Gather ’round as we prepare for what could very well be the last day on earth. A Friday unlike any other. Prices slashed, bundles created, the official week that launches the official Christmas music hammer. The music has started, the sales are in motion, wallets thirst to spend. Clothing, furniture, TVs and toys. As a wise man once proclaimed: I think it’s time we focus on what matters, the gaming.
Black Friday is coming, and apologies to Lord Stark, but it is worse than winter. Major retailers have decided to open early: midnight shoppers can enjoy Target, Best Buy, and GameStop. Pre-game your midnight deals with Toys R Us 9pm or Walmart’s 10 pm openings. Luckily there aren’t any new systems arriving that everyone will need to get their hands on, so while people head for the big doorbusters you can slip into the gaming section and grab what you need unbothered.
If you prefer a more digital approach to being frugal, Steam has started their Autumn Sale. Hundreds of deals coming your way with new deals daily. The Autumn Sale ends on the 27th. Amazon is currently offering lightning deals through Black Friday, but I would imagine you would want to save your Amazon money for Cyber Monday.
Here comes the physical store rundown.
Target
Doorbusters:
4GB XB360 Slim for $139.99
PS3 160GB Bundle with Ratchet & Clank and Little Big Planet 2 GOTY for $199.99
Gaming controllers Wii, XBox and PS3 for $39 (I believe that this price can be beat online.)
Sales:
Xbox Kinect Sensor includes Kinect Adventures, The Gunstringer, Fruit Ninja Kinect and a bonus: Wipeout 2 for $99.99
Flame Red Nintendo 3DS bundle with Super Mario 3D Land for $179.99
Games for $27, featured: Dance Central 2 and Forza 4 and more.
Games for $37, featured: Battlefield 3, Resistance 3, Gears of War 3, Need For Speed: The Run and more.
There are games under available for under $15 as well, but that is a journey filled with iCarly and Spongebob.
Best Buy
Games for $34.99, includes: Assassin’s Creed Revelations, Forza 4, NBA 2K12
Games for $29.99, includes: Batman: Arkham City, Uncharted 3, Battlefield 3, Need For Speed: The Run.
Games for $24.99, includes: Just Dance 3, Dance Central 2, UFC Trainer.
Games for $14.99, includes: Dirt 3, Final Fantasy XIII, Spider-Man: Edge of Time.
PS3 160GB Bundle with Ratchet & Clank and Little Big Planet 2 GOTY for $199.99
XB360 250GB Slim Bundle with Fable III, Halo Reach, 3 month Gold membership and a wired headset for $199.99
Xbox Kinect Sensor includes Kinect Adventures, The Gunstringer, Fruit Ninja Kinect for $99.99
Flame Red Nintendo 3DS bundle with Super Mario 3D Land or Comso Black Nintendo 3DS with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D for $179.99
PS3 Move: motion controller for $24.99, navigation controller for $14.99 and charging station for $14.99.
From the looks of the ad, more games will be added to Bestbuy.com. However that link is not live yet, so just check the main website.
GameStop
Fortunately, this year you’ll be able to avoid these overpopulated small stores. Their “deals” are laughable. Games and systems that were listed above are at least $10 more at GameStop. Thinking about trading stuff in? Best Buy does that and you’ll be able to spend those trade dollars anywhere in the store.
Toys R Us
Buy 1, get 1 free on select DS and Wii games.
Buy 1, get 1 for $5: includes Sims 3 Pets, Battlefield 3, RAGE, Dance Central 2, Gears of War 3, NASCAR Unlimited, God of War III.
4GB XB360 Slim for $139.99
PS3 160GB Bundle with Ratchet & Clank and Little Big Planet 2 GOTY for $199.99
Xbox Kinect Sensor includes Kinect Adventures, The Gunstringer, Fruit Ninja Kinect for $99.99
Flame Red Nintendo 3DS bundle with Super Mario 3D Land for $189.99
Sears
Their honorable mention is that they have the PS3 Wireless Headset available for $79.99.
Walmart
A limited edition blue Wii! Only $99.96.
Xbox Kinect Sensor including Kinect Adventures, The Gunstringer, Fruit Ninja Kinect for $99.96
PS3 160GB Bundle with Ratchet & Clank and Little Big Planet 2 GOTY for $199.96
Games for $10, include: Yakuza 4, Kane & Lynch 2 Dog Days, Deal or No Deal, Bioshock 2.
Games for $15, include: Lego Harry Potter: Years 1 – 4, Toy Story 3, Epic Mickey, Dance Central 2, Heavy Rain.
Games for $28, include: Batman Arkham City, Just Dance 3, inFAMOUS 2, Battlefield 3, Killzone 3.
Black Friday is stressful for those that believe this is the only day they get to play the game. We are gamers, we play the game every day. The game is what you make it, the hunt is on my fellow gamers. My Black Friday goes a little something like this.
