What was supposed to be a 40 minute or so flight from New York to DC took fscking 3 hours due to being stuck at the airport at JFK...then combined with an hour long taxi back to my house in DC made for a very long trip....
Jet Blue? I don't like you :-(
Monday, July 27, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Gaming on the cheap....
My Summer So far...
So you might have noticed that this blog died for a bit...I wound up moving to a new project in DC and work has been constant 45 hours plus maintaining an internal website for my company...
...plus a buttload of games.
While I'm no longer required to be on the ramen diet after college, I still need to save money. One of my biggest expenses have been video games (still). I've already invested roughly $300 alone on Rock Band songs (not that I regret it or anything). Still, I have a way to cut corners.
I tried to see if I could avoid paying full price for games this generation. Back in the day, most games averaged in the 40-50 range. Nowadays, with tax, you're looking to spend $60+ on a single game. Quite painful. In addition, let's face it: most of us play games once and we stop. You can't tell me you still play your old games on a regular basis. For every classic game like Katamari Damacy you have Dynasty Warriors 3 (or 4, or 5, etc). You could keep the games, but at $60 bucks a pop, that's one freakin' expensive (and at times shameful) collection you got there. So what are the options available?
Stealing?
No. The return value for selling them is quite high tho if used in conjunction with things like craigslist....not that I'm cool with this or anything...
Buying/Selling on craigslist?
Works but the selection is limited aka, whatever someone bought and got tired with. Even then, while you might get some good deals here and there, people tend to only drop like five bucks off the price. Also, while you might easily find a copy of GTA IV online, it's much harder to find someone to buy your copy of Spongebob Squarepants: The Movie: The Game.
Buying new/used from gamestop?
I'll pass, unless there’s some crazy deal. Even then, you have to remember: somehow they’re making money off this deal, or they wouldn’t hold it in the first place.
Well where else can I supplement my addiction?
One word. Goozex.
...plus a buttload of games.
While I'm no longer required to be on the ramen diet after college, I still need to save money. One of my biggest expenses have been video games (still). I've already invested roughly $300 alone on Rock Band songs (not that I regret it or anything). Still, I have a way to cut corners.
I tried to see if I could avoid paying full price for games this generation. Back in the day, most games averaged in the 40-50 range. Nowadays, with tax, you're looking to spend $60+ on a single game. Quite painful. In addition, let's face it: most of us play games once and we stop. You can't tell me you still play your old games on a regular basis. For every classic game like Katamari Damacy you have Dynasty Warriors 3 (or 4, or 5, etc). You could keep the games, but at $60 bucks a pop, that's one freakin' expensive (and at times shameful) collection you got there. So what are the options available?
Stealing?
No. The return value for selling them is quite high tho if used in conjunction with things like craigslist....not that I'm cool with this or anything...
Buying/Selling on craigslist?
Works but the selection is limited aka, whatever someone bought and got tired with. Even then, while you might get some good deals here and there, people tend to only drop like five bucks off the price. Also, while you might easily find a copy of GTA IV online, it's much harder to find someone to buy your copy of Spongebob Squarepants: The Movie: The Game.
Buying new/used from gamestop?
I'll pass, unless there’s some crazy deal. Even then, you have to remember: somehow they’re making money off this deal, or they wouldn’t hold it in the first place.
Well where else can I supplement my addiction?
One word. Goozex.
Don't let the weird picture/name fool you. Goozex is a very sophisticated online trading site for video games. I've exchanged nearly 40 games on the site and recieved just as many back. Basically, how it works is that games are rated on a scale of 100-1200 to correspond to the demand of the game. New games are usually around 1000 pts, while old games are 100 pts. Users can trade games for points and use those points to trade for other games. Because the points are transferred, they retain the value of the game you traded. You only pay $1 to execute a trade (altho they regularly have specials where you can buy 20 for 10, etc).
So say you bought and beat Resident Evil 5 in a month (like I did). You can trade the game in for 1000 points and let those points sit for a few months. Then when Prototype comes out (which it did), it costs 1000 points and you can use your points to trade for it. Ta-Da!
This can’t be perfect. So what’s the downside?
It's not all roses though. Since it runs via a queue system and supply and demand, in order for you to exchange a game for the necessary points, someone has to accept your offer to get your game for said points. If no one wants your copy of Spongebob Squarepants: The Movie: The Game for 200 points, you won't get those 200 points to spend on another game until someone actually wants it. Also, as with supply and demand, new games that come out generally take a few weeks before the demand levels out. If 100 people are in front of you, it could take a while. It does help you though, as while you wait in line for the game, you can ask yourself: Do I really want this game? Also, the longer you wait most games come down in price. As with anything that deprecates in value rapidly, Patience is the key.
What about scams/ripofs?
All trades on Goozex.com are 100% guaranteed. If a game gets lost in the mail or mysteriously disappears during shipping, Goozex will refund you the points and trade tokens you have spent, and put your request back in queue. In addition, Goozex transfers the points to the seller only after positive feedback is received from the buyer, providing additional protection for your trades. There is also a dispute system let's you work out a resolution with the buyer or escalate the issue to Goozex for review.
So what have I been doing with all of this on Goozex?
What I traded out:
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Grand Theft Auto IV
Resident Evil 5
Assassin's Creed
Dead Space
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
Skate
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Heavenly Sword
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm
LittleBigPlanet (3 copies, don’t ask)
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Resistance: Fall of Man
Call of Duty: World at War
Grand Theft Auto IV
Super Mario Galaxy
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Monster Truck Madness 2
Emperor: Battle for Dune
Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh
Final Liberation
Rock Band (PS3)
Madden NFL 09
And what did I get?
