John, I just want to say thank you for all your videos. Everyone of them are enjoyable and I usually learn something new. Again, Thank you for all your hard work you do for our entertainment.
I just popped in to hear the opening theme :) For me, if I don't buy a game within the first few days I wait until it's discounted or get it via trade.
I always buy used, on sale or wait for time to pass. Especially if it's single player. Multiplayer can be a bit different in terms of wanting to grab a community before it dies out. I never pay full price for crap anymore.
As for recent games, I usually wait about 3 years to buy, either new or used (and complete), but ALWAYS cheap. Some people got hyped and bought Watch_Dogs on day one, full price, and were disappointed. I bought the biggest collector's edition of Watch_Dogs for half that price a few years later, and was very happy with my purchase. That's the spirit. Also, I wait for GOTY/complete editions.
john thanks for making these videos. as a beginner collector your videos are a goldmine of amazing advice for people like us. keep putting up videos like this and you'll most likely inspire more new collectors and keep old collectors sharp when it comes to the nitty gritty. thanks!!!!!!
I don't typically play online, so thankfully that is rarely an issue for me. I rarely buy new games unless it is something I am passionate about (RPG collector's editions mostly). Otherwise I wait and buy used when the pricing seems right. It might seem like a simple idea, but you always gotta remember that if people aren't buying these games new, you can't buy them used. So with that, I support the early adopters!
Happy to see a video from you about this topic since you have so many games! I used to buy all my games on day 1 back in the PS2 era... and yes I got a lot of disappointment! Let's say that with a wife and a mortgage and life in general that all changed! I still get sometimes hooked on a 1st day released (Final Fantasy XV) but it's really rare now. I wait at least a year and sometimes more to get the definitive version of a game at a low price! My wallet thanks me when I do that lol! Great video and keep up the good work!
sir Hancock I can't wait to see your channel at 100 k man your channel is so great for info I enjoy metal Jesus but man I consistently watch your channel man best of luck to you buddy
Great videos John keep up the good work. I'm learning a lot about collecting from your videos & they are much appreciated. I buy many new games but I do shop for older games I missed. I find the sweet spot for a good price is usually 2-3 years after release. You can usually still get a game new on an online retailer & the games are the cheapest then. $60 games can be had for around 5 to 10 dollars which is great. If a game is out of print the price usually goes back up & sometimes sky rockets. It really depends on how many were produced &/or if the game is well regarded.
Well, this is why i never pre order, you are taking a gamble by preordering I always buy games around 1-3 years after release unless it's a game I'm extremely excited for.
I am definitely a mid to late collector. I buy games new mostly to support the companies but normally wait until a game is down to at least 20 bucks before buying or will wait until black Friday and pick it up for even less. Retro games I just pick up whenever a good deal comes my way. Hope you feel better soon John!
i retro game a lot, so my purchases are of old stuff. its a double edge sword tho. pay 40ish for persona 1 when released on the ps1, or dirt cheap after a few years of release, or the ungodly 90-100 price on eBay nowadays. There is always a risk that there is a fatal scratch on the disc at the 35th hr mark if not brand spanking new...its a hard call at times since everyone is on a budget. Generally i use a simple guideline...genre and expected run size governs if i am in a rush to get a game. Also, format plays a factor (CD, blu ray, card, etc etc). Your average Nintendo platformer...sure i can wait. When a limited re-issue of persona 2 eternal punishment for ps1 (new) popped up on play-asia out of the blue several years back i didn't wait a second. The thing i don't get with consumers is that they feel some OBLIGATION to game publishers. sorry..that doesn't jive with me at all. You want full retail price? then u have to earn it from me. this "support" game developers is the biggest scam logic by publishers i have ever seen, and its AMAZING how the sheep eat it up. Dev teams are usually salaried employees, development houses usually line up the deals with publishers and the publishers, well publish. There is this childlike naive logic (that regrettably i see the industry play up) that when you pay full price for a game it goes into the pocket of that line programmer slaving behind a terminal. Nothing is further from the truth. i never see this logic applied to ANYTHING ELSE...when you buy a car, no one ever thinks...i hope Phill the factory worker gets an extra dollar from this purchase. when you buy the car you care about quality, longevity, style..etc etc etc. you don't buy the car on these vague external concerns. Sadly..on the console side of things, i see this logic the most with Nintendo fans. its perplexing to me honestly.
I used to buy my games new for pc at my local game shop before it closed, now I wait until a steam sale, you really get a sense of what a game is worth with everyone's opinions and the price adjusts to that. when its on sale you clearly see what the game is worth, you can also see if its worth your time. I just like the reviews of games instead of buying blindly.
Exzellent topic. For me its different when i buy games. Next week im totally getting my copy of Zelda on the first day and beside im buying also games that I missed over the time to play or because of time issues. I also buy some games especially for the PlayStation when i know the game is not going to be great at the release because of all that patches diseases. Then I'm waiting for a goty edition or something. Keep up the good videos john
Great video, thanks! I used to be one of those who wanted to be in the 'water cooler' discussion - having the semi-new stuff and keeping up to date with games and consoles. Now, as an adult with a job and bills, I simply don't have the time actually enjoy or afford this method. I've recently started collecting Nintendo handhelds and games (based on my DS collection that was already a decent size, so I thought why not go all in). This way I can take my time and pick up games when the price is right or stumble across one.
Thank you John for your experience exchanges ... Met you in a metal jesus rock vídeo and so here am i.. A new brazilian game collector friend of yours.. See ya !!
One thing you forgot to mention when buying and playing a new game is the social aspect of sharing the experience with your friends and co workers. The excitement and buzz surrounding Horizon Zero Dawn and being able to talk with your friends about the game when you've both recently played it is a big part to buying new games.
There is still a small but happy community who plays Phantasy Star Online on the Dreamcast. I have no idea how servers are still working, it must have some peer to peer aspect to it but its amazing to see such an early online game still played by the fans.
I'm one of those "way later" gamer / collector types that waits 5 to 10 years after a game comes out to buy it. Once a system has rotated out of the current generation the games for it tend to be at their least expensive to buy used, and I think it's easier to decide whether or not to invest in a system when all the games for it have been out long enough to be thoroughly reviewed so that there's a general consensus on their quality.
