Playing Games Kinda Saves Money

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The crisis's getting at us and so we can't really afford the same kind of summer holidays as before. Sigh. At least we have games. On the other hand, if you compare the cost of gaming and some other hobbies, you'll probably see gaming isn't that bad. So here's a snip:

GRAPEVINE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Although many families plan to continue watching their budgets this summer, family fun still remains a top priority, according to a survey commissioned by GameStop (NYSE: GME), the world’s largest retailer of video games and systems, and conducted by Harris Interactive®. Four in five American families are planning to scale back on summer leisure activities, but parents confirmed that quality time together will play a major role in their decisions on how to wisely spend their dollars.

Read the rest at Businesswire and thanks to Joystiq for the lead.

 

It's so true. Compare the cost of gaming and the hours of entertainment you receive from it against the cost of going to the movies, eating out, taking trips etc. and it's not hard to see that staying home and gaming it up saves money in the long run. Your social life might suffer a bit, but hey.

If classics from years ago are still played (I religiously break out the BG and Fallout series annually), that's an even further way to stretch your cash.

 

I have to say I agree. Barhopping, while occasionally fun, can cost you $20-30 easy, just for yourself, in a single night. Add to that the general purpose of barhopping for most guys - meeting girls - and you have to factor in the cost of buying chicks drinks (easily doubling that figure). $40-60 bucks nets you a single new-release game or a pile of classics you've yet to play, which you'll get countless hours out of for years to come...or, a dizzy, fleeting and ultimately disappointing evening*. It's no contest, if you ask me. I still love going out with friends occasionally, but in a general sense, there's no question which saves you more money in a purely [$$/minute of fun] equation.

Now depending on your current social circumstance, barhopping may be the better option. In my case, I've been with the same girl for 7 years (who doesn't drink) and we're getting married next month, so "picking up chicks" has been off my radar for pretty much as long as I've been gaming seriously. Gaming is far cheaper (PC hardware upgrades included) and often, far more interesting.

* Unless you get lucky that night.

 

I still have a game I bought for 47p to play through

 

Did you forget petrol or is it cheap over there?

 

Well, cheaper than Europe, for sure – but yeah. There's also food, billiards or darts (if you play), cover charges depending on the bar...yeah, it adds up.

Gaming is the...economical choice. And far less likely to give you crabs!