We've trimmed the fat and cut the crap, bringing you the gaming highlights from the retail world's annual sale. Remember, the best shopper is an armed a prepared shopper. Use this guide to target the needs of your whiny loved ones, while avoiding bold-lettered traps (Joytip: It's no bargain price if you're cleaning out retail garbage). This year's sales favor Xbox 360 products, though there are valuable savings in the PlayStation 3 department. As for PSP? Not so much (actually, none at all). And only a few Nintendo-brand listings pop out (Joytip: Unless you're camping on the concrete, ignore Wii bundle listings; the console will be as scarce as ever).
This Joystiq guide focuses on brick and mortar retailers (Amazon's Black Friday listings are here) and only includes our recommendations. (Joytip: Each image is linked to additional information about the corresponding product). Please use the comments section to share additional deals you've discovered!
Hardware
- Joytip: Avoid retailer-assembled bundles that force you to buy games & accessories you don't want
- Joytip: Don't purchase retailers' replacement plans; manufacturers have solid built-in warranties -- especially Nintendo
Xbox 360 Pro Value Bundle (w/ Forza 2 & Marvel Alliance) & 2 games (choice of: Halo 3, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty 4, or SmackDown! vs. RAW)
FYE - $419.97 [after $50 mail-in rebate]
Xbox 360 Pro Bundle
Best Buy - $349.99 [free Guitar Hero 2 bundle]
Halo 3 Xbox 360 & Halo 3 game
Target - $459.98 [$60 gift card]
Xbox 360 & migrate paid Xbox LIVE subscription (for original Xbox) to Xbox LIVE Gold
Any retailer - price varies [free Halo 3]
Offer expires 12/21/07
Refurbished Xbox 360 Pro Bundle
Micro Center - $229.99 [save $120]
Joytip: lacks HDMI; susceptible to older model defects
Xbox 360 HD DVD drive
Wal-Mart - $179.99 [free Heroes Season 1 HD DVD/DVD Set]
Xbox 360 HD DVD drive
Any retailer - $179.99 [5 free HD DVD movies; mail-in form]
Offer expires 2/28/08
PlayStation 3:
40GB or 80GB PlayStation 3
BJ's - $299.99/399.99 [$100 instant rebate]
80GB PlayStation3
Wal-Mart - $499 [10 free Blu-ray movies of choice]
Any model PlayStation 3
Any retailer - price varies [5 free Blu-ray movies; form]
Offer expires 2/29/08
Nintendo DS:
DS Lite Zelda/Nintendogs bundles
Circuit City - $139.99 [save $10]
DS Lite Zelda/Nintendogs bundles
FYE - $129.99 [after $20 mail-in rebate]
PlayStation 2:
PlayStation 2
FYE - $99.99 [after $30 mail-in rebate]
PlayStation 2
GameStop - $129.99 [receive $30 gift card]
- Joytip: If you're really in the market for a PS2, why not hold out for the new model?
Software
Assassin's Creed
Circuit City - $59.99 [receive $10 gift card]
Call of Duty 2
Circuit City - $9.99 [save $20]
Call of Duty 4
Target - $48 [save $11.99]
Gears of War
Target - $38 [save $21.99]
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
Best Buy - $20 [save $20]
- Guitar Hero 2 bundle (includes guitar)
Circuit City; Kmart; Sears - $59.99 [save $30]
Halo 3
Circuit City - $59.99 [receive $10 gift card]
Orange Box
Kmart - $39.99 [save $20]
Project Gotham Racing 4
Circuit City - $44.99 [save $15]
skate
Target - $48 [save $11.99]
Wii:
Super Mario Galaxy
Circuit City - $34.99 [save $15]
PlayStation 3:
Assassin's Creed
Circuit City - $59.99 [receive $10 gift card]
Call of Duty 4
Target - $48 [save $11.99]
Ratchet & Clank Future
Circuit City - $59.99 [receive $10 gift card]
skate
Target - $48 [save $11.99]
Nintendo DS:
Meteos: Disney Magic
Toys R Us - $9.99 [save $10]
PlayStation 2:
Bully
Circuit City - $9.99 [save $10]
Joytip: Enhanced Xbox 360 & Wii ports are in the works
All EA Sports 08 games
Wal-Mart - $19.88 ea. [save $10.11]
Guitar Hero III bundle (includes guitar)
Circuit City - $89.99 [receive $10 gift card]
Accessories
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
Kmart - $39.99 [save $10]
Xbox 360 Wireless Headset
Target - $48 [save $11.99]
PS3 Blu-ray Remote
GameStop - $9.99 [save $15]
- Joytip: Don't waste $$$ on brick-n-mortar stores' overpriced HDMI cables, shop for cheaper options online: HDMI cables (Amazon) -- anyone'll do, really
- Joytip: Avoid 'cooling systems' like Nyko's infamous Intercooler
- Joytip: Plastic extensions don't make Wii Sports more fun (but if you must, be less of a sucker by buying the Sports Pack at Circuit City for the $9.99 sale price)
- Joytip: Consider switching to AA rechargeable batteries for all applicable accessories (they offer longer playtime than battery packs)
Dumpster Diving
Buy two used games or accessories, get one free
GameStop - prices vary [buy 2, get 1 free]
Entire stock of games is buy one, get one free [limit 4 free games]
KBtoys - prices vary [buy 1, get 1 free]
Links to Store Locators
Bonus: Fanboy's Recommend
- DS Fanboy: Micro Center offers convoluted process for two free games
- PS3 Fanboy: Finding the best PS3 deals on Black Friday
- PSP Fanboy: Finding the best PSP deals on Black Friday
- Massively: Black Friday: where's the love?
- Wii Fanboy: Buy the 'last copies' of these cheap games at Best Buy
- Wii Fanboy: TRU Sale: Buy 2 Wii games, get 1 free [Expires 11/21]
- Xbox 360 Fanboy: Best of Xbox 360 Black Friday deals
