Digital Jazz, Man

It’s funny how your taste in games changes as you get older.

I used to adore the Battlefield series. I’d sink hours into it, happily losing track of time. But after Battlefield 3, I felt my interest in the series waning.

My favorite entry — Battlefield: Bad Company 2 — was irreverent, funny, and gritty in a way that went together like peanut butter and jelly.

I can still hear that voice line from the Americans as your squad is losing:

“We’re getting our shit pushed in here!”

There was magic in that chaos — the humor, the destruction, and attitude just perfectly fit together. No Battlefield game has quite nailed that same mix since Bad Company 2.

I genuinely enjoyed the Battlefield 6 open beta. It felt good — the gunplay was tight, the destruction was amazing, and it felt like an iteration and modern interpretation of what made Battlefield 4 great.

But if friends weren’t online, I had no desire to log on. I’ve been sitting with that lately, debating whether to buy the game. After Battlefield 2042, I’m cautious. Not against preorders in general — just… wary.

These days, I find myself asking two questions before I buy a game:

Is it fun? And will I get my money's worth?

I’m lucky to have a career I love that pays well, but I still watch what I spend.

A huge part of gaming for me is my cousin Jake. He’s like a brother — thoughtful, kind, and absolutely hilarious. We’ve been gaming together for about fifteen years. I’m 42 (almost 43), he’s 27, and none of that matters when we play.

We’re both competitive, and when it comes to PvP, we get it done. But lately, there’s been a drought — nothing new that we both love. Jake’s a young guy with a social life; I’m a married homebody. He’s out and about; I’m grinding through the next twenty years of work.

And man, I miss him.

Nothing’s changed between us, but life is changing — as it always does.

Working in healthcare, I see the fragility of life daily. And lately, I’ve been feeling my own mortality creeping in.

That sweet, comforting blanket of “yesterday” just isn’t there anymore.

My solution? Touch some grass — literally and figuratively.

I’ve been spending more time with my wife, as I should. She’s amazing — though that’s a story for another post. We’ve been watching our favorite shows or just hanging out in the man-cave while I play something chill. We're both independent people who love to do our own thing, but I've been making a conscious effort to be more present with her.

My gaming solutions have been: No Man’s Sky, Helldivers 2, and Warhammer 40k: Darktide. The last two are definitely not chill games, but I vibe with them. And if Flora wants to chat, I can quickly finish or simply log off.

No Man’s Sky, especially, is a vibe all unto its own — serene, creative, hauntingly beautiful. Its soundtrack feels like therapy.

When I talked to Jake last night, I told him I probably won’t buy Battlefield 6.

It stings — not because of the game, but because of what it represents: missing out on those shared moments.

But I’ve changed.

I’ve realized I prefer smaller, tighter experiences — games where I can play with friends or ones I can zone out in alone.

Extraction shooters are especially my jam. Co-op PvPvE worlds like Hunt: Showdown, Arena Breakout: Infinite, or Arc Raiders.

Anyhoo — that’s the rant.

On a random note, are you as excited for Tron: Ares as I am?

Until next time, friend. Now go touch some grass!