Posted 29 November 2009 - 01:26 AM

Frequently Asked Questions



Q: What is your philosophy?





A: Well, I like to get the best deal possible at all times for the items of want.



I've always known that there are several ways to get something. Money is NOT the ONLY way to get the things we want in our lives. Most people would observe this truth in their daily lives. They know someone that gets a helping hand freely for a service or item because he/she knows someone...etc. This can be true in all social classes.



It is my stance that I won't go over a certain price for an item of want. Using retail PC games as an example. When I was into paying for PC games that amount was $20. I would never go over that price if I could help it. I would never go over $400 for a PC or upgrade. No matter what. I never felt like I was missing out because I did not get what the next person did. I just never had that compulsion.



I will not steal or cheat for an item of want. I place no judgement on those that do but it's just not my thing (this should be obvious but just to settle any future argument). Now if it was an item of need and I was in severe dire straits...Who knows?



I know what an item is worth empirically (through research, review...etc) but in the end I stand firm on my terms of what I will and will not spend $/time/resources on. If the price and I don't meet, others would say that's tough for me and I say that's tough for the vendor and we both move on. I see this as thoughtful consumerism. What I want to get and how I get it, must be a positive and progressive thing for me and my own. Others can do as they like.



I try my best not to take anything for granted. If that is even remotely starting to happen, I have wonderful people in my life that will quickly remind me not to! I am very glad and very thankful for the things that have come my way. I am also very glad and thankful for the things that have not come my way. What I don't have use for I will donate to others. With the exception of consoles and console products...those I place in the recycling bin after some "arts and craft" time with them. Spoiler



Q: Why do you prefer to play freeware and f2p PC games?





A: Because freeware and f2p are freaking awesome! When I was younger and up into my early 20s I was a avid retail PC gamer. I even played consoles for a time, stopped around the debut of the PS2. Then I noticed "nasty" trends in retail video gaming. Unfortunately, those "nasty" trends became standard and that was a deal breakers for me. I walked away from traditional retail. The quality of freeware PC games was getting better and better at just the right time for me and so I went on my path. Spoiler



Q: What were the "nasty" trends?





A: 1) The rise of 'release and patch' later mentality.



This practice became so common place that I began to feel these were intentional acts to recoup finances for software projects. In doing so, the consumer ended up paying for a game that was not completed. This lead me to ask questions - Why do people buy games on opening day knowing full well that most games are launched botched/incomplete and will require a patch later (if at all - Some companies may not care or survive long enough to do this). Especially, in the PC gaming industry because as games get older they become cheaper, more stable and more content rich (mods). It just made more sense to wait as a consumer. For me I was just tired of the whole thing and moved on to freeware and f2p. In freeware and f2p.



2) The rise of DRM.



There were too many times where I would get a game and some mishap would occur due to DRM that were interfering with the proper functioning of my PC. Sure, I'm technically inclined and I could work my magic on removing the DRM (with some searching) but then my gaming time becomes more work than fun. I have to work on getting a game to work probably...that I PAID FOR? No thanks.



3) The rise of DLC.



So not only were games being released botched and riddled with DRM but the games were getting shorter and DLC were soon to be released...meanwhile, the price of the games did not reflect this. Just another reason to say no to the retail video gaming industry. Spoiler



Q: OK, I can understand that. But isn't going only freeware and f2p extreme?





A: I don't think so. Freeware has been a part of PC gaming since it's inception. There are very creative people making excellent games. It's hard to say no when the freeware and f2p scene are doing so many things right and the retail scene is not. Spoiler



Q: Retail markets have changed on the PC considerably, though. Look at the success of STEAM, GOG and Humble Bundle. Aren't those companies doing great things you can get behind with your $? A lot of games are sometimes for sales under $5 or "pay what you want" with DRM and such.





A: Well STEAM is great and it has done a lot of great things for PC gaming as a whole. In the end though it's a super system of DRM. I am against DRM. I love the freeware and F2P sections. I wish the freeware games on STEAM were more visible. But I can understand why they are not.



GOG is great. If I do put money one day back into the game industry, in a non-donation fashion, it would be through GOG (or a system like it) because of their no DRM policy. Why not now? Well, I have many if not all of their classic games offered. Played them when I was younger and don't see the need to get them again. Wish they had a donate button.



