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Other Classic Arcade Games => Classic Arcade Game Discussion => Topic started by: homerwannabee on November 18, 2014, 05:40:27 am

Title: I invented a way to value a MAME score
Post by: homerwannabee on November 18, 2014, 05:40:27 am
I thought of a different fun way to think of a score you get.
I actually see collecting scores the same way a person collects comics or baseball cards.  Except in the gaming world time is our currency. 
So knowing that I thought "Why not make hours spent into artificial currency?"
To put a value on that time spent I use the Federal Minimum wage law.
So just go over to the part that tells you how many hours played the game, and multiply by minimum wage, and you get a value to your score.
I'll use Galaxian as an example.
I have spent around 24 hours on Galaxian.  My high score on that game is 50,390.  So for me that score is worth 24 times 7.25= $174.
So I can say my score is equivalent to having a $174 comic or baseball card.
Yeah I know some of you have gotten a score like that in 5 hours practice time.  But in the real world some people get paid more than minimum wage.  You would be the guy making $35 an hour instead.
Title: Re: I invented a way to value a MAME score
Post by: WCopeland on November 18, 2014, 06:27:46 am
(http://i.imgur.com/uMvY5YA.png)

This is my hours logged on MAMEUIFX, which I use only for save state practice. Add probably another 1000 hours inside WolfMAME and maybe 200 hours on a cab to get 1784 hours.

For minimum wage: 1784 x 7.25 = $12,934.  I don't think my score is worth even 1/10 that though ;)
Title: Re: I invented a way to value a MAME score
Post by: homerwannabee on November 18, 2014, 06:54:04 am
(http://i.imgur.com/uMvY5YA.png)

This is my hours logged on MAMEUIFX, which I use only for save state practice. Add probably another 1000 hours inside WolfMAME and maybe 200 hours on a cab to get 1784 hours.

For minimum wage: 1784 x 7.25 = $12,934.  I don't think my score is worth even 1/10 that though ;)
Actually, your score in the real world is worth nothing.  But if you think about it driving a taxi or delivering pizzas takes less effort. 
So yeah, you could have spent those hours on a minimum wage job instead.  Because of that your score is worth $12,934 in virtual money.
Think about how someone gets a super valuable comic for that money.  They spend extra working hours to get it.
If you were a comic collector you could have gotten a second job, and spent 1784 hours with LESS effort than you spent on getting that score.
My whole point is your hours spent on the game is worth something to you because you could have spent that time on a mindless minimum wage job instead.
Title: Re: I invented a way to value a MAME score
Post by: WCopeland on November 18, 2014, 07:15:02 am
This is true that a score is a deeply personal thing. Truth be told, playing at 1.1 pace on a daily basis has removed all joy and fun from the game for me. The game feels more like a job at the moment because of how hard I'm grinding on a daily basis, but I mentally can't stop until I know my score reflects what I think my potential is.
Title: Re: I invented a way to value a MAME score
Post by: D.B. Cooper on November 18, 2014, 01:00:06 pm
I know that not everyone lives the same life but this isn't working for me.  I already work a 40 hour week at my regular job and playing video games is simply a hobby.  If I want to buy a comic book, I use the money I make at my regular job.  I'm not going to get a minimum wage job so I can buy comics.  And if I decided to stop playing games, I would not use that time on another job.  I'd use it another hobby.  I'd watch more movies, read more books, look at more porn etc.  So for me anyways, my scores are worth $0.
Title: Re: I invented a way to value a MAME score
Post by: homerwannabee on November 18, 2014, 01:31:38 pm
This is something more for fun.  An attempt to put value on something that doesn't really have a price.  Personally I like the fact you can't buy a score.   It maybe one of the few things that a rich person is at an even playing field with me.
Title: Re: I invented a way to value a MAME score
Post by: Barra on November 18, 2014, 09:05:02 pm
1784 hours holy  <gasp>
Title: Re: I invented a way to value a MAME score
Post by: Josephjo on November 19, 2014, 12:02:31 am
1784 hours holy  <gasp>

How long do you think you've spent on Galaga then mate? You'd probably be equally surprised if you knew!

As would your tutor at Uni!   <stirpot>
Title: Re: I invented a way to value a MAME score
Post by: Fly on November 19, 2014, 02:06:46 pm
1784 hours holy  <gasp>

Yeah, That's a shit ton of hours. I don't think I've racked up even half that amount on any game. Not even close.

Hec
Title: Re: I invented a way to value a MAME score
Post by: Barra on November 20, 2014, 01:10:59 am
Quote from: Josephjo

How long do you think you've spent on Galaga then mate? You'd probably be equally surprised if you knew!


Haha

Hard to know but I'd say definitely more than 500 but probably not 1000.
Next highest maybe stocker at around 150-200 (incl. save states)

Wish there was some way to tell. I used to keep track in 0.106 but who uses that anymore Kappa