twisty on 17/12/2016 at 10:01
As a result of the convenience and relatively low cost of games available through digital distribution over the past decade or so, it's been years since I've purchased a physical copy of a PC game. And when I look back over the years in rosy retrospection of a large proportion of my PC gaming history, while I miss the inclusion of detailed manuals and other content to some extent, it's been a challenge to maintain this physical library due to the space requirements. As a result, given that I've moved from one address to another over the years, I've relied upon my parents cellar to store most of the physical copies of games that I've accumulated during this time.
These days however most of the games that I paid good money for in the past can now be picked up for a song, and better yet, I never need to worry about maintaining the quality of the physical materials (manuals, disks etc.) ever again. So when my parents, who are in the throes of cleaning their house from top to bottom, approached me recently to audit my unwanted old stuff from their house, I felt that it would probably be a good time to get rid of a lot of the old games that I will either never play again or could easily and cheaply pick up through one of the popular digital distribution systems that I already subscribe to. After going through the various boxes that I still have left I decided that it was time to turf out the following games, collectors items and all (apart from an extra copy of Ultima Underworld still in its original cling wrap).
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In the end however, I just couldn't go through with it. Apart from my reluctance to depart with such fond memories, my parents quite unexpectedly intervened and voiced their concerns at the last minute, which I found quite amusing given that they rated gaming on the same level as smoking grass during my salad days.
While this is by no means a full list of PC games that I have owned over the years, it reminded me of how much I used to pirate games before 1) Steam changed the playing field over here in Australia so that games were actually affordable, and, 2) I started earning a decent income.
Sulphur on 17/12/2016 at 10:10
I've considered it too, multiple times. But looking past the unreasonable twinge of sentiment and nostalgia at every instance -- which is hard to do at the best of times -- pragmatism has the last word. Digital data is transient; a license, ownership itself, if the term can even be applied, can be lost with the flip of a server switch.
Those discs aren't going anywhere, though. As long as you have the ability to read the media and install it somewhere, the worlds you visited can't be taken from you so easily. And so I have my cardboard boxes in their bulk and physical inconvenience, scuffed and stained with all that has passed contained upon and within them, and no, I don't think I'm letting them go.
TannisRoot on 17/12/2016 at 15:18
I regret getting rid of the copies of my games when I moved out of my parent's house into a studio apartment. Rationally it seemed like a good idea at the time for the aforementioned reasons, but I miss not being able to walk down memory lane like I used to.
I think you made the wise decision. The older you get the more cherished these possessions will be for you I think, especially considering that physical distribution will undoubtedly disappear over the next decade.
Shadowcat on 17/12/2016 at 21:01
As it happens I'm in the middle of an attempt to purge games from my shelves/house, and it's absurd how difficult it is. I'm not even talking about the really sentimental ones (which are not under consideration). I have shelves of games I either enjoyed playing -- or never played properly (or at all) but part of me would still like to -- and convincing myself that in reality (re-)playing those game is never going to happen (almost certainly true) and that I'm better off without them cluttering things up (almost certainly true) is really hard to do.
Most of the big old game boxes have been purged over time. I have a bunch of favourites left, but mostly they're gone. All the lovely old paper manuals are still here, though -- I have a box full of those, and on very rare occasions I'll look through it and leaf through some manuals, which is a big nostalgia buzz (and isn't really possible in the digital age).
Of course this goes for books, movies/tv, music... I have too much of everything, but a fairly vocal inner voice still wants to hang on to it all.
Malf on 17/12/2016 at 22:03
I moved in to my own place this year, no longer paying rent but a mortgage. And the things that I haven't unpacked, because I don't need to? My physical games. Must be 10+ crates in my storage cupboards.
Can't get rid of them though; partly because they have no value other than sentimental.
icemann on 18/12/2016 at 06:54
Due to the need for space for container boxes for my ebay business + the strong possibility of having to move out of my parents house, I had to do much more than just getting rid of PC game boxes. I had a He-Man toy collection, old transformer toys, Star Wars, G.I.Joe etc etc Plus PC Game Boxes. Sold them all via ebay. It took a fair while but eventually they all sold.
Was sad to see them go, but you have to let go of your childhood at some point. Plus if it helps get you some extra $$$ along the way then sure why not.
rachel on 18/12/2016 at 15:13
Funny, I came here to post pretty much the same thing. I was thinking of getting some of my games back from my parents' to get them a new home...
icemann on 18/12/2016 at 17:23
I will say that it was very hard at first. Then a few sold and were either posted or payed for via local pickup. Got easier each time.
The inner hoarder at work. Gone now. Nowadays I just like all the $$$ that comes from it. Far better than just throwing it away.
Only 2 of the PC boxes left as of this post. Heavy Gear 2 and Sim City 2000. Getting rid of all of my movie and TV show DVDs is my current project. Took up half my room when I started. Down to about half a book shelf now. Moving to completely digital. Can have far more without the physical space issues :).
Renzatic on 19/12/2016 at 08:17
If I were a terrible person, I'd link to that song from Frozen.
Sulphur on 19/12/2016 at 08:21
You know, that wouldn't have stopped me, but I'm such a terrible person I haven't actually seen Frozen.
