We probably don't have to tell you guys that a gaming hobby can get a little expensive at times. Sometimes we look at the lists of upcoming DS titles and idly wonder if we really need two kidneys to get by in life. Unless you're lucky enough to have money to put toward building a mammoth collection, it's likely that there's a limit to your gaming expenses per year. What we want to know is: where do you draw that line? How many games do you buy, on average, in a year? Or, if you're relying on the cashflow of another (for instance: Mom and Dad), then how many games are bought for you? Do you find that you can't always buy everything you want, or do you always make sure you have all the hot new games?
We probably don't have to tell you guys that a gaming hobby can get a little expensive at times. Sometimes we look at the lists of upcoming DS titles and idly wonder if we really need two kidneys to get by in life. Unless you're lucky enough to have money to put toward building a mammoth collection, it's likely that there's a limit to your gaming expenses per year. What we want to know is: where do you draw that line? How many games do you buy, on average, in a year? Or, if you're relying on the cashflow of another (for instance: Mom and Dad), then how many games are bought for you? Do you find that you can't always buy everything you want, or do you always make sure you have all the hot new games?
Reader Comments (23)
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 9:34AM BluSam said
I brought 5 games last years for DS. That's more than I brought for Gamecube.
Advanced Wars DS, Pac-pix, new Super Mario Bro, Mario Kart DS, and Final Fantasy III.
Advanced Wars DS, Pac-pix, new Super Mario Bro, Mario Kart DS, and Final Fantasy III.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 9:43AM (Unverified) said
I think I'll have to plead the 5th on this one! I buy WAY too many games--generally if something looks really interesting I'll pick it up, and for the DS that seems to include most of the "big" first party titles like Mario, Nintendogs, Animal Crossing, Tetris, etc.
It may take me a while to actually play the games--just started Trauma Center a couple of months ago--but I've learned to preorder if I'm really interested in a particular title. I don't really like buying used games--it isn't the "thrill of the shrinkwrap, but I do want the boxes and instructions.
Trying to find the first Phoenix Wright was quite a challenge--I had originally passed it up and had to jump through a lot of hoops to finally find a copy in a local store, since the eBay prices were just crazy at the time.
It may take me a while to actually play the games--just started Trauma Center a couple of months ago--but I've learned to preorder if I'm really interested in a particular title. I don't really like buying used games--it isn't the "thrill of the shrinkwrap, but I do want the boxes and instructions.
Trying to find the first Phoenix Wright was quite a challenge--I had originally passed it up and had to jump through a lot of hoops to finally find a copy in a local store, since the eBay prices were just crazy at the time.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 9:46AM (Unverified) said
I just finally got a DS and i've already bought 2 games in a week. It's nice because they're pretty cheap!
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 9:56AM Cobatts said
Not enough to satisfy my needs. I'll get maybe 7 or 10 games in the course of a year. I don't have a job so I get all my game money from relatives.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 10:10AM ILPC said
I don't buy every single game I want, I still haven't picked up Harvest Moon DS, Trauma Center, Contact, or Rocket slime (they are on the list) but I still buy quite a few...too many, really. I tend to keep it in check by buying them used or finding them on sale, sometimes I can find certain titles at Best Buy for cheaper than gamestop, and I've got a gamestop card for the extra 10%. I justify my spending because I am constantly traveling for my job and I tell myself I need the games to distract me when I am away from home ;). I buy about 10 games a year, depends on what's out there. I have a huge head start on this year though from all the christmas gift cards I got.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 10:19AM (Unverified) said
this varies based on income... when i was working and not in law school i spent far too much money on games... now that i'm a poor student, i spend far too little... can't wait until i can go back to spending far too much...
