So Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is getting really good reviews. Like, really good reviews.
And Super Mario 3D World looks amazing.
I have no illusions regarding the Wii U when it comes to third party support (read: it ain't got it). When you buy a Nintendo console, you buy it for first party titles and hope you pick up a decent third party game (or, in the case of Xenoblade, a second party title) or two along the way.
When it comes to Nintendo handhelds, well, you can't really go wrong. I have a GBA SP (the NES Retro style model, which was a Christmas gift from my wife years ago) and a black Nintendo DS Lite that I spent many, many hours playing.
So I knew when the 3DS was originally announced at a $250 price point, I'd wait but would eventually purchase a 3DS after a price drop. I had dismissed the 3DS XL until I saw it live and in person when my family met up with CCGR's family a while back. All of a sudden, my "I'll get it some day but I'm not in any hurry" turned into "DO WANT."
I decided to wait until Black Friday in hopes that there would be a fantastic sale on the 3DS XL or at least a bundle to give me the excuse I (being so frugal that I have my own law of frugality) need to finally take the plunge.
But all the major Black Friday ads have been leaked and the results are disappointing: Only Target has a great sale on the 3DS XL and it's a doorbuster only. I <3 saving money, but I don't think even $50 in savings can convince me to throw elbows at little old ladies at Target at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. I have been passionately vocal about what I think of businesses that interrupt A DAY DEDICATED TO GIVING THANKS to throw people into a rabid (imagine shoppers with frothing mouths) frenzy to save some cash. Yes, there is a conspiracy to prevent thankfulness and contentedness by any means possible in our nation (what is the purpose of nearly all advertising?), even if the retail industry doesn't consciously realize that's what they're doing.
But soapboxes aside, I'd really like to get a 3DS XL and I'd really like to get it at a good price.
I considered pre-ordering the Zelda 3DS XL bundle, but (1) the unit comes with a download code, not a physical copy of the game, (2) the inside of the unit is gold--not a garish gold, but I favor more subtle colors over "STEAL ME NOW, I AM A LIMITED EDITION," attention-drawing hardware, and (3) I can't find a way to buy it without paying tax. And you know I'm not going to support GameStop, but I've already ranted once in this thread, so I'll exercise some discipline on that point.
I don't anticipate a price drop on the 3DS XL any time soon, so my question is this:
How do I get the most bang for my buck? That is, how do I get the best price for the best value? (That's why I was hoping for bundles similar to last year's Mario Kart 7 3DS bundle and was disappointed there were no such offers this year.)
Obviously, I would order from Amazon over Walmart or Toys R Us to avoid paying taxes (it sounds so criminal when I put it that way!
) and I'd watch for any "reward points" programs from retailers where I might actually have a chance of spending them. Price matching would be super, but I don't think any company is crazy enough to price match doorbusters.
My fellow frugal gamers: I ask for your aid!
Oh, and if anyone can recommend a great deal on a Wii U, whether standalone or a bundle, I'd also appreciate that (but chances are I'm going to hold out on the Wii U until Monolithsoft releases their Wii U game and finally breaks my willpower).
I was going to also share how I'm conflicted about spending money on any new gaming hardware at all when I already own so many consoles and handhelds (not to mention a pretty beefy PC) and have amassed an embarrassingly long backlog, but that seemed like a pretty self-indulgent and almost stereotypical thing for a thirty-something gamer to do. Not saying I won't come back and share what's on my mind, just that I'm holding out hope I can spare you all that wall of text.
And Super Mario 3D World looks amazing.
I have no illusions regarding the Wii U when it comes to third party support (read: it ain't got it). When you buy a Nintendo console, you buy it for first party titles and hope you pick up a decent third party game (or, in the case of Xenoblade, a second party title) or two along the way.
When it comes to Nintendo handhelds, well, you can't really go wrong. I have a GBA SP (the NES Retro style model, which was a Christmas gift from my wife years ago) and a black Nintendo DS Lite that I spent many, many hours playing.
So I knew when the 3DS was originally announced at a $250 price point, I'd wait but would eventually purchase a 3DS after a price drop. I had dismissed the 3DS XL until I saw it live and in person when my family met up with CCGR's family a while back. All of a sudden, my "I'll get it some day but I'm not in any hurry" turned into "DO WANT."
I decided to wait until Black Friday in hopes that there would be a fantastic sale on the 3DS XL or at least a bundle to give me the excuse I (being so frugal that I have my own law of frugality) need to finally take the plunge.
But all the major Black Friday ads have been leaked and the results are disappointing: Only Target has a great sale on the 3DS XL and it's a doorbuster only. I <3 saving money, but I don't think even $50 in savings can convince me to throw elbows at little old ladies at Target at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. I have been passionately vocal about what I think of businesses that interrupt A DAY DEDICATED TO GIVING THANKS to throw people into a rabid (imagine shoppers with frothing mouths) frenzy to save some cash. Yes, there is a conspiracy to prevent thankfulness and contentedness by any means possible in our nation (what is the purpose of nearly all advertising?), even if the retail industry doesn't consciously realize that's what they're doing.
But soapboxes aside, I'd really like to get a 3DS XL and I'd really like to get it at a good price.
I considered pre-ordering the Zelda 3DS XL bundle, but (1) the unit comes with a download code, not a physical copy of the game, (2) the inside of the unit is gold--not a garish gold, but I favor more subtle colors over "STEAL ME NOW, I AM A LIMITED EDITION," attention-drawing hardware, and (3) I can't find a way to buy it without paying tax. And you know I'm not going to support GameStop, but I've already ranted once in this thread, so I'll exercise some discipline on that point.
I don't anticipate a price drop on the 3DS XL any time soon, so my question is this:
How do I get the most bang for my buck? That is, how do I get the best price for the best value? (That's why I was hoping for bundles similar to last year's Mario Kart 7 3DS bundle and was disappointed there were no such offers this year.)
Obviously, I would order from Amazon over Walmart or Toys R Us to avoid paying taxes (it sounds so criminal when I put it that way!
) and I'd watch for any "reward points" programs from retailers where I might actually have a chance of spending them. Price matching would be super, but I don't think any company is crazy enough to price match doorbusters.My fellow frugal gamers: I ask for your aid!
Oh, and if anyone can recommend a great deal on a Wii U, whether standalone or a bundle, I'd also appreciate that (but chances are I'm going to hold out on the Wii U until Monolithsoft releases their Wii U game and finally breaks my willpower).
I was going to also share how I'm conflicted about spending money on any new gaming hardware at all when I already own so many consoles and handhelds (not to mention a pretty beefy PC) and have amassed an embarrassingly long backlog, but that seemed like a pretty self-indulgent and almost stereotypical thing for a thirty-something gamer to do. Not saying I won't come back and share what's on my mind, just that I'm holding out hope I can spare you all that wall of text.
![[toj.cc]phantom](/forums/data/avatars/m/1/1132.jpg?1442680067){kind=avatar}