Gaming on a Budget

[REPO Man]

[url]freeware.remakes.org[/url]

Great site to find freeware PC games, and they have sections for Flash games, Mac games, and apparently Linux, but I can only vouch for their Flash section (I use Windows XP).

But I've found tons of cool games there.

Also, check this link out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Freeware_games

But that's just computer gaming.

As for console gaming, I guess you can trade games with your friends. I mean, if you've played a game to death, and your friend has a game you want and he wants your old game, trade.

Another thing is something I do whenever I go to K-Mart and Walmart. I check out the bargain bin (well technically, the bargain "shelf" in Kmart/bargain "display" at Walmart). At K-Mart, I've scored C&C Red Alert 3 and Fracture (both for Xbox 360) for only $20 each. And the first Scene-It game for the 360 (w/ buzzers) for $30. And Guitar Hero 3 for $20, marked down from $40.

Also, check out Amazon Marketplace, where I recently scored Battle Fantasia for 360 for less than $15 and Ultimate Shooting Collection for Wii for around the same price.

And I agree with the thrift store thing, though down here it's kinda slim pickings. Last great find was Cold Fear for only $2, but I don't think I like it.

[BakaTanuki]

I live in Corpus Christi, Texas and I've starting shopping the thrift and pawn shops, but have found very little so far. There is a good retro game store, but the prices are higher than like thrift bargains.

[Betamax001]

If you have a Dreamcast you could download games. Good way to test them out before you plunk money on the games seeing as no one rents Dreamcast games anymore or you are just poor.

"Or both."

[aaron]

finally a thread for me.

literally every time i go to goodwill, the salvation army, any pawn shop or flea market, i am looking for good deals on things. constantly. even if i'm not interested, like noiseredux stated, i'm really really into trading for items that i want. i love picking up games for other people just as much as i want to pick up games for myself.

craigslist is another awesome avenue for me, but it definitely takes some hunting. between the "modded wii" and "i can mod your psp to play free games!!!1" ads, sometimes you'll find a super nes with 20 games for $30. this is an awesome way to pick up games for yourself and to get trades for other people.

CAG is awesome for finding out about current gen stuff, but i've never really had much luck with retro items on that site. it's cool for finding out about sales and clearances and such. great forum, i should probably visit it a little more.

also, downloading dreamcast games is fucking awesome. that's all.

[LBJeff]

I'm going to add on to the list of Dreamcast supporters for good, cheap gaming. And I always keep an eye out on craigslist for goods. Just picked up a Dreamcast w/20 games, 3 controllers and 3 VMU's for $120.

[Weekend_Warrior]

Agreed. Modded consoles could be another way to go. That is.. if you don't have any problem with piracy *ahem*

A soft-modded Xbox could supply you with countless games via emulators, and if you install a bigger harddrive you could put hundreds of full original Xbox games on there.

That could keep you busy for awhile.

[J T]

If you head over to the Sony & Microsoft section of this forum, I regularly maintain threads for "ongoing awesome deals" at the major PC digital distributors:

Steam

GOG

Direct2Drive


I also keep up a thread with tons of freeware downloads.



I get games cheap through these sources and then feel compelled to share my good fortune by passing on the word. I also find a lot of inexpensive games through local used game shops and pawn shops. I've had the best luck with a chain of pawn shops called "Pawn X-change" that usually keeps their PS2 games right around the $2 mark, though they go up to $15 or $20 in some instances. Book stores like Half Price Books can also be a good place to find games, particularly for the PC.

[LBJeff]

Book stores like Half Price Books can also be a good place to find games, particularly for the PC.

I forgot about that. I regularly frequent HPB in Tacoma and yes, you can get pretty screaming deals on PC games - both new and used.

[finerion]

That is one thing I miss about living in Houston, Half Price Books. There is nothing quite comparable to it here in Central Arkansas except maybe Hastings Entertainment but they only deal in recent releases.

Thrift stores can be a good source of gaming material but they are mainly hit or miss here. Goodwill of Arkansas has opened a Clearance center behind one of their Little Rock locations that seems to get a ton of electronics. I've purchased a ton of systems and games from them for very cheap. Most consoles are $4-$7 and games are $1-$2. The only problem is they don't keep the cables most of the time so you have to dig through the cable bins to find anything. I also tend to stick with the cartridge based systems when I buy from them because they don't test anything and there are no refunds. Been burned on the couple of PS2's I've purchased there but every NES, SNES, Genesis, and N64 I have purchased have worked without a problem once cleaned up. One thing that I have taken to doing is purchasing systems, cleaning them up, and then reselling them on Craigslist or on the office bulletin board to make a few extra bucks.

[retroman]

you guys totally forgot to add http://www.Bestsku.com to this list

all the games they have are cheaper than anybody else. check them out if you havent.

i always go there first and if i cant find a game, i go to slickdeals