What's Your Strategy for Buying Nintendo Games/Physical Games

TheLaserSonic on 13/04/2020 - 00:06

I'm sure everyone knows by now, but in Australia, physical games can be expensive. Doubly so when it's a game by Nintendo, which notoriously stay stuck near full price even years after they've come out.

I used to buy games I wanted at full price, but since becoming an Ozbargainer, I've learnt to try and wait and see if there are ever sales for them. Problem is, lately nothing's really seemed to be happening, and there aren't really any game sales going on, for Nintendo products especially. Anytime something does happen, I always seem to miss it (I missed that $50 Dragon Quest XI S deal on amazon, Grrr…)

So while I cross my fingers hoping more deals come for the games I want (Mostly Dragon quest, Tokyo Mirage Sessions…) I wanted to ask some others about how they go about game buying. I know Amazon is consistently the cheapest choice, but can we do better? Are there certain dates we aught to be looking out for?

Hope to learn something new here!

Gaming Switch Game Video Game

Comments

  • Vivk on 13/04/2020 - 00:23

    https://www.dekudeals.com/
    Have you used Deku Deals before? You can add games you’re after to your Wishlist and it will alert you when it’s on sale, similarly, use camelcamelcamel for Amazon alerts, and you can set a threshold amount for what you’re willing to pay. Or otherwise you can create ozbargain alerts using key terms like Dragon Quest Switch

    • TheLaserSonic on 13/04/2020 - 00:37

      I do use Deku Deals, but it can be a bit intermittent sometimes; it didn't inform me about that aforementioned Amazon price discount, for example.

      I didn't know camelcamelcamel existed, though, so thanks for that.

  • ssquid on 13/04/2020 - 00:24
    +1

    Do you resell them? If not, wait for their digital shop sales and buy Nintendo shop cards when they're reduced. Otherwise… you're going to get a decent price when you resell, so why bother waiting for a bargain?

  • p1 ama on 13/04/2020 - 01:29

    This is something that has conflicted me as well.

    In general, the main benefit of purchasing digital is that I don't have to carry the physical cartridge around and it's far easier to swap games.

    However, physical is generally cheaper, also is resellable later on if I want to sell, and most importantly, unlike with Steam (for example), I don't actually trust that Nintendo will keep their servers around forever. It may well be the case that in 5 or 10 years time, there will no longer be a way to download Switch games. That said, I'm sure that hackers will eventually find a way around that, but that's never certain. Plus physical games look nice on a shelf.

    I really do wish we could go to all digital and have prices be cheaper to reflect the lesser costs involved in distribution, or at least some form of a hybrid between physical and digital where we get some of the benefits of digital with our physical purchases, but it just doesn't seem to be happening any time soon.

    • Hybroid on 13/04/2020 - 01:40

      It definitely makes no sense to pay more for a digital copy than a physical copy delivered to your door. Sales on GOG/Steam make sense for PC but aside from that, will always buy physical copies esp for consoles like PS4/Switch. You keep those forever, don't have to worry about online shop availability as you say and can always resell.

    • FireRunner on 13/04/2020 - 10:20

      I don't actually trust that Nintendo will keep their servers around forever. It may well be the case that in 5 or 10 years time, there will no longer be a way to download Switch games.

      You can still download owned Wii and DSi games from their respective stores (just can't purchase new software). It's over 14 years since the Wii shop opened so I suspect the Switch's will be at least that long. Also the eShop might become a permanent things, it existed on the 3DS and Wii U and likely future consoles so their servers maybe around for a very good while.

  • nandxor on 13/04/2020 - 07:36
    +1

    If the digital version of the game I want is considerably cheaper ( 70% + discount ) than the physical, I'll bite. Otherwise I always buy a physical copy because they hold their value. I recently sold a bunch of switch games for more than I paid for them brand new. Even if you pay full price, you'll likely sell the game for more or close to what you originally paid.

    Retailers such as EB, Ozgameshop and Mightyape occasionally have very good discounts. I don't often see those deals posted here though, so just manually check a few times a week.

  • first in line on 13/04/2020 - 07:45
    +2

    For AAA games I just suck it up and buy it from whatever retail has it lowest on launch, usually around $70. Otherwise, I wait and look for them used at facebook marketplace or gumtree. Can always resell them again once I finish and claim back most of the cost. Nintendo games have high resell value

  • DuckKnight on 13/04/2020 - 08:02

    Tokyo Mirage Sessions is $59 at Catch but requires Club Catch. It's a good deal if you bought the 20% off Catch gift cards.

  • kazuyamishima on 13/04/2020 - 08:12
    +1

    Only Nintendo Games are expensive everywhere, not only in Australia, that’s why I game on PS4.

    But it seems that you’re best option is just wait any sale for Summer/Black Friday/Boxing Day.

    Or just a random sale, aside of that, check the prices of a specific game on the different Nintendo eShop countries.

  • tabz on 13/04/2020 - 09:51

    There's 2 scenarios where I buy games:

    1. For games I want to play straight away, I just find the cheapest price.
    2. If it's a game I will eventually play, I'll buy it when the price is too good to pass up.
  • FireRunner on 13/04/2020 - 10:04

    I can usually find relatively cheap used copies with a little time and patience
    Otherwise, I get it when posted on OzB (usually from Amazon)

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