217 Gamer Guilt Part 3: The Cost - Spending, Regrets and Justifications

Welcome back to Gaming the System, where three intersectional feminists examine gaming and games through a feminist lens! In this third installment of our Gamer Guilt series, Jem, Alex, and Matt dive into the financial side of gaming—how much we spend, how we justify it, and the guilt that sometimes comes with it.💰 Gaming vs. Other Hobbies We rarely question the cost of sports, music, or collecting hobbies, but why is gaming spending scrutinised? From consoles to digital libraries, our hosts break down the real costs of gaming and compare them to other pastimes.📈 The Cost of Games: Then vs. Now Is £70 for a game really that steep considering the time-cost value? Or is it just the ever-rising price of entertainment? The team discusses how gaming expenses have changed, why some titles feel “worth it,” and whether digital ownership is truly ownership at all.💸 Regrettable Purchases & Money Well Spent From Steam refunds to unexpected subscription traps, Alex and Matt share their biggest gaming purchase regrets, including a mysterious musical pigeon misadventure. Meanwhile, Jem reflects on the psychological pull of in-game spending and the ethical concerns of microtransactions.📚 Games, Books, and the Changing Meaning of Ownership What happens when companies remove access to purchased content as digital storefronts dominate? The team touches on the recent Kindle controversy and how it mirrors the gaming world’s shift toward subscriptions and live-service models.🎧 Tune in Next Time! There’s still more to unpack! Our Gamer Guilt series continues, and we’d love to hear your experiences. Have you ever felt guilty about your gaming spending? Drop us a message and let’s keep the conversation going.📢 Support the Podcast!Let us know on BlueSky (@gamingthesystem.bsky.social), Instagram (@gamingthesystempodcast) or in the comments on YouTube!If you love Gaming The System, consider supporting us:🔹 Patreon: patreon.com/gamingthesystem – get exclusive content!🔹 PayPal Donations: [email protected]🔹 Subscribe & Review: Share the podcast with fellow gamers!🎙 Gaming The System releases new episodes every ThursdayThanks for listening, and remember – there’s always another game to play that isn’t full of nonsense. 🎮✨#GamingTheSystem #GamingCulture #FeministGaming  #feministgamingpodcast​ #feministgamers​ #intersectionalgaming​ #equalityingames​ #GamingRepresentation #AccessibleGaming #IntersectionalGaming #GamingTheSystemPodcast