I use to buy new all the time except for X-mas when my family will buy me a new game. But now that I am older and have to pay a mortgage, and other family expenses, I found that I can wait on most games and pay the $5-$10 it will cost used years later and still have a blast playing them. The only games I personally pay full price for these days are Blizzard games, which I absolutely love, and they all have a multiplayer aspect to it which would be lost if you waited (also you can't really buy them used anyways). One of the other things that helped me go down the waiting years before buying path is my backlog of games just built up, so I would get these old games later anyways simply because I had other older games to play first.
I agree to buying much later due to cost. Only reason to buy a new release is if you want to play multiplayer online since most of the servers go down after a year or so. Thx for the video :)
I buy new but usually from ebay, saving $5-10, for steam games only on special. But since the I pre ordered the switch I have also pre ordered games for it, which is a first for me. Thanks for your vids John.
While SMB blew my mind when it came out, I entered Jr. High in 1990 and had a lot of gamer friends, so I was all about it. One of my best friends even had a TurboGrafix CD, NeoGeo, CDi, and 3DO!! But, if I want to just randomly reach for a controller, it's usually the SNES. When it comes to buying modern games, I usually go with co-op multiplayer games that my friends are already into.
I primarily buy new release mainly due to taking advantage of Best Buy's Gamers Club Unlocked. That helps to save 20% off new games. Rarely I'll buy used due to worrying about scratches on discs, though if I find a good deal from Gamefly I will.
Totally agree with John on this, I absolutely hate Collectors Editions. Not only do they take up precious shelf space but they are mostly just filled with crap you will never use. It's about playing the games not having the super rare plushy that comes in the CE. I also wait until most modern games fall below $20 before I even consider getting them, gotta save the money for the retro stuff.
I am a little bit of both. If it is a series that I really love, then I will buy it new. If I know that a new release will be close to the used price then I buy new. This year I will buy Zelda, Mario Odyssey new. I would like to buy Red Dead Redemption 2 new, but I am hoping they will release it as a Game of The Year Edition. It is hard to not jump on the hype train sometimes, but when you are patient good things happen! As time progresses, the more I opt towards games that are not multiplayer online. I want a good story to play by myself, or a fun couch multiplayer which is easier to be patient. I enjoy hearing your perspective and respect that you have a way of expressing your thoughts while understanding the views of other gamers. The gaming community is a diverse place and I love that you understand that! Thank you for doing what you do! (Sorry for the lengthy post..)
There's also the option of buying new with amazon prime (I believe you have to preorder)! I haven't used it too much, but 20% off a brand new game is pretty sweet, especially for those once in a while games that you're really excited for.
I agree! It is artificially creating "collectible items" when you purposefully make them like that😖 That wasn't the nature of old items that have BECOME collectible over time.....
I'm buying a lot of new releases day 1 this year because the PS4 has such a stacked lineup and I can't help it. I'm glad because so far every title I've preordered has produced excellent critic scores and user reviews. After this year though, I'll be eating backlog leftovers.
I believe you NEED to support certain games day 1 and a lot of times you can wait. With things like exclusives, most recently for me being Gravity RUsh 2, I preordered it because they actually deserve it and I want the company to succeed.
Historically, I either pick up a game I want right when its new, or when it becomes "out of style" Right now, I keep my eyes peeled for good games on the 360/PS3. Every kid has jumped ship on these consoles and I feel now is a great time to get these games. I must say though that things like Ultimate Editions are the most appealing as they likely have had the bugs dealt with and the game is prepatched on the disk.
great video! To answer your question: I have gone increasingly digital (Steam, GOG, etc) since choosing not to pick up any of the current gen systems. because there are so many games on Steam, I can afford to wait. I picked up Witcher 3 and Rise of the tomb raider for $20 each a year after their release, Witcher 1 and 2 for less than $5, and digital versions of KOTOR 1 and 2 for cheap. I guess I can afford to wait. It's hard to find old copies of games in my area (Central Canada). The retro stores here charge a ridiculous amount ($15 for sports games). I do occasionally pick up older games locally, but again the market isn't all that great here and I don't currently have the space.
Majority of the games I buy are at least 10 years out of print. With almost all media I consume I never cared about being timely or part of the conversation. Last game I preordered was the first Mirrors Edge and I loved it. For new games I wait a year and see if they hold up past the hype. Only new game I'm playing now is Overwatch and some indie titles. I buy a ton for the PS2 and I'm starting to get into the Wii more. The pile of JRPGs I want to get to and never will stops me from buying the big new release of the week.
Good advice. I find that there are two times to get games for collecting. Firstly, when the games are still kinda new but just going out of fashion and the retail stores drop them to $20-30... then you go to pawn shops or second hand stores and they are generally half retail, so $10-15. I've picked up a lot of PS4/WiiU games for $5-10 and I feel that they won't go under that price for a good 5 or so years... and they are still new games, still perfect for playing! Secondly, once the games are WELL past their used by date. I'm picking up a lot of PS2, PS3, Xbox, 360 games for $1-4 at the moment. I just cannot pass them up... A long time ago, before I started collecting I used to see NES or SNES games for $5 and think... who is gonna pay that for such an old game. Man do I regret that.. So I'm grabbing anything that sorta catches my eye on those consoles.
Hi John, I just wanna say thanks for sharing your wisdom. unfortunately I've been the total opposite of a collector and now when I look back at all the games and systems that I had and no longer acquire I feel so bad about it. I would like to start collecting again, but at my age of 43 I'm thinking it's probably too late for me. I personally prefer to buy new, as boxed and sealed game's tend to have more value, but if I had no choice because of cost I'll get used, provided their in good condition. one thing I think collectors should do and maybe this isn't a good idea, but whenever one buys a game, they should consider buying two copies, one for themselves to play and one to keep as a boxed collectors edition. I know that's not very cost effective, but in the long run they could get a good return on them if they decide to sell. P.S. Hope you feel better soon.
I only buy used if it's not available otherwise. I do not like to support resellers instead of the people who created the content. Also I keep a list of games I don't NEED to play on day one and these get bought after a decent price drop. Great video.
