These are just some questions and thoughts I’ve had rattling around in my head since my Sell By, Use By, Bye Bye article, spurred by Syp’s No Game Lives Forever… not all questions are dichotomous, and “right” answers are personal. I’m just in a musing mood lately.
“Needing is one thing, getting’s another”
Do we play something because we want to play it, or because we want to have played it?
Do we explore to see new sights or to take screenshots of them?
What do you do when the world changes beneath you, or when you change… or both?
Why do we want stuff that we can’t take with us, whether it’s “real life” stuff we can’t take with us when we die, or stuff in games that we can’t keep when the games die?
Why do we value “virtual goods”? (I really want a grey dragon familiar, for example… but its utility and permanence is very narrow and potentially fleeting.)
Is that stuff important for the connected memories, or for future bragging rights?
Why do we care about what other people say, and why they say it?
Why do we help others?
Why do we play?
…
I recently sold a handful of my SNES, GBA and DS games to finance the repair of my computer, the purchase of Guild Wars 2 and some Christmas gifts for my children. Once upon a time, I had hoped to share those games with my kids, since they are classics, but they were less than impressed. Instead, I’ve sold those games and their ability to make more memories for tools for my children to make their own memories, somewhat cheered by the idea that those games will hopefully entertain someone else who valued their potential to do so enough to buy them.
Life goes on, and sometimes memories are all we get to keep.
In the end, that might be all we get to keep.
…and I’m OK with that.
…today
Tish Tosh Tesh 
It is hard to adjust to the idea that once treasured possessions are not quite the everlasting heirlooms you once imagined. I found that the transition to a digital economy has helped get my head around the idea. A couple of years back I came to the realisation that there is no point in my hoarding every book I ever read because soon all books will be available online for very little cost. if I ever want to read a title again it will be easier to just get a new digital copy. I am fast coming to the same realisation about games. My Steam library has the appearance of a permanent collection but if I really want to play any of these games in twenty years time it will probably be easier to download a new copy along with an emulator to run on whatever hardware is commonplace at the time. I still have my shelves of big box and DVD case games though, gathering dust. I am not quite ready to dispose of them yet even though they become less relevant with each passing year.
Indeed. My wife has been remodeling the basement (by which I mean she makes the decisions, and I do what I can to help make them happen), so that’s spurred some of this. We need the room, and not only will the kids never play my older games, but it’s increasingly unlikely that I’ll ever play them again either. I probably ought to clean out my books, too, though they are harder to find a market for these days.
Heirlooms are funny things, really. It’s not like I’ve ever played with stuff my parents or grandparents had. I have some of my grandfather’s shirts, but that’s about it.
Memories are more important, and there’s little use in trying to get my kids to have the same memories I have… if it were even possible in the first place.
So… life moves on. *shrug*
This is sort of in the same vein. Last night after seeing Switchfoot Melissa and I were talking about taking pictures at concerts. As much as I want to remind myself of those moments with pictures, I also want to just enjoy the moment. When I’m trying to get the perfect shot, some part of the experience is lost. You’re right – we can’t hang on to everything without missing the opportunity to make new memories.
Wow. That’s really maked me think, Tesh. Good job.
Becca’s comments made me think again: how many of my children’s milestones have I watched through a camera viewfinder?
It depends on how young your children are. You might be better off writing a story about the game and, perhaps the more important part, how you played in it, then reading the story to them (if they are still of an age to have stories read to them).
For it’s not so much the game, but your own history and choices, which is the important element here.
“In the end, that might be all we get to keep.”
I was just going to say 🙂
I admit, I do attach value to a few physical keepsakes of mine; few oldschool games included. but I’m also learning to get rid of all the extra weight in my life, and funny enough whenever I finally bring myself to clean out, I feel relieved. out with the old means room for the new. the only reason I keep my snes rpgs right now is, as you said, memories attached to them – and those I really carry inside of me. I have no intention of replaying them, so I guess sooner or later, I will try find a place for them. and it will be okay. 🙂