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 11:04AM mje1986 said
I guess I buy too many as well. I just got my DS about a month and a half ago and so far I've bought (in order!) Phoenix Wright, Portrait of Ruin, FFIII, Hotel Dusk, Phoenix Wright 2, and New Super Mario Brothers. I also picked up FFVI Advance, and two of the Castlevanias (CotM and HoD) for GBA. Right now I'm thinking about getting Lunar Knights, and hoping against hope to find a copy of Dawn of Sorrow.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 10:50AM (Unverified) said
I've had a DS since last summer and have already bought about 21 games. I'm a horrible spender.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 11:15AM (Unverified) said
I just bought a DS at Costco and it came with New SMB. Incidentally, I also got my Wii at Costco on release day (They were the only place that actually had any that didn't make you wait all night to get one) I just bought an R4 flash memory card in hopes that I can just download all the games I've missed out on and not spend a fortune. I haven't gotten it yet, but I'm hoping it works.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 11:18AM KTXL said
I bought six games last year.
Big Brain Academy (great)
Rocket Slime (Great)
Ace attorney (Great)
New Super Mario Bros (good)
March of the Minis (good)
Elite BEat Agents (Fantastic)
My brother has given me his copy of meteos, which is nearly as addictive as elite beat agents, and FF III was an Xmas present. I don't think I like it.
Big Brain Academy (great)
Rocket Slime (Great)
Ace attorney (Great)
New Super Mario Bros (good)
March of the Minis (good)
Elite BEat Agents (Fantastic)
My brother has given me his copy of meteos, which is nearly as addictive as elite beat agents, and FF III was an Xmas present. I don't think I like it.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 1:44PM (Unverified) said
I think I got about 10 games last year, and I only have 3 for ds. But Usually it's about 1 game every 2 months or whenever a really hyped but good game comes out.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 2:22PM (Unverified) said
@#2 - I am so with you. In the last three or four months, I've probably acquired 7 DS games, and I think I've really gotten to play two of them so far. I need a vacation so I can play my games!
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 2:57PM (Unverified) said
For me it really depends. I usually only buy 5-7 games at full price. I tend to get at least 20 games per year, but I usually wait till the game becomes cheap. Either by being used, a greatest hit, or a good deal on ebay.
I wish I could get more games that I want, but there are alot of better things I can put my money towards.
Until I win the Powerball, Im just going to have to wait for games to become cheap.
I wish I could get more games that I want, but there are alot of better things I can put my money towards.
Until I win the Powerball, Im just going to have to wait for games to become cheap.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 9:06PM (Unverified) said
Last year I bought 4 ds games, 18 360 games, 2 ps2 games, and 2 pc games.
I was talking to someone about it just a few days ago. I have spent more time playing any of my ds games than most of my 360 games. Averaging at around 18 hours a pop. Also, I could easily say that on average, i like the ds games better, id say i would give almost all of my ds games above 90%, the 360 games would average around 75-80% (even though some amazing games like oblivion and gears of war are in the mix)
I realized that during that conversation, I may be a ds fanboy. Good job Nintendo, with the ds lite, you have won me back. I had disowned you months after the release of the gamecube after around 15 years of faithful following. I admitted that If I had to choose just one system, it would be the ds lite (phat's too chunky).
As long as you keep bringing it out final fantasy's for it, im loving III, once again, and would love getting IV and V, as well as VI,the american III). I know they were released on advance cards, but I don't like the protruding games and really like the touchscreen running when im playing with the system on a table.
I was talking to someone about it just a few days ago. I have spent more time playing any of my ds games than most of my 360 games. Averaging at around 18 hours a pop. Also, I could easily say that on average, i like the ds games better, id say i would give almost all of my ds games above 90%, the 360 games would average around 75-80% (even though some amazing games like oblivion and gears of war are in the mix)
I realized that during that conversation, I may be a ds fanboy. Good job Nintendo, with the ds lite, you have won me back. I had disowned you months after the release of the gamecube after around 15 years of faithful following. I admitted that If I had to choose just one system, it would be the ds lite (phat's too chunky).
As long as you keep bringing it out final fantasy's for it, im loving III, once again, and would love getting IV and V, as well as VI,the american III). I know they were released on advance cards, but I don't like the protruding games and really like the touchscreen running when im playing with the system on a table.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 5:07PM (Unverified) said
Between me and my brother, we generally buy about 15 DS games a year, at the moment we have about 30 games.
Rich Parents FTW!
Rich Parents FTW!
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 8:51PM (Unverified) said
I've had my DS for a little over a year now, and my collection of games (which is upstairs and I can't remember them all at this time of the morning) is at about 10-15.
