How to Avoid Buying the Next Barbie's Make Over Salon

As Player One well knows, I cannot resist a bargain. There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of getting a great game used for only five dollars, while in most other places it's still twenty dollars new. Personally, I just love saving money (especially now that my budget's tight due to college expenses.) However, sometimes the appeal of saving money overshadows the real value of the game that you're purchasing. There is a delicate balance in determining whether the game that you're buying is an outstanding game that just happens to be in the five dollar bin, or whether the game actually should be in the one dollar bin. Worry not, concerned reader, for I will soon set your mind at ease with a few easy tips to keep in mind while shopping for used games.

Player Two's Guide on When to Open Your Wallet

Does it look like a good game?

Now, normally people tell you not to judge a book by it's cover, but I say judge away! If a game looks horrible on the case, there is a significant chance that the game actually sucks, especially if it's in the five dollar bin. Just think about it this way: every single JRPG looks the same, and almost none of them are good. The same is true of every other genre. There are thousands of racing/action/fighting games that are in the bargain bin, and for good reason. If you feel no particular attachement to the game after reading the case, then just put it down. Chances are, it's not worth your hard-earned five dollars. "Now Rachel," you reprimand, "I just got this really awesome game last week, and the cover for it is awful." Yes, yes belligerent gamer, I know. Sometimes the old saying is true, and you should take a chance on a game, I just wouldn't recommend it if you're on a tight budget. However, if you're really interested in owning this game, then you could always try the next step...

Ask a friend.

A good friend (or sibling) is invaluable when shopping for video games. Nine times out of ten, they have at least heard of the game in question and can give you advice on it. There have been numerous times that I've been tempted to buy a horrendous game (Rugby 08), and on the advice of my friend, I've put it down. Conversely, there have been numerous times that I've been pleasantly surprised by a game my friend advised me to purchase (Sly Cooper). Listen to your friends, they're an important financial asset, especially when they own the game in question, thereby allowing you to borrow it and not waste your precious cash (Persona 3 FES, I'm looking at you.)

Use that phone/iPod of yours and check online reviews.

Online reviews are an easy way to judge the quality of the game you're about to purchase. Did it get only 1.0 on IGN.com? Did GameInformer give it a 2.5 and a scathing review? Reading the reactions of other people is a great way to get a feel for the audience the game is intended for, and it's relative value. If you're looking at a ten dollar two star game, then it would be appropriate to feel hesitant about forking over the cash. Meanwhile, if it's a 10.0 game and thirty-five dollars, then there might be a reason why the game's not in the bargain bin, even if it is several years old (oh Persona 3, why must you be so good?Why are you still priced at thirty dollars?)

Look at the people around you.

Do they look disgusted when you pick up the game? Are the sales clerks snickering behind the desk? Usually when these things happen, it's a sign that the game that you're about to buy is horrible. As a female gamer, I can confidently say that I get judged rather harshly on the material that I bring to the checkout. Recently, when I purchased used copies of God of War and Viewtiful Joe, the clerk was shocked at my choices. Why? Simple, he never expected a female gamer to buy these sort of games. Does that mean that they're bad games? Of course not. When you're looking at the people around you, it is important to keep their expressions in context. The look that the clerk gave me was a mix of shock/appreciation/respect not of mild disgust/bewilderment. Now, if I'd instead brought up Barbie's Make Over Salon (is that a game? I hope to God it isn't) the latter look would have been more appropriate. I would advise to use this method only as a last resort (especially if the only person around you is a parent, since most of them give horrible gaming advice.)

How do you guys determine which games to buy with your hard earned cash? Do you have a tired and true system? Be sure to let me know!