When it comes to buying or bidding on games, there are many factors involved in the process. This guide will be suggestions and tips in your next purchase of a video game or accessory.

Games:

Whatever the games, PC or console, there are certain factors that affect the price of that product.

Many people have heard about the "gold" or extra versions of games, containing manuals and other tidbits in helping and enhancing the gaming experience. Take for example the game Half Life 2. There is the regular version of the game, and then there is the version with the guide and also other things such as posters and lots and lots of small cards with information on suscribing to certain magazines or investing in a high tech keyboard. I suggest this:

1.  Check the contents of these certain packages, and see if they suit you. For example, if you've been dying to get some kind of poster to decorate that bare wall in your room and you love Half Life, all the extras would be perfect, complete with the guide.
2. Although playing with the guide and all the other accessories isn't needed, many people buy the guide so they can skim through the game and enjoy the various aspects of the game. For example, one might want to enjoy the graphics and plot line of the story instead of encountering surprises and puzzles that take forever.

Another suggestion when buying games..

CONSIDER BUYING BUNDLE PACKS

Bundle packages are great ways to get all the nesessary equipment to start gaming. If a bundle doesn't contain the things that you want, search. There are various people popping up every minute or so wanting to sell some games.

Starcraft bundle: Estimated price around $20-$25

vs.

Separate games: Starcraft + Expansion(Broodwar) + Separate Guides = Over $30

If ebay doesn't suit you...I would recommend going to a bulk store (Costco) since they sell great bundle packs.

A warning:

Just because the price is low doesn't mean it will be in top notch condition.

For example, from a story i heard of. A lady was bidding on a Xbox 360, and won the bid. She received the Xbox in the mail...but guess what. Where was the Xbox? She only got the box. Be aware of the person that you are getting your item from. In ebay for example, the ratings are important in ensuring your product's quality.

Accessories:

With games...come accessories.

For example, we have memory cards, controllers, etc.

When i mean etc., I mean for people who play games such as DDR or use the virtual guns.

Issue on DDR:

With the purchase of DDR, there is a must for the dance pads. If you are a person who likes to invite people over often, i suggest buying two pads. As on the subject of pad quality, there are many different types. There are the regular cloth ones and then the realistic metal stands. I have even seen ones with the metal bars for support. If you are a person regularly on the go and taking your games with you, definetly take the more portable and lighter cloth pads. If you are a stationary type of person, who loves similarities between console games and arcade games, take the metal pads.

PROS AND CONS

Cloth Pads

- They are highly portable and extremly light to carry around

- If not wearing socks, the pad will most likely stick to your feet. Plus, these pads can easily rip and shift around a lot during play.

Metal Pads

- Amazingly realistic and sturdy. Adds a authentic DDR touch to the game.

- Heavy and bulky. Although sturdy, when they do break, they are such a pain to repair. Some parts of the pads are really weak, such as the bars which are to imitate the bars in aracade games.

THE METAL PADS

THE CLOTH PADS

Tired of Lame and random mixes of DDR?

I've had the joyful experiences of getting a DDR game only to be dissapointed by the various songs that kill the whole point of DDR. If you are looking for a good DDR game in get, I suggest for the PS2 users to purchase DDR MAX and if possible DDR EXTREME 8TH MIX (this is kind of hard to find..but its the best version there is. exactly like the ones at arcades). DO NOT GET DDR EXTREME. it is one of those mixes of songs that contain about only 60 songs..but out of those 60, only about 4 of them are good (like tsugaru and paranoia evil). the rest is junk. i have a little experience with the Xbox versions of DDR and actually think that all versions of the DDR Ultramixes are decent. 

All price infos in this guide had been averaged from outside sources and calculated from different retail stores.

I have had much experience in purchasing various games and accessories...but little experiences making these guides..mines seems so small and insignificant compared to the others...so sorry. 

I thank you for reading this guide. I hope that this small can help you make your next purchase.