Introducing Gamers.PH (no affiliation)

Let's face it. Once we're done with a game, unless it happens to be very good, we tend not to play it as much or even at all. I confess to being a huge Zelda fan but I don't plan on re-playing every title I own anytime soon. A lot of us are content with just leaving these on the shelf where, like fond memories, they collect copious amounts of dust. But what if you're the type who prefers to put these good old games to use?

We're all familiar with sites like eBay, Sulit.com.ph, AyosDito, and the like. While they're great for offloading your used stuff at pre-loved prices, they're not videogame-specific. If you're looking to sell your used games, you'll be competing with people who are trying to get rid of their old clothes, gadgets, erotic toys and other crap. And while it's true that you can search by category, occasionally there's one item that doesn't quite fit the class that just makes you go WTFing back out to Facebook.

Enter Gamers.PH. They're looking to be the eBay of videogames and videogame accessories in the Philippines. Go here and you'll be sure that everyone else is here for the same reason: to buy and sell used games.

What makes Gamers.PH, a brand new contender in the eAuction space, any better than the others? Let's take a look at their press release.

For one, they've actually got experience. "The site was developed together with Soldgers, a Singapore-based provider of e-commerce platforms and the company behind Sold.sg, an entertainment shopping site in Singapore." Launched in 2010, Sold.sg is one of the most fun-looking online marketplaces I've seen so far, and as an avid virtual window shopper, I've seen quite a few.

They've also got local backing. "Boni Ong, VP for sales and distribution at X-Play Online Games, [says] X-Play will be one of the key suppliers for Gamers.PH." Personally I don't have much experience with X-Play, as their specialty is more on console games than PC games. But - and don't take this for anything more than what it is, which is information - if they're capable of securing exclusive local distribution rights to games like NBA2K13 and Diablo III, then they've got some pretty serious clout.

Their auctioning system is pretty unique, too. Instead of copying eBay's auction method, which is to allow sellers to have complete control over the initial price of the item and set a fixed duration for the auction, at Gamers.PH "all auctions start at P0.00, and will increase by 15 cents when someone enters a bid, with the auction timer to increase by up to 20 seconds.

When the timer reaches zero (0) and the auction closes, the last successful bidder wins the right to buy the product at the final auction price, which usually ends between 60-98 percent off the retail price."

I won't quote any more of the PR which you can read here, because the rest of it is marketing fluff. There is however one extra detail worth mentioning, and it's that they're running an early bird promo. Check it out if you're feeling lucky, but even if you're not, all early registrants will get some small token when the site goes live this Thursday, July 18.

I've already signed up as I'm always game for a good deal, and used games tend to be just as playable as new ones at a fraction of the cost. Hope to see you and your wares on Gamers.PH soon!