Gamespot is currently doing a promotion where the more games you trade in, the higher the bonus percentage you receive in store credit.  I traded in six games today, something that only a few years ago would have been unthinkable.

See, I used to play games and then keep them.  For some reason, I thought this was what "real" gamers did, building a collection that would impress just about any game playing geek who would look at it.  In my mind, they would marvel at my first-run Final Fantasy Tactics, smile at Symphony of the Night, chortle knowingly at Valkyrie Profile.  Games would be lined up like empty beer bottles, showing my gaming accumen to any and all who would look.

But nobody did.  Nobody freaking cared about how "hardcore" I was, except maybe the staff at EB who looked forward to raising their number of preorders whenever they saw me.  Sure, I have Rez, but nobody at work cares.  Record of the Lodoss War doesn't do anything when it comes to wooing the ladies.  While I'm at it, try bringing up Skies of Arcadia at a dinner conversation and see how quickly other people can change the subject.  Ultimately, an impressive collection of games just doesn't win you Brownie points with anyone outside a small circle of people you'll likely never meet, and who'll just scoff anyway when they realize that you've never played Disgaea.

Now I trade games in.  Is there really any reason I should have held on to Chibi-Robo or Cubivore, other than to maybe say I owned them to people who'll probably never ask?  I can't think of any reason to hold on to Twilight Princess, especially since the trade-in value is still pretty high.  And Rez -- well, that one stays with me.  I may not collect games like I used to, but I haven't lost my mind.