B: We’re all gamers here, we’re all used to representing concepts as numerical models and converting values within that model. If we’re trying to cut down on one form of currency (cold, hard cash), we need to make up for it in other ways. One, of course, is time: if we go bargain hunting or waiting for something to go on sale, we’re exchanging time that we could be playing (or at least owning the game) for a lower financial cost. I know last time we talked about the dangers of impulse spending during large sale events, but here I mean something more strategic: carefully planning of what you want to be playing and budgeting the amount you’re willing to spend. Fortunately for us the former is easier now than ever - we can get reviews and actual gameplay footage (or recorded sessions in the case of analog games) easier than ever before. If we find reviewers we can trust (again, an investment of time), we can have an idea of whether something will “click” with us or if we can see ourselves adapting our expectations to the game in question. So, naturally, the whole system is designed to discourage us from this kind of planning. From corporate press release “reviews” to unrepresentative trailer footage (or selective preview images with tabletop RPGs) to, yes, flash sales, there’s a lot of money riding on keeping consumers in the dark until the sale is complete. It’s all designed to hit you on many levels at once, and it takes practice learning to tell good information (and worthwhile sales) from hype and FOMO. But it’s a skill and habit worth forming, especially if you want to limit the risks of buying something blind. There are a number of different services online, like GG.deals and IsThereAnyDeal where you can keep an eye on when things go on sale, how often, and what price ranges you’re likely to see. They’re also a good way to find out about free game giveaways, but remember they too have a cost - usually signing up for some service or marketing list. It’s up to you to decide what tradeoff is worth it. Don’t discount physical games either, if you’re able to play them! The prices may not fluctuate as wildly, but the used market still exists, and, as we discussed last week, there’s an inherent advantage to something that won’t just disappear when a company decides to close its electronic storefront.
There’s another currency we can use, though: social capital. If you’re reading this, you must have a friend group that shares your interest in gaming , and if not… you’d better get on that while you can! When media was primarily physical, it was easy to pass around to all your friends so everybody can get on the same page with what’s cool and good - between books, movies, music, games, and comics, this kind of sharing basically defined my adolescence. And while RPGs are still often the kind of physical books you can loan out, a lot of us have huge PDF libraries. These are remarkably easy to share, but we’re not advocating piracy here - if you like something a friend has copied for you, go buy one of your own. If you can, try to start a list with your friends of the games you have access to - Never Say Dice has been setting one up on Libib with this exact purpose. And what nerd doesn’t love to show off their collection? When it comes to electronic games, sharing isn’t really possible in the same way, but if someone has something you’re curious about, why not arrange a get-together where you can try the game out for yourself? Given how easy it is to withdraw when horrible things are going on, we can all use the interaction, and it can make for a nice break when you’re too burned out to prep an RPG session.
All that aside, you may just be unable to curtail that impulsive purchase. You see a sale, or a game you’ve been dying to try based on reviews or recommendations, and snap up that new experience. Then, the next day, you have that dreaded feeling of buyer’s remorse. You shouldn’t have spent that money. You don’t have time to play the game. Your system doesn’t meet the requirements as much as you hoped. The whole thing is way more complicated than you thought. Someone gifted it to you and you forgot! You've already purchased it in a different format! What are you going to do?!? Well, whatever the reason may be, you may still be in luck. Many places, at least your online digital gaming shops such as Steam and GOG, have some sort of return policy. It will probably fall somewhere between a week and a month, and contain a stipulation like having played for less than a certain amount of time. One might even use this to purchase and try out a game before fully committing, but be careful not to abuse this option. Be sure to read up on the rules of your preferred purchase place (again, another time commitment) and be aware that your mileage may vary. As a followup to Bugy’s comment on reviews, you might also check on your favorite streamer or just on streaming sites in general. While you can’t get an actual "feel" for playing the game, you’ll at least get an idea if the aesthetic and gameplay are really what you’re interested in or not.
B: Finally, if your gaming experiences, digital or analog, tend towards the bigger publishers and franchises, you may want to start exploring in different directions. Even at default prices, indie titles often go for half or even a third of big corporate releases and, as more and more toolsets become available to smaller creators, you might not even be sacrificing slick presentation and features with the indie option. Again, pay out some time and do your homework, but that impulse purchase certainly stings a lot less when you aren't paying the "brand tax." Keep an eye out on bundles, too. While you can easily overdo it and acquire massive libraries you'll never get to, apply the budgetary expectations you would for a single game you're interested in, and think of the additional titles as bonuses. Even the larger itch.io charity bundles will have a few well-known (and thus easily researched) titles along with all the ones that are totally new to you.
And when you do end up paying a bit more than you expected or get a little less than you feel was warranted, try not to beat yourself up! Treat it as a learning experience for your future purchases. After all, we're here to have fun, and guilt over financial irresponsibility doesn't help that in any way. At the very least, make sure to share your feelings with friends and other gamers. Whether we're talking about food banks, game libraries, or volunteering, the only we're going to pull through this is together.
Send questions, comments, and your favorite/most hated knockoff games to neversaydice20@gmail.com or tweet us @neversaydice2.
