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Just as a matter of interest, does anyone have an opinion about how far games will be affected by the current credit crunch? For instance, are you likely to play more games or fewer if times grow hard?
Carol

Well maybe cut down on actions I would imagine, most games are not expensive my thoughts

I posted in another thread that I think PBM should (in general) morph into PBEM, and that PBEM should (in general) be free. Funding could come through ads, the way professional bloggers do it.

But then I realized that if my favorite 80s-era game went back online (Empyrean Challenge), I *would* pay for it. I'd still want a PBEM interface, but I'd be willing to actually cough up cash to participate in that one. Does anyone know of a current space empire PBM/PBEM that comes close?

Having said that, I can't go to my wife and justify spending $3/turn on ordinary PBM. So yes, as the economy has changed, so have my spending habits.

carol Wrote:Just as a matter of interest, does anyone have an opinion about how far games will be affected by the current credit crunch? For instance, are you likely to play more games or fewer if times grow hard?
Carol

I think that the current "credit crunch" won't have much impact upon how often games will be played by most gamers. If economic times became much worse, then I think that the type of games being played would shift more to card games or board games, but that generally speaking, people who like to play games tend to allocate time for that purpose, no matter what the state of economic affairs are.

ixnay Wrote:I posted in another thread that I think PBM should (in general) morph into PBEM, and that PBEM should (in general) be free. Funding could come through ads, the way professional bloggers do it.

But then I realized that if my favorite 80s-era game went back online (Empyrean Challenge), I *would* pay for it. I'd still want a PBEM interface, but I'd be willing to actually cough up cash to participate in that one. Does anyone know of a current space empire PBM/PBEM that comes close?

Having said that, I can't go to my wife and justify spending $3/turn on ordinary PBM. So yes, as the economy has changed, so have my spending habits.

You could take a look at KJC's PHOENIX - basic positions are free. It's a much revised version of BEYOND THE STELLAR EMPIRE.
Try http://www.kjcgames.com
Let us know what you think - Carol

I think Grimfinger is right if you are playing the game and loving it then costs (within reason) do not come into it.

I also think GMs could do specials like so many turns for such and such a price. But it all depends on the game and how far you think it is worth paying a sum of money for the results and quality you are getting from them.

carol Wrote:Just as a matter of interest, does anyone have an opinion about how far games will be affected by the current credit crunch? For instance, are you likely to play more games or fewer if times grow hard?
Carol

In regard to the subject I saw the following article in the Guardian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/200...microsoft1

Personally I tend to agree that I would cut other luxuries before my gaming ones. I could reduce my wine habit for a start but If things got really bad i.e. losing a job, then I would seriously have to consider canceling some of the PBM's and I'd definitely stop adding to my growing boardgames collection.

A credit crunch is often caused by a sustained period of careless and inappropriate lending which results in losses for lending institutions and investors in debt when the loans turn sour and the full extent of bad debts becomes known. These institutions may then reduce the availability of credit, and increase the cost of accessing credit by raising interest rates.

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