The Bin is Your Friend

Greetings Gamers,

No matter where you go, there will always be those large bins with CDs, DVDs, and games that the store want to get rid of. So what do they do? They lower the price to anywhere between $1 - $10.

So you're probably wondering: "Well, why should I buy it? Obviously they're not good enough to keep in the store and they just want to dump it on people." Now, that might be SLIGHTLY true, but there are other reasons.

1. They have many used games, sometimes an overwhelming amount. Go to EB Games and you can find a used copy of Bioshock (A fantastic game) for only $5. Sure, it might be hard to wait that long for a game to go that low in price, but if you have a good system, it works. You can also take advantage of borrowing games in the meanwhile.

2. Stores don't like to keep many games when the system is out of date. This is when you'll see many good games go in the bins just because the system itself is outdated. Have a PS2 or Xbox (not 360), then you'll find many games that are being offered for less. Sure, the games may be extremely old, but think about all of the games that you wanted when you were younger and couldn't get at that time. Perfect, right? You can also do this for older systems like a Gameboy or Nintendo 64 when going to game stores that offer games for these consoles. Just don't expect a game like Mario Kart or Legend of Zelda for a cheap price.

3. They also have stock of games that didn't necessarily do well when they came out. But not all good games have amazing marketing and PR. I know of a few games that, while they may not have had amazing graphics, had a descent plot and gameplay that made it fun to play once or even twice. Two that I can easily name would be Red Ninja and No One Lives Forever. Two different genres that were both under $10 and I do not regret buying either.

When looking in the bin, it's about taking a chance, be a risk taker. You may find something unexpected if you keep checking. Don't always get the first game you see because that never works. Buying a discounted game is like buying a discounted book. Look at the cover, look at the previews, and do a bit of homework about it on your smart phone.

Good luck shopping Gamers.

Friends with Benefits

Greetings Gamers,

I want to speak with you about the stated topic. Now, of course there is double meaning in that phrase, but the friends I mean can help you financially... I suppose the other kind could too, but that's for another blogger to discuss.

Gamers usually have gaming buddies. It's been proven that it is better to game with people in real life compared to by yourself or with them online. It gives you interaction. Perhaps it is why the Wii did so well? Anyhow, this gives us an advantage that one should take hold of. Now, what I am about to suggest is not true/will not work with all people, all friends, all gamers. This is why it is merely a suggestion.

There are people out there whom - if you are really good friends with - are willing to allow you to borrow games from them. This is a brilliant way to save money and play many games of different genres. There are four steps to get to this stage: Become friends, build a rapport, start off small, be trustworthy.

I know from my experience that your best friends are usually the ones that you have the most in common with. Stating the obvious? Maybe, maybe not. However, these are the ones that can trust you, and with good reason. When borrowing a game, you must take much care of it. Once again, seems obvious. But problems can easily occur. Sibling gets ahold of the game, you lose it, system malfunction, scratches... Not everyone takes care of their games the same way, so you must imitate the way your friend treats their games in order to keep their trust. Do not ask for their favourite game. Really, you'll just get laughed at.

Now, if you're lucky, you'll have some great friends like I do. They'll buy games for your system so you can play them together and leave them there. This occurs after many years and if they have a large disposable income. Really, it does not occur often, but when you buy a game or two that you specifically play with them, they are more likely to do the same, especially if they go to your home to play video games more than their own.

So, simply remember this: A friend can go a long way in many aspects. It's not about taking advantage, but sharing what you have in common. Don't just take. Give as well. Because I'm sure they have their eye on your collection too. ;)

A Simple Welcome Post

Hello to all out there on the internet.

I know why you have come to this blog. It is why anyone clicks a link to any blog: For information. Yes, what you are looking for is quite specific and you may or may not find it here. But I hope you take the time to read what I have to offer to see if the information I can give relates to what you typed into the search bar.

This post is to tell you all a bit about me. To tell you why I am doing this blog and why you should read future posts. To start off, I am in the Entrepreneurship program at my college. I have also recently graduated from the Marketing program in May, 2011. My career goal is to get a marketing position in a video game publishing company, like Ubisoft in Toronto. Truth be told, I am currently keeping an eye on a position that tickles my fancy.

I have been a gamer since before I stopped believing in Santa Claus. Basically, for over fifteen years I have played with different consoles including the Super Nintendo and the Sega, all the way to the Playstation 3 and the PC. I have also played many different genres of games including puzzles, adventure, rpg, survival horror, and first person shooter.

Being a full-time student, I understand the hardships of post-secondary school and how time-consuming it can be. I also understand how expensive games are these days compared to before. Whether you have a full-time job or not, games still range between $30-$60, depending on how new it is and whether or not it was used.

Here, I hope to show you a new way to game. There are games out there that will only cost you between $1 - $5 that are decent enough to play and beat while you wait to save up for that new game that you have had your eye on for the last few months. It's about budgeting, yet still having a game that is worth a few bucks to keep your gaming habits at a regular.

At the same time, I am doing this for me. I want to keep up with the video game industry, the events, the news, and all the happenings. What better way to do so than to start my own blog and to get my thoughts down about it?

If you would like to stay for the adventure and learn a few tips and tricks with me, that's great. The most I can say is that when you're passionate, the motivation is easier to find.