Since I’ve been a small kid, I loved playing computer games. Back then, I wasn’t able to get my hands on many, as they were so costly. Even worse, the really cheap PC games were – let me say it tactfully – horrible. So I used to hunt gaming stores for and look for discount video games, and normally didn’t have much luck.
But these days things are different. The internet is an amazing thing for computer gamers. First, there are many sites that literally offer free games. Hundreds if not thousands! on a wide variety of styles (i.e. some offer free online adventure games). And of high quality, too! When I was a child this would have been impossible to conceive, but nowadays there are so many people who simply create games for their own enjoyment (or have advertisements interweaved into the game – another concept I wouldn’t have been able to grasp as a kid). Additionally, there are so many sites that offer really cheap games, i.e. for $5 or less. Even as a child with a very low budget I could have easily found the money to buy those.
The funny thing is is that I believe this – in a sense – cheapens the games. Back in the 80s, every game was invaluable. Even if you didn’t like it at first, you’d still explore it until you mastered it – because there were not that many games available. However, now that one can get really high quality games for a cheap price or for free, I can envision today’s children and teens simply giving a game a single shot, if it doesn’t immediately grab their attention, toss it away. I probably would do this if I were a teenager nowadays.
Ironically, I’m pretty sure that’s what our grandparents used to say about books (”back in our time it was hard to get books, but today’s children don’t read book seriously and give them up too easily”). Funny how history repeats itself, no?