Holidaze 2008: Black Friday Video Game Guide

by James Ransom-Wiley { Nov 24th 2008 at 1:50PM }

Nothing quite like being packed into a frenzied shopping mob, is there? It's why we wait for hours in the cold dark with nothing more than the lingering memory of Thanksgiving stuck between our teeth. Or ... maybe it's just the promise of unbelievable savings?

We've scoured the nation's largest retailers for Black Friday's video game deals and compiled these savings into a series of really good lookin' guides. Since you're likely to focus your efforts on one retailer, selling not just games, but various gift opportunities, we've narrowed our field down to six nationwide megastores -- with the exception of GameStop, which, well, just sells games. (Joytip: Consult GamerDeals or other Black Friday compilation sites for additional sales at small, regional or online retailers.)

Without further ado, we present ... Joystiq's Holidaze 2008: Black Friday Video Game Guide!

Click on a store above to view its Black Friday Guide

Tags: black-friday, black-friday-2008, black-friday-ads, black-friday-video-games, holidaze, holidaze-2008, joystiqfeatures, js-twitter

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

dreadnought1 @ Nov 24th 2008 1:57PM

Awesome post, don't forget that Radio Shack has the Dualshock 3 for $29.99.

Durinthal @ Nov 24th 2008 5:29PM

For nearly every store you can think of:
http://www.blackfriday.info/
http://bfads.net/

Not many good deals overall, as far as I've seen.

ae86takumi @ Nov 24th 2008 5:36PM

Radioshack FTW

Stuart @ Nov 24th 2008 11:18PM

Agreed on the awesome post, but I have to say this:

What's with the "no love for PC gamers"? We love deals as much as anyone else!

rvkremer @ Nov 24th 2008 1:58PM

Great compilation, thanks for the handy list! Not a lot of must haves this year. I'm in for $20 Okami at CC.

Haggard @ Nov 24th 2008 1:59PM

Sorry, what's Black Friday again? Never heard of it in the UK except the Megadeth song.

sicsided @ Nov 24th 2008 2:06PM

Its when herds of people lose the part of humanity and turn into the basic animals they are in order to get objects which don't really benefit them but obscure their horrible lives for several moments.

That is black friday

Wiinterfang @ Nov 24th 2008 2:07PM

And Holiday savings.

Professor Lario @ Nov 24th 2008 2:10PM

The day after Thanksgiving. Busiest shopping day of the year. Utterly awful if you get caught out in it...

Shagittarius @ Nov 24th 2008 2:11PM

I lurk in the alley wait for the kill
I have no remorse for the blood that I spill
A merciless butcher who lives underground
I'm out to destroy and I will cut you down
I see you and I'm waiting for Black Friday
Turn me loose!

Duke @ Nov 24th 2008 2:20PM

Its actually a fun spectator sport. You go to the malls, though insane traffic and spend the day after thanksgiving watching people fight and freak out over getting things on sale.

T @ Nov 24th 2008 2:27PM

@Shag: Are those the lyrics to the Megadeth song? If so, wow. How did they know?

Also, $30 for Dead Space? Too bad the demo isn't out sooner. Though I get the feeling if they're willing to drop it that low NOW then it's going to be coming down for good shorly after...

GenBanks @ Nov 24th 2008 3:17PM

We need black Friday in the UK, I'm jealous of the U.S. sales.
But I guess the closest UK equivalent would be the sales on boxing day.

Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 24th 2008 3:36PM

http://www.smackshopping.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/black%20friday%20electronics.bmp

http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/11/blackfriday.jpg

http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A2994/29948/300_29948.jpg

offday @ Nov 24th 2008 3:42PM

Some good deals. But I value my life more than video games, so I might pass.

Haggard @ Nov 24th 2008 4:23PM

@Titanium_Orchid

Wow, I guess I see what George Romero was on about in Dawn of the Dead.

Courtney @ Nov 24th 2008 2:04PM

I always travel to my small, rural hometown for Thanksgiving, so never get to partake in the Black Friday festivities. Which, honestly, doesn't bother me, as I would end up beating some fellow shoppers to death.

nightmare452 @ Nov 24th 2008 2:05PM

This is excellent Joystiq.

This and CAG and I have all the info for this Friday's "hunt". Excellent well done guide!.

Wiinterfang @ Nov 24th 2008 2:06PM

Woah Wallmart has the Arcade with Guitar Hero 2 and a Plastic Guitar at 199.99 O_O and I can't buy it *Cries*

Fernando Rocker @ Nov 24th 2008 2:12PM

Well... I just sold my 360 Elite at $350 dlls... I'm going to buy a new one.

I'm about to order the Amazon deal... starting today, 360 Elite with two games + Last Remnant + 4000 MS Points for $400 dlls. Pretty good deal.

xFenixKnightx @ Nov 24th 2008 2:38PM

Fernando, I just got my Wii back (the wifes idea) lol and I think Ima buy some games on the cheap for my kids for Christmas. Other than Mario Galaxy, Mario Kart Wii, Wii Play and Sports, what game should I get them? I figure I ask you if anyone.

samfish @ Nov 24th 2008 3:18PM

de Blob (it's awesome)
Wii Music (it's really fun)
Catz 2 (it's got an Adventure mode)
Sonic & the Secret Rings (it's cheap)

xFenixKnightx @ Nov 24th 2008 3:21PM

*.........

