Are you one of those people who likes it when new hardware comes out, not because you're willing to buy said new thing, but are looking forward to finally being able to buy that console or computer part because of planned obsolesce?
I am looking forward to the new big three consoles to be releases because that means an evental price drop for the PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube! "But the prices are already low enough!" you say, I'm talking about a few years into the next-gen, the current consoles would be considered doorstops by the mainstream gaming public (or MGP for short).
And even then, I buy used systems, cause I'm a cheapass!
Yes, I've made a similar thread about this, but this is about technology in general, aka when CDs were new, were you still using tapes? Are you still using VHS even though DVDs are the new standard? Basically, are you a technology generation behind because you are to broke/cheap to afford the new stuff?
Anyone here a "technology vulture" aka "cheap
Anyone here a "technology vulture" aka "cheap
Shmups: It's all about blowing stuff up!
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Stormwatch
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It suprizes me people are dumb enough to buy allot games new to begin with wait 3-months shop around get it 8-bucks cheaper why buy something new that goes down in value so quickly? Sure I do sometimes but only with cheap games. I know some games and equipment go up in value but time it right and you,ll have a much better purchase.
Well maybe I,m just cheap
Well maybe I,m just cheap
I did great so much water and milk that I threw up when I was little.
On one hand, on things like PC hardware I tend to stick to stuff a half generation or so behind (or on some things, go a couple of notches down from the top end) so I've never really had the fastest computer on the planet or anything like that. On the other hand, I do buy the latest and greatest stuff on occasion. I camped out overnight in front of the local Costco to get a launch day Xbox 360, I have one of the high-end PPC phone devices from Sprint (although that was acquired at a significant discount over regular price thanks to a partner program), and there's a good chance I'll try to get a DS Lite and Revolution on launch day as well. As far as games go, I've become a lot more picky about them lately, especially with the base price of 360 games going up to $60. Even games I'd buy without hesitation for $50 start to seem too expensive once you jack up the price another $10, and I have yet to pay the full $60 for anything on the 360.
I´ve become like that. Some years ago, I used to buy any new game I considered interesting at once. Later, I sold most of them in console bundles for very cheap, because I was impatient and didn´t want a console around anymore with my favourite games already gone.
There have been many factors that changed my behaviour, but the most noteworthy was probably the Dreamcast phenomenon. I was very enthusiastic about it, bought a lot of games for €50, and within just a year most of them were availlable for €10 new. So when the Xbox came out I swore to myself "I´m not gonna buy this sucker until the games get as cheap as the Dreamcasts´".
The whole concept of a usage cycle is turning me off completely. I live in a small flat and can´t keep dozens of consoles, but on the other hand I think great games are something that´s supposed to last, not be replaced by new iterations over and over. So what I´m doing lately is caring less and less about new releases, and buying the best of the old stuff back. The only exception is Nintendo, which surprises myself pretty much, because I used to hate them for 2 past generations. When DS was announced, I thought it was a weak, pathetic attempt to just do something remotely new, which couldn´t be too much fun, really. But after I played a few DS games, I was hooked, and now I´m waiting for Revolution eagerly. Xbox360 and PS3, however, I´ll probably not buy them before their price is at €100 each. The funny thing is you even get punished for buying them new. It started with PS1: the first models sold were the ones most likely to get overheating CD drives, but the last ones were pretty stable. Same with PS2 and Xbox1: it´s always the last series models sold for cheapest that are most stable at the same time. Yeah, I know there are solid financial reasons for that phenomenon, but why should I care? The "need" to have things when they´re new is just hype, an artificial feeling created by advertising to maximize sales. It´s okay when there´s really something new to experience on the line, as in Revolution´s case, but when it´s just the same old games with better graphics (and longer loading times, in Xbox360´s case), the wait becomes easy. Even PS2 offered something new back then: A game like GTA3 just wasn´t availlable on Dreamcast, even if it´s not that great a game anyway. But at least it sounded interesting. The only thing that sounds interesting about Xbox360 are XBL Arcade games that are also availlable on PC.
There have been many factors that changed my behaviour, but the most noteworthy was probably the Dreamcast phenomenon. I was very enthusiastic about it, bought a lot of games for €50, and within just a year most of them were availlable for €10 new. So when the Xbox came out I swore to myself "I´m not gonna buy this sucker until the games get as cheap as the Dreamcasts´".
The whole concept of a usage cycle is turning me off completely. I live in a small flat and can´t keep dozens of consoles, but on the other hand I think great games are something that´s supposed to last, not be replaced by new iterations over and over. So what I´m doing lately is caring less and less about new releases, and buying the best of the old stuff back. The only exception is Nintendo, which surprises myself pretty much, because I used to hate them for 2 past generations. When DS was announced, I thought it was a weak, pathetic attempt to just do something remotely new, which couldn´t be too much fun, really. But after I played a few DS games, I was hooked, and now I´m waiting for Revolution eagerly. Xbox360 and PS3, however, I´ll probably not buy them before their price is at €100 each. The funny thing is you even get punished for buying them new. It started with PS1: the first models sold were the ones most likely to get overheating CD drives, but the last ones were pretty stable. Same with PS2 and Xbox1: it´s always the last series models sold for cheapest that are most stable at the same time. Yeah, I know there are solid financial reasons for that phenomenon, but why should I care? The "need" to have things when they´re new is just hype, an artificial feeling created by advertising to maximize sales. It´s okay when there´s really something new to experience on the line, as in Revolution´s case, but when it´s just the same old games with better graphics (and longer loading times, in Xbox360´s case), the wait becomes easy. Even PS2 offered something new back then: A game like GTA3 just wasn´t availlable on Dreamcast, even if it´s not that great a game anyway. But at least it sounded interesting. The only thing that sounds interesting about Xbox360 are XBL Arcade games that are also availlable on PC.
