Game Purchase Priorities (Or are Gamers Broke?)

[JoeGKushner]

One of the things I was thinking about in terms of products selling, is that perhaps they're just getting too expensive for casual purchase. Now I'm 33, make okay money, but find that as I get older, my priorites have moved around a bit. Most of the books out now are $25-$40 per shot. (A few are more and some less.)

Despite being a reviewer, there are books I'd love to buy. Some have nothing to do with d20, like Exalted, and others are in the d20 family from companies that don't send review products to me.

Now in the past, I spent $100 or more a month, but as I've grown to enjoy my X-Box more, and the classic or platinum line of games continues to come up (Heck, Knights of the Old Republic for $14.99 this week!), I find myself going, "Well, I really don't need that book."

Anyone else have that feeling?

 

[MonsterMash]

Got to admit my finances are not as good as they were, but hopefull things are on the upturn. I've got to admit there is just so much product I'm really being tight on only buying that stuff I'll use - so I'm waiting for the City State of the Invincible Overlord and Wilderlands Boxed set from Necromancer/Judges Guild. I'll probably pick up some of the Goodman Games Dungeon Crawl Classics as they are interesting and cheap, but not a lot else apart from the new ENWorld magazine.

 

[Crothian]

There's also the fact that the more books I buy the less books I need to get. I've already supassed the point of getting books for use. But still how many book on the same old topic does one need? Gen Con I bought a few things but over half of them were heavily discounted. Money is a factor but so is topic and playibility.

 

[spectre72]

I personally have to say that Game related purchases have been limited because of the increased cost of heat, lights, food, ...etc.

There is a ton of stuff that I would love to purchase, but the increase in the cost of living in the Northeast US has far outdistanced the raises I have gotten over the last 2 years.

So gaiming purchases have been reduced...

Simple fact of life

 

[kolikeos]

i find the d20 products extremly expensive, that is why i have only a few books and so many, unpaid for, pdfs. :\

 

[Desdichado]

KOTOR for xbox for $14.99? Really?!

Anyway, my gaming budget is a bit on the smaller side recently, due to other priorities. Crothian also hit on a big part of it; the more I have, the less I need. At any given time, there can't possibly more than half a dozen or so that I'm interested in anymore on the horizon.

 

[Treebore]

Price is definitely a factor. Like I haven't bought Kenzers Goods and Gear book because of price. When it shows up at Overstock for 40% off I'll get it.

But I buy Necromancer's stuff as soon as it comes out and only at a 20% discount. I ma planning on buying a couple copies of the JG boxed sets when Necro puts them out, but I will risk getting them later at around 40% discounts.

It just depends on how much I think I am likely to use the product, or at least enjoy reading it, as to whether or not I will buy it. Financial situation at the time definitely have an impact as well.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

I used to spend upwards of $100 a month (sometimes closer to $200) on gaming stuff, but lately my spending has trickled off. Some of it I can attribute to being an ENnies judge, but alot of it is just that instead of buying everything I think I want, I spend more time looking at what I'll use then deciding what to buy. There are a few publsihers that I'll buy most everythign they put out (Necromancer and Goodman Games to name two), but I'm finding that I'm actually spending more on other things-card games and board games to play with my wife, Lego sets, and stuff for around the house. I have been holding down a second job for years, and that has always been my extra spending money, but I'm getting ready to give my 2 weeks notice for two reasons-I really don't need to spend that much $ on stuff, and I'd like to have more time to use the stuff that I have already bought.

 

[drothgery]

I've been buying far fewer books lately (meaning maybe one book a month instead of two or three) because I'm beginning to realize that I've got a ton of stuff that I'll never use in a game already. I'm not the DM in the tabletop game I play in, and the PbP game I run is a d20 Wheel of Time game (so there just isn't anything to buy there), so the utility of stuff I pick up is kind of limited. Meaning that I'll buy a campaign setting or an OGL game if it interests me (like Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed, or Green Ronin's Black Company), but I'm not going to pick up follow-un stuff anymore if I don't have any expectations of playing the game.

It's certainly not for lack of funds; I mean, I just bought a $300 digital camera I didn't need.

 

[Psion]

We had our basement framed recently and we are now strapped for cash. I'll be lucky if I can sneak in any purposes. And I was going to pick up Cosmographer. It'll have to wait.

Even once we recover from that, I don't forsee spending more that $100 a month.

I used to buy more casually. Nowadays, if I don't see using it, I don't see buying it. That's why my Scarred Lands purchases slacked off. That's why (after three mediocre WotC books) I don't see picking up races of stone.