The Mystique of Owning it from Launch...

[bladerunner]

So, I am sure everyone here is aware that there seems to be some kind of mystique to having owned a game/console/accessory or whatever from the time it was launched. I mean, if I walk up to a guy and say, "I have owned FFVII since launch," is that supposed to make me a god or something? Am I now super badass because of it? Or did I just see a good thing coming?

I see a lot of this in people I know, in people who post on forums, etc. "I got in on launch day n00bz@! Seriously, does this give a gamer more credence or make them legit? I figure if you love a retro game or console, regardless of whether or not you plopped down money to reserve it in advance, that makes you legit. 2 legit 2 quit.

I am not talking about any one person here at Racketboy. This is culture wide with regards to video gaming. It is why some people may not want Greatest hits versions of games brag about owning "0" model Dreamcast. Maybe all of this is attempts by people to just get back to those times, like uber-nostalgia or something. Has anyone else seen this? Is this bad for gaming culture, or a necessary part of it? Does this increase the value of certain gaming items?

[slowslow325]

The only reason people brag about this is because they spent so much time/work/money into getting it on launch day, and that probably made some people jealous at the time, that when the big deal wears off and everyone has it, they want to make the bragging rights last longer even though nobody cares.

Like, let's say you bought a Wii when they were hard to find on Ebay for 600 dollars. Now, that you can easily get them for 200 dollars, you realize that extra 400 dollars was a complete waste, so you need to make yourself feel better by thinking of reasons.

Oh, and did anyone else read the title of this topic and think immediately of Custer's Revenge and other Atari porn?

[dedalusdedalus]

I can see how owning something since launch will increase your personal attachment to a certain video game or console, but I don't see why other people should care about it.

Within every hobby, people will find something completely arbitrary to brag about, just so they can feel like they have bigger dicks. It's called overcompensation.

[thecommontask]

I think the mystique of it is valid to a certain extent. I remember when I first went to college I waited in line for the first Xbox from the Best Buy there. Side note, while waiting outside overnight freezing my ass off some dudes drove by holding their Xbox out the window because they went to Walmart. I felt so stupid but at that point it was like whatever. Anyways I had this launch ticket and it was "001" and I thought having it was pretty cool so I laminated it and stuck it to the bottom of my Xbox after I got it home.

I don't think this really does anything to improve value, but it adds that extra coolness to certain people around it. It's a story that's all. Also, I feel really lame about being so hyped for Xbox when it came out. I guess it was timing that got the best of me being a Freshmen in college you do stupid things. I was pleased with my Xbox but apart from Halo over the LAN and the next year's chance to Beta test Xbox LIVE I wasn't exactly blown away by it.

I think it's rare to find a person who has a classic console from "launch" so I don't think much of that aspect. I wonder how those kinds of things worked back then... it would be interesting if anyone had a story about the day NES came to the US. In the end I'll just say it is a neat thing in general, but I don't think it makes you any more of a die-hard fan or puts you on a higher level of gaming awesomeness or anything.

[Anayo]

I almost always get stuff at least 2 years after it's already been out. There are several reasons for this.

1. The hardware kinks have been worked out and it's more stable. The XBOX 360 has the red ring of death. The first several thousand Sega 32x's were duds. The GP32X had a miserable launch day, with units dropping like flies. Waiting ensures you'll get a more reliable system.

2. Sometimes better hardware is available if you wait. This isn't as important as point 1. But it was sure nice when even though I wanted a Nintendo DS reaaal bad, I waited and the DS lite came out. Then I got that. I'll bet folks who got the original GBA on launch day felt dumb, with the GBA SP coming out a year or two down the road.

3. More games are available. I remember when I was so interested in the DS, very, very few worthwhile games were out the first year. Since I waited so long, I had more to choose from.

I think it's a moot point to mention just saving money and getting it cheaper by now, I guess.

[CRTGAMER]

Maybe something about the feeling "I was there since day one, part of gamer history".
Doesn't make a person more gamer savvy just because they have a particular machine since its launch.

I can see for the Launch PS3 just to get the Emotion Chip 60gb, though at the time, no one knew PS2 compatibility would go away.

I rather wait for bugs to be fixed and cheaper. I bought most of my consoles used. Well except for older machines where there wasn't really firmware problems, Atari 5200, 7800 and the Commodore computers.

My jewel would be the SX-64. My first mod. Putting video - audio inputs to watch the Laser Disc on that tiny 5 inch color screen. Ridiculous but cool.'

[Kebo]

I understand the general feeling of it. Having OoT and Diablo 2 at launch were just reflective of how hyped I was for those games, needing them on day 1. Waiting in line for Gamecube at midnight was also reflective of how much I wanted it. I didn't get them at launch to brag, I got them at launch because I just had to have them. Getting something at launch, or six months later, is fairly trivial.

I think the real key is if someone experienced the game when it was 'new'. I'd still consider MGS4 new. I played Super Mario World when it was new. Can some kid growing up now, going back and playing it for the first time in 2010, ever really understand how good it was for its time? Can they understand the excitement of big releases that awed us with the graphics? OoT certainly doesn't awe me with its graphics now, but it did at the time. Now I merely have memories of the awe. It's like how I can't really fathom or understand the transition from black and white to color TV. I just wasn't there for it. So I do find a big difference between experiencing something when its in its current generation as opposed to visiting it years or decades later. Launch vs six months/year later or whatever seems inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

[J T]

Owning it at launch means you cared enough to spend the big bucks so that you could have the experience before anyone else did. You got to ride on the cutting edge for awhile. In all honesty, it doesn't meant that much, but it means something and the people that buy games at launch are the ones that drive the industry since most of what determines whether a game is financially successful or not depends on the sales of its first few months. The amount of this success then circles back to the game developers about what kind of games they should make and when they should make sequels. These 'at launch' guys may be gloating over something of little consequence, but without people willing to spend full price on games, the game industry wouldn't be doing so hot, so let them have their little 'in at launch' pride.

[(-_-)]

I find it more of a personal satisfaction thing. It's like a culmination of all of the excitement and hype you had looking forward to the game. And you were there the day it was released to the public, and it holds a sentimental value to it. There is also the simple experience of getting it on day one which varies among releases. Standing in line with likeminded people and having amusing conversations about things you're collectively interested in. It's just remembering the particular experience associated with getting it on the first day. It gives the object more personal value which encourages you to keep it and enjoy using it. Recently getting things on the day of launch entails getting free stuff you'll never see again which just adds that element of value.

[Jrecee]

I GOT MY DREAMCAST ON 9/9/99!