How does he do it? Here it is, just another Wednesday, and FedEx has practically installed a new hub at his house. From today's GoneGold.com:

-> "Today I was expecting a big delivery,
-> since I had three packages coming from
-> EBGames and one from Compuexpert. When
-> the doorbell rang, I was surprised to
-> see five packages coming my way ...
->
-> "There was one more than expected ..."

Let me just say that this has never happened to me. I've never unexpectedly received new computer games in the mail. I don't think this ever will happen to me either.

I think he gets some comp ones too.

Lucky bastard. :)

-Monkeybutt

Gonegold.com is a great site. Though it might be nice to get the free games, Rich has earned it. I believe he is able to afford the games (and the site) due to the referral fees he gets from Gonegold readers purchasing games using the Compuexpert and EBgames links on his site.

The main thing that bothers me about gonegold is that people make very rude complaints about the site not being updated every single day. Rich usually apologizes and says he will try to do better. I don't understand how readers develop such high expectations for something that Rich does as a hobby for the benefit of all gamers (for free). It's one thing to say, "Hey Tom Chick, I love Shoot Club. Hope you post another article soon.", but it's another to say, "Hey lazy ass, Update your site or get off the internet." I guess there are rude, immature people where ever you go.

-DavidCPA

Just to clarify: I didn't say he hasn't earned the games/doesn't deserve them. I simply said I want his game budget.

According to past comments, the games coming from FedEx are not comp games. Those are orders from EBWorld. He claims often to pay for all the games. Even the ones he gets from companies, he says he goes and buys anyway. Whether this is true or not, only he and his wife would know. He also claims that the money from those referrals does not go into his pocket (game budget). I'm guessing his pension is quite large. He was a NYC cop after all.

BTW, why is it any different when Tom doens't put up a Shoot Club? This site is a hobby too as far as I'm aware. At least, it's a hobby site just like Gone Gold is a hobby site (which is to say that with all the advertising at Gone Gold, it's far from hobbyist anymore). People have high expectations of Gone Gold because most of them don't really care about Rich LaPorte and his daily travails. The site is about games becoming available in stores. When he misses a day, it matters to those coming for information and not to read about their buddy's problems.

Anyway, Rich has often said he pays for all these games, so John T. is sort of justified in his comments above. It is sort of demoralizing if you would love to buy a lot of games but can't afford them. It's almost like bragging. I rarely read the Roll Call anymore because of it. We've got our third child due in a couple weeks. I rarely get full price games these days unless I'm reviewing them. Sonic Adventure 2 is probably the last thing for awhile. Of course, today would be a day I read the Roll Call...

Sour grapes? Maybe... but most sites don't read the way Gone Gold does.

--Dave

Hey -- justified in what comments?!?!?! I wasn't criticizing him at all. I think the site is sort of charmingly naive. (He actually uses "LOL" without irony, and it may make you cringe, but ... I wouldn't make fun of that guy for anything.)

Rich gets some comp games, but I do think he buys most. He's probably got a combination of a pension, social security, and insurance money for being disabled in the line of work.

He's also said that he'll have problems being able to afford Gone Gold if he loses his IGN income.

John T: "Just to clarify: I didn't say he hasn't earned the games/doesn't deserve them. I simply said I want his game budget."

Sorry, didn't mean to imply that you said he didn't deserve them.

Dave Long: "BTW, why is it any different when Tom doens't put up a Shoot Club? This site is a hobby too as far as I'm aware."

Maybe I used a bad example. I was using the Shoot Club comment as a nice comment/suggestion compared to a rude demand. I wasn't trying to compare QT3 to Gonegold.


Dave Long: "People have high expectations of Gone Gold because most of them don't really care about Rich LaPorte and his daily travails."

I disagree about why most people read Gonegold.com. I believe one of the reasons people come back and come back often is because of Rich LaPorte and his Roll Call ramblings.
Sites with a personality like Gonegold and QT3 draw hits because there is an identifiable person(s) behind the contented that is posted. All of this is IMHO only. Don't want to start an argument.

Well he won't have any hosting costs to worry about if I have my way. Decent revenue from ads is different, of course, but I'm actually in a position to help him out when the time comes.

--- Alan

You wanna help me out there, too, Alan? heh. I think my current host is in jail or something... I haven't paid for hosting in months, but once he gets out of the slammer and pulls the plug... ack! heh.

I've gotten the impression that the comp games get sent to reviewers, while he pays for his personal games out of his pocket. Also, I think he has indicated that he will take a game back to EB if he doesn't like it, so while he may get every new release he probably doesn't keep a lot of them.

"Well he won't have any hosting costs to worry about if I have my way. Decent revenue from ads is different, of course, but I'm actually in a position to help him out when the time comes."

I think that his hosting costs are his biggest worry. I don't think he looks at GG as a profit center. I'm sure he'll stick with IGN as long as they'll stick with him, but if something happens, give him a yell.

Most gamers I know spend about $1,200 or more a year on games. If you only buy 3 a month, at $40 a pop, you're talking $1,400 a year on games. Now and then I rant about it, or I I think, if I just bought no games this year the money saved would cover a new computer. But why would I need a new computer if I wasn't buying new games? So I just keep doing the same thing. :)

Rich let me do a little preview of a Nox launch event in Virginia for GG, and though I failed to pursue gaming journalism, he sent me several encouraging emails after that to do more writing, which I'll always be grateful for. :)

> I'm sure he'll stick with IGN as long as they'll stick with him, but if something happens, give him a yell.

Oh I did a few weeks ago. Had a pretty good conversation.

--- Alan

Buying all the games that Rich does, as well as making sure they arrive in the morning before the stores open, is a habit Rich developed a few years back. There's a reason he knows the tricks of the delivery trade. There's also a reason he stated, in a Roll Call many moons ago, that he would never divulge why he knows these secrets. Old habits are hard to break I guess. Really though, does the irony get much thicker? You could cut it with a knife.