Economy-ics

The sun has been shining and the birds have been chirping over the last few days in Northern Virginia, and Easter has come and gone (no I'm not crazy, but I am Coptic Orthodox www.stmarkdc.org). Fellow Broke College Gamer Rob came down to visit family as well which gave us time to catch up and discuss video game... belt buckles. Besides that though, Rob and I spent some time together at several video game stores (EB Games and Game Stop) just browsing, destroying the video game demos in less than 5 minutes, and staring all googley-eyed at the GTA4 promos.

Walking through all these stores, I noticed something that I really wasn't aware of before. Something that has been there for the last 8 years now but every time I walk in, it tends to grow more and more, taking over the store. Originally it was no bigger than just the black cart they stayed in, but now, oh man now...

These used game carts are so conveniently placed in the middle of the store with huge signs of "$9.99 cart and below," or "Buy 2 used games Get 1 FREE!" These of course are great deals, for these older systems if you have them (and by the way, original xbox is $60, game cube is $30, and PS2 is $70), but with these new next gen consoles out, I just shake my head and walk away. I don't sell games, in fact I have kept every game I have ever had for any system, yet seeing these carts make me wonder. The majority of people probably bought these games at retail price when they first came out, beat them, and then sold them for $11, $27 or what $38, only to have these stores turn right around and almost double the price.

I remember the joy of opening up brand new games and taking the plastic cover off, then the sticker in anticipation of seeing the disc design of the game. Now, this feeling has gone away slowly since I can buy used games from an overstocked cart with games in no order whatsoever and spilling over on to the carpet. Now if you're like me, you will still go to these ugly beasts of wonderful deals to buy games, but if you're like some of my more economic Broke College Gamers, you should look in to getting a Gamefly account.

So if you're like me, be cheap and hold out until those once $60 games go down to $5, or be like a fellow Broke College Gamer and get Gamefly. Either way, stay broke, and enjoy it.