Poll: Where do you prefer to buy your games? And why?

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

I buy my PC games from digital retailers, like Steam and GoG since both offer relatively cheap games and GoG obviously offers DRM-free games with loads of little extras attached. With the exception of the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic collection I don't think I've bought a physical copy of a PC game in years. As for console and handheld games, I either buy them from Amazon or little independent dealers. Amazon in general I like because it's so easy to find what I want and usually for a reasonable price. I'm a big fan of knick-knack stores with boxes full of old games - I can quite happily spend my time there just rifling through the boxes and seeing what games they've got.

 

[CannibalCorpses]

I tend towards game shops...i like physical copies and i hate amazon and e-bay with a passion. In the last few years though i've been leaning more and more on rentals rather than buying...games just aren't worth their cost to me anymore.

40 quid for 2 days gameplay just isn't going to get me to put my hand in my wallet!

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

I like digital-distribution. Saves having game cases lying around.

 

[C F]

I've got a little independent games retailer in my town that tries to get you slightly better deals than Gamestop. I know the owner personally, and they carry anything console-related that they can get their hands on from new releases all the way back to the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Oh, and since they sold out on launch day due to an error in anticipating demand, they house-delivered X-COM Enemy Within to me the other week as soon as they got more copies in. Their treat.
Suck it, Gamestop.

 

[Eggsnham]

Digital distribution whenever possible, on the off chance that I can't get a game via Steam or PSN, I'll usually go to Gamestop to sell my soul for a game.

 

[BaronVH]

The best place was EB Games. You could return any game for any reason and they price matched. I guess that is why they are no more. On PC it is Steam. For others it used to be Best Buy. Don't like Gamestop, as I don't like paying for a new game that some employee has already opened. Others may disagree, but if that sticker is off or cut and the disc is out, it is a used game. I say Best Buy simply because I belong to their rewards club, but now it is only if I plan to purchase something the day it comes out. My Best Buy stores have gotten abysmal in what they stock, so if it a console game, I can likely find a good price on Amazon if it has been released for a while.