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    Where the Hell Were YOU? - Black Friday Edition

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    Marino

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    Edited By Marino  Staff

    It's Black Friday week!  Are you excited?  No?  Kinda jaded about the whole deal?  Yeah, me too.  I've worked retail for five of those insane days, mostly for Software Etc./Babbage's/GameStop, but also one year (2005) for Best Buy where I came into work at 2 AM and left at 3 PM.  The manager told us that year that each parking space was worth roughly $1000 per hour, then requested that we all park across the street in Target's parking lot.  Every year there's some crazy-ass deals and limited edition stuff that forces people journey into the cold darkness to stand in lines for hours.  I've done it myself a few times for some particular gaming related items, but never big stuff like TV's or computers.


    GBA SP - Gold
    GBA SP - Gold
    The first time I remember standing in line was in 2003 at the local Toys R Us, which has since been closed.  It was actually raining that morning as well, but I was there for when the doors opened at 6 AM.  Why?  For a limited edition gold Game Boy Advance SP.  Why would I do this when I already owned a red one?  Because I'm whore for special edition stuff I guess.  The gold GBA SP also came with a copy of Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, so I can somehow use that $30 "saved" as justification for buying the SP, right?  Right?!  Anyway, the actual experience in the Toys R Us was pretty weird.  Apparently I was the only person going there for just one thing.  So after I raced to the games section and picked up the box, there was literally no one waiting to get checked out.  I looked at the eight or so cashiers, turned around and went to the Lord of the Rings action figures and grabbed a few, and THEN checked out.


    GBA SP - Pearl
    GBA SP - Pearl
    In 2004, I fell into the same exact trap, just in a different location.  I picked up a "pearl white" GBA SP at the local Circuit City, which as since been closed.  Are we seeing a trend here?  I helped justify the purchase once again with a game that was included with the limited edition SP.  This time it was Metroid Fusion.  The experience wasn't as smooth as Toys R Us though, because Circuit City didn't actually put these out on the shelves.  You had to stand in line to check out with nothing in your possession, then tell them what you wanted to have them go get it.  And of course there was a problem with the receipt machine.  And then the person at the register had no idea what I was talking about, even though the guys in the game section did.  I ended up being five minutes late for my shift at GameStop, using the old "traffic" excuse to difuse the heat from my manager.


    Nintendo DS Lite - Limited Edition Triforce Gold
    Nintendo DS Lite - Limited Edition Triforce Gold
    I don't think I participated in 2005 since I had just dropped $400 on an Xbox 360.  I skipped 2006 as well since I had just started a new job and was pretty broke after being unemployed for several months.  But, in 2007, I braved the dark, cold morning with the masses once again.  This time it was at Sears.  Why?  Do you really have to ask?  It was for a limited edition "Triforce Gold" DS Lite of course.  It came with Phantom Hourglass, but I already had the game, so I can't even try to justify it with that like the other two.  I traded that for a little store credit, but I won't argue that I've got problems.  After I grabbed the box, I spent a few minutes looking around their small games area and spotted Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix for $15 and grabbed that as well.  Is that game pretty rare?  It seems like it, along with the dance mat, would be.


    In 2008 and 2009, I think I picked up a few games on Amazon's deals.  Nothing special.  Just stuff for the collection that was undeniably cheap.  I've come to the conclusion that this is the method to correctly go about this Black Friday madness.  Don't get trampled.  Don't wake up at 2 AM after eating six pounds of cranberry sauce the day before.  Just follow AmazonGames and CheapAssGamer on twitter, and veg out on the couch in your footy pajamas and have some cheap games sent to you.


    So, I ask... Where the hell were YOU during Black Fridays of the past?
     


    Black Friday 2010

    If you're not a visitor of CheapAssGamer.com, then you probably should be.  Whether you're a fan of CheapyD and hte CAGcast or not, there's really no better place for keeping track of game deals than CAG.  You really don't even have to go to the site.  Make it easy for yourself and just follow @videogamedeals or @ukgamedeals on Twitter.  You can even send a message to either one with the name of the game and on what system you want it, and within 30 seconds, it will tell where you can find it cheapest, the price, and a link for other locations and prices.  Anyway, here's some console/system highlights I picked out from this year's known deals.  For a full list of deals, check out http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274829 
     
    **** Please check the official ads before going to a store based on the info below. ****
     

    PlayStation 3 Deals  

     
    HDDIncludesPriceStore
    160 GB Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, LittleBigPlanet GOTY, Tron: Evolution, Karate Kid Blu-ray $299.99 Dell.com
    160 GBLittleBigPlanet GOTY, Mod Nation Racers, Cars Blu-ray $299.99 Best Buy 
    160 GB God of War III, God of War Collection $299.99 GameStop 
    160 GBUncharted 2: Among Thieves, Karate Kid Blu-ray, PixelJunk Shooter, $25 Gift Card $299.99 Kmart 
    160 GBStar Wars: The Force Unleashed II, Prince of Persia Blu-ray $299.99 Target 
    160 GBUncharted 2: Among Thieves, Medal of Honor $299.99 Walmart 

     

    Xbox 360 Deals

     
    HDDIncludeesPriceStore
    4 GBLEGO Batman, LEGO Indiana Jones, LEGO Star Wars Complete Saga $199.99 Best Buy 
    4 GB Madden NFL 11 --OR-- Medal of Honor$199.99 GameStop 
    4 GBCall of Duty: Black Ops $199.99 Kmart 
    4 GBHalo Reach $199.99 Sears 
    4 GBModern Warfare 2, Mass Effect 2 $199.99 Walmart 
    250 GBRed Dead Redemption, Forza 3, Alan Wake $349.99 Sam's Club 

     

