where do you buy games?

[Traianvs]

demos usually do show what the game is like UR

in FPS games i'd like to know how fast I can move, which sort of weapons I can use and how they feel, how the graphics are on my computer..

for RTS games I'd like to know the game pace and the feeling of the units first, for example C&C generals sucks hugely because the units are in general pretty slow and their movement is sluggish and bad overall (they bump into eachother, get stuck in cities etc so they get wasted easily if they are attacking; the AI doesn't seem to have that problem as it can command each unit independently)

[Carolus Rex]

In real life shops, guess I'm oldfashioned...

Carolus

[Carolus Rex]

But I buy a lot of books online...

Carolus

[zorbop]

Buy games? please. K++ all the way!

ok, on the rare ocasion i will buy a game, but only ones that i think really look good and actually worth 40 bucks, like Civ. when i do buy, it is from circuit city.

[St Leo]

It's Electronics Boutique or Future Shop for me. General purpose stores usually only carry bad games.

So what options have I got left to protect myself?

Asking people on Usenet. comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic folk tend to know whether a game's any good. I can make successful surgical purchases thanks to my being a regular there.

[David Floyd]

The only problem with buying games at Best Buy is you can't take them back - I would know, I work there. It's a good policy, but if I wasn't sure I'd like a game, I'd buy it somewhere else, even for a slightly higher cost (as long as you can return it there, naturally).

Of course, *I* get to return anything I want, so it really isn't an issue for me

[Dis]

I returned Risk2 to Best Buy because it didn't work on my computer.

I don't think they give you your money back. But I didn't even ask for my money back. I was happy to get store credit.

[David Floyd]

Technically, all that Best Buy is supposed to give you is an exchange for the exact same piece of software. If it didn't work on your computer, the theory goes, you should have either read the specs on the game box, or call tech support.

[Panag]

Originally posted by Nikolai
Taxfree shops isn't what they were... Now they are around as expensive as regular shops...

hi ,

depends on what airport you shop , .........

have a nice day

[Standup]

Strategic Plus as well for more obscure games or international versions before they're available in the UK. Otherwise GAME (formerly EB UK) - Good returns policy and quite a few strategy bargains as they're quite mass market in their outlook.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Trajanus
demos usually do show what the game is like UR

demos are fine, but i make a lot of my purchases at bargain bins, and so theyre semi "impulse" purchases - I know im looking for a game, but I really dont know what specific title.

I suppose i could look at lots and lots of demos, and keep with all the games i might potentially be interested in, but with a dial up connection thats a real bother.

[Ben Kenobi]

Local store bargain bin.

Railroad Tycoon for 10$ anyone?

[Panag]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
demos are fine, but i make a lot of my purchases at bargain bins, and so theyre semi "impulse" purchases - I know im looking for a game, but I really dont know what specific title.

I suppose i could look at lots and lots of demos, and keep with all the games i might potentially be interested in, but with a dial up connection thats a real bother.

hi ,

well have you ever thought about buying certain magazines that have disks with all the recent demo's on them , ........

have a nice day

[Alex]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
demos are fine, but i make a lot of my purchases at bargain bins, and so theyre semi "impulse" purchases - I know im looking for a game, but I really dont know what specific title.

That pretty much sums up all my recent purchases. Things like "Desperados" for approx. U$ 5.00 or Fallout 2 for even less.

[Adagio]

Originally posted by Trajanus
demos usually do show what the game is like UR

in FPS games i'd like to know how fast I can move, which sort of weapons I can use and how they feel, how the graphics are on my computer..

for RTS games I'd like to know the game pace and the feeling of the units first, for example C&C generals sucks hugely because the units are in general pretty slow and their movement is sluggish and bad overall (they bump into eachother, get stuck in cities etc so they get wasted easily if they are attacking; the AI doesn't seem to have that problem as it can command each unit independently)

But this doesn't work in Tycoon games, which is the type of games I prefer... There's often not even a demo for Tycoon games...
And in Tycoon games one of the most important factors is "how much can you build", where the demos have "deleted" most of the possibilities, and says in the end of the game "Many more options, etc, etc, etc", while the truth is those options there's not in the demo, is not worth mentioning...
...and even if the demo is great, and the gameplay is great, there's one more factor they never mention: Can it be played in endless mode? If there's no endless mode, there's no way I'm going to buy it...

... and then there's the high risk in tycoon games: 90% of them are very poorly done... and you can't just "take a chance"... for a student, buying games are expensive, and here there's 0% chance to get a refund

The bottom line: There's a high risk of buying a bad product... it's not worth taking this risk...



Anyway, back to topic: I always buys the game at the local store, I'm not happy about buying online... Only HW is bought online...