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UnscathedFlyingObject
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I've been buying many of my games at full price lately. However, they're games that I think are worth it eg. Castlevania, Mario Kart, Mega Man X Collection. They're the kind of games I like the most and I like to support the devs that release 'em. For everything else, I wait until a price drop.
"Sooo, what was it that you consider a 'good salary' for a man to make?"
"They should at least make 100K to have a good life"
...
"They should at least make 100K to have a good life"
...
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BulletMagnet
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Yeah, that's pretty much me...most of the stuff I buy is bargain bin/used/etc., simply because I don't have a whole lot of money to throw around, so I've become willing to wait awhile to play stuff if I can get it at a better deal (or at least hope I can, heh heh). From time to time I'll snag something new (as I recently did with Ibara), but not too often.
That sums me up. I am an "el cheapo" when it comes to technology. I haven't purchased an Xbox yet (though I REALLY want one), I just got my PS2 for Christmas in `05 (used I might add), & my Dreamcast I picked up for $5 at a garage sale. Most of my other consoles are used. The only ones I paid full price for were:
Sega Genesis (in Junior High)
Playstation (due to wife begging me)
Gamecube (also due to wife begging me)
Gameboy Color (sort of on a whim)
Otherwise, everything else is used. I went with a less expensive surround sound setup because I knew it would suit my needs. I keep holding on to my 7 year old TV because I know if I purchase another one it either won't have the inputs I need (unless I spend A LOT of money) or it won't be as nice. I've only purchase 2 shelf systems since I was 15, one of which I recently sold to my younger brother, the other which I purchased nearly a year and a half ago (still going strong). I paid less than $250 each.
I don't buy most games brand new because I either end up not spending as much time with them as would warrant spending $50-$60 on it, or because I know some other guy will spend the $50, trade it in 2 weeks later & sit on the shelf (in the case of shmups or niche titles) for 3 months so I can buy it at half price or less. That's my kind of bargain.
Yep, I'm cheap.
Sega Genesis (in Junior High)
Playstation (due to wife begging me)
Gamecube (also due to wife begging me)
Gameboy Color (sort of on a whim)
Otherwise, everything else is used. I went with a less expensive surround sound setup because I knew it would suit my needs. I keep holding on to my 7 year old TV because I know if I purchase another one it either won't have the inputs I need (unless I spend A LOT of money) or it won't be as nice. I've only purchase 2 shelf systems since I was 15, one of which I recently sold to my younger brother, the other which I purchased nearly a year and a half ago (still going strong). I paid less than $250 each.
I don't buy most games brand new because I either end up not spending as much time with them as would warrant spending $50-$60 on it, or because I know some other guy will spend the $50, trade it in 2 weeks later & sit on the shelf (in the case of shmups or niche titles) for 3 months so I can buy it at half price or less. That's my kind of bargain.
Yep, I'm cheap.
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Shatterhand
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I've turned to gametz - I rarely buy anything anymore... new or used (except the odd shooter or sega game).
I usually wait for it to go down in value, then trade for it.
Not really losing much either in terms of value most of the time... older games tend to stay around the same range.
Just the cost of postage.
I usually wait for it to go down in value, then trade for it.
Not really losing much either in terms of value most of the time... older games tend to stay around the same range.
Just the cost of postage.
You're arguing for a universe with fewer waffles in it. I'm prepared to call that cowardice.
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magnum opus
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i have to trick myself into buying anything over 20 bucks.
below twenty bucks and it doesn't even register. over twenty bucks and i'm practically hyperventilating.
it's a little weird that theres no middle ground.
which is why i own a used gamcube despite only maybe 1 or 2 exclusives that i actually want, if that. instead of say my prefered x-box which i already own a half dozen games for (from the years before i went to college).
below twenty bucks and it doesn't even register. over twenty bucks and i'm practically hyperventilating.
it's a little weird that theres no middle ground.
which is why i own a used gamcube despite only maybe 1 or 2 exclusives that i actually want, if that. instead of say my prefered x-box which i already own a half dozen games for (from the years before i went to college).
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Zweihander
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That's some real classy euro-trash talk, there. o_OStormwatch wrote:There, I fixed it for you.Anyone here a "technology vulture" aka "poor"?
I plan to buy a PSP once the brand-new price for the unit drops to $100. Otherwise, the flimsy piece of junk won't be worth my money. Same for the DS, which should be happening very soon if not already. EDIT: Oh, and yes, I hold much higher respect for the DS. The difference is: Nintendo shit lasts. Sony shit doesn't.
Schrodinger's cat wrote:Yeah, "shmup" really sounds like a term a Jewish grandmother would insult you with.
I suppose one of these days I should look into something like Gamefly to cover the new releases I don't want to pay full price for and have them sitting on the shelf a week after release. I actually haven't bought a lot of games lately (If I recall correctly, I think the last retail game I bought was the Castlevania Double pack, and that was well over a month ago.)