Gas Hurts.

Ok, that's out of the way. We all are probably getting more and more frugal minded about our spending. I know I am. I was curious about everyone's spending habits when purchasing titles. New or Used? Release/launch or wait? Etc.

I'll share mine:

I used to be the person that was willy nilly (and still somewhat am) about buying new games. Always at launch and just used my GS discount as an excuse... well after this summer and thinking, I have made the decision to be more frugal.

After beating NG2, I realized I could have waited quite a while for this game to be a lot cheaper. After looking at the limited replay value (the higher difficulties lacking the idea of "Fun") I realize spending the money on it I did was like ... :(

From here on, I'm deciding to buy a few choice games new that I know are my heart's desire and will be worth the full ticket price. Anything else that I know that will be just "good" will wait for a cheaper new price and the subsequent cheaper used price.

Example:

I'm limiting myself to two game purchases of boxed titles. Fallout 3 and Spore, both going to be quite long titles of high quality with lots to do. I have a few Arcade titles I want that I will also invest in based upon them being cheap or having lots of replay value (Castle Crashers will be a big hit with my friends).

The rest, begrudgingly, will fall to the way side and be saved for the slow period of early next year and next summer. Single player experiences I'll wait for, if they are like NG2, great fun but little replay value. Multiplayer will be a rough call, but I know someone who is hoping for Gears 2 under the tree later this year ;)

So what are your guys buying trends? Impulse, planned, new, used, online, brick and mortar, etc?

Edit: Only one choice because I suck at posting, obviously. Stupid connection. Fixed now.

Why is there only one choice?

Ok nevermind the other options are up now for me. I prefer buying games that have been out a while and are cheaper but if it a new title in a series I like I will be it new when it comes out.

In a word: Steam.

I haven't bought a game from a store in over 2 years now, Steam simply has them all beaten on price.

Example: Valve complete pack: every game Valve ever made, so that's 10 Half life games, 3 Counter Strikes, 2 Team Fortresses, 2 Day of Defeats, Portal, Peggle, Ricochet.

£50.
All that for the cost of one new PS3 or 360 game.

Admittedly only using Steam has limited my options for publishers compared to a store. But there's enough content in that purchase alone to keep me going for years. Nevermind the similar option for id software.

As they come out I pop down the shops and pick it up. Unfortunately that means I don't buy many but the ones I do get are worth it.

I usually buy from the internet almost exclusively. Unless it's something that's really popular or that I want right on release date, then I'll swing by the local retailer and pick it up.

Online, or whenever I'm in town. I tend to wait anywhere from a few months till up to 1-2 years for a price drop, reasoning being that, since there so many games already there that I haven't played, it makes little sense to spend so much on a new release. Although, I will on occasion buy a new release if I'm interested enough.

I buy retail, as I have had problems in the past with bad discs and it's easier to get a replacement over-the-counter than over the Internet. I chose "new, release" because I don't necessarily buy on-release but I also don't usually wait for a price drop... save for titles I'm not certain I'll enjoy or not.

I stay away from used unless I absolutely cannot find a title I want new, mainly because I find the quality control in used games is a real coin-toss.

-- Steve

I tend to alternate between "New, full price" games, and "Old, it's not gonna get any cheaper" games. I bought Devil May Cry 4 for the PC about a week after it came out for $50. Then, about a week or 2 later, I bought Devil May Cry 3 (again, for PC) for $5.

I buy mine online at or near the release date... One big thing to love about PC gaming is even at release, you're never paying more than $40 for a game if you know where to look. (I already have Crysis: Warhead pre-ordered for $30)

Circuit City has some really good deals, though. I got Mass Effect PC a day after it came out for $30.

When the price drops...and usually used. I figure the whole purpose of buying a game is so I have something to entertain myself with. So whatever does the trick will do...

...Heck-Im still buying Dreamcast games for the sake of it

Wonder why the pirates who are in the lead at the time of me posting are keeping rather quiet on actually posting replies...

I buy the big sequels (Gears 2 for example) pre-ordered special edition and all that while the rest (ex crackdown) when they drop to $20.