It really depends on what game and console it is. I picked up both new Zelda versions (WiiU AND Switch limited edition) on day one, but something like the 1000th mario game on the WiiU or 3DS I can wait and am likely to pick up years after release, sometimes new sealed, but very often used. That works really well with Nintendo games, since so few of them contain DLC that is bundled with a game, so you will not miss out on a lot of content.
There is one particular series I will buy almost immediately (Fallout), but other than that, I'm mostly a casual collector who doesn't really care about multiplayer or "getting there first." The only drawback to buying later, though, is generally the missing DLC. I know you can always purchase it later, but the way I buy, used in rapid succession, I can't be doing that all the time.
I usually wait about a year or two before buying a game, unless it is something I am really looking forward to playing, which is rare as nowadays I may buy 3 or 4 games per year!
I deff buy most of my games years after, there are only a few that I buy or pre order when it comes out and thats when I'm a fan of the series. It's cheaper on me and I find a lot of my used games in brand new condition or close to it. 😃
Nowadays with the lack of effort game makers are putting in their games make me wait to buy my games used. Most of these news games don't even come with a manual anymore.
I'm somewhere in between. I'm not a collector of video games, I just play what I like. I don't tend to buy new games unless there is a reason to buy them. I did not get into the PS4 until last year and I still barely play it.
@John Hancock While I can only speak for myself, and most people, especially younger people, probably disagree with my approach. However, I have purchased video games and systems from around the time of the NES up to today, although I've been through long periods without buying or playing a game. I've learned it is often best to wait to purchase, and being relatively behind is not all bad. Maybe I am insane, but I had decided after the PS3/Wii not to purchase any more consoles or games for newer consoles. I stuck to my guns for years and only recently decided to jump on the PS4 bandwagon. So far I've bought 11 new physical "black label" AAA PS4 games, and none of them cost more than $20. This is an advantage of coming on board late in the game, the advantage of waiting, and personally I cannot afford to do anything but wait for prices to come down, wait for "complete" editions of games designed for DLC $ after DLC $, double triple quadruple dipping. Atm, I am also looking forward to this years "Black Friday" sales at the online Playstation store and Steam store.
There's a few games I buy on day one if it's possible. Franchises like Tekken, Dead or Alive, Virtua Fighter, The King of Fighters, Soulcalibur, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Metal Gear Solid, Crash Bandiccot and WWE games because of big interest of playing them and getting for example exclusive in-game content etc.
Ever since I have been doing Amazon Prime I have bought a lot of newer games on preorder. Before I would always wait until games dropped in price usually 50-75% off retail. I too am going with Zelda on Wii U. Hopefully it is the best decision that suits me.
It depends on the game. For Halo titles they are purchased day one for me. Other than that it depends on the game. Multiplayer heavy games that I know I will enjoy and/or have friends playing I will get early. Single player games or ones I don't care about the multiplayer portion I will wait on. Unless I really love the series (for instance Mass Effect). I do my best to not pay full price unless I really want the game, love the series or have friends playing online. I buy the vast majority of my games whether new or used well below launch day prices. It helps having Best Buy Gamers Club Unlocked and Amazon Prime so even at launch I pay 20% less.
I tend to buy Game of the Year editions of modern games because they usually come complete, AND with available DLC. Otherwise, I guess I go both ways, more used than new. I have to really be excited for a game to get it new anyways.
I buy my games digitally. For Sony PS4, PSVR and PS Vita users, best time is during a flash sale. For Nintendo Switch users, it doesn't matter with their eshop sales. Eshop sales only save you a couple of dollars.
It seems like the best time to buy games that are limited release or likely to be a "Hidden Gem" in 5-10 years is when they are first released. Even at $50-$60, you'll save money in the long run. Look at Bayonetta 2 with bonus 1 disc as an example. I also find the best time to buy games on the cheap is one generation back from current. That's why I'm trying to grab all the Wii and Wii U games I want NOW, because they are only going to become more rare and expensive with each passing year.
The only time I’ll buy a game day one is if I’m sure that it will be hard to get later. Other than that I usually wait until months after or for some really good sale to get the game. Also becoming a late adopter of a system really puts you in a great position to know what to get. By the time I got my PS4 all of the games I wanted were less than $20, but that isn’t the same case for my switch since I got it within a year of its release. The sad thing is though that since there are a lot more online retailers now, they’re usually getting the games in very limited quantities, so they really force your hand to buy the game at full price. I don’t know what the landscape will be five years from now, but hopefully a lot of the games that scalpers are looking to sell for two to three times the price are forced to sell the game for half the price.
Very rarely is a game released that I NEED to play. I consider myself VERY picky in games and not many capture my attention for long periods of time. If a game meets that criteria, I will most likely buy it on release day. Otherwise, I only buy preowned games. HOWEVER - I very often buy games on Steam, especially indie games, as I seem to be more drawn to those. So in that sense, I feel like I am supporting the developer, which I do think matters especially in the indie dev world.
I only pay full price under 2 conditions: 1) budget and 2) how important is the game for me. Example are Demon's Souls and Red Dead Redemption, my favourites from last gen. I wouldn't mind saving money for a day 1 purchase for a DS2 and RDR2. I don't really care to be the first person to play the game, I just wanna enjoy it when I want it.
It all maters on the game..there are particular games I want to play right away..others im okay to wait until it drops to a price i'm okay with picking it up at!
Hey John, most of your videos is just you talking, have you thought about upload them in podcast format? I believe it suit this style very well and is a good thing to have on the phone while on the road or doing some manual work.
Here’s my comment 1 year later... I like buying new for games that have large online communities, such as Monster Hunter. I also buy new games from Indy developers as my way of supporting their hard work.
if i want to play it, i buy it as soon as i see it/have the money, i just got nioh, gravity rush 2 both new cuz i wanted to play them SOO BAD (they're both really good by the way) but when it comes to collecting a game, i really try to look around for quite some time before i get it, i got remember me by capcom for ps3 brand new, 60$ and i found it was not worth it, your on point with everything your saying, i hate the hype, it ruins games for alot of people
I discovered your channel through Metal Jesus. Great stuff, I'm really enjoying it. Just my .2$, but I would love to support developers more, but bills payed and food in the fridge trumps gaming for me. Also, as you mentioned, with newer games you get way more bang for your buck down the line, even if you buy digital, especially when you factor in complete editions and patches. I just got the Witcher 3 complete edition for 20$. It's fully patched, and I have about 30 extra hours of content for my first play-through. If I had bought the game new, and then each DLC as it came out, I would have payed about 100$ over time, had to deal with launch bugs, and had to wait for the extra content. 20$ complete vs 100$ bugged out and expanded over time, is an easy choice for me.
