How or Do You Refrain From Buying Games?

[Exhuminator]

I used to collect just for the sake of it, and I'd defend the hobby until I was blue in the face (if need be). It's not a healthy habit though

Giving tips on how to refrain from excessively buying games is fine. Your original post made it sound like collecting games itself is some sort of shameful act though. That implication is what some of us took issue with.

[J T]

His name is Nintendork. He can't think a game collection is all that bad.

[noiseredux]

I used to collect just for the sake of it, and I'd defend the hobby until I was blue in the face (if need be). It's not a healthy habit though

Giving tips on how to refrain from excessively buying games is fine. Your original post made it sound like collecting games itself is some sort of shameful act though. That implication is what some of us took issue with.

b... but... the OP is asking how to not buy games. That's what he was doing.

[Exhuminator]

His name is Nintendork. He can't think a game collection is all that bad.

"Realize that you more than likely own too much already, and that a lot of the games you own probably suck and you hang onto them anyway."-Nintendork

Maybe he only thinks small collections of Nintendo games are good?

b... but... the OP is asking how to not buy games. That's what he was doing.

If you strictly go off the thread title, you could say that. But if you go back and read the actual first post you will see he was talking more about how to avoid impulse buys, not how to stop buying games period.

"This raises the question of how can I resist this urge to cash in on this awesome price and use that money more productively then acquire said new game [game X] when I will actually sit down and play it (and probably get it for an even better price)?" -Frag Mortuus

The wording of this paragraph could be interpreted more than one way. I interpreted it to mean he isn't saying he will never buy game X. But that OP is saying he plans to buy game X eventually, but preferably not on immediate impulse. He is asking how to have impulse control so that he does not just buy game X simply because he sees it on sale.

In that regard the title of this thread does not necessarily imply the question is "how do you refrain from buying games PERIOD". When taken with the paragraph I cited it could be "how do you refrain from buying games ON PURE IMPULSE". A gaming budget curbs my own impulse feelings.

Hopefully OP can return to clarify this for us.

[noiseredux]

no I get that.

Again, my main thing is "stop collecting" and "stop pay attention to prices." Just buy a game when you plan to play it. It could work for me because I buy a game I'm into and then play it for weeks or longer. So paying whatever it costs curbs spending on a bunch of other games that might sit on my shelf while I enjoy that one game. Plus cuts down on so-called 'backlog guilt.'

[mjmjr25]

Just buy a game when you plan to play it.

This is not a catch-all.

Some gaming items are just too htf now. Example; if you want Sutte Hakkun / DoReMi Fantasy / Magical Pop'N [insert any other relatively rare / sought after title] you need to buy it when it comes up on the forums, flea market or auction.

If I buy when I want to play it - i'll be paying a massive premium. Using Sutte Hakkun as an example, I grabbed my copy for like $120 at auction / CIB. If I decide to play it next weekend - it's here. If I didn't have it, decide I want to play it next weekend and "just go buy it", i'm spending $360-600.

[noiseredux]

Granted. My way is more a rule on thumb to save money. Though admittedly, it is rare I want to play somethimg I can not get immediately for less than $60.

My way of thinking is more that if you bought 5 games at $120 just cuz they were well priced, then you spent more than the $600 on the one game you wanted to play now though. If that makes sense?

[Nintendork666]

His name is Nintendork. He can't think a game collection is all that bad.

"Realize that you more than likely own too much already, and that a lot of the games you own probably suck and you hang onto them anyway."-Nintendork

Maybe he only thinks small collections of Nintendo games are good?

Actually, I only like people who collect amiibos.

Video games are so passé.

[Nyukki]

I don't collect games (flash carts and burns all the way, no shame in my game) and am pretty content just playing what I already own. I'm on a mission however now to buy certain limited edition consoles. What I do is I gave my bank card to my wife and she gives my weekly pocket money, sounds cheesy but it works, I can't be trusted with the card. Plus, I get extra cash everytime I mop the floor or wipe my sons arse. Should have enough for that 1st production run Wonder Mega by Christmas !!

Sounds silly, but I actually prefer it this way. We've saved up a lot of money over the past two years that I would've just blown on crap.

[Jmustang1968]

My buying habits have shifted some. If I find a game I want to play for a deal I will get it now. This occurs more often with older games now. Before I would pre-order and buy everything new, and then the game will still be sitting on my shelf sealed and selling for $10. So now, I am more selective on what I pre-order or buy new. Basically, smaller devs or publishers who I want to support I will pre-order their games, or if there is a limited edition I feel will be scarce.

Many of my retro games I have purchased locally in lots. I then sell or trade some of the extras and duplicates, to recuperate some of the cost of the purchase. So for retro games, if i dont have it, and I find it for a deal, I will pick it up, as most retro game prices are only going higher. Newer games, I will wait until they drop, or unless if it is a game I want to play now.