By not answering my question, are you trying to tell me something Fernando? :P Im sure theres SOMETHING you can find...

I kidd I kidd! Maybe I'll just get them GH for Wii.

xFenixKnightx @ Nov 24th 2008 3:33PM

"Sonic & the Secret Rings (it's cheap)"

NICE! Just got it *new at Walmart $19.82 My boys love Sonic, thanks!

Duke @ Nov 24th 2008 4:10PM

Fenix, I grabbed Boob Blox and its a fun game.

samfish @ Nov 24th 2008 4:12PM

Boob Blox is awesome. You whip things at jubblies and see how many you can make jiggle and bounce.

Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 24th 2008 4:19PM

boob blocks. waggle. wii

Duke @ Nov 24th 2008 4:23PM

OMG I cannot type today!

CJLopez @ Nov 24th 2008 4:37PM

Here are my own recs

- Excite Truck - Awesome game, pretty funny, pretty nice graphics too
- PPN Championship Paintball 2k9 - Hey, paintball, who doesn't like it?
- Castelvania Judgement - We hardcore fans of the game dislike it, but you kids might love it
- Smash Brothers Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, Mario sluggers, Mario Strikers

CJLopez @ Nov 24th 2008 4:39PM

@Duke: Hey, don't blame youor fingers, blame your brain/conciense (don't know if i wrote it right, :P)

SKI @ Nov 24th 2008 4:46PM

Metroid and Heroes 2 (this actually has a pretty good online mode)

Markez @ Nov 24th 2008 11:35PM

I'll go for 2 I already saw referenced in this thread; Excite Truck and Boom Blox.

I honestly think Excite Truck is the best controlling racing game I've ever touched, and yes I understand it's an arcade racer.

And Boom Blox just flat out rules.

Mac @ Nov 24th 2008 2:18PM

hey very nice guides here, but just so you know, Gamestop does sell a LOT more then just games BTW. while your this very guide itself list more then just games, duh, but you should walk into one some day just to see for yourself.

Duke @ Nov 24th 2008 2:21PM

Huh? We all know they sell more than games. Other than that, you lost me.

MAC @ Nov 24th 2008 2:31PM

"we've narrowed our field down to six nationwide megastores -- with the exception of GameStop, which, well, just sells games. "

I was just simply saying this part of the article is incorrect.

samfish @ Nov 24th 2008 2:18PM

OK you bastiches — Okami is $20 bucks at Circuit city this Friday. No more excuses! You've had two years! GO BUY IT!

Dante G @ Nov 24th 2008 2:29PM

Last time I checked Okami was $25 at gamestop.

Dante G @ Nov 24th 2008 2:30PM

here:

http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=13117

Wiinterfang @ Nov 24th 2008 2:40PM

Meh you can't make me.

BigD145 @ Nov 24th 2008 2:19PM

Anyone else staying home to avoid trampling and loss of food money?

JerJer @ Nov 24th 2008 2:22PM

i go out there TO DO THE TRAMPLING RAARRRR!!!!1! (im a dinosaur)

343 Guilty Fart @ Nov 24th 2008 2:57PM

I never go out on that Friday, I think it's an idiotic idea to even try.

"Oooh, I drove around the parking lot burning $10 of gas for an hour looking for parking, and then I got to wade through a mall full of people waiting in atrociously long lines! BUT it was worth it cause I saved $5 on this one peripheral I really wanted!"

Mr Khan @ Nov 24th 2008 2:21PM

My dad and i always do black friday. Usually when i pick up my Christmas game if it's out by now (this year it's Sonic Chronicles, which was diverted from a day-1 purchase by Wario Land)

Living in the midst of the Rust Belt as we do, however, it never gets that hectic. Christmas also gets less meaningful as i grow older, mostly because of the fact that now that i possess financial means, i can buy what i want right away, so christmas is often alloted to low-key products, especially true of games. Last year it was Super Mario Galaxy in November, but NiGHTS 2 for Christmas. The year before i got Wii and such at launch, and Final Fantasy III DS for christmas

Markez @ Nov 24th 2008 11:38PM

I liked FFIII a lot, traded it in without finishing. I must say I'm enjoying FFIV a great deal more.

Tez @ Nov 24th 2008 2:21PM

Good god, guys.... PNG. Get with it.

Dirty @ Nov 24th 2008 2:22PM

Unless your looking to buy a system I dont see anything that really is worth going out in public on that horrible horrible day.

josh @ Nov 24th 2008 3:41PM

well they have dead space at target for $30. thats sweet deal.. great cheap gift.. lol..

wickedpheonix @ Nov 24th 2008 2:27PM

Holy shit Amazon has Soul Caliber 4 for $30 as a gold box/lightning deal, free shipping and no tax... considering the best black friday sale I can see shows it for $40 and it's still retailing for $60 normally, actually found a 50% off game this year O_O