What about the fact that the online experience is never the same later, either the players are too good later or barely around. Examples like Destiny or The Division are things you had to experience from the beginning to get the most outta them
That's definitely a factor. I got Street fighter 3 a few months ago. It's great, but everyone online is amazing (probably been playing for years) so I don't win very often, but the game is so good I don't mind losing 9 out of 10 matches, I just wish I'd gotten it sooner.
If I don't REALLY want to play a game and haven't been waiting months for it to come out, I'll wait. This generation game prices are getting cut much faster than in past generations, and a year later there's a chance to get that game new for less including all the DLC. I ALWAYS buy physical.
I buy games way later. I don't have the money to throw 60 dollars at a new game, so I wait until it comes down in price and by the time I get the game, it is between 10-20 dollars.
I buy some games new...usually from devs I trust. But buying later, when the game is much cheaper and you can get a "complete" version with all the DLC for cheaper than the bare bones game was originally is definitely preferable (especially for mass release AAA titles). Certain games that I think will be rare soon, I buy new if it's something I really want. These would include releases from smaller foreign devs that are not going to have massive numbers of copies on the shelf and will be gone from store shelves soon. Or super limited releases like Sturmwind for the Dreamcast. Being a fan of shmups, I had to have that game, and got it new for 30 or 40 bucks. It goes for easily twice that or more now on eBay, and it's not even that old.
I like to try and buy new to support developers but it's rare since it can be expensive. I love Grasshopper Manufacture games so I try to buy their games that interest me new.
This generation more that any other generation, you are much better off waiting. Even fighting games, games that I typically like to buy day one I'll wait on simply because there will be a "Deluxe Edition", which includes all of the extra characters and etc. Im not too big into big online multiplayer games so that's never an issue for me. Im into JRPGs, Hack "n Slash games, Platformers, Fighting games, and SHMUPS. Other than fighting games, every other genre i've mentioned does not require you to purchase a game day one.
I buy new for games in series I really like. So usually I don't buy new for a game that isn't a sequel. I rarely am disappointed, but I also keep my expectations low and avoid too many previews of games. Otherwise I just buy used for older games, usually a good deal. Of course some older games go up in price though...
I always buy like 70% of my games used and 30% maybe less brand new, I just hate paying $60 for a game only for them to release the "Complete edition" 7 months later, at a cheaper price on top of that!
I buy most of my games used, the only exception is some PS4 games from good companies I want to support by buying it new or because the game is hard to come by second hand and is almost the same price as a brand new game (Some Atlus games).
the last 5 games I purchased were for the Dreamcast, N64, and the PS3- and the Ps3 game was a Genesis collection... so I guess I fall into the very late camp. I usually don't buy current Gen systems in the first place, so that limits how new the games are.
I buy nes games atm, ps1, ps2, og xbox, GB, GBC, GBA, 360, famicom, mastersystem and megadrive :)Even though I feel I don´t buy a lot the list is quite long but I look for affordable stuff and the only times I feel that I messed up that didnt buy new, even if I didnt have the console is those really good popular games that rocket in prices, like zelda, castlevania, etc. Cause those will always be at a higher demand later on and prices will rise and eventually I will probably own the console. Some games I will always have to settle to play on everdrive but thats ok. And most of my games I will most likely dont play a lot. But I like looking at what I own as much as I like playing the really good funny ones :)
i usualy like playing a little game with the store owners. tell them i have 20 bucks or 5 depending on what i have at the time. say reccomend a game for that price range and ill get it. sometimes its hit other times its a miss but i usualy end up getting some fun outta it
I usually wait a year. Prices are way lower and all the patches are done. I've only bought a handful of games on release week in my life. Maybe I'm just cheap but I can't get myself to spend $60 on a game. It's just way too much. I feel OK buying in the $25-$40 range. Just played through Deus Ex: Mankind Divided recently, and I think I'm going to buy Farcry Primal this week.
I like your videos and I agree with most of your opinions. Nobody I know cares about the Nintendo Switch launch, not even the core gamer friends that play Xbox and Playstation. Many of my friends on Xbox Live and PSN are interested in the Xbox Scorpio.
clockworkrazor With my friends it's kinda the other way. Huge hype for the Switch and I'm kinda the buzz kill on it. My brothers friends though line up with your experience.
John, I just want to say thank you for all your videos. Everyone of them are enjoyable and I usually learn something new. Again, Thank you for all your hard work you do for our entertainment.
Thank you for your kind words.
I just popped in to hear the opening theme :) For me, if I don't buy a game within the first few days I wait until it's discounted or get it via trade.
John Riggs: RIGG'd Games my only complaint with the opening song is it's cut at the end and doesn't really end right.
Riggs you should hear his old theme from a few months ago, it's so epic. I always bug Hancock about using it again but he won't listen lol :-)
Soup or Nintendo? Exactly--I don't mind the new theme, but I loved the old them: it was quite atypical.
Your videos always leave me in a good mood after watching, i really appreciate them!
I buy a little new, a little old, but more importantly I buy games that are older but I actually want to play.
warnerg80 This is usually how I purchase, too. I base it on how much playability is there and if it'll be as fun in 10 years as it is now.
You nailed it brother
+vxthunder Atari gamers will be playing those 2600 titles decades from now if they still can and love it that much lol, god bless em'
I always buy used, on sale or wait for time to pass. Especially if it's single player. Multiplayer can be a bit different in terms of wanting to grab a community before it dies out. I never pay full price for crap anymore.
Totally agree
Hail Satan.
SegaCDUniverse
I don't know if you're just trolling me right now, but cheers. :D
lol just kinda messing around. Be well bud.
SegaCDUniverse
I'm used to it, no problem :B
As for recent games, I usually wait about 3 years to buy, either new or used (and complete), but ALWAYS cheap.
Some people got hyped and bought Watch_Dogs on day one, full price, and were disappointed. I bought the biggest collector's edition of Watch_Dogs for half that price a few years later, and was very happy with my purchase. That's the spirit.
