The Video Game Critic

There are lots of questions about buying video games, but let's talk about the 'When'. (athough sometimes other things can influence the when, for instance, if your best bud is into game A, you may decide to buy it now full price even if you had originally planned on waiting until it went on sale).

Do you buy a single game at a time (and play it then) or buy a lot on a single occasion?
Do you buy a lot of games on Black Friday (in the US) or maybe just a game or two?
Do you buy the latest and greatest games as they come out, maybe even pre-order them?
Do you buy games when a particularly great commercial or trailer catches your attention?
Do you buy games because a friend recommended it or because your friend is buying it then.
Do you buy the Fall's games new in January, when they often go on sale?
Do you buy the Fall's games Spring or Summer used?
Do you buy on a schedule, such as allowing yourself to buy two games a month, period.
Do you buy during Steam's annual Summer Sale? (rumored to begin June 11, 2015 by the way)
Do you buy games during the Spring and Summer at yard sales?
Do you buy games when the wallet is fat, say a tax refund?
Do you buy games for holiday or birthday gifts for yourself?
Do you buy games when you are enjoying a certain genre? Enjoying a racing game, buy some more.
Do you buy games when you are expecting a block of time for gaming, say a holiday weekend or vacation?
Do you buy games as targets of opportunity? Walk into Gamestop, and wow, I can get that for $20! k'ching.
Do you buy a lot of games for a newly acquired console, but then mostly stop buying games.
Do you have a standing query on Ebay looking for that special used game to come on the market?


When do you buy your games?

I buy games either on release or shortly after at Gamestop, and once in a while i'll occasionally pick up a used game there.

I also buy a bunch of games on sites like Amazon, Ebay, Half.com, etc.

I never bother with Black Friday, I don't want to risk getting trampled to death like that one guy at Walmart.

I generally buy games when the premise sounds really good, trailers don't really have an impact on me(especially since it's hard to trust trailers nowadays after the whole Colonial Marines controversy)

I've scored a few good deals from Steam sales.

My parents usually get me an Amazon or Gamestop gift card and i'll use that on games.

I buy a lot of First and third-person shooters mainly.

I did once buy a game new for 15$ at Gamestop after discovering that the copy I had bought from Amazon would not play past a certain point due to being scratched.

All but that very last one regarding eBay. Dang it, now, I'll have to add that method as well.

For some reason I believe I'd have a lot more money if I'd stop buying video games. Of course, I'd then find another more expensive hobby to while away my time.

Do you buy a single game at a time (and play it then) or buy a lot on a single occasion?
-I usually buy a game and put it in a backlog unless I've really been looking forward to a game.
Do you buy a lot of games on Black Friday (in the US) or maybe just a game or two?
-This makes no difference.
Do you buy the latest and greatest games as they come out, maybe even pre-order them?
-I occasionally pre-order only if I think the game will be hard to find at launch or will become very rare in the future. I usually only buy a game when it comes out if I have to play it now or if it is likely to be very hard to find.
Do you buy games when a particularly great commercial or trailer catches your attention?
-Nope
Do you buy games because a friend recommended it or because your friend is buying it then.
-Typically no unless we have very similar tastes.
Do you buy the Fall's games new in January, when they often go on sale?
-Nope
Do you buy the Fall's games Spring or Summer used?
-Usually, when it falls below the $20 mark I'll usually pick it up.
Do you buy on a schedule, such as allowing yourself to buy two games a month, period.
-I buy more games around paydays, lol.
Do you buy during Steam's annual Summer Sale? (rumored to begin June 11, 2015 by the way)
-nope
Do you buy games during the Spring and Summer at yard sales?
-Yes, definitely. If I don't own it or it is a really good deal.
Do you buy games when the wallet is fat, say a tax refund?
-Yes, definitely.
Do you buy games for holiday or birthday gifts for yourself?
-Always.
Do you buy games when you are enjoying a certain genre? Enjoying a racing game, buy some more.
-If the game is a sequel, yes, if not, no
Do you buy games when you are expecting a block of time for gaming, say a holiday weekend or vacation?
-Used to but I have a big backlog so it's not really an issue anymore.
Do you buy games as targets of opportunity? Walk into Gamestop, and wow, I can get that for $20! k'ching.
-Yep
Do you buy a lot of games for a newly acquired console, but then mostly stop buying games.
-No
Do you have a standing query on Ebay looking for that special used game to come on the market?
-I have done this many times, usually for very hard to find games. I've been taking a break from eBay lately though.

I tend to buy when "The Price Is Right". I have a back order of games I want to get. For example I like Mario games, but don't love them. Prices on them rarely go down so I have to pay a bit more for them then other games so I don't get a chance to buy them often. When Target had Mario Kart 7 & Mario 64 on the DS for $15 I got them.

I like to buy with the idea that I can resell at minimal loss. I figure I could sell those games at $10 a piece easily so I'm only out $10 to play them.

I used to buy the NBA Live series at launch & was happy to pay full price. Since that series busted I obviously don't do that anymore.

I'll also pay full price for Game of the Year Editions. Fallout 3, New Vegas & Xcom come to mind. I'll also tend to not buy the vanilla version if I think a GOTY edition will come out. I waited for ever for Skyrim.