After reading a recent Boss Rush Banter about video game magazines, I flipped through my two physical copies of Nintendo Power. Physical magazines are going the way of the dodo, and in addition to the emotional roller coaster that the holidays bring, I thought about the things I grew up with in the 90s that no longer exist.
The number one thing I miss in relation to gaming is Blockbuster–or any other rental store. There was a Blockbuster at the center of my town, and my father and I would frequent it every weekend. I would flock to the video game section while he perused the aisles for a good flick.
Video game rentals still exist; however, it’s almost exclusively GameFly. Even Redbox stopped video game rentals in 2019. I understand that the business model doesn’t make the most sense with the advent of subscription services, but I miss the experience.
That Blockbuster smelt of buttery popcorn. I’d hold my breath in anticipation as I approach the Nintendo section–hoping that there were boxes available behind the cover art. Sometimes your game wasn’t available, but when it was, I took that empty box and handed it over to the unenthused teen who would grab the game for me.
A physical copy of a game was mine for about a week. I appreciated the limited time I had with it–there was no such thing as a back log or “gaming ADD”. That was the game I had, and I had to play the heck out of it before it must be returned. Moreover, it was pretty cost effective. Looking at my current video game collection, I have only picked up a few to replay. The rest could have been completed via a rental…and I would have saved hundreds of dollars.
Honestly, it was the best of both worlds: I could enjoy playing a physical copy of a video game at a low price, and by the end, it doesn’t take up any permanent residence in my house.
Again, I know subscription services are the modern substitute, but it’s not the same. You can’t control what video games are available to play for that service you pay for. You are at the business’ mercy. And because it is a subscription service, you are tied to a monthly/yearly commitment, instead of renting a game when you are damn well ready to. Lastly, there are too many subscription services! Even in the video game industry you have Game Pass, Ubisoft Plus, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass, PlayStation Plus/Extra/Premium, and more.
Are there any obsolete items, events, or services that no longer exist in gaming that you miss? Let’s reminisce as we kick off 2023! Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
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The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network. Each week, Corey, LeRon, Stephanie, Edward, and their friends from around the internet come together to talk their week in games, entertainment, and more while also bringing topics for conversation, answer listener and community questions, and cover major news and events happening in the video game industry. Watch The Boss Rush Podcast live on Wednesday Nights on Twitch at 8:30PM ET / 5:30PM PT or on Friday mornings at 7AM ET on YouTube and podcast services everywhere. Thanks for listening! You can also get this episode one week early on Patreon.
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