Humble Bundle is what retail PC gaming should be across the board. I'm not just talking about their "pay what you want" feature. I like the lack of DRM and the support provided to play the game as you want on the OS you want like Linux. As I move away from the Windows OS in 2014 and beyond I can see myself giving this group money without hesitation.



All of the other methods of PC gaming, that are no longer on disc, have been good too, IMO. They are not perfect but it looks like a bright future with so many business models doing things differently to get a piece of the pie. This is great for PC gamers because we have multiple choices and ways to get our games. Which as we can see with the Humble Bundle, are positive and progressive for the PC gaming community as a whole.



Regarding the lowering prices of PC games...this has always been a trademark of PC gaming since I started PC gaming (April to June 1988). So this is nothing new to me. It is great though and I think it helps a lot of up and coming new PC gamers get into the groove the right way.



I'm just not ready to go back into retail so quickly and beside I have a ton of freeware and f2p games to finish A: Well STEAM is great and it has done a lot of great things for PC gaming as a whole. In the end though it's a super system of DRM. I am against DRM. I love the freeware and F2P sections. I wish the freeware games on STEAM were more visible. But I can understand why they are not.GOG is great. If I do put money one day back into the game industry, in a non-donation fashion, it would be through GOG (or a system like it) because of their no DRM policy. Why not now? Well, I have many if not all of their classic games offered. Played them when I was younger and don't see the need to get them again. Wish they had a donate button.Humble Bundle is what retail PC gaming should be across the board. I'm not just talking about their "pay what you want" feature. I like the lack of DRM and the support provided to play the game as you want on the OS you want like Linux. As I move away from the Windows OS in 2014 and beyond I can see myself giving this group money without hesitation.All of the other methods of PC gaming, that are no longer on disc, have been good too, IMO. They are not perfect but it looks like a bright future with so many business models doing things differently to get a piece of the pie. This is great for PC gamers because we have multiple choices and ways to get our games. Which as we can see with the Humble Bundle, are positive and progressive for the PC gaming community as a whole.Regarding the lowering prices of PC games...this has always been a trademark of PC gaming since I started PC gaming (April to June 1988). So this is nothing new to me. It is great though and I think it helps a lot of up and coming new PC gamers get into the groove the right way.I'm just not ready to go back into retail so quickly and beside I have a ton of freeware and f2p games to finish Spoiler



Q: If I find a game on your list that is not free and legal will you take it down?





A: Yes. If a game posted is actually not available for free legally it will be taken down. Make sure that you post or PM proof. I usually mark them off in red with a little quip or remove them entirely. Spoiler



Q: Do you ever donate?





A: Yes. I donate from time to time to developers that make excellent freeware games. Spoiler



Q: I've noticed that when you are on STEAM/Raptr/Xfire you're playing a lot of retails games that are not free...What's up with that?





A: Good question. If the game is old enough prior to 1998-ish I probably bought it. The rest of the games I got through giveaways like these: ArmA II, Men of War and Tower Bloxx free from The SUN and Green Man Gaming from 07/08/11 to 07/12/11,



For all of the other retail games you see me playing, I either got them during a contest, forum member giveaway or a online/RL friend gave them to me out of the kindness of their hearts or some other devious motive.



On 10/13/12 - I did get the Divine Divinity - Pay What You Want Bundle from GOG. Going forward I will support DRM free retail games that are pay what you want. A: Good question. If the game is old enough prior to 1998-ish I probably bought it. The rest of the games I got through giveaways like these: Portal Free From 09/16/11 to 09/20/11 Empire Earth free on GOG on 12/14/11 and more. These games were free for a time and then went back to being retail.For all of the other retail games you see me playing, I either got them during a contest, forum member giveaway or a online/RL friend gave them to me out of the kindness of their hearts or some other devious motive.On 10/13/12 - I did get the Divine Divinity - Pay What You Want Bundle from GOG. Going forward I will support DRM free retail games that are pay what you want. Spoiler



Have a question you want to ask? PM or Post It! I'll look it over and add it. Let me know if you want your name shown or hidden.

Edited by Megazell, 19 April 2013 - 04:23 PM.