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How to Get Your Video Gaming Money's Worth 2007 Edition
I thought I would revisit one of my best articles from 2002 and update it for the year of Our Lord two thousand and seven.
On with the show
Rent New Games
Just get the new game smell by putting down 6 bucks instead of 65 for a brand new game. Some times I'll rent a new game after being tempted to buy it. I'll play it all weekend and then when I get some what sick of it I'll return it five days later. Also this way you can learn what games you want to shell out 40 to 80 bucks for by risking 5 bucks. Do you think anyone would have paid 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 or Hollywood Video near you.
Learn to love the Nintendo DS
The Nintendo DS Lite is the little system that could. Not only is it have the lowest cost of system hardware but it has the most affordable games of all the current systems on the market. It can play a huge affordable back catalog of Gameboy Advance games and fold up and fit in your coat pocket. The DS has a bright future a head of it and it is likely to be a major platform for years to come. It has a Metroid, Mario, Mario Kart, Wario Ware, two Castlevanias, a Final Fantasy and it is going to get it's own Zelda game this year. It is extra cool if you never got a Gameboy Advance. Not bad for a hundred and thirty bucks.
Learn to Love the PS2
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 PSOne games and hundreds of good ones. Not to mention Sony has the Playstation's Greatest hits line where you can get kick ass games for 20 bucks new even cheaper used. So far there are no real good PS3 games out there but there are hundred of good PS2 games that you have probably never played and most of them you can find used.
Reconsider a System That You Ignored Years Ago
Consider getting a used game system that you passed up in the past
My pal BBQ has never owned an Xbox one. He was down with the PSOne, PS2 and Gamecube but since he has never owned the original Xbox so there are games like Crazy Taxi 3, Jet Set Radio Future and Stubbs the Zombie that he would probably love but he never took the plunge.
Play Xbox One Games on the 360
If you have an Xbox 360 Stock up on used Xbox One games. Not only are they cheap but there are increasingly more every couple of months. And if you never played these games on the original Xbox you can start them from scratch on the 360 and not worry about moving a saved game to your new system. Just make sure to print out a copy of the backwards compatible list and take it with you to the game store.
Play Gamecube Games on the Wii
Just like the Xbox one games on the 360 if you have a Wii there are some kick ass Gamecube games that you should think about getting. Unlike the Xbox 360 and the PS3 backwards compatibility with previous systems absolutely every Gamecube games works on the Wii with no problems at all.
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.
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.
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.
Save up for the new kick ass games that you know you love like Gears of War.
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!
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 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.
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!
Jake at January 15, 2007 
Games
Comments
Half.com.....period!
Posted by: Sam at January 16, 2007 8:50 PM
i do a lot of half.coming too. for the most part, the used games there are cheaper than the used games at amazon.com, or at your local eb or gamestop. which record store in the u district sells used games?
Posted by: andy at January 25, 2007 5:05 PM
