casual gamer.

3. Manage your time; don't be a system hog

Another big obstacle standing in the way of being a "balanced gamer" is simple time management. I've been told that ones of the biggest reason many college students because over stressed is poor time management skills. Having worked in jobs with fellow employees who are not college student, I can safely say that everyone sucks at time management, not just the student. But I'm not talking about keeping the chronological checkbook that is your daily life in balance, I'm talking about taking that time you have set aside for gaming and making sure it's being used is a well balanced way. Sometimes it's all too easy to focus on only one system, be it PC, GameCube, Playstation or Xbox. But if you purchase games for all of the systems you own and only focus on one, you're wasting money. And that's something most of us hate to do, unless you're a millionaire. Speaking from the perspective of someone who is as poor as dirt, this isn't money well spent. When I get games for different systems, I try to alternate. One day I will play something on my computer, the next on my GameCube, and the next on my Playstation. And if I only have a game for two systems, I switch off between the two. It's an effective way to make sure that none of your systems are left in the dark and that your games get the loving playtime that they deserve.

4. Ask for help when you need it

Many times in my playing career I've gotten stuck in a game. And many times I've stopped playing because I can't figure out what to do. The game gets put down; something new catches my eye and the dust beings to pile up. It's a situation that many of us have probably been in before. The point I am trying to make though is that there are many websites and services that offer help when you get stuck. I know it's a pride thing to try and beat a game without help. And in most cases it's possible. But there are always situations that come up when the solution to a puzzle or the trick to beating a boss just isn't presenting itself in a way that you can see. It's okay to go to a website and check. No one is going to say anything to you and if they do, tell them to shut up.

So that's my advice to you, the overwhelmed gamer. These four things have helped me in the past when I've just been so busy with life and games that it was hard to find the time to play and finish the things I had spent my own cash on. If you feel like there is something else you can do to work through your game collection, stick with it and good luck. Remember, time spent playing games is supposed to be relaxing and fun. Don't let it become something that you don't want to do, because then the whole point of games in general is lost.

Nick Basile