Hello again, this is both an gaming world opinion and a rant rolled into one, and I am complaining about New Zealand video game prices. The fact of the matter is, games can be really expensive in New Zealand. Want a new release game? Be prepared to pay over $100 for it. Want to get Modern Warfare 2? Thats $120 despite the fact that the game is 2 years old, and a new CoD game has just been released. The video game industry is almost always complaining about piracy and yet at these prices, who blames them? Its not about morality, its about price. It also explains why the digital distribution service (Steam etc) is doing well, sometimes outperforming retail stores. During the Steam holiday sale I got both Left 4 Dead games for $10 US each, and as far as I know if you wanted to buy them hard copy, Left 4 Dead is $30 and Left 4 Dead 2 is $70. The game industry would find piracy would decrease if the prices were more reasonable and they reduced the sometimes ridiculous amount of copy protection on games (another rant on those could be written later on). If you are looking to save a few dollars on your next game purchase here are some suggestions that could help:
1. Shop online. You may find a significant price decrease if you buy online, although you may have to factor in the fact that you have to download the game aswell.
2. Buy second hand. You could get a second hand copy of a game that is in almost new condition for about half the price of a new copy. Consult your local game retailer about second hand purchases and make sure you check the disc surface for scratches and marks before you buy.
3. Trade in old games. Some retailers offer trade in deals on certain games, although you may not get as much store credit for your games as you were expecting.
4. Shop around. Check out a few stores and compare prices. If you go to a store and tell them that you saw the same game for a cheaper price at a competitor, the store may offer you an even lower price for your loyalty.
I hope these tips help you when it comes to your next game purchase. Have you seen any outrageous prices on games? Ever found a really good deal? Had any good or bad experiences with a retailer? Leave a comment!!
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