Do not forget about the local library for games

[opa]

I really haven't been playing many games lately and have been focusing on other hobbies (especially since costs of literally everything have risen and bills come first before the shiny, new game).

To cut back on spending a bit, I started frequenting my local library to borrow books and entertainment. They've got everything to keep you busy but mine also has a video game section. My library has the current systems but also some older stuff by today's standards (3DS/Wii/PS3/360/Wii U). I am currently enjoying Kirby and the Forgotten Land for free which is quite nice.

Times are hard so take this as a quick reminder to check out the free entertainment options in your community.

[RobertAugustdeMeijer]

Happy to hear you have a good library! <3

[QUAG BOI]

so jealous

wish my library had a video game sections

although i have been focusing more on getting budget games lately.
I'm getting like one or two games every month or 2............or 3
and even then i make sure they are cheep ones
like 15$ at most

or perhaps I'm being over kill lol

[racketboy]

My son has been using ours for Switch games for years now.
He'll buy the top priority games he knows he'll like and get a lot of use of, but use the library to give others a go. It's been nice for all the Pokemon releases too -- he can then decide if it's worth actually buying. Sometime with the Pokemon ones (the variants too) he'll check them out off and on down the line if there's something he needs to get in the game, etc.

[opa]

A bit of a random update. My Genesis model 2 was missing the cover for the expansion port. Replacements online seemed to be 10 to 15ish dollars. In my search I found a replacement that someone made for printing on the 3D printer.

My library actually has one for use by patrons. For a mere $2 I now have a 3d printed replacement panel. Does it look great? No. But it fits and is an almost perfect fit (some gaps around one edge but works).

I am really glad about these random community resources being useful for gaming related things.

[racketboy]

A bit of a random update. My Genesis model 2 was missing the cover for the expansion port. Replacements online seemed to be 10 to 15ish dollars. In my search I found a replacement that someone made for printing on the 3D printer.

My library actually has one for use by patrons. For a mere $2 I now have a 3d printed replacement panel. Does it look great? No. But it fits and is an almost perfect fit (some gaps around one edge but works).

I am really glad about these random community resources being useful for gaming related things.

That does seem cool and a natural concept for more libraries to have. Our library has had a "Library of Things" for a year or two (different items you can check out). But a 3D printer for use in the computer lab or something would be really nice. Supervision may be needed to make sure it's used responsibly, so maybe that's why ours likely doesn't have one. What's the admin setup for it like there?

[opa]

The public doesn't have access to the printer. You have to submit the file to them (via email or thumb drive). Only library staff can operate it. It's kept in one of their offices. I'm sure if it was out in the open it wouldn't last.

Also, you have to get their approval (to make sure you're not printing something violating a copyright or making a weapon).

[racketboy]

Well that's pretty darn smart
Hopefully, it's not too much of a pain for you to use...

[opa]

It was fairly painless. Just sent an email and they replied back with the cost and asked what color I wanted. Then I got an email when it was done.

I suppose the only "downside" was that it took a couple of days. But it's the library and not some printing business; I'm not complaining.

[gavin1yshafi]

I really haven't been playing many games lately and have been focusing on other hobbies (especially since costs of literally everything have risen and bills come first before the shiny, new game).

To cut back on spending a bit, I started frequenting my local library to borrow books and entertainment. They've got everything to keep you busy but mine also has a video game section. My library has the current systems but also some older stuff by today's standards (3DS/Wii/PS3/360/Wii U). I am currently enjoying Kirby and the Forgotten Land for free which is quite nice. I also noticed that when you don't pay right away, you play calmer and experiment more, as if that childhood vibe comes back when you just borrow a cartridge from a friend. By the way, sometimes I also look for various free or demo options for online entertainment, just to understand whether the topic is interesting at all. Once I came across https://dragonlinkpokie.com/ where I just read about game mechanics and bonus modes, purely out of curiosity how it all works from the inside. In general, libraries are really underestimated, especially when you want to stay in gaming but without constant expenses, and it seems to me that such options are now even more logical than buying each new release at the start.

Times are hard so take this as a quick reminder to check out the free entertainment options in your community.

I discovered a few games that I would never have bought, but after playing them I had a very pleasant experience. I also noticed that when you don't pay right away, you play more calmly and experiment more, as if that childhood vibe comes back when you just borrow a cartridge from a friend.