Buzz! Quiz TV
Grid
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Blade Runner
Kohan II: Kings of War
Rama
(The) Red Star
Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns
TЯAPT
Odium
SingStar (game & microphone)
Final Fantasy VII
Warlords III: Darklords Rising
Silent Steel
1701 A.D.
Crackdown
Terra Nova
(The) Eye of Judgment
LEGO Batman: The Videogame
Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown
(The) House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return
Evil Genius
Space Bucks
We ♥ Katamari
Katamari Damacy
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Heavenly Sword
Gekido
Front Mission 4
(The) Warriors
Gladius
Fighting Force
Yeah, that’s a long list. And I’ve played most of them (sadly). If I bought these separately, it would have cost me $800+. My total investment for this? Roughly half of that, and I still have roughly $300 worth of points to spare. Right now I’m waiting for my copy of Mercenaries 2, Ghostbusters, Prototype, and Red Faction: Guerilla to arrive.
But what about the cost to ship the games?
Hang on a second. The total cost to send a DVD sized case first class with delivery confirmation is roughly $2.50. It costs me $1.35 to take the Metro one way to the nearest Gamestop (or somewhere to pick up a game on craigslist), plus sales tax if I get it at a Gamestop. Also, if I order a game, it appears at my doorstep so I don’t need to go and get it. Opportunity cost!
So yeah. For those of you keeping track of this blog, this is why I’m so slow to post. And for those of you wondering where my girlfriend fits in, she just got a ps3. And we’re going to the Bahamas :-P
My next article is going to be updating a lot of the older items I’ve been shopping for. Prices for 42+ inch TVs have been dropping, and hard drives, which is not surprising. I’ll break down those prices down later. And you can bet I’ll chat more about goozex later. But now, I gotta go play Sacred 2 :-P
Stay smart and stay cheap.
So say you bought and beat Resident Evil 5 in a month (like I did). You can trade the game in for 1000 points and let those points sit for a few months. Then when Prototype comes out (which it did), it costs 1000 points and you can use your points to trade for it. Ta-Da!
This can’t be perfect. So what’s the downside?
It's not all roses though. Since it runs via a queue system and supply and demand, in order for you to exchange a game for the necessary points, someone has to accept your offer to get your game for said points. If no one wants your copy of Spongebob Squarepants: The Movie: The Game for 200 points, you won't get those 200 points to spend on another game until someone actually wants it. Also, as with supply and demand, new games that come out generally take a few weeks before the demand levels out. If 100 people are in front of you, it could take a while. It does help you though, as while you wait in line for the game, you can ask yourself: Do I really want this game? Also, the longer you wait most games come down in price. As with anything that deprecates in value rapidly, Patience is the key.
What about scams/ripofs?
All trades on Goozex.com are 100% guaranteed. If a game gets lost in the mail or mysteriously disappears during shipping, Goozex will refund you the points and trade tokens you have spent, and put your request back in queue. In addition, Goozex transfers the points to the seller only after positive feedback is received from the buyer, providing additional protection for your trades. There is also a dispute system let's you work out a resolution with the buyer or escalate the issue to Goozex for review.
So what have I been doing with all of this on Goozex?
What I traded out:
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Grand Theft Auto IV
Resident Evil 5
Assassin's Creed
Dead Space
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
Skate
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Heavenly Sword
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm
LittleBigPlanet (3 copies, don’t ask)
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Resistance: Fall of Man
Call of Duty: World at War
Grand Theft Auto IV
Super Mario Galaxy
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Monster Truck Madness 2
Emperor: Battle for Dune
Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh
Final Liberation
Rock Band (PS3)
Madden NFL 09
And what did I get?
Buzz! Quiz TV
Grid
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Blade Runner
Kohan II: Kings of War
Rama
(The) Red Star
Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns
TЯAPT
Odium
SingStar (game & microphone)
Final Fantasy VII
Warlords III: Darklords Rising
Silent Steel
1701 A.D.
Crackdown
Terra Nova
(The) Eye of Judgment
LEGO Batman: The Videogame
Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown
(The) House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return
Evil Genius
Space Bucks
We ♥ Katamari
Katamari Damacy
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Heavenly Sword
Gekido
Front Mission 4
(The) Warriors
Gladius
Fighting Force
Yeah, that’s a long list. And I’ve played most of them (sadly). If I bought these separately, it would have cost me $800+. My total investment for this? Roughly half of that, and I still have roughly $300 worth of points to spare. Right now I’m waiting for my copy of Mercenaries 2, Ghostbusters, Prototype, and Red Faction: Guerilla to arrive.
But what about the cost to ship the games?
Hang on a second. The total cost to send a DVD sized case first class with delivery confirmation is roughly $2.50. It costs me $1.35 to take the Metro one way to the nearest Gamestop (or somewhere to pick up a game on craigslist), plus sales tax if I get it at a Gamestop. Also, if I order a game, it appears at my doorstep so I don’t need to go and get it. Opportunity cost!
So yeah. For those of you keeping track of this blog, this is why I’m so slow to post. And for those of you wondering where my girlfriend fits in, she just got a ps3. And we’re going to the Bahamas :-P
My next article is going to be updating a lot of the older items I’ve been shopping for. Prices for 42+ inch TVs have been dropping, and hard drives, which is not surprising. I’ll break down those prices down later. And you can bet I’ll chat more about goozex later. But now, I gotta go play Sacred 2 :-P
Stay smart and stay cheap.
Monday, July 6, 2009
So I might have been out longer than I expected...
Job location change, vacation, graduation...these things have all happened recently, in addition to playing a heap of video games...I'll post a new update soon, trust me.
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