Green Gaming: Playing Video Games, the Eco-Friendly Way

When it comes to saving the environment there's not a lot of ways for gamers to "go green". Loading up the eco-friendly Awesome Possum or Global Gladiators for a game of recycling awareness from the 90's isn't too helpful. While games don't yet come in reconstituted cardboard pulp packaging, there are a few ways that you can reduce your ecological footprint while keeping your trigger fingers happy.

De-Tooth Your Electronic Vampires
The easiest way is to take the proverbial garlic to your electronic vampires. In 2007 several reports were released on "vampire electronics", devices that continue to suckle power from wall outlets even when they seem to be turned off. Cell phone chargers are the biggest culprits but our high-tech game consoles definitely draw unneeded electricity even when switched off.

Ever notice how the power box for the Xbox 360 stays lit up when you shut down the system, or how the PlayStation 3's power light glows red when you're not using it? Ever spot the glowing blue light from your Nintendo Wii signaling a new message? All three modern consoles are continuously drawing electricity while seemingly powered down. Granted, we're talking about between 2 and 9 watts here, which adds up to about two dollars a month to keep all three consoles plugged in and in standby mode. But this isn't about cutting your electric bill, it's about cutting down on useless electric waste, and all you'll need is a power strip.

What we've done is mount our power strip on the back top side of the entertainment center. From here it's easy to reach around and flip the switch, not only cutting power from the consoles but also to the stereo, TV, and DVD player which also suck their own share of electricity. Rearranging the cables took maybe an hour at most and the screws went in by hand. The only downside is that the stereo's digital clock will forever be blinking 12:00. A small price to pay. Don't forget about your portable systems either. The Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable chargers work just like a cell phone charger and draw power even when nothing is plugged in. There are many, many charging stations available nowadays that conceal the tangled cords and power strip inside nice hardwood boxes lined with anything from felt to hand-sewn leather, depending on how fancy you want to get.

We play in a wireless age nowadays so don't forget your controllers. The Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii controllers can both run on AA batteries. Stock up on some rechargeable batteries with a 2000 mAh or higher rating and you'll barely notice a difference in battery life. Just don't forget to unplug your charger from the wall when not in use, it's a vampire as well. For PlayStation 3, buy a long recharge cable and juice up your controllers while you're actually using the system, even if you're just watching a movie.

Trading in the Name of Conservation
Most modern games are endlessly handed down from game store bargain bins to eBay seller shops to individuals on Craigslist to a mildewed cardboard box at a yard sale. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who'd rather throw out a PlayStation 2 game than trade it in for a discount towards a new purchase. Jump into the cycle and keep your old games out of the landfill. Video games continue to be valuable collectibles long after their release and since the industry is still young overproduction and destruction of media is minimal. There have been no reports of major dumping or destruction of video games since that infamous E.T. landfill incident in the 80's. Got older games or electronics you just don't have the time to auction off online? There are numerous resources like Earth911.org that will gladly help you recycle your old plastic Atari cartridges and Sega CD discs.

Downloads Cut the Waste
The concept of digital distribution has been around for ages but it's only been in recent years with faster internet connections and bigger, cheaper hard drives that it's really started taking off. Watching a Netflix movie online saves paper (and postage) and the same is true for the burgeoning market of digital game downloads. GameFly.com offers free and paid downloads of over 900 PC, console, and arcade games that require no shipping, no packaging, and no manufacturing. All three console systems have launched similar online shops.

The Xbox 360's Live Marketplace offers over 100 games, Nintendo's Virtual Console features over 200 games, and Sony's PlayStation Network has over 50 games available for download as of early 2008. Many of these are updated versions of retro classics like Pac-Man, Contra, and Mortal Kombat that don't require you to hunt them down on eBay and pay to have them shipped to your house. There are also a growing number of games that can be purchased and downloaded online day-and-date with their physical counterparts. Warhawk for the PlayStation 3, for example, is available to buy in stores for $60 and includes lots of plastic packaging and cardboard. It is also available to download on the PlayStation Network for $40. Not only is it cheaper and more convenient to download the game, you're also saving the hassle of pressing the disc, printing the box, molding the case, packing it up for delivery, and shipping it across the globe to a retail store. You also don't have to worry about the game selling out and can brag that you were the first to have it the second it went on sale.

Rent for the Planet
Similar to trading and digital downloads, renting your games either online through a service like GameFly.com or locally at a Blockbuster Video keeps the product in circulation without the risk of it being thrown away. You also save a ton of money by not paying $50 to $60 for every game you want to play. The Xbox 360's Marketplace also offers hundreds of video and television "rentals" in the form of paid downloads. The advent of digital video recorders and digital distribution services like iTunes also reduce the waste of natural resources in the form of packaging and shipping.

You Really Can Help
Until the day when common sense wins out over flashy style and we start packaging games in small paper sleeves and using recycled plastic to make console systems these are about the only ways that gamers can do their part for the environment. But there's much more that each of us can do in our own daily lives to help ease the human burden on our planet. Switch your light bulbs over to less power-hungry compact fluorescents, look into a renewable offset energy source like wind or solar power, filter your own water instead of buying bottled, buy locally produced products to support your community and cut down on shipping waste, or just rely on your local library for free access to books, movies, and music. If you can't get motivated for the planet's sake, just think about how much you'll be saving on your electric bill and gas that you'd spend driving back and forth around town.