This originally started out on my notes, but I thought I’d crosspost it here too, seeing as it’s a significant post! It ultimately explains my motivations towards doing certain gaming things, but is ultimately an awfully hefty post, so be warned.

I figured I’d actually explain that the benefits are to me before people start wondering why I’m wasting money, when I actually amn’t! Those game sites (minus bundles) – for those interested in knowing – are business-related btw because I’ve been basically transferring my physical copies of games into my store stock once I’ve bought the electronic versions, so there needs to be a minimum of a 1:1 conversion for me to make the transfer. Occasionally, I’ve had higher ratios, such as when I get a complete edition of a game, and I may have a previous edition, it works out a little more in my favour. Another few reasons why I do this is because:

1) It frees up space for the games I have remaining as I do still have a lot of games around! This saves me money ultimately as it means I don’t need to spend money for more storage items.

2) I have less to carry when I want to bring the games with me when I’m going to somewhere like Ireland, seeing as downloadable copies are handy to have, especially as it reduces my travelling weight!

3) I don’t need to find the discs for the games any more, meaning they become easier to find, provided I know what service they’re on XD

4) I can get more money for certain physical copies of games, plus at least a partial return on investment on shelling out for the e-copies.

5) It means less stuff to bring with me when I move, seeing as I’ve a lot of stuff as it is! Admittedly though, I think this only works on PC games, but that said, it is PC games I have the most of >.>

6) The games are usually updated to run on modern systems, saving me the hassle in tweaking them to get them to work optimally. I don’t mind doing it usually, but sometimes it is a bit of a drag getting things just right!

and lastly

7) It enables me to source complete editons of games (as in with all expansions) in a pretty cheap way, except for when it comes down to EA games on GOG, for some reason. I’m a bit of a stickler for complete games, in that as a gamer, I want the best possible experience that can be offered in a game, and in some cases, a fully complete and up to date game can differ from the original copy I have, as a lot of the fixes would be in place by that point, plus every official addon, made for the game, which is altogether usually a much better and enhanced experience. The differences between the Floppy and CD versions of the first System Shock are great examples of this, as compared to the Floppy version, the CD version was like a different game practically!

#7 is the reason why some of my games, such as Dungeon Keeper Gold will take a while before I let them go, because I don’t have a full copy to replace my full copy, as it downgrades my experience; when I buy something new, I always make sure it’s at least slightly better than what I have now, as I’m usually behind in some things, because when I buy sometime, I usually intend it to last a while. Ultimately though, going electronic brings me huge benefits… though it is bloody hard finding games at times though… even more so, the games I want are usually on sale when I’m broke ¬.¬

But yeah, at the end of the day, some of the games I’ll be selling used to be mine, and for the most part are in good condition, except when they’ve been well-played! Certain games though, I’ll never get rid of due to sentimental value; this is even when I have the electronic copies of them as it actually allows me to preserve the condition of the games as I’m no longer using them! I do have some games I’m particularly proud of too, and want to keep them in the best condition possible.

Ultimately, I am a collector of games across many formats, and I’m using this interest as part of a business idea for my half of a retail store idea. Admittedly, it miight be a bit of a bad idea doing a business revolving around something you have a passion in, but given that you need to actually have a lot of knowledge in this area to work it effectively, I don’t see having passion here as a bad thing. It’s one of the few businesses you can be in where you can actually get paid for playing games, though thankfully – unlike testing – I won’t have to play the same part of a game over and over again.

Admittedly, I have done testing some degree and have in the past and even am in the present (notably with open betas, though I’ve done a few closed), but ultimately, I’ve done it as an unpaid consumer as opposed to having it as my job. All that said though, you bet your ass I’ll be mentioning I’ve participated in some Betas in my gaming blog when it’s up properly. Admittedly though, I have to say I did lose interest in most of them, which I feel bad for, but that’s mainly because you had to login every day, and I can’t really do that as much as I’d like to, especially when you have to check at all hours, like Civilisation (which I maystill get back into), Might & Magic Heroes and Lord of Ultima. I think I actually participated in the Battlefield Heroes Beta at one time too! I’m especially proud of being in the Quake Live Beta, even though I haven’t played it in a while… that one I did put more time into because it was more instant; that is that I just logged in and hopped on and could play as long as I like, when I liked as opposed to having to wait 3 hours to be able to do anything!

