In response to the whole video games are to expensive "( bowel ) movement" in the UK I thought I would come up with a Kick-ass F.A.Q. for getting the most gaming out of your money.
Most of these are console video game based tips. I am a console gamer who likes PC games but I can't live with out my PS2. For most cheep ass PC gamers Just get DSL and pirate the damn things. But you allready know that.
On with the show
1. Rent New Games
Just get the new game smell by putting down 4 bucks instead of 55 for a brand new game. Last friday I rented Tekken 4 after being damn tempted to buy it. I played it all weekend and got some what sick of it by when I had to return it five days later. Also this way you can learn what games you want to shell out 40 to 50 bucks for by risking 5 bucks. Do you think anyone would have payed real money for Deadly Towers or State of Emergency if they had played it first? Didn't think so. I am sure there is a Blockbuster Video near you.
2. Learn to love the Dreamcast.
The Sega Dreamcast is such a wonderful system but it is dead as a door nail and will have no new games ever. So most 13 year old kiddies would never think of owning one. But they have about a hundred kick ass games that you can't get anywhere else and most of them are used for under 20 Bucks and you can pick up a Dreamcast used for 40 bucks. Soul Caliber, Jet Grind Radio, Street Fighter 3, Crazy Taxi 2, Shenmue and I could fill up the page with the really good Dreamcast games that are out there cheap.
3. Learn to Love the PS One
Sony did a wonderful thing when they made the PS2 backward compatible with the huge ass library of PS One games and accessories. No one has done this since the Atari 7800 and unlike Atari it didn't destroy the new generation of hardware. There are thousands of used PS One games and hundreds of good ones. You can get The Italian Job new for 10 bucks! I love that game. There are sweet games like Gundam Battle Assault 2 for 20 bucks. Not to mention you can get a new PS One system for $45 and a used Playstation for 35 bucks.
4. The PS2 is the best value
If you have to pick on only one new game system this is a no-brainer. The PS2 has the most games, It can play DVDs, has the cheapest games, the most used games and you know for a fact that they are not going to pull the plug on it for years. Not to mention Sony has the Playstation's Greatest hits line where you can get kick ass games for 20 bucks new and Kick ass PS One games for $15! This is a reason right there to pick the PS2 as your default game system. I mean I love my Gamecube and am tempted to get an Xbox but I pity the gamers without a PS2.
5. Don't get obsessed over the magazines and web sites
In the words of Public Enemy "Don't believe the hype". Millions is spent on marketing to drill the desire to buy lame games into the minds of the innocent. Just look at State of Emergency. The hype was huge and the game SUCKED! Base your choices on reality not hype.
6. Learn to love 8bit and emulation.
There are thousands of kick ass classic games available on emulators. I could write a book on this but every damn person reading this should have MAME and some NES emulators. Check out Classic Gaming for PC folk or Emulation.net for Mac heads .
7. Used Game stores are your friend!
Get to know your local used game store or pawn shop. There is this kick ass pawn shop and record store next to the University of Washington in Seattle that is like heaven to me with it's wide selection of cool used games and crap for the cheap.
8. But games that are six months old or used.
Most new games drop in price after six months or so and they start to turn up in the used game store and about half of what they were when they were new. If you buy your games down the road you can get twice the bang for your buck. Plus they have money back guarantee if they don't play right and if you check the disc for scratches before you buy it you will have nothing to worry about. Most of the games in my collection are used and they work just fine.
9. Save up for the new kick ass games that you know you love like GTA : Vice City.
I am not saying never buy new games I am saying don't do it most of the time. But if there is a kick ass game that you know for a 100% fact that you will love reserve it and save some cash for it. But don't be a dumb ass and assume there will be enough for everyone on launch day for a game like GTA : Vice City. I remember when my mom got me Super Mario Bros 3 the day it came out. Happy times!
10. Read a lot of reviews before buying.
Nothing quite like good non-biased research. I suggest Gamefaqs.com and Amazon.com reviews that have been written by real people mix that with professional reviewers like Mr Evil Ninja.net and you will get a good idea if the game is going to work for you. But there is always the chance that the reviewer is a dumb ass.
11. Borrow and Trade with your friends.
No need to be greedy but spread the love around a bit. Just make sure to not mess up the owners saved games or scratch it up. It is a great way to get more of your game on and it is free.
Well there you go. I hope this has been an educational experience and knowing is half the battle!
very good FAQ you have here...i must admit to wanting a PS2, but *i'll* never buy it (leave that to my darlin', make him think it's his idea, yeah!)...suffice it to say, that if i'm truly in need of gameplaying, i go the 8 bit route...i think we've got the majority of the games that came out in the 70's and 80's...my faves being Tempest and Q*bert ;) and they were all downloaded free off the 'net...so, there ya go!
I also do a review here & there on my site as well so everyone feel free to stop by & check it out thanks! 8)