"Point well taken. I've considered making a database for my game inventory and for my books, but at this point, I haven't wanted to make the effort. What happened with me, was my list started out simple and then just mushroomed. rolleyes"

I keep a "computer document" (titles listed in alphabetical order) of my game collection and just update it as I acquire or dispose of games.

Knowing from the title what type of game it is I've found that's all I've ever needed.

[ Of course I do keep a back up of it on a tiny flash drive and have to update that too ]

I've heard that reason many times

Regarding the gifting thing, Gamers Gate sometimes (maybe always, I've only bought one game from them so can't categorically state 'always') offer the ability to gift the game you've just bought to a friend if you do it within five minutes. I bought Skyrim from them in a sale, but didn't notice this facility until about ten minutes afterwards

The thing I don't understand is why the companies, especially the small ones, refuse to sell their games on physical media. And let's assume that retail distribution isn't worth their trouble, then why don't they sell hand-made physical releases, like WadgetEye Games? I can't accept that a company able to produce a video game can't afford a $100 printer and a $20 dvd burner. After all we as customers are willing to pay the extra cost plus the shipping, so it doesn't really affect their earnings.

And as for retail releases, how come I can find retail versions in all the major European languages EXCEPT English? How can localized retail versions in Italian, French, German, Spanish, Russian etc be financially viable while an English retail isn't? There are 50mil Italian speaking people, whereas there are 500mil native English speaking people and about 500mil with English as a secondary language. East European, Middle Eastern and African countries all play games in English too.

When gamers ask for boxed versions, people and companies label them "collectors" or even worse "hoarders" and look down upon them. In all the kickstarters I have ever checked out the lowest tier for a physical version is the $100 tier (without counting shipping most of the times), and the logic behind it is that if you're a collector you must be willing to spend big money. But having the game on a disc isn't collecting. 10-15 years ago the same companies based their campaigns against piracy by telling us how stupid it is to have a game on a no-name cdr with its name handwritten with a marker on top of it, instead of a nice big box with nice artwork and goodies inside. And now they are selling us exactly that, refusing us the alternative.

And as for adventure games, how come every low budget casual hidden object game gets an English retail release, but NOT if it is a full fledged adventure game?

Monokuma,

For all your questions: it is purely economics.

Monokuma it's a bit more complicated that a $100 printer and a $20 DVD burner. Someone has to design the graphics for the box, and someone has to approve it. A graphics firm would more than likely be hired to design several possible covers, and submit them for approval.

And you'll find that your $100 printer isn't going to print the necessary graphics for as heavy material used for boxed games. This work would more than likely be farmed out since the necessary printers would be very cost prohibitive.

As to the $20 DVD burner, which burns one DVD at a time. How about a DVD burner that has the capability of burning 20 or more an hour--as an example. This is something else that would be farmed out to those companies which do this as their business.

Someone deciding to get into the business of producing games can't afford all the machinery necessary to do what I described above. Nor can they afford the upkeep those machines would need. And machinery isn't their only concern. There may also be rent, salaries, utilities, suppliers, etc.

Most of these companies are bare bones companies which are counting every penny in order to stay in business. Even a down turn in their product can threaten their very existence.

A person would think it an easy process to provide boxed games. But unless a person has had a business, they don't realize all that must be considered, especially in such a market as computer games.

Ridiculous. Okay.. okay... that's the way things are now... yes. Understood. But ridiculous.

When books are sold, they're read, and then they're either kept or given away. The recipients are often local libraries or other charities (Goodwill, Scouts, SPCA, etc.). The authors and publishers made their money on the initial purchase. Never has there been such a discussion about secondary ownership.

Carrie,

The problem here rises when legitimate ownership transfer after burning a game to disk and eventually giving it away or selling it to recover a little of the cost, which you and I think is perfectly alright, gets confused with burning multiple copies of a game with actual intent to defraud.
After all, we're generally not able to print multiple copies of a book.

I totally understand what you're saying. Why be embarrassed about a perfectly legit opinion? Lol! That red faced thingie by your name has to go!

Gil.

Gil~ There's no "wry-faced" grin or a "smirk" choice (closer to what I really wanted)... a half-smile... something like this :/ and the other smiles or angry faces didn't cut it. So I opted for a rosy-cheeked grin, despite its being called "embarassed" (I'm not).

On the subject of being regulated~
When I was a kid, my mom drove a bunch of us kids to the beach- piled in a nifty old WWII Jeep. Summer sunshine, breeze, no special seating, no seatbelts. Even before that, as a tot, I used to stand on the front seat of our old '51 Ford wedged behind my dad's shoulder as he drove. No accidents. But for those who did get into accidents, we got the laws to follow. Today everybody gets seatbelted-in; is body-scanned for air travel, etc.... laws created because bad things happened. And now because there are those who have little regard for an honor system, we have digital laws. I get it. But still... it was great to live in a time when there were still a few things that were un-regulated.

People will only have honor when they see honor on display, and/or when it's something to be proud of having. Too many have given the impression of having honor only to be found out later lying through their teeth. Too many have found out that by holding onto their honor they are ridiculed for having antiquated ideas, something that is of no value, something that doesn't provide entertainment for those who lack the mentality to understand how far into the gutter they've slunk.

And because of all this, this lack of knowing something would never be misused or stolen, we now have to have laws so those who forget this fact can be taken to task. And because of this, it puts more burdens on those who the laws were never intended. Those who still understand that if it doesn't belong to you, you don't bother it, take it, or claim it to be your own.

And until it once again becomes "fashionable" to have honor, we will have to live with those laws already on the books and possibly more to come. But by then this small lack of holding onto ones honor is going to be a slight blip compared to more pressing concerns.

What a complicated world we live in. Laws, good or bad, are open to interpretation. People will challenge them, ignore them,
or obey them. Hopefully in the end they will do the right thing. Respect for others is important. That's a good place to start to correct some of the questionable activity with "ownership" of games.

Sadly, I feel we are a long way past seeing any kind of "Honour" in the brutal world of "Profit Margins"

So very true, Mad.