Would you rather own or play every game you want?

[buzz_n64]

Would you rather own every game you want to own, but never be able to play them ,OR be able to play every game you want, but never own a single game?

Imagine if you had to choose. I don't know which I would choose, maybe play.

[Sunnyvale]

Damn, you're just mean to even ask!

But ok, I'd rather be able to rock em all rather than sock em all away. But, again, damn yer eyes for asking!

[Aussie2B]

Play, easily. I wouldn't bother to own any games if I couldn't play them. It would just be a worthless pile of paper, plastic, and metal at that point.

[Drixxel]

It's cool to have a collection of games on display and at immediate access. ..but, as my primary reason for owning them is to play them, I choose your play scenario without question. A complete archive of every game ever, at your beck and call, for play on original hardware? I'd happily pay an annual fee for membership to such a library.

[Gameguy]

The second option is already possible if you count emulation, flash carts, or pirated software and technically you wouldn't be owning the games if you didn't pay for them.

If I couldn't play any games I wouldn't see a point to owning them, I'd rather play them than just collect them.

[Rickstilwell1]

I would choose to play 'er cause I'm a player.

[Red Earth]

yep. definitely play

[Colorado Rockies]

Honestly... I would choose to own.

[MachineGex]

Definately play. If you had a neighbor or friend that would let you borrow it, that would be cool.

It's like the old saying, "There is only one thing better than owning your own boat, having a best friend who owns a boat!"

You get all the benefits, without the cost and headaches.

[retroman]

play or course, whats the point in having the game if you cant play it.

[Ze_ro]

Why would you want them if not to play them? And please don't tell me some shit about sealed games or grading......

--Zero

[Junkyrdsalesman]

Why would you want them if not to play them? And please don't tell me some shit about sealed games or grading......

--Zero
Well I can see it from both angles. Think of art or antique collectors, they can't play with their rare rhino horn libacian cups or van gogh paintings, all they can do is look at it. But with video games it's different because most people begin collecting because they love to play and want to play the best and most they can. So it is kinda a fine line

[substantial_snake]

Play?

Collecting rare stuff is kinda fun for a bit but its really all about enjoying games.

[Wraith Storm]

I vote for play.

While the thrill of the hunt is a lot of fun, playing them is (usually) even more fun.

[Gameguy]

Why would you want them if not to play them? And please don't tell me some shit about sealed games or grading......

--Zero
For sexual fetishes, like with this guy.

http://daftdanielle.tumblr.com/post/10715164414/i-wonder-if-hell-let-us-blow-his-cartridge

The games have probably been sold on ebay by now.

[Junkyrdsalesman]

For sexual fetishes, like with this guy.

http://daftdanielle.tumblr.com/post/10715164414/i-wonder-if-hell-let-us-blow-his-cartridge

The games have probably been sold on ebay by now.

Thanks for that. Now I am wondering where all my used games have been :(*shutters*

[Gameguy]

Thanks for that. Now I am wondering where all my used games have been :(*shutters*
It's probably the main reason why sealed/graded games are so valuable. You know they weren't rubbed all over some fat hairy man's body. At least not once they left the factory.

Also if you ever found a game that looked or smelled like it was covered in shit, it probably was at one point.

[Sunnyvale]

For sexual fetishes, like with this guy.

http://daftdanielle.tumblr.com/post/10715164414/i-wonder-if-hell-let-us-blow-his-cartridge

Dude, wtf kinda words do you type into google?

And, as a 'sunny' reminder, delete yer search history ;)

[substantial_snake]

For sexual fetishes, like with this guy.

http://daftdanielle.tumblr.com/post/10715164414/i-wonder-if-hell-let-us-blow-his-cartridge

The games have probably been sold on ebay by now.

I haven't seen anyone online in a while that made me reflectively close my eyes half way through the image. This is also why I pretty much scrub down all of my abused carts with alcohol when I get them. I really buy only controllers/arcade sticks in new condition because of some of the things I've seen people do to them or left on them for years...might have to add old games to that list now.