I have no problem with finding the money to buy games. If I got myself a movie on DVD, it would provide an average of about 4 hours of entertainment, including extras. That would cost about AU$30.
At AU$60-70, a DS game is likely to provide more than 8/9 hours of gameplay. The replay value is also higher, imo. Well, if it's a good game. I'm up to about 10 hours of playtime in Castlevania PoR, and havent even finished it yet. And by the look of it, there's a good amount of extra stuff that can extend the playtime once I do finish it.
So in the end, buying a full priced game is, imo, equal or better value than a DVD. End of rant.
I have no problem with finding the money to buy games. If I got myself a movie on DVD, it would provide an average of about 4 hours of entertainment, including extras. That would cost about AU$30.
At AU$60-70, a DS game is likely to provide more than 8/9 hours of gameplay. The replay value is also higher, imo. Well, if it's a good game. I'm up to about 10 hours of playtime in Castlevania PoR, and havent even finished it yet. And by the look of it, there's a good amount of extra stuff that can extend the playtime once I do finish it.
So in the end, buying a full priced game is, imo, equal or better value than a DVD. End of rant.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 9:29PM (Unverified) said
12. I bought 11 of them, got one for Christmas. I also lost one. Yea that sucks. I probably wont get as many this year. Right now I have 3 on my list, and 2 of those are pokemon. I know thats bad, but I have to make sacrifices as I have a Wii and I am planning on buying a 360 this summer.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 9:55PM eight said
Well i've only been a DS owner since the Lite came out, and i have 8 games for it... well 9 if you count the Kim Possible game that i found... but lets not count that. So 8 games in just as many months.
But i picked those up because portable games are cheaper and easier for me to fit in during travel and other parts of my daily life. I have had a 360 for just about a year and have only 6 games... (plus 2 Burger King games). So there's that.
But i picked those up because portable games are cheaper and easier for me to fit in during travel and other parts of my daily life. I have had a 360 for just about a year and have only 6 games... (plus 2 Burger King games). So there's that.
Posted: Feb 15th 2007 11:14PM (Unverified) said
In the year that I've had my DS Lite, I've gotten a total of 30 games for it. If I bought each brand new when they came out, it would have have cost me about $800. But I generally wait for a game to go on sale/clearance before I buy it, so I've probably only spent about $350 on them.
Posted: Feb 16th 2007 4:01AM (Unverified) said
I bought about 10 to 15 games for my DS last year.
Next to the DS games I also buy a lot of PC games and other console games (most of them are budget).
Won't buying a lot this year as I'm a student again so no money :(
Next to the DS games I also buy a lot of PC games and other console games (most of them are budget).
Won't buying a lot this year as I'm a student again so no money :(
Posted: Feb 16th 2007 5:13AM (Unverified) said
since i got myself a ds for my birthday in late november of last year (about a period of 3 months), i have obtained by purchase or gift, 11 ds games and 17 gba games. it is entirely too many, but i argue in my defense that i'm merely "catching up." the sad thing is that there are still at least a dozen games out there i would like to own... of course, now that i don't have a job anymore, i should be slowing down.
i never have all the games i want. i don't have time to play all the games i have, but that doesn't make me want more games any less. it's a disease.
i never have all the games i want. i don't have time to play all the games i have, but that doesn't make me want more games any less. it's a disease.
Posted: Feb 16th 2007 4:38PM edk128 said
I think I had spent around 500 dollar last year on games. I starting saving up for DS games as soon as I heard about it.
Posted: Feb 16th 2007 1:38PM (Unverified) said
I buy almost every game thats rated an 8 or higher for DS, PSP,Wii PS3, PC and XBOX. Usually ends up to be at least 4 games a month, at the most 8.
Its not hard with the Wii since they seem to be going to release only 4 solid titles this year. I have noticed the DS seems to have the most steady content. The PSP is decent on the verge of being bad. The PS3 is almost non existent.
Its not hard with the Wii since they seem to be going to release only 4 solid titles this year. I have noticed the DS seems to have the most steady content. The PSP is decent on the verge of being bad. The PS3 is almost non existent.
