It costs money to blow the heads off of flesh-eating zombies. But there are ways a frugal video gamer can do it for less.
You won't buy video games until you buy a video game system. This is the first step. You can't avoid it. "If you don't have anything and you want to get started, you're basically going to have to bite the bullet and drop the cash," Ball State student and GameStop senior game advisor Jake Ullom said. GameStop is located in the Muncie Mall.
Ullom is a lifetime avid gamer, so working at a video game store seemed natural. His experience dates back to his childhood. "I saved and payed for my original NES with dimes at H.H. Gregg," Ullom said. He's upgraded to every new gaming system since and has all three of the "nex-gen" systems, i.e. the Xbox, Playstation 2, and Gamecube. He offered advice on how to afford a self-confessed expensive hobby on a student budget.
"Do your homework on which system is right for you," Ullom said. Check out the games you think you'd like to play and see which system has the ones you want. Consider the cost of peripherals such as controllers, memory cards, and availability of added features such as a DVD player.
"You're best bet is going to be the Xbox," Ullom said of people just starting out. "You don't have to mess with memory cards [like other systems and] it can double as a DVD player." The PS2 also has DVD capabilities, but they aren't nearly as high-quality as the Xbox.
The PS2 has the largest game library, and also let's you play any game made for the original Playstation system, Ullom said. It also is the only console that offers some of the more popular titles, such as the Grand Theft Auto series.
"The Gamecube has faster loading times," Ullom said, "but it can't play DVDs. And the Gamecube games and mainly geared toward a younger audience." There is a lot of brand loyalty when it comes to certain systems, especially Nintendo products, Ullom said.
Ullom calls those who are particularly married to a certain gaming system "fanboys."
While many people buy new systems from retailers, buying used should not be overlooked. Many resellers, including GameStop, offer guarantees on the used products they sell. "You're going to save money by buying it used, plus you get the same guarantee so you might as well do it that way," Matt Anderson, Ullom's manager said.
Games are obviously the next thing most people want after they have a system.
Some gamers want new games the day they come out. Others just like what Anderson calls the "new car smell" of removing the plastic from a new game. But for those gamers who really don't care if they're the first to have a game, buying used at a discount sounds like a good deal.
Resale shops such as GameStop sell used games as well as used systems. Depending on the title, the discount can be quite significant. "We offer 90 day guarantees on all our used systems and games," Ullom said. New games only come with a seven day guarantee, he said. In many ways, it's a better deal to buy used.
Video rental stores like Blockbuster will often offer used games at a discount. When a new game is released, a lot of titles are shipped to the stores, said Kody Gibson, Assistant Manager of the McGalliard Blockbuster store. When the rentals decline for that title, extra copies of the game are pulled from the rental shelf and sold at a discount.
"The biggest thing that I can suggest to people is the rent games first," Ullom said. "Don't come in here if you've never played a game and pay fifty bucks for it." Take advantage of only paying $6 to test-drive a game before you decide you really want it. "Another thing is," Ullom said, "some games today, you can beat them in a week. So if you go out and buy the game vs. renting it, you're looking at something like a $40 difference. It's like buying a car without test-driving it."
Replay value is an important thing to consider when buying video games, Ullom said. "Your RPG is going to have the highest replay value," Ullom said, "because there's always stuff you miss the first time through. Now whether you want to replay them, that's a different story. " Sports games usually have good replay value as many of them let you create characters and teams and play seasons, Ullom said.
Another way to save money is to not buy the strategy guides offered for many games. "Try and beat the game yourself, because you'll get a lot more play time out of it," Ullom said. "It goes from trying to figure a game out to just watching a movie." If it's getting so frustrating that you don't want to play anymore, then hop on the internet to find help, Ullom said.
When researching games, don't trust magazines, Ullom said. They tend to be "cheerleaders for the industry" and will offer biased opinions of many games. Stick to titles you know. "If there's a series of games and you liked the first one," Ullom said, "more than likely you're going to like the second one." Ullom suggested www.gamefaqs.com to check for ubiased reviews.
Another great place to look for inexpensive games is eBay, Ullom said.
And remember, everyone, all video game systems, accessories, and games are most inexpensively obtained as gifts. So make lots of friends.
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