Do you await price drops?

[Strain42]

Depends on the game and whether or not I really support the developer/publisher.

Games like MegaTen, Pokemon and Ace Attorney, those are my top 3 series. I buy those on launch day no matter what (hell, I even bought Devil Survivor: Overclocked and I don't even own a 3DS yet)

But if it's a game that I'm just mildly interested in and I KNOW will get a price drop down the line, I'll wait for it.

L.A. Noire and Skyrim are both examples of games that I just waited for the complete edition to launch.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 I decided to wait until they released Phoenix Wright as DLC (and I'm glad I waited since they decided to pull that UMvC3 crap...now I'm just waiting to buy that game for used cheap, and I never buy used games)

This year the big title I really want but I'm gonna wait for a price drop is Lollipop Chainsaw. It looks fun, funny, and my kind of title, but I'm fairly positive that within a year the game will be in the $19.95 price range.

So basically it depends on the game. But yeah, I have no problem with waiting if it means I'm gonna save some money. I'm very cheap like that.

 

[evenest]

I do wait for games to become discounted. For those games where I want to see them when they come out (Arkham City, Uncharted 3, Mass Effect 3), I rent them for a couple of days.

Part of the reason behind the delay is because I won't buy dlc, and I prefer waiting for the complete game (that is, with the included DLC--no dig on dlc intended) before I get it.

I just cannot afford to spend $60 over and over again.

I did get Skyrim (after renting it, too) but that was because it was a Christmas gift.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I'm always weirded out by people who pay full price for videogames; it seems like a total waste of money to me, especially with the way game of the year editions tend to be both cheaper /and/ more complete. Then again, my grandparents grew up in the great depression, which puts me a generation closer to that sort of frugality than most people in my generation.

(My mom was a late in life child; my grandfather fought in World War II, instead of Vietnam or Korea like most of my generation's grandparents.)

 

[Fumofu]

I bought a few games first day last year, but now I'll only buy games that I truly can't wait for and if I really support the developer. If I did that last year I would probably only buy inFamous 2 (great developer who never tries to nickel and dime you).

EDIT: To elaborate on why I rarely buy games new, I pre-ordered Portal 2 because I wanted to support Valve. Now less than a year later, it's worth $20.00.

 

[putowtin]

It has to be a game I'm really looking forward to for me to buy on the day of release, most of the time I wait for the price to drop or a game of the year edition to be released.

This year (unless something amazing suddenly crops up) There's only two games I'll get day of release, ME3 and AC3 (damn sequels get me everytime!)

 

[Yuno Gasai]

If I desperately want a new game (e.g. Guild Wars 2), chances are that I will throw caution to the wind and just buy it as soon as it's released.

Most of the time, though, I'll forget it exists until something reminds me (generally friends mentioning it, Youtube videos, tweets etc). I do try to wait for sales, though - I can't afford to consistently buy new games at full price, the moment they come out.

 

[Smiley Face]

If I'm sure I'll want to play the game and think it's worth roundabout what I'm paying, I'll buy it. If not, I'll wait. Right now, I'm waiting on (I actually don't know what the current prices are for them) Kingdoms of Amalur and Modern Warfare 3. Possibly something else that I've forgotten at the moment.

 

[skywolfblue]

If I really want them, I will buy them for full price. If I don't, I will wait.

This. I'll buy the titles I reaaaallly want on day1 (a-la Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed). The rest I'll wait until it drops to around 25-30$.

 

[ElPatron]

If they are a must have, buy on release.

If not, wait until ~40-45 euro.

If I don't think it's worth it, wait until 35-30 euros.

If I think there will be some major DLC I wait until I can buy it all together.

 

[Erana]

Jesus, I haven't bought a game at full price in eight years...
I feel old now.

Still, I wish more people would just be patient; it really pisses me off when people complain about industry price standards when they're the ones buy things at launch.

 

[Keava]

Depends on game. If I know I will enjoy it then yes, I will buy it on or near the day of release. Internet provides plenty of resources that allow me to confirm whenever I will like or not given title (not reviews tho, rather first impressions videos like TotalBiscuit's "WTF is..." or Giant Bomb's "Quick Looks").

If the I like the general concept of the game but am not entirely convinced to all the smaller details I will wait for a price drop/promotions/bundle packs. Usually during that time there will be more various impressions about the game, some let's plays around etc, that will help me make decission.

Eventually, every now and then I will look at the bargain bin or similar promotions and buy 1-1.5 year old games for like 10-15$ that I missed on earlier and still enjoy them as much as I would enjoy a "fresh" release.

 

[likalaruku]

I don't have a choice. Between utility bills, house rent, & buying food for 3 old people & 3 cats who throw up if you feed them cheap food....I either buy it used, or I wait till the game drops in price so the developers still get SOME money.

 

[Sam Warrior]

Yup I cannot afford to buy games new. The only games I brought anywhere near full price recently were DA2 and Dead Space 2 because it was my birthday and I had money and nothing else to spend it on.

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

If it's a game that I'm interested in, but I don't have to have it ASAP... yeah, I'll wait for a price drop.

For example, Max Payne 3 comes out soon. I absolutely loved Max Payne, but its sequel was a massive letdown to me, and the news about the third game that's been released so far hasn't exactly gotten my hopes up. I'm interested, but not enough to pay full price when it's released. I can wait a few months.

 

[Jessta]

I usually wait till they are within a 20 dollar price range, only game I bought at full price right after it came out? after SOoooooo much pestering by friends for me to try and buy a game right out of the gates
I spent forever getting more and more excited for this
Final fantasy FUCKING THIRTEEN
Ya total bummer. Not buying games at full price again >_> I was considering trying my luck and scooping up kingdoms of Amular though since I had more than enough fun in the demo.

 

[Soxafloppin]

Yea, the last game I bought on release was Mortal Kombat last year.

Not because i'm stingy but I don't get super excited much anymore.

I'l also wait if i feel a price drop is due (Currently PS Vita)

 

[Signa]

Completely depends on the game, but there are certain devs that are instant-buys for me. Valve being one of them. Borderlands 2 was also something I recently pre-ordered. Beyond that, I've learned my lesson. I think the game that really taught it to me was Oblivion. So much DLC and stuff was released for that game that it only made sense to buy it after the GOTY came out. I wasn't so smart then...

 

[ArbiterX13]

Depends on the game. Certain ones (such as Skyrim, Arkham City, and Portal 2) I will reserve and get the instant they're out. Most games I want I get within a few months of their release (such as Dead Space 2, Rage, and Skyward Sword). That said, I'm also one of those guys who plays the Modern Warfare series exclusively for the single-player campaign (not a big multiplayer guy)--for those games I wait until the next Steam sale and by the game then. I'm not paying what essentially amounts to $10 an hour for any game (I've already read the reviews, it looks as if the campaign is, again, about six hours), even if I'm interested in the story.