    Wii Deals

     
    ColorIncludesPriceStore
    BlackWii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, Just Dance $199.99 GameStop 
    BlackExtra Wii Remote, 2 Wii Wheels, Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, Mario Kart Wii, 25th Anniversary Mario Bag $299.99 Sam's Club 
    BlackWii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, Motion Plus $189.99 Sears 
    RedExtra Wii Remote (Black), Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Disney Epic Mickey $249.99 Walmart.com
     
     

    Nintendo DSi Deals

     
    ColorIncludesPriceStore
    Green or RedMario Party $149.99 Best Buy 
    Green or RedMario Party, $25 Gift Card $149.99 Kmart 
     Green or RedMario Party, Fossil Fighters --OR-- Legendary Starfy $149.99 GameStop 
     
     

    PSP Deals 

     
    ModelIncludesPriceStore
    PSP 3000LittleBigPlanet, Karate Kid UMD, 1GB MemoryStick, $15 Gift Card $129.99 Kmart, RadioShack, Target 
     
     

    Rock Band Deals 

     
    DealPriceStore
    Rock Band 3 w/Wireless Fender Mustang Pro Guitar$149.99 Dell.com 
    The Beatles: Rock Band Bundle$99.99 GameStop 
    The Beatles: Rock Band$14.99 GameStop, Kmart 
    Rock Band 2$9.99 Kmart 
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    MooseyMcMan

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    #2  Edited By MooseyMcMan

    You know, my PS3 has been acting up lately, but I'd rather see if I can get it fixed instead of having to buy a new one. Also, $3 hundo is a lot, especially since the only one of those bundles that interests me is the one at Target (because I already have the other games there that are good (and I did like the Prince of Persia movie)), but I also don't know where a Target is near my house. 
     
    In other words, it's neat that you put all this info out there, but after Black Friday-ing last year (which got me a free copy of Assassin's Creed II when I bought a PSP), I really don't want to this year. 

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    Diamond

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    #3  Edited By Diamond

    I never went out shopping or worked in retail during Black Friday.
     
    But I do know exactly 5 years ago I was playing PGR3, PDZ, Kameo, and COD2 for the first times on my brand new Xbox 360.
     
    late November is usually a pretty nondescript time for me.

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    JJWeatherman

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    #4  Edited By JJWeatherman

    Maybe I'll pick up Beatles Rock Band for 15. 
     
    About where I've been the past Black Fridays though: At home, sleeping. Never been out shopping on Friday. Definitely plan to go this year though. I want to get Mass Effect 2, NBA 2K11, and maybe Beatles RB.

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    sweep

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    #5  Edited By sweep  Moderator

    I assume Black Friday is some kind of week of sales in America, linked somehow with Thanksgiving? 
     
    Do you have enough public holidays over there? Do you have any days that aren't public holidays?

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    #6  Edited By erinfizz

    I don't think any video game deals are really worth the effort for me this year. There's always one or two things I would like from the Wal Mart or Target ads, but it's rarely worth the bother. 
     
    I am still scarred from my 2000 stint at Toys R Us. Got there at 5, handed out Pop Tarts to the folks in line, then stood at my register for 7 hours straight with a line that went all the way to the back of the store the whole time. I did try to look on the bright side; that at least I didn't have to close and clean up after that!

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    Marino

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    #7  Edited By Marino  Staff
    @Sweep: Haters Gonna Hate! 
     
    Seriously though, yeah, it's related to Thanksgiving somewhat.  Basically here the Friday after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year.  It's called "black" because the businesses get out of the red for the year due to one massive day of people shopping for Christmas.
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    cstrang

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    #8  Edited By cstrang

    Sick guide, dude.  A service to the community your are.

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    Idiotchild

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    #9  Edited By Idiotchild

    It's better knowing I find.

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    nintendoeats

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    #10  Edited By nintendoeats

    I want that goddam Fender with RB3. I don't have 150 bucks. Argh.
     
    EDIT: scratch that, its not the real one. Hell of a deal, but I didn't spend 6 years playing guitar every day to use a goddam MIDI instrument.

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    Hailinel

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    #11  Edited By Hailinel

    I'll be visiting my parents when Black Friday comes and goes.  No braving stampedes for me this year.

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    ch13696

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    #12  Edited By ch13696

    I'm not seeing much deals that I would be into. Except for the Greatest Hits that Gamestop is offering for $15. I might just pick up the 4 games: Infamous, Killzone 2, Ratchet and Clank A Crack In Time, and Uncharted. I had to sell those games to get money for trucking school. Now, 4 games for the price of 1 new one seems pretty good. Unless someone wants to sell me those 4 for less.

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    Sooperspy

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    #13  Edited By Sooperspy

    I'm probably going to a comic shop for Black Friday.

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    JJWeatherman

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    #14  Edited By JJWeatherman
    @cstrang said:
    " Sick guide, dude.  A service to the community your are. "
    You should keep an eye on this one.
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    Marino

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    #15  Edited By Marino  Staff
    @erinfizz You can't beat cold Pop Tarts. I never had to stay til closing either. I always would rather get in early and get it over with. As crazy as Best Buy was that year, it was kinda fun in a weird way. The twelve hours flew by.
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    tobygw

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    #16  Edited By tobygw
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    #17  Edited By Marino  Staff
    @tobygw: I think I'll pass on those.  The DSi's aren't as cheap as SP's were.  Plus I can't see myself ever wanting to play Mario Party.  Don't worry though.  I'm still continuing the tradition of buying handhelds I don't need by getting the 25th Anniversary Mario DSi XL.  I don't have an XL model yet for the collection.  That will be my fifth DS.
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    #18  Edited By Penelope

    Holy shit!
     
    In 2003 I bought that same gold SP with Super Mario Advance 4 at Best Buy on Black Friday!
     
    Small world comrade.

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