Let kids be kids: When collectibles lose their playfulness

7 hours ago

Pokémon cards lose their magic when assessed solely by market value rather than the joy of playing.
Video games sealed in acrylic cases become investments, not experiences meant to be played and shared.
Collecting hobbies can fuel scalping, pricing out children who genuinely want to play.
The author's past carefree bike trip with Game Boy games contrasts with today's focus on inflated values.
The joy of discovery and simplicity of play should not be overshadowed by high prices.

The dream of handheld gaming PCs with serious hardware power is fading due to rising prices.
Memory supply crisis has increased prices for handhelds, making budget options scarce.
The Steam Deck's LCD models were discontinued, and OLED models saw significant price hikes.

The author's New Year's resolution is to play more cooperative video games with their wife, avoiding competitive games.
The game 'Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime' was recommended and purchased cheaply; it involves joint control of a spaceship, shooting enemies, rescuing bunnies, and upgrading.
The game is fun but short and repetitive; better with four players, but with two players it can be frustrating due to limited multitasking.

Consoles are increasingly resembling but inferior PCs as exclusives decline and prices rise.
Sony is ending physical disc production and shutting down older online stores, enforcing a walled garden model.
The PC gaming market offers more flexibility, including options for physical media and open platforms like Steam and GOG.

The derivative nature of the genre rehashes familiar media properties, akin to having Transformers fight He-Man toys.
The plot involves the Vogon Constructor Fleet destroying Earth, forcing people into The Hunger Games-like scenarios narrated by a Twitch streamer.
Protagonists from Andy Weir, Scalzi, and Dinniman rely on science, pop-culture knowledge, and loot-box RPG experience respectively to save the day.

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