Where do you guys buy your games?

I'm curious to know where you guys usually buy your new/used games and pre orders?

Physical copies from stores in my area, otherwise through steam.

I buy my games at the same place where they sell them.

I never pre-order, have only bought a few games within weeks of release and get most of my games months and years down the road.

usually, gamestop or a local dealer. I get great deals and great games at great prices.

i'll give one example: I picked up gears2 a few months ago for 2bucks.

why do I have such patience? because I buy games that have hundreds of hours of content and lots of replay value.

and, I realize that i'm not "missing out" on anything by waiting so long.

I try not to show my loyalty to any one store, instead hunting around for the best deals. I very rarely pay full price for a game on day 1.

Over the holidays, Toys R Us ran a deal where you could buy any upcoming or currently released Nintendo game at buy 1 get one 40% off. Yes, you read that correctly, all upcoming games. We went ahead and bought every Nintendo game we wanted until the end of the year. I just hope they run it again when e3 rolls around.

95% of the time, I buy and sell/trade at Gamestop.

I have bought a couple of games at Wal-Mart in the past. Don't really like doing it, but it's there.

I do not go to Gamestop anymore so if I don't buy it on Steam I but it on Amazon. That being said, I haven't spent $60 on a game in many years.

I cannot stand GameStop.

I have been apart of the Gamer's Unlocked program at Best Buy and typically buy my games there.

I have a friend who runs a Gamestop, so I shop at her store. You know, solidarity and whatnot. Plus I live in Fort Worth and Gamestop is essentially a local business here since I could literally drive to their corporate HQ in less than an hour.

That said, I don't particularly care for a lot of the Gamestop model. And I can't say if I'd really even be shopping there if it wasn't in support of a friend. But to her credit, she runs what is widely considered to be one of the -if not THE- best Gamestop in the area. To no big surprise, most of her staff are older and much more knowledgeable than the typical stereotype Gamestop kid on a weekend job. And it helps that they all pretty much know me by name and know that my tastes and preferences are well defined, so there's much less wasted time while an untrained kid tries to tell me I'm wrong for buying a game he doesn't like or that I NEED the latest JRPG or MMO (or any other genre than I just don't play).

Of course if my friend ever leaves Gamestop, I'll likely never go there again. There's a Game Exchange that's actually closer to my house if I want any used games and I'd happily go digital for new releases once both of the new gen systems have external HDD support.

EDIT-Forgot to mention: I buy my PC games from Steam, natch. But also I pick up an occasional Humble Bundle and watch GOG and GMG for deals on stuff I'm interested in but don't want at full price. :)

For my PC games, I buy almost exclusively through Steam.

I buy my 3DS games on Amazon.

For each game, I'll go to the store that has the lowest price.

Just about every PC game comes from Steam or one of the other online stores that sell Steam keys (amazon.com, GreenManGaming). Physical games usually come from Best Buy.

I always troll the slick deals forums and the CAG forums for sales. Usually, the vast majority of my PC purchases come from Green Man Gaming (a UK based digital retailer) because they often have 20-30% off vouchers that stack with publisher driven sale prices for prices less than you'll ever see on Steam. And for those claiming other sites have better deals, I wouldn't deal with russian based resellers because of the risk of Steam deciding your key was compromised or not for use in the NA region (rare, but it happens).

That said, I often buy from Amazon when they have great deals for PC (and often times the best deals, Tony, their rep gets some great prices for promotions), and purchase the majority of my console games from Amazon or sometimes Newegg, whichever has the best price at the time I'm currently looking.

Amazon, get with the times people

Steam.

I know, I know, it's dangerous to go fully digital. I'll deal with the potential consequences.

I've never understood the mentality of people who dislike gamestop. there are more than enough other places to buy games and nobody forces one to buy super cheap used games or sell/trade their games in for a ridiculously low return.

what about gamestop am I missing, since, any rationale where I can point the finger back squarely at the chest of the consumer doesn't fly.

Gamefly, Steam, Humble, Groupees, Indiegamestand, and a shit ton of bundle sites. All Digital. Only thing i buy retail is collectors editions and they are usually either Amazon or another online retailer or a local Pc world or Dixons.

As a game i have so many options its insane.

90% of the time, I pick up a PC game retail whether it's at Best Buy, Target, WalMart, military exchange, or even Staples. The other 10% I download from Steam and others.

I got most of my PS3 games from Gamestop.

