I mean, I don’t know if I’d say PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is the best game ever. But it’s without doubt GOTY 2017. And would make my all-time Top 10, which is a huge compliment. I have clocked more time with it on Steam (389 hours) than all three Dark Souls games combined, and that’s in under seven months – completely unprecedented for me. I wish I had tracked stats for total hours played on Sensible Soccer, PES 1-5 and Super Mario Kart to compare.
So, as an old guy, I obviously don’t really ‘get’ esports. I don’t understand MOBAs and I don’t relate to esports culture. I do get some of the games – PUBG, obviously, and a few others like Rocket League and Hearthstone. And I’m interested in the business and the ASTONISHING amount of money that’s pumped into it all. I’ve kindly been offered the chance to cover for Jake on esports Pro this week. I’m learning a lot and actually really enjoying it. It also feels nice to write a bit of news again. It really is my writing comfort zone.
I’ve contributed to The Guardian before but never as an author, so I’m really pleased to have a piece published there today.
Server crashes, 40GB patches and DLC: gaming’s biggest irritations explained
All over some words about some games. The world’s not right.
I’m open to all offers. Prices don’t include P&P which, obviously, will be more for bigger items or if you’re outside the UK. Payments needs to be via PayPal for my Transformers fund!.
I can’t reserve items until I’ve received funds I’m afraid.
Feel free to ask me any questions you have on Twitter – @benparfitt
GAMECUBE
Odama + Microphone (PAL, boxed) £15
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles + GBA lead (PAL, boxed) £17.50
Super Smash Bros Melee (PAL, boxed) £7.50
Viewtiful Joe (Jap, boxed) £7.50
PSOne
R-Type Delta (PAL, boxed) £7.50
MEGA DRIVE
Air Diver (Jap boxed) £5
Mercs (Jap boxed) £5
James Pond II (US NTSC boxed) £3
Gynoug (PAL boxed) £3
Daruis II (Jap, boxed) £10
Tatsujin (Jap boxed) £15
—>OR ALL OF THE ABOVE MEGA DRIVE GAMES FOR £30
DS
Animal Crossing Wild World (US) £7.50
SATURN
Nights into Dreams + Analogue Pad (PAL, boxed) £15
DREAMCAST
Bangai-O (PAL, boxed) £10
PSP
Spider-Man 2 game + Spider-Man 2 UMD film (PSP, Jap, boxed) £5
HARDWARE
Street Fighter Anniversary Edition PS2 Controller – Ken, Red/Yellow (boxed) £20
ON (OR SHORTLY TO BE ON) EBAY – YOU CAN SEE MY ITEMS HERE
Sonic Adventure 2 10th Anniversary Birthday Pack (Jap, Boxed)
Le Man 24 Hours (PAL, boxed)
F355 Challenge Passione Rossa (PAL, boxed)
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker OST (CD, boxed)
Parodius (PAL, boxed)
Paper Mario and Conker’s Bad Fur Day (unboxed)
Truxton (PAL boxed)
32X – After Burner, Mortal Kombat II, Star Wars and Doom (unboxed)
Silhouette Mirage (US, boxed)
Disgaea First Edition (US, boxed)
GrimGriMoire (PAL, boxed)
Space Channel 5 Part 2 (PAL, boxed)
Vib Ribbon (PAL, boxed)
Killer 7 (GameCube, PAL, boxed)
Metal Gear Solid Twin Snakes Player’s Choice (PAL, boxed)
Animal Crossing including Memory Card (US, boxed)
Paper Mario (US, boxed)
Zelda Collector’s Edition (PAL, boxed)
SOLDVIRTUAL BOY (Boxed, Jap NTSC region free) £125NINTENDO DS (Jap, region free) £20DREAMCAST (Boxed, PAL) £30 GAME BOY ADVANCE SP Limited Edition Secret of Mana SKU£30 32X (unboxed) £40MEGA DRIVE / MEGA CD (Unboxed, PAL)£60GAMECUBE (Boxed, PAL) £30SEGA SATURN (Unboxed, PAL) £20Darius Gaiden (Saturn, Jap, boxed) £15Sonic CD (Mega CD, PAL, boxed) £25 Psyvariar 2 Collector’s Edition + cards (Xbox, Jap, boxed) £50 Final Fantasy IX (PSOne, PAL, boxed) £20Final Fantasy VIII (PSOne, PAL, boxed) £10 Castle of Shikigami II + LE Statue (GameCube, Jap NTSC, boxed) £30 Umihara Kawase (SNES, Jap, boxed) £40 Metal Gear Solid Twin Snakes (GameCube, US, boxed) £25 PS3 PS2 Memory Card Adpater (boxed) £5Keoi Flying Squadron (Mega CD, PAL, boxed) £40Darwin 4081 (Mega Drive, Jap boxed + no instructions) £10Sonic 2 (Mega Drive, Jap boxed + no instructions) £3Runark (Mega Drive, Jap boxed + no instructions) £15Midnight Resistance (Mega Drive, Jap boxed) £5Espgaluda (PS2, Jap, boxed) £35Detana Twinbee Yahho-! Deluxe (Saturn, Jap, boxed) £15Shenmue + Shenmue II (PAL, boxed)
Assault Suit Leynos (Jap boxed) £10Pikmin 2 (US, boxed) £7.50R-Types (Jap, boxed) £7.50
A big brownie point to anyone who can name the UK games industry PR stalwart who is the voice of this rather spiffing little number.
I think considering the nature of my job – that is, working for the UK’s trade publication for video games – it would be somewhat remiss of me to appear in court in defence of an accused software pirate. Even if the sale of modded consoles (or R4DS cards, or whatever it is in this instance) were not strictly illegal at that time, it’s still morally wrong and something that I personally condemn.
My brain has stagnated to the point that freedom in a game frightens me. Just tell me what to shoot.
Obviously I likes playing games. But I genuinely also feel duty bound to make sure I play all the latest games. Hence, the Pile Of Shame – games that I’ve either not played or simply not played enough of. They even get their own special shelf and everything:
I reckon if work allow me to take about two year’s worth of paid holiday I’ll get through it no problem.
ben parfitt 