A lot of people like to go out and buy the newest hottest video games as soon as they hit the shelves. While I like new games and trying out the hottest technology, I urge you not to follow the crowd. Here are some reasons why spending your hard-earned money on that new game isn’t such a good idea.

 Let’s face it, the economy is still in bad shape. Everyone is trying to save money and a lot of people are out of jobs. A new game will run you about $40 to $60 dollars, but if you wait a handful of months the same title can be purchased for $20 – $30. You can even buy many new titles used within a month of release. Many used games run about %60 of the price for the same title bought brand new and sometimes far less. If you wait longer they just get cheaper. The same game that cost $60 a year ago now costs $10.

 Video games like any software, are full of bugs and glitches. Waiting a few months for patches to be released can save you some serious frustration. I generally don’t buy games until there are at least two patches out. That way I make sure that I’ll enjoy my “new” game without worrying about bugs that crash it.

 Buying games that are older means that I can always find an accurate review. It also means that if I get stuck I can find a walkthrough online. I get just as much fun out of a game that is a year old as other people get out of something a day old.

 Older games have another advantage over new games that most people don’t think of. They aren’t as difficult and don’t require the reflexes of a fighter pilot to play. I have to keep that kind of thing in mind when I suggest games for children or seniors. They wouldn’t enjoy a game that they can’t play well. As an example, “Old School” RPGs generally have a menu based combat system which is easier to deal with than the fast-paced action RPGs that are out now.

 I tend to buy games with a lot of replay value so they last me longer. A game with 30 hours of gameplay that I have to replay to experience everything can keep me entertained for weeks or even months. A title with 20 hours of play that has no re-playability only lasts me a week at most. I don’t know about you but I’m not spending $60 for a buggy game that only lasts a few sessions. I would much rather spend $20 for a game that I can play for months.

 Waiting for games to age a bit gets me the advantage of my friends opinions too. I don’t trust a lot of mass market reviews or advertising, but I do trust what my friends say about a game.

 Wait for that hot new game title to age a few months, you’ll thank yourself later. Game titles always get better support, accurate reviews and lower prices as they get older. Wait until you’ve stopped enjoying what you have before getting a “new” game. Don’t get a new hot title just because it’s new, they come out far too fast and you’ll wind up broke trying to keep up.

dracoselene

I'm an artist, writer, ordained interfaith minister, veteran, spiritualist, androgyne, and piles of other labels that never seem to fit. I'm following my passion and attempting to make myself and the world a better place. I think that through compassion and understanding we can all become one unified race of human beings, and life is better when you remember to play.