Also, I wait for GOTY/complete editions.
john thanks for making these videos. as a beginner collector your videos are a goldmine of amazing advice for people like us. keep putting up videos like this and you'll most likely inspire more new collectors and keep old collectors sharp when it comes to the nitty gritty. thanks!!!!!!
I honestly prefer these lo-fi rambles to most of metaljesus' content. Fans of both of you guys though. Keep it up
MC RIP Immaculate MJR is great hangover viewing I find 😀
Wouldn't be surprised if MJR cops John's flow at some point. He can only do so many hidden gem videos.
I don't typically play online, so thankfully that is rarely an issue for me. I rarely buy new games unless it is something I am passionate about (RPG collector's editions mostly). Otherwise I wait and buy used when the pricing seems right.
It might seem like a simple idea, but you always gotta remember that if people aren't buying these games new, you can't buy them used. So with that, I support the early adopters!
As always very informative, and always a video that looks at a lot if not all of the different sides, thank you very much John
Happy to see a video from you about this topic since you have so many games! I used to buy all my games on day 1 back in the PS2 era... and yes I got a lot of disappointment! Let's say that with a wife and a mortgage and life in general that all changed! I still get sometimes hooked on a 1st day released (Final Fantasy XV) but it's really rare now. I wait at least a year and sometimes more to get the definitive version of a game at a low price! My wallet thanks me when I do that lol! Great video and keep up the good work!
sir Hancock I can't wait to see your channel at 100 k man your channel is so great for info I enjoy metal Jesus but man I consistently watch your channel man best of luck to you buddy
Great videos John keep up the good work. I'm learning a lot about collecting from your videos & they are much appreciated. I buy many new games but I do shop for older games I missed. I find the sweet spot for a good price is usually 2-3 years after release. You can usually still get a game new on an online retailer & the games are the cheapest then. $60 games can be had for around 5 to 10 dollars which is great. If a game is out of print the price usually goes back up & sometimes sky rockets. It really depends on how many were produced &/or if the game is well regarded.
Well, this is why i never pre order, you are taking a gamble by preordering
I always buy games around 1-3 years after release unless it's a game I'm extremely excited for.
Gary Cormack same
I am definitely a mid to late collector. I buy games new mostly to support the companies but normally wait until a game is down to at least 20 bucks before buying or will wait until black Friday and pick it up for even less. Retro games I just pick up whenever a good deal comes my way. Hope you feel better soon John!
John this video showed back up in my feed. It would be interesting to see your thoughts on modern collectors editions
i retro game a lot, so my purchases are of old stuff. its a double edge sword tho. pay 40ish for persona 1 when released on the ps1, or dirt cheap after a few years of release, or the ungodly 90-100 price on eBay nowadays. There is always a risk that there is a fatal scratch on the disc at the 35th hr mark if not brand spanking new...its a hard call at times since everyone is on a budget.
Generally i use a simple guideline...genre and expected run size governs if i am in a rush to get a game. Also, format plays a factor (CD, blu ray, card, etc etc). Your average Nintendo platformer...sure i can wait. When a limited re-issue of persona 2 eternal punishment for ps1 (new) popped up on play-asia out of the blue several years back i didn't wait a second.
The thing i don't get with consumers is that they feel some OBLIGATION to game publishers. sorry..that doesn't jive with me at all. You want full retail price? then u have to earn it from me. this "support" game developers is the biggest scam logic by publishers i have ever seen, and its AMAZING how the sheep eat it up. Dev teams are usually salaried employees, development houses usually line up the deals with publishers and the publishers, well publish. There is this childlike naive logic (that regrettably i see the industry play up) that when you pay full price for a game it goes into the pocket of that line programmer slaving behind a terminal. Nothing is further from the truth. i never see this logic applied to ANYTHING ELSE...when you buy a car, no one ever thinks...i hope Phill the factory worker gets an extra dollar from this purchase. when you buy the car you care about quality, longevity, style..etc etc etc. you don't buy the car on these vague external concerns. Sadly..on the console side of things, i see this logic the most with Nintendo fans. its perplexing to me honestly.
I used to buy my games new for pc at my local game shop before it closed, now I wait until a steam sale, you really get a sense of what a game is worth with everyone's opinions and the price adjusts to that. when its on sale you clearly see what the game is worth, you can also see if its worth your time. I just like the reviews of games instead of buying blindly.
i love watching john's videos, he is the nicest guy in the world
Keep up the good work John. Really enjoying the uploads 👍🏻
Exzellent topic. For me its different when i buy games. Next week im totally getting my copy of Zelda on the first day and beside im buying also games that I missed over the time to play or because of time issues. I also buy some games especially for the PlayStation when i know the game is not going to be great at the release because of all that patches diseases. Then I'm waiting for a goty edition or something. Keep up the good videos john
Always appreciate your content and knowledge.
Great video, thanks! I used to be one of those who wanted to be in the 'water cooler' discussion - having the semi-new stuff and keeping up to date with games and consoles. Now, as an adult with a job and bills, I simply don't have the time actually enjoy or afford this method. I've recently started collecting Nintendo handhelds and games (based on my DS collection that was already a decent size, so I thought why not go all in). This way I can take my time and pick up games when the price is right or stumble across one.
Thank you John for your experience exchanges ... Met you in a metal jesus rock vídeo and so here am i.. A new brazilian game collector friend of yours.. See ya !!
new subscriber from Australia, keep up the good work!!!
One thing you forgot to mention when buying and playing a new game is the social aspect of sharing the experience with your friends and co workers. The excitement and buzz surrounding Horizon Zero Dawn and being able to talk with your friends about the game when you've both recently played it is a big part to buying new games.
There is still a small but happy community who plays Phantasy Star Online on the Dreamcast. I have no idea how servers are still working, it must have some peer to peer aspect to it but its amazing to see such an early online game still played by the fans.
I'm one of those "way later" gamer / collector types that waits 5 to 10 years after a game comes out to buy it. Once a system has rotated out of the current generation the games for it tend to be at their least expensive to buy used, and I think it's easier to decide whether or not to invest in a system when all the games for it have been out long enough to be thoroughly reviewed so that there's a general consensus on their quality.
