Points = Crack = Profit?

As much as I wanted to play Condemned 2, something niggled at me about spending £35 on what could potentially be another 7 chapter, 4-6 hour pipe-weilding hobo-fest. And while I quite enjoyed everything else in that spectrum, the short amount of time it lasts was not satisfactory for the price point.

While that would be a perfectly logical argument, my brain instead screamed as loud as it could that for £35, I could get 3 games from Play.com, making for more points than just Condemned 2. While objectively, points should never be a deciding factor in a purchase, once you’ve started, you just can’t stop.

Here’s where the sometimes (but not oft) beneficial advantage to points steps in, for those who are hopelessly addicted to them at least. They lead you to play games you would otherwise ignore which can teach you some things about yourself, and even lead you to new enjoyable experiences, and no, this doesnt mean you should play Vampire Rain, no matter how morbidly curious you are.

So for the same price as Condemned 2, I picked up Star Trek: Legacy, Tomb Raider: Anniversary and Call of Juarez, with enough dosh leftover for a poster, so now Nero resides on my wall, with his shiney devil arm pointed accusingly.

Ok, so while Condemned is no Bioshock or Portal, it’s fair to say it’s definately a good game, whereas these 3 are mediocre at best. But having said that, once they were given a chance all 3 offered enjoyable experiences that matched up well with their associated pricetags, and offered more than 5 times the longevity I am predicting for Condemned 2. Which made me happy with the purchase.

But when I actually though about what compelled me to buy those games, instead of the immidiete answer being budget price point balanced against quality, instead I found myself thinking “Points”. Points had influenced me to buy, and then play, and *gasp* enjoy 3 games I would never have otherwise given 2 flying farts about before.

I think it’s fair to say that for those of us hovering around dangerously hooked on points (We won’t go into my 50 hour GTA IV marathon.) they can legitimately cause a purchase reaction. In short.

Points are Crack Cocaine.