Edit:

One good thing about buying games at a military exchange is 10% off outside price and no tax. The bad thing is they run out of stock pretty fast.

PC games i usually get from Steam and GreenManGaming.. physical copies i just go to Gamestop because Amazon always delivers late as hell on release days

Wal Mart, Amazon, Gamefly, Glyde and Gamestop.

What is Glyde?

An online store that allows people to buy and sell games/electronics. Glyde.com has really come in handy for me from time to time.

My dislike is not based off of solid evidence just a general distaste for their business model. It bothers me that 99% of the time you can buy a new game cheaper on Amazon then a used game at GameStop. So many of my friends just shop at GameStop for no reason (I often ask them why they shop at GameStop). I buy from Best Buy because of the Reward Zone points and the bonus preorder $10-20 certificates and now Unlocked makes literally ANY new game 20% off. Best Buy rewards loyalty and while they seem to have copied GameStop's cheap-buy-ultra-low-sell-ultra-high used game practices I avoid used games generally anyways and sell any unwanted games on Amazon.

Usually at my local BB. Their prices are not all that bad, on new and used. I can also window shop other goods. Haven't bought a game in a long time though. I have been utilizing the public libraries near me. There are two cities that offer game borrowing, no card fee either. PS+ will get my money when I'm finished with the library offerings and my collection. Can't wait to access the instant library. I'm sure it'll be well worth the price.

I usually check eBay and Amazon for the best prices unless somewhere else is having a sale.

I buy 95% of my games from Amazon. Only time I won't is if they don't have it or a retailer has it on sale. Amazon usually price matches most retailers though. I have Prime, so getting most games on release date without having to pay shipping or upfront sales tax is a major plus.

I buy most of my games from g2a.com they have the best prices for the most part, and you receive the games very fast! Check out the site if you're interested :) https://www.g2a.com/r/thetacomaking

Oh and PM me if you want a 5% discount code!

GameStop usually *runs before someone mauls me*.

Usually EB Games here in Aus.

Wherever I can get it the cheapest, which 90% of the time is on Amazon.

Either Future Shop or Wal-mart.

For a while I used to import from around the world, but I eventually got sick of wait times and certain DLCs not working right. I used to order online from either JB Hifi or EB Games. Since I need an excuse to get out the house, I now buy my games from EB Games when I can or if the price is right. I should really start shopping at JB Hifi more often though.

I pretty much exclusively shop at steam.

I'm pretty much all Steam, digital e-shops or Amazon at the moment. Though some friends and I will swap PS3/3DS games.

Amazon UK

When I want to get a new copy, its usually from Bestbuy, Amazon or other similar stores. For PC I buy it from Steam or Origin if its exclusive to them. For used games I go to Gamestop, because Gamestop only sells used games, even the unsealed ones that they try to sell you as new.

Mostly steam or my local game store.

The only thing that pisses me off about gamestop is when they ask " would you like to guarantee your game for 3 dollars for the year?"

I mean I have been buying games there since there for about 10 years and not once did I have to bring back a game. I know there only doing there job though.

But when im buying a used game for 8-10 dollars, don't ask me that question lol.

Steam, GOG, or random stores in around my area

@marcheegsr: They get a lot of gifters with the practice. I always tell people looking for games to gift me that I don't need the warranty. Just look at the disc, if it's good, then there's no need.

Ebay usually.

Usually, Amazon or eBay. I like my games NEW.

Brick and Mortar:

• Best Buy, ONLY if there's a good sale on certain games that I'm interested in
• Gamestop, very rarely. I haven't been there for a year. I don't like how "new" games are kept in plastic covers and the price sticker is on the plastic disc case in front.

@VERTIGO47: Have you tried asking(GS) if you could have a factory sealed copy? Whenever I've purchased new games from them, they've been good enough to oblige me, most times. The occasions they haven't, I go elsewhere.

Amazon, Greenmangaming, and sometimes through Steam.

It depends on the situation, sometimes I go to gamestop or I'll buy them directly from the PSN or XBL.

Oh yeah, this is the other reason I never shop at GameStop.

Target or Best Buy are the first places I check (they sometimes take awhile to get a game in on the shelf though), and on occasion I'll buy new games from Amazon or Gamestop. If I happen to be in the mall, then it's quite likely that I will eventually wander into Gamestop and buy a used game on a whim.

Typically amazon. Sometimes at gamestop or vintage stock when there are sales.

I buy my games at gamestop.