I usually get games about a week after release, like to hear those first week reviews and feelings from friends, writers and youtubers
Keep up the good work John! Love your vids
I use to buy new all the time except for X-mas when my family will buy me a new game. But now that I am older and have to pay a mortgage, and other family expenses, I found that I can wait on most games and pay the $5-$10 it will cost used years later and still have a blast playing them. The only games I personally pay full price for these days are Blizzard games, which I absolutely love, and they all have a multiplayer aspect to it which would be lost if you waited (also you can't really buy them used anyways). One of the other things that helped me go down the waiting years before buying path is my backlog of games just built up, so I would get these old games later anyways simply because I had other older games to play first.
I agree to buying much later due to cost. Only reason to buy a new release is if you want to play multiplayer online since most of the servers go down after a year or so. Thx for the video :)
I buy new but usually from ebay, saving $5-10, for steam games only on special. But since the I pre ordered the switch I have also pre ordered games for it, which is a first for me. Thanks for your vids John.
While SMB blew my mind when it came out, I entered Jr. High in 1990 and had a lot of gamer friends, so I was all about it. One of my best friends even had a TurboGrafix CD, NeoGeo, CDi, and 3DO!! But, if I want to just randomly reach for a controller, it's usually the SNES.
When it comes to buying modern games, I usually go with co-op multiplayer games that my friends are already into.
I primarily buy new release mainly due to taking advantage of Best Buy's Gamers Club Unlocked. That helps to save 20% off new games. Rarely I'll buy used due to worrying about scratches on discs, though if I find a good deal from Gamefly I will.
John have you/would you stream some of your collection. I'd watch!
Totally agree with John on this, I absolutely hate Collectors Editions. Not only do they take up precious shelf space but they are mostly just filled with crap you will never use. It's about playing the games not having the super rare plushy that comes in the CE. I also wait until most modern games fall below $20 before I even consider getting them, gotta save the money for the retro stuff.
I am a little bit of both. If it is a series that I really love, then I will buy it new. If I know that a new release will be close to the used price then I buy new. This year I will buy Zelda, Mario Odyssey new. I would like to buy Red Dead Redemption 2 new, but I am hoping they will release it as a Game of The Year Edition. It is hard to not jump on the hype train sometimes, but when you are patient good things happen!
As time progresses, the more I opt towards games that are not multiplayer online. I want a good story to play by myself, or a fun couch multiplayer which is easier to be patient.
I enjoy hearing your perspective and respect that you have a way of expressing your thoughts while understanding the views of other gamers. The gaming community is a diverse place and I love that you understand that!
Thank you for doing what you do!
(Sorry for the lengthy post..)
There's also the option of buying new with amazon prime (I believe you have to preorder)! I haven't used it too much, but 20% off a brand new game is pretty sweet, especially for those once in a while games that you're really excited for.
I agree! It is artificially creating "collectible items" when you purposefully make them like that😖
That wasn't the nature of old items that have BECOME collectible over time.....
I'm buying a lot of new releases day 1 this year because the PS4 has such a stacked lineup and I can't help it. I'm glad because so far every title I've preordered has produced excellent critic scores and user reviews. After this year though, I'll be eating backlog leftovers.
I believe you NEED to support certain games day 1 and a lot of times you can wait. With things like exclusives, most recently for me being Gravity RUsh 2, I preordered it because they actually deserve it and I want the company to succeed.
Historically, I either pick up a game I want right when its new, or when it becomes "out of style" Right now, I keep my eyes peeled for good games on the 360/PS3. Every kid has jumped ship on these consoles and I feel now is a great time to get these games. I must say though that things like Ultimate Editions are the most appealing as they likely have had the bugs dealt with and the game is prepatched on the disk.
Thanks for the videos John. Keep them up :)
great video! To answer your question: I have gone increasingly digital (Steam, GOG, etc) since choosing not to pick up any of the current gen systems. because there are so many games on Steam, I can afford to wait. I picked up Witcher 3 and Rise of the tomb raider for $20 each a year after their release, Witcher 1 and 2 for less than $5, and digital versions of KOTOR 1 and 2 for cheap. I guess I can afford to wait. It's hard to find old copies of games in my area (Central Canada). The retro stores here charge a ridiculous amount ($15 for sports games). I do occasionally pick up older games locally, but again the market isn't all that great here and I don't currently have the space.
Majority of the games I buy are at least 10 years out of print. With almost all media I consume I never cared about being timely or part of the conversation. Last game I preordered was the first Mirrors Edge and I loved it. For new games I wait a year and see if they hold up past the hype. Only new game I'm playing now is Overwatch and some indie titles. I buy a ton for the PS2 and I'm starting to get into the Wii more. The pile of JRPGs I want to get to and never will stops me from buying the big new release of the week.
Get well John! I'm like you I'll wait for the best price, fully complete and most compatible edition. Games used to be so much more bug free.
Good advice. I find that there are two times to get games for collecting. Firstly, when the games are still kinda new but just going out of fashion and the retail stores drop them to $20-30... then you go to pawn shops or second hand stores and they are generally half retail, so $10-15. I've picked up a lot of PS4/WiiU games for $5-10 and I feel that they won't go under that price for a good 5 or so years... and they are still new games, still perfect for playing!
Secondly, once the games are WELL past their used by date. I'm picking up a lot of PS2, PS3, Xbox, 360 games for $1-4 at the moment. I just cannot pass them up... A long time ago, before I started collecting I used to see NES or SNES games for $5 and think... who is gonna pay that for such an old game. Man do I regret that.. So I'm grabbing anything that sorta catches my eye on those consoles.
Love the analogy to the 1990s Comicbook investor crash... I remember the 90s Xmen Issue 1 had something like 5 covers.
Hi John, I just wanna say thanks for sharing your wisdom. unfortunately I've been the total opposite of a collector and now when I look back at all the games and systems that I had and no longer acquire I feel so bad about it. I would like to start collecting again, but at my age of 43 I'm thinking it's probably too late for me. I personally prefer to buy new, as boxed and sealed game's tend to have more value, but if I had no choice because of cost I'll get used, provided their in good condition. one thing I think collectors should do and maybe this isn't a good idea, but whenever one buys a game, they should consider buying two copies, one for themselves to play and one to keep as a boxed collectors edition. I know that's not very cost effective, but in the long run they could get a good return on them if they decide to sell. P.S. Hope you feel better soon.
