How do you decide how much you'll pay for a game?

[Paratech]

I tend to be cheap, sometimes it pays off, other times I get screwed.

There's a game I like that's incredibly rare for the Dreamcast and expensive for the Gamecube, it's Irkaruga. I had the chance to buy it for $25 years ago *Gamecube*, and now it's going for $50-$80 on EBay. *Gamecube*

I'm really unsure I want to pay that amount of money. I was going to rent it for a week and see if I kept interested in it, but the local video store "lost" the game, I'm going back tomorrow to hear from the manager what happened.

But I'm having trouble deciding on how much I'm willing to pay for it and I thought I'd ask here...

[datadayne]

Well, arent there like any second hand video game shops around your place?

[Paratech]

They're cutting back on Gamecube games. I even haven't found it in Erie, Pa at the three stores at the Millcreek Mall...

I keep getting mad at myself for not buying it when I had the chance @ $25, but you can't change the past.

[General Plot]

Originally Posted by Paratech

They're cutting back on Gamecube games. I even haven't found it in Erie, Pa at the three stores at the Millcreek Mall...

I keep getting mad at myself for not buying it when I had the chance @ $25, but you can't change the past.

You could always see if Amazon has a used copy for sale.
Off Topic: Erie, eh? I'm not too far from there (about 50 miles east of it on Route 5).

[jonc2006]

Originally Posted by General Plot

You could always see if Amazon has a used copy for sale.
Off Topic: Erie, eh? I'm not too far from there (about 50 miles east of it on Route 5).

yeah amazon has some pretty sweet deals sometimes, thats where i get most of my stuff from. but always read the description of the condition its in before you buy it if your buying stuff used, you may see something for dirt cheap but it could end up not working.

[doggieiscool]

Well I generally read reviews, play demos. For me the most I'll pay is $90AU, as I buy region free games when possible. I never buy second hand. I shop at ebay or dvdcrave.

[Allnatural]

If it's obvious that a game will drop in price, I'll wait. For instance, I never bought any of the Jak, Ratchet, and Sly games for the PS2 at release because I knew they'd reach Greatest Hits status eventually. Ditto if I'm confident that it'll be in the bargain bin soon (games that I want to play despite poor reviews).

Availability is a factor too. If I see many copies of a game in many stores, I may wait. If it's tough to find right after its release I may snag a copy immediately.

And then there's length. I'll pay more for a 40+ hour rpg than I will for a 10 hour action game.

[Holic]

for me if a big game comes out,
I usually buy it within a few weeks of its released,

But If its a game I'm not so sure about,
I play 'safe' and but it when its on sale etc.

[Cid Highwind]

Depends on several factors:

- Reviews
- Experience I have with the developer or previous installments of the series
- Experience with the demo / beta / friend's copy
- Word of mouth
- How much I have spend on games already / how many unplayed ones I have
- How badly I need a certain genre's fix
- Limited editions? I have a soft spot for those so I'll get them straight away
- Price, I love budget bins

I'm not the kind of guy who likes to make money out of games, cause I hate to sell them

[Toshiro]

For me, I have a strong taste for JRPGs so I try to get the Limited Edition stuff from Japan, although sometimes budget issues sometimes will not allow me to get everything oh well that is life. I will purchase both the Japanese and English version when they come out and then attempt an undubb. Lately with the things happening in the PS2 side it is easy to pull this feat off.

I will buy whether full price or used, used if it is something I missed during my time allotted to buy it new.

[Paratech]

Originally Posted by jonc2006

yeah amazon has some pretty sweet deals sometimes, thats where i get most of my stuff from. but always read the description of the condition its in before you buy it if your buying stuff used, you may see something for dirt cheap but it could end up not working.

Not this time, I nearly got a coronary at what some people wanted for it new, $200+

Even used was over some of EBay's prices!

$45-$89

:confused:

BTW, I did get to rent it today and have it until Monday @ 7:00pm. I'll see how much I enjoy it by Monday night.

Heh, I tried to ask them to sell it to me, but no dice!

[jonc2006]

i try and get my games used if possible, sometimes they end up being more expensive that way but most of the time they arnt. i paid $80 for a new copy of FF7 sometime last year, the most i think i have ever paid for a single game, used or new. i didnt even need all 3 disks, i just needed the first one, but it would have been hard finding a seller willing to do that. i know the greatest hits version was 20 bucks, or it used to be, im not sure about now but if the game is good enough, i would be willing to pay a decent amount for it. as for newer games, i usually wait on them to go down in price unless i have a die hard need for it right away.

[Yeloazndevil]

only games I buy are limited edition versions so I can sell them off in the future for money

[Chrono Archangel]

I bought my copy of Ikaruga (GC) a couple years back and was lucky enough to find it at around 25$ CAD iirc

A buddy of mine recently found it for 50$ and bought it. (He was looking for a copy for like a year)

As for how much I pay for a game... I find that anything over 60-70$ is getting expensive for a game... But I hardly play any games lately. I play CS: Source but I got that game for free. I did buy Guild Wars Nightfall...dont remember how much I paid for it...was around 50 i think.

Than again, if SC2 will be 100$, ill freakin buy it lol

[Paratech]

SC2? What's the full name?

I always think Soul Calibur 2! LOL

[Chrono Archangel]

StarCraft 2 :o

[Paratech]

Heh, I pro'lly need to try StarCraft, I bought it cheap and never really got into it, I think I have the add on as well...

[INCA]

I passed on a few deals like Xenogears new for 40 and GreatestHits version for 15. Still regretting it.

But if I'm gonna buy something with my hard earned money I'll find the best prices. Like I recently picked up Shenmue 2 for 6 bucks or Jet Set Radio Future ( not even close to being good as the Dreamcast version) for $1.

As for being new or used I don't really care since I pick up my used games at Gamecrazy that buff out scratches. I learned long time ago that their is no real quick money when selling videogames at price thats comparable to what i payed for it. So I pay the least amount for game and try to enjoy it as much as I can.

Oh yeah you can always find good deals at http://www.cheapassgamers.com/ even on rare gems.

[Samor]

I paid way too much for the DC version of Ikaruga (60 euros and then the 20 euros tax surprise, something like that). Not worth it
Nice game though. However, it's not getting a lot of playtime here; go figure ;p

Recently I was getting used to the ~30 euros PS2 games. Now I have a new PC and which means paying 10 euros more (40 euros) for broken games =P

[Holic]

Ikaruga is a great game,
it will drive you insane though.

Being a PC gamer (mostly) has an advantage of software being cheaper.