I got Crackdown for $15. Not worth $60, but it's def worth the $15 :D

I got Spellforce 2 for a dollar. Great game for a buck.

I got Gothic 2 for $5. That should make some old PC gamers happy :D

I used to buy games, new, after some time due to the game then being worth the money. I also bought a few games new on release, both in stores.

Lately I've been doing the online buying thing, looks great so far, so far one new on release and one old after price drop.

Does anyone really only use one method of buying games?

gamestop is evil, i drove up to them like 2 days ago for gta 4, gas aint cheap haha, well anyways i get there and i see gta used and i grab it, put it on the counter and pull out my edge card(10% off, the only reason i went to gamestop) and the bloke working there says, can i see your ID!!! i was shocked, never, ever have i had someone ask me that, so, i forgot it at home, and i was not about to drive home and come back so i was like i dont have it, and he says "then i cant sell it to u" so i went to play n trade, got it for 10 bucks cheaper there, and the people working there didnt ask any questions. my new pledge "go to play n trade for everything" except when i need to renew my Gameinformer.

If there is a game i really want like fallout 3 or borderlands i usually sell some of my older under-used 360 games i have 15 games right now and a while back i traded in some of them for blockbuster credit with which to buy GTA4.

I cant wait for Spore, ive already preordered the galactic edition (the reg ones like $20 cheaper here in NZ, and $20 is a good price for 2 DVDs, 1 or 2 Books and a bonusT-shirt) but I pretty much always buy online.

Steam or I gather my band of pirates and we raid some ships for the free gaming booty. Yeah I do it, SO WHAT?

I like to buy at Best Buy because of their rewards zone card. But I will go to Gamestop for midnight releases and harder to get new games. Ebay rocks for old games. Also, sometimes amazon has awesome deals. Amazon has Left 4 Dead for $53.00 right now plus another $10.00 off if you buy it with Bill me Later. I did that, but I still havn't gotten the bill. I hope they dont screw me over with late fees.

I buy games as soon as I feel like playing them.

Depends on the game. For some like Mass Effect, I bought it the day it came out. If I just kinda want to play it, then I wait til the price drops then buy it used.

Arghhh.

if you can't tell what I'm implying, your sheltered.

I usually buy games I look forward to when the come out, but try and keep it to 2 new games a year. I tend to buy pre-owned and discounted games most of the time.

I also don't buy online. Unfortunately, my parents aren't so keen to the idea.

I am all over the poll on this one, with the exception of the online purchasing options. I basically have a constant input of games, but how much I pay for them depends on how much money I'm making.

Russia208:
gamestop is evil, i drove up to them like 2 days ago for gta 4, gas aint cheap haha, well anyways i get there and i see gta used and i grab it, put it on the counter and pull out my edge card(10% off, the only reason i went to gamestop) and the bloke working there says, can i see your ID!!! i was shocked, never, ever have i had someone ask me that, so, i forgot it at home, and i was not about to drive home and come back so i was like i dont have it, and he says "then i cant sell it to u" so i went to play n trade, got it for 10 bucks cheaper there, and the people working there didnt ask any questions. my new pledge "go to play n trade for everything" except when i need to renew my Gameinformer.

Not to be mean, but you really don't have any reason to be angry and Gamestop isn't evil. The game is Grand Theft Auto 4, the 4th iteration in a very publicly considered scandalous series. As Gamestop is the largest video game retail chain, we are made sure to check IDs for anyone of questionable age for Mature rated titles, more so for GTA4. On the launch, we had to card everyone who didn't look over 60, lol. It's a extreme, but you only have those around you to blame for making a bit stink over the game.

Plus, our store IDs for credit cards. If you don't have driver's license with you, you can't use your credit card. Simple as that. We don't even entertain the idea of ID theft since a credit thief ransacked our area stores with a couple grand in illegal sales.

So, consider it a learning experience, but that's the way it's gonna be. Really nothing to be offended about and if you are then... ok, I guess.

I usually go on Amazon and buy new at a reduced price. The last 2 games I bought used/like new didn't come out so well, so I only buy new for now. If I don't want to wait for it to arrive, or I'm feeling impulsive, I'll just buy it at Gamecrazy with my membership discount.