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Enjoy the full version online at http://www.gamegirladvance.com/archives/2003/07/09/game_farming.html
July 09, 2003
Game Farming
I have wanted a copy of War of the Monsters for the PS2 for a while now - I demoed it at E3 2002 and had a blast knocking b-movie creatures around with friends. It seems like it would be a great game to have on the shelf, when two player brawls better suit an evening than conversation. Even months after it's release, the game is still over $35 retail, and over $25 used. I was hoping for more like $20, especially if I buy it online and have to pay shipping. Fortunately, Chad Paulson writes in about a new service he's constructed: GameFarmer: Well, I just launched a service you might find useful. It is a console game price comparison engine called GameFarmer. Unlike other price comparison engines, GameFarmer focuses on video games and allows gamers to sort by new and preowned games. It also allows gamers to set price alerts when a game falls below a certain price (either new, preowned, or both).The front page lists games that have recently dropped below that magic $20 price limit. Maybe there is some lesson here about prices gamers are willing to pay. Or perhaps games are like movies - some have extended lifecycles: the equivalent of US theatrical release, then overseas, followed by airlines/cable, then video/dvd, etcetera. It's a rare game that doesn't eventually end up in the bargain bin; if you're willing to wait long enough to get a copy. I've filled out my 20$ buy in request for War of the Monsters; we'll see if that comes to pass. Posted by justin at July 09, 2003 07:52 PM Comments
Hey, Justin, I'll sell you my copy of it (j/k). It's a great party game, but the 1 player mode is wayyyyyyyy too hard and not properly tuned/balanced. Although I have to give them mad props on their interface. Wasn't that the same team as Twisted Metal Black? Because both interfaces are in the "legendary" status in my opinion. Posted by: Bowler on July 10, 2003 02:03 PMNice. Thanks for the link. I usually have 3-4 browser windows open searching the pre-owned / on-sale section sorted by price at EB, GameStop, and Walmart. At the risk of sounding like a tv infomercial: "This is exactly what I've been looking for." ;-P Althought I still like spending an afternoon visiting various movie rental and used game stores looking for deals on used games. Kinda like 'yard saleing' (sic). Posted by: ZYirAH on July 12, 2003 09:49 AMWow - you sound like a quite a dedicated old game shopper! What are you looking for? Recent games knocked down to super-low prices, or maybe ultra-rare oldies for an extensive collection? I have a few old things I'd love to find, games I've loved and lost from the 1980s. Posted by: justin on July 12, 2003 06:49 PMI like checking out those titles that slip through the cracks of the hype machine and drop off the shelves of major stores after a couple of weeks. Browsing 'pre-owned' or 'hot-bargain' sections at web sites or used game exchange stores is fun. Sometimes you come across some interesting games for 7 or 8 bucks. Even bad games are good when they're that cheap. It's like watching late night 'B' movies. Same goes for recent games that get knocked down. I equated it to seeing a movie preview and deciding not to see it in the theatre but waiting to rent it when it hits DVD. A lot of games are like that. They look good, but not good enough to run out and buy at full price. So I put them on the 'well if I see it for under $15 I'll pick it up' list. After a while, as the list grows, I tend to forget about these games so it's fun to come across them a year later for really cheap. Posted by: ZYirAH on July 23, 2003 09:59 AM
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