[jonebone]

I've already crossed the point where I'm more a collector than gamer. If you ask me this question when I'm under 18 or over 65 and retired, I'd say play them all.

But for any of the years inbetween, own them all. I just don't have the time to play games like that anymore and with a wedding / kids coming up in the 3 year plan, I expect to have even less going forward. Playing games slowly slips down the list of priorities as you get older, but I still love them just as much as when I was a kid. Now I just express my love through collecting instead of spending it in front of the TV.

I still love to play when I can, though!

[Emperor Megas]

Definitely play them; the alternative is not even a consideration. I really don't get my kicks from just owning games. They aren't something that I get kicks from just looking at them sit on a shelf, like a painting. I do like seeing them on a shelf, because I like seeing anything I own organized and tidy, but it's all about having access to them to play.

Games just aren't the sort of thing that I feel are collectable like stamps and coins at this point.

[Sunnyvale]

Games just aren't the sort of thing that I feel are collectable like stamps and coins at this point.

Not quite to the level of stamps and coins, I agree. But it seems to be heading there. As video games become more entrenched in society, the appreciation of the history of them grows, as this forum and others are evidence of. From kids' toys to complicated RPG's to draw in the adults to the modern day, where almost everyone has a video game in their pocket, whether they know it/play it or not (cellphones). I think that's why Atari 2600's have seen a good price hike lately; the history of that console is pretty rich.

[SpaceHarrier]

Thank you, this thread has answered my age-old question, "Why does my copy of Legend of Zelda smell like sweaty wang?"

[Gamevet]

Thank you, this thread has answered my age-old question, "Why does my copy of Legend of Zelda smell like sweaty wang?"

Somebody didn't understand what the manual meant when it said insert cartridge. :villagepeople:

[geezuzkhrist119]

I wouldn't mine having every game. But I'll say playing every game. Since I'm a console collector not a game collector so this would make sense to me.

[Leo_A]

There's no point to owning every game I'd want but not be able to play them. So it's not a difficult decision from my point of view. If I had to choose one or another with this theoritical question, I'd pick to be able to play every game I ever wanted to.

[SpaceFlea]

100% Own everything. I can't stand playing any game for more than a few minutes without suffering sheer unrelenting boredom. The most joy I get from a game is the moment I catalog it and place it in its new home - the pine (shelf) forest.

[Polygon]

That's easy, play. Owning the game is useless to me without being able to play it.

[Nebagram]

Play. No brainer really. The way you've worded it hints that the 'play' option includes unlimited access to any game I want at any time.

[Leo_A]

100% Own everything. I can't stand playing any game for more than a few minutes without suffering sheer unrelenting boredom. The most joy I get from a game is the moment I catalog it and place it in its new home - the pine (shelf) forest.

Why do you want to own them if you don't even enjoy playing them?

[Cornelius]

Well, if the 'being able to play any game' confers with it the time to actually play them, then I'd go that route. If not, well, I'd still probably choose 'play', but if I could have them all and still play just current gen stuff that I can afford, I'd probably go that route. Sadly I just don't delve into my old collection too often even though I love having it. I think it is mostly the time constraint.

[thebeyond105]

This is a hard one, for old school games I would rather own, because i would hate to play on an emulator, just on the original system with the original controller. New school games, for the most part I could give a crap less. I have a small collection of RPGs and Shooters, but when it's all said and done i'll probably just sell most of my new games.

[Videogamerdaryll]

Own to play when I want to play or have the time to play..

I don't rent games..I buy then play when i can...and go back to when i want.

Not much collecting games anymore just specifics..but the games I own to play start to pile up..

[elmsa114]

It only sounds easy, but it’s actually a tough question, I would have loved to own every game that I enjoyed, but if I have to make a choice, I guess I would enjoy playing a whole lot more than collecting.

