Ah, as parents we all know that time of the year……. No, I’m not talking about the holidays, but the new release gaming season. This is when children, and adults (me included, lol) start seeing all of the blockbuster titles coming out on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. From sequels of games that people have been waiting for to new and exciting games that are fresh onto the scene, it’s desire overload and it can be expensive. So, what do you do when all of these games are coming out at once and your gamer’s eyes are larger than their budget (or time to play)? Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your holiday gaming budget.
- Ask them what game that they REALLY want! Sometimes we gamers, during this season, get big eyes because of the blockbusters that are coming out, so we overlook those deep pockets needed to fuel our gaming wants. The truth is that most gamers only want one or two titles, as the rest are just fillers until our friends get the game and we can play online together. Ask your gamer to give you a list of what their games that they want the most and go from there. Remember, they only have so much time with which to play, so all those wants at one time isn’t logical. By the time they finish their most-wanted game(s), those others might be on sale!
- Check out the reviews of the game before you purchase. Again, with so many games coming out for the holiday season, some of them don’t live up to the hype. So often I’ve seen big-budget games get released only to have lots of faults that people do not like about them and from there it gets worse – even game rage. It’s best to do some research or to wait a week or two after the game is released to see if it is something that you or your gamer really wants.
- Trade in older games towards that new game. One thing that we all forget that is that once most gamers are done with those must-have games of last year, they just sit and collect dust. Retailers will often have trade in promotions, and you can put those old games towards that new game that your gamer wants. You may not get the value that you were hoping for, but I have seen game retailers offer up to a 30% bonus on the trades towards games, and believe it or not, this will help reduce the cost of those games. So, go through those older games and clear off the shelves to make room for those new games!
- Buy a used copy. Crazy as it may sound, there are people that will but a game, play it, and then trade it in, all in the same week! You can save some $$$ by buying used, and you may get lucky as usually, people who owned the game before you may not even have used the DLC codes that came with the game.
- Look for sales within the first couple of weeks of a release. Most stores will have a sale on these games within the first couple of weeks of the game being released. During these times you can get the game on a discounted price. Most retail chains either will have a $10 or $20 off the game, so be on the lookout.
- Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If your gamer does not drive you nuts by then, you can also wait until Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales to start. You will find at times very deep discounts on games and even some special deals that may not have been available during the release. Sometimes it is worth the wait for these high-level shopping days!
- Gamefly! It may be the solution that resolves every year’s must-have gaming season. Choose the plan that’s best for you & your gamer(s) (1, 2 or 3 games at a time), and have the rental arrive on your doorstep the day of the release! Play it as long as you want – no late fees. If your gamer really, really loves the game, Gamefly will often send you an offer to buy that game at a whopping discount. The “for now” games just get mailed back, and the “keeper” games come at a discount, with no trade-in value disappointment. It’s a win-win!
See there are some tips from your gamer in your live driving you nuts about getting that new game during the holiday season. With some research, patience, and a little luck you can get the best deals on the games that everyone wants and not break your bank in the process.
We would love to hear what you think, hit us up and let us know your strategies on getting those blockbusters when they are released.
