In hard times: What would you do?

[Moriya Hanzo]

With many people afraid of spending money due to the economy scares and what nots. Do you find yourself waiting on new releases to drop or do you still splurge. What about hunting down deals in the wild?

I always wait for new releases. Last full price game i bought was Madden 09 360. Everything else i pretty much wait on. I have slowed down a little on spending in the wild only because i don't find as many good deals other than craigslist.

[modest9797]

I ussually never spend more then $10 on any game except for new ones.

I also don't buy too many new games.  My last 3 new games were Rock Band 2, Rock Band, and Halo 3 all at release.

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

I tend to splurge when it's a game I really want and I know it will be awesome and consume hundreds of hours of my life. Nothing worse, in my opinion, than spending full price on a game that is over too fast or sucks.

[Sirgin]

I'd rather spend my money in the wild. New games will always drop in price so I'd rather spend my money well unless I'd really really want a game.

[Shimra]

I only play my PS2 and handhelds very rarely so I don't really buy games.

[cyberfluxor]

I don't buy new games too frequently. My rate hasn't changed from what I can tell, but I have cut back on spending. Graduation is soon and I'd like to have college + car paid off ASAP instead of a few games so about once a month now I'll go digging. I'll be getting a cocktail cab later this week. :-P

[Tan]

If it's a game that I'll sink many hours into like an RPG or RTS or that I've been eagerly anticipating, I buy it as soon as I can. There's something to be said for playing games and discussing them when everyone else is playing them too.

Other than that I assign a value to a game that I'm willing to pay and buy it when it reaches that amount. Be it $5 or $50 less. The economy makes me choose my larger purchases like major appliances, groceries or gas more carefully but music, DVDs and games are unaffected as their prices are more stable and consistent.

[Haoie]

Doesn't really matter to me gaming wise. I don't go for any new things anyway.

[Ghost Soldier]

I spend most of my money in the wild.

[phoenix1967]

If it's a game that I'll sink many hours into like an RPG or RTS or that I've been eagerly anticipating, I buy it as soon as I can. There's something to be said for playing games and discussing them when everyone else is playing them too.

Other than that I assign a value to a game that I'm willing to pay and buy it when it reaches that amount. Be it $5 or $50 less. The economy makes me choose my larger purchases like major appliances, groceries or gas more carefully but music, DVDs and games are unaffected as their prices are more stable and consistent.

I take the same approach on both points.

For example, when Assassin's Creed came out I knew it was a game I wanted to buy...but not at $60. I figured it for under $20. I got it used at a buy 2 get 1 free sale from EB/Gamestop. It averaged out to about $12.

Even for new games, though, I look for a deal where I'm getting more than just a game for my $60. Like the recent Gears 2 deal that included a 1600 points card. The card pretty much offsets the cost of the game by $20 so it's as though I got Gears 2 for $40.

My vote was to cut back on both for awhile. I figure it'd give me opportunity to catch up on my backlog. But if you find a deal you can't pass up...don't, otherwise you'll be kicking yourself later.

[cant-grow-up]

Ive found myself cutting down on a lot of things with the economy being like it is. Especially since I live in florida where we've been hit especially hard. I parked my v8 play car and am driving something less "thirsty", I dont go out as much etc. As far as my gaming purchases im actually buying more games than I usually do (per month) because Ive cut down in other areas and Ive switched from buying newer games to buying older games that I can find cheaper. I can go down to play n trade with a $25 limit set for myself and walk away with 4 games for older systems (ps2 back to genesis) instead of the one game I might find for that price on the 360.

[Sega2099]

I do most buying at flea markets, pawn shops, etc. I do this to get my NES games very cheap and in cases even free. The stores suck unless you are able to buy new-age used games for cheap. I actually buy more NES games than the newer games anyways due to the fact NES games... I find are more entertaining.

[Izret101]

I tend to buy games either discounted thru a retail store or "in the wild".

Last year i had actually bought more games full price than i ever have and it shows. I don't think i will make that mistake again.... i hope.

[Antimind]

The only games I buy new are must haves, RPGs and mainly Tales titles at that. Otherwise I go used and only at rock bottom prices. Not because of the economy though, because we can never afford extras.

The majority of my new games come from crackheads selling stuff quick and cheap so they can get their fix. A dude came into my hubby's store a few nights ago looking to sell Fallout 3 for $15. If he would have had $15 he'd have bought it for me.

[Sirgin]

The majority of my new games come from crackheads selling stuff quick and cheap so they can get their fix.

Are you being funny or is that for real? (Serious question)