I only buy used if it's not available otherwise. I do not like to support resellers instead of the people who created the content. Also I keep a list of games I don't NEED to play on day one and these get bought after a decent price drop.
Great video.
It really depends on what game and console it is. I picked up both new Zelda versions (WiiU AND Switch limited edition) on day one, but something like the 1000th mario game on the WiiU or 3DS I can wait and am likely to pick up years after release, sometimes new sealed, but very often used. That works really well with Nintendo games, since so few of them contain DLC that is bundled with a game, so you will not miss out on a lot of content.
There is one particular series I will buy almost immediately (Fallout), but other than that, I'm mostly a casual collector who doesn't really care about multiplayer or "getting there first." The only drawback to buying later, though, is generally the missing DLC. I know you can always purchase it later, but the way I buy, used in rapid succession, I can't be doing that all the time.
I usually wait about a year or two before buying a game, unless it is something I am really looking forward to playing, which is rare as nowadays I may buy 3 or 4 games per year!
I deff buy most of my games years after, there are only a few that I buy or pre order when it comes out and thats when I'm a fan of the series. It's cheaper on me and I find a lot of my used games in brand new condition or close to it. 😃
Nowadays with the lack of effort game makers are putting in their games make me wait to buy my games used. Most of these news games don't even come with a manual anymore.
I'm somewhere in between. I'm not a collector of video games, I just play what I like. I don't tend to buy new games unless there is a reason to buy them. I did not get into the PS4 until last year and I still barely play it.
@John Hancock While I can only speak for myself, and most people, especially younger people, probably disagree with my approach. However, I have purchased video games and systems from around the time of the NES up to today, although I've been through long periods without buying or playing a game. I've learned it is often best to wait to purchase, and being relatively behind is not all bad. Maybe I am insane, but I had decided after the PS3/Wii not to purchase any more consoles or games for newer consoles. I stuck to my guns for years and only recently decided to jump on the PS4 bandwagon. So far I've bought 11 new physical "black label" AAA PS4 games, and none of them cost more than $20. This is an advantage of coming on board late in the game, the advantage of waiting, and personally I cannot afford to do anything but wait for prices to come down, wait for "complete" editions of games designed for DLC $ after DLC $, double triple quadruple dipping. Atm, I am also looking forward to this years "Black Friday" sales at the online Playstation store and Steam store.
There's a few games I buy on day one if it's possible. Franchises like Tekken, Dead or Alive, Virtua Fighter, The King of Fighters, Soulcalibur, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Metal Gear Solid, Crash Bandiccot and WWE games because of big interest of playing them and getting for example exclusive in-game content etc.
I always buy a year later. The thing is nowadays if you don't pre-order some big features are just left out like a whole chapter in Until Dawn
Ever since I have been doing Amazon Prime I have bought a lot of newer games on preorder. Before I would always wait until games dropped in price usually 50-75% off retail. I too am going with Zelda on Wii U. Hopefully it is the best decision that suits me.
I always buy it at a pawn shop used. Unless its something I really can't wait for and its at a good price point at pre owned at Game Stops.
great topic as always
It depends on the game. For Halo titles they are purchased day one for me. Other than that it depends on the game. Multiplayer heavy games that I know I will enjoy and/or have friends playing I will get early. Single player games or ones I don't care about the multiplayer portion I will wait on. Unless I really love the series (for instance Mass Effect). I do my best to not pay full price unless I really want the game, love the series or have friends playing online. I buy the vast majority of my games whether new or used well below launch day prices. It helps having Best Buy Gamers Club Unlocked and Amazon Prime so even at launch I pay 20% less.
it's been the past couple years but I pretty much refuse to pay for a game over $20
I tend to buy Game of the Year editions of modern games because they usually come complete, AND with available DLC. Otherwise, I guess I go both ways, more used than new. I have to really be excited for a game to get it new anyways.
I buy my games digitally. For Sony PS4, PSVR and PS Vita users, best time is during a flash sale. For Nintendo Switch users, it doesn't matter with their eshop sales. Eshop sales only save you a couple of dollars.
It seems like the best time to buy games that are limited release or likely to be a "Hidden Gem" in 5-10 years is when they are first released. Even at $50-$60, you'll save money in the long run. Look at Bayonetta 2 with bonus 1 disc as an example.
I also find the best time to buy games on the cheap is one generation back from current. That's why I'm trying to grab all the Wii and Wii U games I want NOW, because they are only going to become more rare and expensive with each passing year.
The only time I’ll buy a game day one is if I’m sure that it will be hard to get later. Other than that I usually wait until months after or for some really good sale to get the game. Also becoming a late adopter of a system really puts you in a great position to know what to get. By the time I got my PS4 all of the games I wanted were less than $20, but that isn’t the same case for my switch since I got it within a year of its release. The sad thing is though that since there are a lot more online retailers now, they’re usually getting the games in very limited quantities, so they really force your hand to buy the game at full price. I don’t know what the landscape will be five years from now, but hopefully a lot of the games that scalpers are looking to sell for two to three times the price are forced to sell the game for half the price.
Very rarely is a game released that I NEED to play. I consider myself VERY picky in games and not many capture my attention for long periods of time. If a game meets that criteria, I will most likely buy it on release day. Otherwise, I only buy preowned games.
HOWEVER - I very often buy games on Steam, especially indie games, as I seem to be more drawn to those. So in that sense, I feel like I am supporting the developer, which I do think matters especially in the indie dev world.
I only pay full price under 2 conditions: 1) budget and 2) how important is the game for me. Example are Demon's Souls and Red Dead Redemption, my favourites from last gen. I wouldn't mind saving money for a day 1 purchase for a DS2 and RDR2. I don't really care to be the first person to play the game, I just wanna enjoy it when I want it.
It all maters on the game..there are particular games I want to play right away..others im okay to wait until it drops to a price i'm okay with picking it up at!
Hey John, most of your videos is just you talking, have you thought about upload them in podcast format? I believe it suit this style very well and is a good thing to have on the phone while on the road or doing some manual work.
....no man's sky. Haha. Another great video.