[markusman64ds]

I would own them and then sell them. Then I would use the money to buy some games I could actually play.

[buzz_n64]

I would own them and then sell them. Then I would use the money to buy some games I could actually play.

That would be cheating. In that case everyone would choose own, then sell, then buy back and play. I'm onto you! :P

[markusman64ds]

I guess I choose play then. Playing games is more fun than just owning them, unless that game is Action 52.

[Genesaturn]

Much rather play every game than own them...if I never played them I wouldn't know how awesome they were in the first place to want to own them!

[mobiusclimber]

If I could sell them, then I'd choose own. I would gladly give up ever playing games again if I could have that kind of money.

[drthielegood]

While playing the games is why most of us have them I fear that the game industry is banking on more "plays" than "owns" in the gaming marketplace. The digital download trend is increasing in momentum, from XBLA/PSN to Steam and others, in the future we may not have this choice to make. The results of this thread seem to indicate that it might not be that big of a problem, however the collector in me (and many of us) has a problem of spending the same money, or more, with no physical media to OWN.

For me, that is what makes this such a difficult question to answer. As it stands right now....I'd probably say own(can we still watch gameplay vids on youtube? lol)

[Polygon]

While playing the games is why most of us have them I fear that the game industry is banking on more "plays" than "owns" in the gaming marketplace. The digital download trend is increasing in momentum, from XBLA/PSN to Steam and others, in the future we may not have this choice to make. The results of this thread seem to indicate that it might not be that big of a problem, however the collector in me (and many of us) has a problem of spending the same money, or more, with no physical media to OWN.

For me, that is what makes this such a difficult question to answer. As it stands right now....I'd probably say own(can we still watch gameplay vids on youtube? lol)

I don't think that this thread indicates anything like that at all. It put the stipulation that you could play every game or own every game but NEVER play them. I would say that I would rather own a physical copy of the game every time. I absolutely despise the move to digital distribution.

[drthielegood]

My point is that the modern industry would probably enjoy hearing that, even among game collectors, playing a game is more important than owning one. Sorry if that doesn't jive with the spirit of the OP...it just struck me as interesting.

[SpaceFlea]

Why do you want to own them if you don't even enjoy playing them?

Because I enjoy acquiring them. I am purely a collector. Games satisfy me in an entirely different way than intended.

[Polygon]

My point is that the modern industry would probably enjoy hearing that, even among game collectors, playing a game is more important than owning one. Sorry if that doesn't jive with the spirit of the OP...it just struck me as interesting.

Ah, yeah. I see what you're saying. I'm pretty sure they'd love to see that. It would only be made better for them to see the letters DMR included in there somewhere.

[Ed Oscuro]

It's kinda funny - I'm still getting games that I can't play, so the OP isn't so badly off base. PC is too convenient...still looking for a complete copy of GG Aleste (1) worth keeping, at that. (Figures I don't know where either of my Game Gears are.)

[Superman]

If the choice came down to:

1. Play
2. Own

I would choose play. I enjoy collecting and I probably collect more than I play, but a lot of that has to do with time available to play. If I had to make a choice between one or the other, the play aspect would win out.

[sidnotcrazy]

Play!!!!

[Ed Oscuro]

It only sounds easy, but it’s actually a tough question
Journeys in the mindset of a gold hoarder?

[Gameguy]

What about owning every game if you could force someone else to play them? Like if you asked someone to play through Cheetahmen II they would have to play through it or they wouldn't be able to leave. If that were possible then maybe it could be more fun to own every game without being able to play them yourself.

[Ed Oscuro]

What about owning every game if you could force someone else to play them? Like if you asked someone to play through Cheetahmen II they would have to play through it or they wouldn't be able to leave. If that were possible then maybe it could be more fun to own every game without being able to play them yourself.
I'm not sure this is going to work as an alternative to incarceration or open warfare...