As I have blogged about before, I only have time for about 4 or 5 games per year.  I don't even have a "backlog" of missed games, I just assume that my experience with a lot of them will be limited to GB Quick Looks or TNTs.  So I was really, really excited that this week could have been a chance to catch up on some gaming.

First, I am a pretty big CoD fan, plus my brother and I play together in both Zombies and regular MP.  But PSN has been down for some time now, unfortunately.  Of course, I also, for some reason, really like the combat training against bots (maybe because I can actually win?).  But alas, that requires a network connection, as does Zombies...

I've really wanted to play Stacking for some time as well.  Yeah, no dice with no PSN.

No matter, I thought to myself, I'll just jump on the old MacBook Pro and play some games.  Well, that has been limited to Bejeweled and Minecraft.  Why?  Well, unfortunately "The Steam servers are currently too busy too handle your request.  Please try again in a few minutes."  Yep, all my games that need updates (which is most, since I haven't been able to play for 6 months) are stuck until Steam opens up some new servers.

Cloud based games are great, I prefer Steam for the amazing convenience, and the insane deals they offer.  I also LOVE DLC, I think it is great that if I don't want to pay for the extra costumes, I don't have too, but if I want the extra maps, I can get them.  I also love online MP.  But what I hate is being tied to a company that isn't willing to take responsibility for itself.  I have written about this before on forum topics, the rare chances I get to game, I do it right.  I make sure I have a few hours to spare.  I make sure no one will need me.  I make sure my work will still get down.  I grab some snacks or drinks.  I set up the couch/chair.  I turn down the lights.  I make sure everything on my end is ready to go.  Unfortunately, Sony and Valve don't share my desire to put things in order.  They do a great job of charging my credit card, but then seem to disappear.

While Cloud based computing is great, if there is anything we have learned this past month it is that it really is 1984.  In exchange for the convenience, you let someone else decide when and what you can play in your free time.  Although the GB staff is being very nice to Amazon, I wonder how much money Amazon cost them?  Although GB has BY FAR the best gaming content in the world, Gamespot has the uptime.  Although the PS3 is a far superior product to the 360, Microsoft has the uptime.  Although Steam is by far the best digital distribution system out there, when Minecraft's servers go down, I lose access to one $15 game, rather than over $300 worth of ALL my games.

I like to think that my strong sense of personal responsibility has taken me far in my life.  My parents, Boy Scouts, and other early mentors all taught me, "Don't make excuses for your own work" and "Don't put your name on something unless you intend to do it well."  I think both professionally, academically, and even socially, it has taken me a long way.  Unfortunately, it is difficult to find a computing service that shares this approach.