Gaming in the Recession

AveryZoe

May 22, 2010

We've been informed a few times now by various government bodies that the recession is now over. However, I would imagine that the millions of Americans who are without jobs, or facing foreclosure, or both would somewhat disagree. Recessions are just a tad depressing, and not being able to afford going out to eat or to a show just makes a bad situation worse. When money is tight, entertainment is usually the first thing to get the axe. You may even be eyeing your console right now as you read this article, and thinking to yourself "Hmm. I bet they'll give me $50 for that at the Pawn 'n Go. Whoohoo, sOmEbOdY's getting new socks!"

recessionSide (13K) Now, I agree that socks are important, but don't pack up your games just yet. You, my friend, need an escape--and what better escape than shooting bad guys and searching for treasure? Besides, it's almost summer--you won't need socks for months yet, and if global warming heats up you'll be wearing sandals indefinitely. That's called looking on the bright side, and that's what we need to do when times are tough. That can be tough to do when you're dealing with hard times, but gaming gives us an escape, something to do that's engaging, fun, and isn't likely to fire our asses (unless you're playing a FPS, in which case--fire away!).

Entertainment is important, but how to afford it in these tough times? Even people who haven't lost their jobs are super-cautious right now, and spending upwards of $60 on a single title seems like the height of foolishness. But it doesn't have to be that way. If you know the right ways to work the system, gaming can give you countless hours of entertainment for very little cash. Lucky for you, I'm going to tell you how.

One of the best ways to get more bang for your gaming buck is trading. Gather up all those old games you haven't played in years, and get ready to turn them into hours of entertainment. (Could I possibly say "hours of entertainment" more in this article--stay tuned!) I am quite partial to trading on Goozex. Simply list all the games you haven't played in years and the condition they are in (full retail package, disc & manual, or disc only). Other traders will request the games they want, and you will ship your game directly to them, earning points that can then be used to buy the games that you want. Shipping is generally around $2-$3 (even to Canada), and the community is quite helpful to those who have questions. If you are interested in direct trading (I'll give you my Barbie Island Princess for your Pretty, Pretty Ponies), there are quite a few sites for that as well. I can personally recommend Swaptree. The model is similar--simply list the items you have and the ones you want, and they will set up a trade for you. The benefit there is that you can also list your DVDs, CDs, and books. The downside though, is that there is little protection against scammers. You can also check out GameTZ, Cheapassgamer, and Playswap. The best part about trading your games? When you solve a game, simply trade it out for another game.

If you need instant gratification (and who doesn't?), then free online gaming is just the thing for you. What a coincidence! GoozerNation happens to be launching Freebie Fridays, which will review a different free online game each friday--and they're free. Did I mention free? There are tons of games out there for every interest, and all available for the stellar price of some annoying ads off to the side. Of course, there are also many subscription-based games, but if you find one you like, there is likely to be a free version of it out there somewhere. There are even games for the kids, as nearly every children's network has a web site with free games for kids.

So what are you waiting for? We are suffering from high unemployment, rampant foreclosures, a global recession, and I just heard Law & Order was canceled. We need entertainment--STAT. Close the shades, turn on the high-priced electronics, and assume the position (controller in hand, butt in chair.) You've got escaping to do, and nobody's going to do it for you. (Unless you're paying, in which case--what kind of benefits are we talking about?)

Discuss in the forum.