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike those sorts of games and do enjoy them for up to a month, but I’d find you have to get very involved to actually test the games out, as in doing it every single day. I couldn’t commit to that without at least some sort of incentive, as by the time the Open Beta is out, all you’re doing is just simulating a normal run of the game and you’re essentially a small cog in a huge operation, so ultimately there I don’t feel I’m contributing all that much ultimately. Admittedly, I’m possibly contradicting myself ever so slightly as I am about to go play the Guild Wars 2 Open Beta, but in that case, I’ve been genuinely looking forward to playing it; there’s a benefit in it for me be able to play the game early.

In that sense, I feel e tre’s a bit mor incentive, which will motivate me to play as much as I can over this weekend, especially as it’s an instant game and for a relatively short period. And yes, I am fully aware that I’m just a small cog, etc but the benefits far outweigh things, especially as some of my friends will be playing too! Certain games I really do have issues with getting people to play in, which sucks but with faster-paced games, I don’t really mind if it’s just me because I can be as social or anti-social as I like; in the other games I’ve played, it’s kind of a core thing to be social which I’m sometimes not up for, and then there’s the fact you eventually have to wait for ages before making your next move…

I love games, but I’m not going to be able to play them all the time, especially if I’m trying to make a routine for myself… I don’t want to be itching to get home because someone attacked one of my cities and I have to rush home to defend it! Games aren’t meant to be like a job… they’re supposed to be fun! And to possibly repeat what I said earlier, I do find them fun for a time, but they sometimes go on a bit too long for my liking; I prefer to game on my terms and not some forced restrictions. I accept that some people like that, but for me, I’ll stick with it for a few months, then disappear for good. For other online games, I may disappear, but eventually come back… even if it is after a while. I have t be in the mood to game, which is why I prefer the pay once system of Guild Wars (or the lifetime option of STO and LOTRO – discount helped too), or the Free To Play option on other MMOs. The monthly fee was why I never actually went on WoW in the first place after my initial money ran out, though when I saw it was F2P up to L20 (with restrictions), I did give it another try and found it reasonably enjoyable.

WoW isn’t a bad game ultimately, but I wasn’t grippped by it like I was gripped by GW, STO or LOTRO. Admittedly, the latter 2 I didn’t really start drifting back towards since STO became F2P and LOTRO had 50% off its Lifetime VIP package, a decision to this day I don’t regret at all! I liked STO, but couldn’t justify its monthly fee, same for LOTRO to be honest. But the main difference with LOTRO is once I paid for the VIP status (keeping in mind this was before the F2P model came in), it became like GW, in that instead of being forced to login just to get my money’s worth that month, I logged in at my leisure and gradually got my money’s worth over time instead (though it does help they give me Turbine Points every month, effectively paying me for being a VIP, meaning that I’ve likely now got my account for free now anyway!).

Again, this means that the game stops being an obligation and starts being fun. I plan to play some GW later on at some point as I need to prep for GW2 (still debating if I want Standard or Deluxe Edition), as I’ll eventually get it, though I may have to actually pick up the pace as it is due for release soon! I am due to come back to STO and LOTRO soon too, but for now, GW has my main focus.

I’m going to stop it there for now, as this wasn’t supposed to be as long as it was… I’ll be copying this over to my blog, as it’s signnificant enough as a post for me to actually use it as an update for then month! Before I go though, if any of you are on GW, STO, LOTRO or plan to get GW2, do let me know and if I don’t have you, I’ll add you! Same goes for Quake Live, and possibly Battlefield Heroes. Other games, I’ll be talking about through Gamed Up, though will accept talk of that here too!