Here’s my comment 1 year later... I like buying new for games that have large online communities, such as Monster Hunter. I also buy new games from Indy developers as my way of supporting their hard work.
Preordered....alien colonial marines and...wow...i havent done that since...sooo freaking let down man...but love your videos man, awesome
I will defend collectors edition of games on this point. Including all the DLC. They do this, I am sold.
if i want to play it, i buy it as soon as i see it/have the money, i just got nioh, gravity rush 2 both new cuz i wanted to play them SOO BAD (they're both really good by the way) but when it comes to collecting a game, i really try to look around for quite some time before i get it, i got remember me by capcom for ps3 brand new, 60$ and i found it was not worth it, your on point with everything your saying, i hate the hype, it ruins games for alot of people
I discovered your channel through Metal Jesus. Great stuff, I'm really enjoying it. Just my .2$, but I would love to support developers more, but bills payed and food in the fridge trumps gaming for me. Also, as you mentioned, with newer games you get way more bang for your buck down the line, even if you buy digital, especially when you factor in complete editions and patches. I just got the Witcher 3 complete edition for 20$. It's fully patched, and I have about 30 extra hours of content for my first play-through. If I had bought the game new, and then each DLC as it came out, I would have payed about 100$ over time, had to deal with launch bugs, and had to wait for the extra content. 20$ complete vs 100$ bugged out and expanded over time, is an easy choice for me.
What about the fact that the online experience is never the same later, either the players are too good later or barely around. Examples like Destiny or The Division are things you had to experience from the beginning to get the most outta them
That's definitely a factor. I got Street fighter 3 a few months ago. It's great, but everyone online is amazing (probably been playing for years) so I don't win very often, but the game is so good I don't mind losing 9 out of 10 matches, I just wish I'd gotten it sooner.
I buy games that i I'll enjoy for years to come. I always look at price if the game is expensive at launch i usually wait for it to go on discount.
If I don't REALLY want to play a game and haven't been waiting months for it to come out, I'll wait. This generation game prices are getting cut much faster than in past generations, and a year later there's a chance to get that game new for less including all the DLC. I ALWAYS buy physical.
I buy games way later. I don't have the money to throw 60 dollars at a new game, so I wait until it comes down in price and by the time I get the game, it is between 10-20 dollars.
I buy some games new...usually from devs I trust. But buying later, when the game is much cheaper and you can get a "complete" version with all the DLC for cheaper than the bare bones game was originally is definitely preferable (especially for mass release AAA titles). Certain games that I think will be rare soon, I buy new if it's something I really want. These would include releases from smaller foreign devs that are not going to have massive numbers of copies on the shelf and will be gone from store shelves soon. Or super limited releases like Sturmwind for the Dreamcast. Being a fan of shmups, I had to have that game, and got it new for 30 or 40 bucks. It goes for easily twice that or more now on eBay, and it's not even that old.
I almost always buy used with the maybe once a year exception of a game I have been waiting for.
I like to try and buy new to support developers but it's rare since it can be expensive. I love Grasshopper Manufacture games so I try to buy their games that interest me new.
I'm collecting for N64 and Ps1 right now, so I wait about 20 years before buying a new game.
I rarely buy new games, but when I do, I wait a while. I think buying common retro games is spoiling me haha -Matt
This generation more that any other generation, you are much better off waiting. Even fighting games, games that I typically like to buy day one I'll wait on simply because there will be a "Deluxe Edition", which includes all of the extra characters and etc. Im not too big into big online multiplayer games so that's never an issue for me. Im into JRPGs, Hack "n Slash games, Platformers, Fighting games, and SHMUPS. Other than fighting games, every other genre i've mentioned does not require you to purchase a game day one.
I buy new for games in series I really like. So usually I don't buy new for a game that isn't a sequel. I rarely am disappointed, but I also keep my expectations low and avoid too many previews of games. Otherwise I just buy used for older games, usually a good deal. Of course some older games go up in price though...
I always buy like 70% of my games used and 30% maybe less brand new, I just hate paying $60 for a game only for them to release the "Complete edition" 7 months later, at a cheaper price on top of that!
I wanted to get a switch on launch but I missed the preorder so I'm going to wait until Christmas so hopefully they will have a pack in game by then.
I buy most of my games used, the only exception is some PS4 games from good companies I want to support by buying it new or because the game is hard to come by second hand and is almost the same price as a brand new game (Some Atlus games).
the last 5 games I purchased were for the Dreamcast, N64, and the PS3- and the Ps3 game was a Genesis collection... so I guess I fall into the very late camp. I usually don't buy current Gen systems in the first place, so that limits how new the games are.
I buy nes games atm, ps1, ps2, og xbox, GB, GBC, GBA, 360, famicom, mastersystem and megadrive :)Even though I feel I don´t buy a lot the list is quite long but I look for affordable stuff and the only times I feel that I messed up that didnt buy new, even if I didnt have the console is those really good popular games that rocket in prices, like zelda, castlevania, etc.
Cause those will always be at a higher demand later on and prices will rise and eventually I will probably own the console.
Some games I will always have to settle to play on everdrive but thats ok. And most of my games I will most likely dont play a lot. But I like looking at what I own as much as I like playing the really good funny ones :)
The answer is simple. When your bored it's then time to buy a new game !
i usualy like playing a little game with the store owners. tell them i have 20 bucks or 5 depending on what i have at the time. say reccomend a game for that price range and ill get it. sometimes its hit other times its a miss but i usualy end up getting some fun outta it
I usually wait a year. Prices are way lower and all the patches are done. I've only bought a handful of games on release week in my life. Maybe I'm just cheap but I can't get myself to spend $60 on a game. It's just way too much. I feel OK buying in the $25-$40 range. Just played through Deus Ex: Mankind Divided recently, and I think I'm going to buy Farcry Primal this week.
It's the same as car buying new vs used. But the only thing that I see someone getting the exclusive dlc, but you can buy them sooner or later
I like your videos and I agree with most of your opinions.
Nobody I know cares about the Nintendo Switch launch, not even the core gamer friends that play Xbox and Playstation.
Many of my friends on Xbox Live and PSN are interested in the Xbox Scorpio.
clockworkrazor With my friends it's kinda the other way. Huge hype for the Switch and I'm kinda the buzz kill on it. My brothers friends though line up with your experience.