I was late to the computer game. My first system was an IBM PS1 in 1990. I bought that with inheritance funds when my dad's father passed. An entire computer set up in a box for a price I can't recall, but it was crazy and all I got was a 200 meg hard drive
It was mainly meant to give me a writing tool, as my health had recently told me "I could drop dead" with respects to running my business, and so I had decided to use professional writing instead. My first modem was a 14.4 Sportster Fax modem. Fine for submitting documents. I went to a 28.8 and then the awesome speed of a 56k. But there wasn't much reason to 'wander' the 'internet' at the time (my opinion). I spent a lot of time on ICQ chatting. And then eventually found Yahoo Messenger and it permitted a person a window so you could see your contact. I spent time on some questionable writing sites. I say 'questionable', because I was trying my hand at erotic fiction
I suppose I was good at it, but, it just wasn't really my thing.
I didn't really experience much in the way of a dramatic 'shift' in the www experience until around 2000 though. I found Matrix Games early in 2000. And I spent way too much of my day talking about Steel Panthers. And between 2000 and 2005 I spent just about my whole day with wargaming sites when not rampantly downloading documentaries and movies thanks to the training and talents of a young local computer genius buddy. This was the time of torrents and the even better newsgroups, and the fledling services that mailed out movie dvd rentals foolishly permitting some to simply copy them, and send them back. I used something like 10 terra bytes of bandwidth a month
But that was the world of 2005. With services like Netflix and technology like flash drive doodads that can hold massive somes of data as well as portable drives up to 4 TB common and cheap, I simply have no interest in burning a disk which just becomes useless eventually. I don't buy disks, because they are no better than a copied disk for permanence. I've lost count of how often a bought product failed on me.
I like how Matrix Games and Slitherine can sell me a product that is an easy quick download, which is complete and total and only protected by a serial for install that I can load on as many machines as I wish. I like that I can store the installer on any device I wish, and I usually immediately the moment the download completes, store it in up to 5 locations. I reward Matrix Games and Slitherine with my willingness to frequently buy the game full price. If I can't afford 80 bucks on day 1, chances are I can't afford 40 bucks a year or two later on sale eh. But I buy what I want. And frankly, I only balk at spending more than 100 bucks on anything game or otherwise. It's rare I will buy a board game, or a model or just about anything that's more than 100 bucks. I don't 'hate' Steam per se, but, I don't 'like' Steam either. True it permits faster easier installs of titles like Panzer Corps or Battle Academy which have numerous dlcs n stuff. But the program is intrusive, and not worth a damn offline. It's nice Slitherine Group generously offers free Steam keys for many of their games, but my serials are basically not getting used much. I tried to like the service, but I've discontinued using it.
Nothing is forever though.
I used to be 'everywhere' that is computer wargaming, and now, I'm here, just here, only here. Because only here is worth it. You sell me the products I like, and you guys matured away from the need to be a 'hang out' for the unruly. And forums, they tend to identify a person as being older than 40
Because even Facebook has become a means to saying you are not under 30. The only people over 30 using a cell phone for everything, are the rebellious older crowd as I see it. Most of my Facebook crowd, is not under 30. Well it's the need for typing as I see it. Good luck posting this message from a cellphone eh.
I like Facebook, mainly because it's people I want to talk to, my way, all the time my way, my rules, no one else gets to tell me who can be on my Facebook experience. I like the control. I'm here, because the site management, has mastered the art of maintaining discipline. I've enjoyed the content posted to Facebook, and I like the YouTube videos for the games.
Thanks guys
Wargame, 05% of the time.
Play with Barbies 05% of the time.
Play with Legos 10% of the time.
Build models 20% of the time
Shopping 60% of the time.
Exlains why I buy em more than I play em.
