Rules of Gaming on a Budget

In order to get a good gaming experience without breaking the bank, there are certain rules that we like to follow.

#1: Never buy the latest system unless that system has backward compatibility.

The best way to preserve your gaming budget is to stay one system behind. If you want to buy a PS3 right now, that's fine, but stick to the PS2 games until the prices for the PS3 games come down. Ideally, this will be when the PS4 comes out. The games that you play will not be new to the shelf, but they will be new to you. Further, you will always have the benefit of game reviews, and the possibility of buying a new game that sucks will be much lower.

This rule translates into tabletop games, as well. Now that 4th edition has been released for dungeons and dragons, you can find 3rd edition books on the cheap. If you ever wanted to start playing, now is the time.

#2: Look for value and not just the lowest price.

A three dollar game does you little good if you get no enjoyment out of it. On the other hand, if a game will give you hundreds of hours of solid entertainment, it is OK to spend a little more on it. That said, we will generally avoid games with an extremely high price range, regardless of how good they are, and we certainly won't buy a game when it is first released. This brings us to rule number 3.

#3: When buying games, patience saves money.

If you buy a game or game system at launch, you pay what I like to call a "geek tax." If it is not an MMO, the price of the game will generally come down as players move on to other games. Very often I have purchased a game new for $40, only to find that game on the shelves for $20 a few months later. If you believe that a game is going to have a sequel, wait for the sequel. Otherwise, 6 months should be the minimum time from launch to your purchase. I usually wait much longer than that.

#4: When buying systems, patience prevents headaches.

Game systems are notorious for not having all of the quirks, overheating, and red rings of death worked out before launch. If you are following the rule of staying one machine behind, this is generally not going to be an issue, but if you must have the latest system, you should wait a minimum of one year after launch.

#5: There is value in obscurity.

There are many games out there that, had they been given a bit more limelight or if they had been produced by a bigger studio, would have been smash hits. Unfortunately for their producers, but fortunately for you, these games tend to quickly find their way into the bargain bin. We will seek these games out, and try to get them to you.

#6: There is value in knock-offs.

If you ever hear in a review that a game is a complete rip-off of a popular game that you have not played, then that is a ripe target for gaming on a budget. Let the others pay the conformity tax for the more popular version; you can enjoy what is, apparently, the same game at a cheaper price.

#7: Sequels save money.

Popular games tend to have a following, and that following tends to keep up with announcements from the game's makers. Keep a close eye on the web, and find out if the maker of a game has announced a sequel. If there is going to be a sequel to the game, then you should wait until the sequel is released before purchasing the original. Almost without exception, the value of the original will drop dramatically once a sequel hits the shelves. This is especially true of sports games; The biggest difference between NHL 2001 and NHL 2009 is the price; I can get a copy of NHL 2001 at GameStop for under a buck.

#8: There is value in nostalgia.

If you have played an earlier version of a game, especially a game on a different system, consider looking into the sequels for those game. The same is true for movie games. Be careful, though, as this is a double edged sword; some manufacturers will try to sell you a bad game in the hopes that your nostalgia overrides your judgment.

#9: Take every freebie that they will give you.

There are a lot of playable demos out there, especially demos for online games. Give each one of them a try, as you are almost certain to find something unique about it. This will also expand your knowledge of the types of game mechanics out there, and broaden your appreciation for gaming in general.

#10: There is value in hindsight.

This goes along with rule number one, but should be considered by itself. There are a lot of old games out there that were crap when they came out. They are still crap. In addition to the benefit of reduced costs, older games usually afford you the opportunity to read reviews prior to purchase. Scour the game reviews, search for reviewers that share your sensibilities on games, and consider their opinion of the game at launch. This will be a good indicator of whether it will be a good value years later.