How do you obtain your games?

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Steam sales
GoGamer
Amazon
Gog.com - Good old Games, <$10 and no DRM
eBay or Amazon sellers if it's out of print

Good list. I'd add GameStop B2G1 sales, Newegg.com, and Target's Clearance isle to it for me. Steam only gets my dollars for 50% off sales typically, and only if I don't think I'll want to resell the game (e.g. Left 4 Dead for $25) or it is just stupid cheap (e.g. Stalker SOC for $5).

Of all those, I'd say Amazon.com gets most of my gaming dollars. I subscribe to Amazon Prime for free shipping and I get 10% off all game purchases with my ECA membership. eBay gets my dollars for a used copy of a game if I don't agree with the publisher's implementation of DRM (e.g. Riddick AODA).

If Good Old Games had better selection, I'd purchase all PC games from them. I love the built in compatibility updates for Vista on really old games, DRM free files you can archive, full electronic game manual (often with extra supplemental goodies to download), and you can re-download the files you need at any time without paying extra.

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
Until digital download becomes cheaper than a boxed edition, I prefer to get a boxed version.

This.

 

[Jax Omen]

Steam when it's cheap, B&M otherwise.

I voted for pirate, though, because I thought it was funny.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Gifts FTW! I last bought a game for myself over ten years ago.

 

[Raduque]

Steam and GOG.com.

Sometimes D2D.

 

[SunnyD]

However I damn well please (be it steam, Impulse, online other, or retail).

 

[videogames101]

Steam deals, ftw!

 

[Azeroth101]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
However I damn well please (be it steam, Impulse, online other, or retail).

Lol

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
However I damn well please (be it steam, Impulse, online other, or retail).

LOL!

 

[homercles337]

Steam and stores...so A) and B).

 

[Phobic9]

I used to pirate almost exclusively but since I'm playing PC games less and less lately, I go for console versions. If there's an actual PC game I see worth buying, I prefer to go the digital download route. Last boxed game I purchased was Warhammer Online. What a waste that was.

 

[cheapherk]

I get them front stores & Steam. I still prefer physical media, though.

 

[CottonRabbit]

Usually Newegg, free shipping and no tax to NY. I have a few games from the other sources though.

 

[ibex333]

It's a combination of all of the options given. I try to thank the devs by buying their games when the games are actually GOOD. In all other cases.. Well, you get the idea.

 

[coloumb]

Originally posted by: ibex333
It's a combination of all of the options given. I try to thank the devs by buying their games when the games are actually GOOD. In all other cases.. Well, you get the idea.

Too bad you can't buy the game directly from the developer. I'd rather they get the money than the publisher.

I'm a cheap bastard - so I'll either wait til it's part of some gogamer/steam steal deal or ebay it when the price is right.

 

[AzN]

If I'm buying the game usually ebay.

 

[Spike]

Right now it's mainly steam and gogamer since both have great prices during their frequent sales. Everyone once in a while I'll get something from the store but that is rare. Heck, I've made more purchases on impulse (2) in the last year than at a B&M store (1).

 

[imported_Imp]

Futureshop, BB, Amazon or EB World. That's about it. I'm barely buying anything nowadays. The last thing I got was Empires:TW and barely played it. Haven't turned my PS3 on in half a year, going to use it as Blu-ray player once I score an HDTV.

 

[AllWhacked]

I buy wherever it is cheapest, with a preference for a physical copy over digital download if they're the same or similar in price. I generally shop at:

1) Amazon
2) NewEgg
3) GoGamer
4) Steam
5) GoG
6) Gamersgate
7) Direct2Drive
8) Impulse

I will occasionally browse at others places like Frys, Microcenter, BestBuy, CircuitCity (when it used to be around) or eBay if the price there was cheaper than at options 1-8.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Either Anandtech users are among the finest and most upstanding members of society, or there are lots of liars here. It's been shown time and again that piracy rates for PC games are around 90 - 98%, yet only a quarter of AT users pirate? Yeah right.

 

[videopho]

Mostly e-retailers like New Egg, Amazon etc.
Secondly BB, Fry's.
Lastly via steam.
Absolutely, no piracy here, period.

 

[Born2bwire]

I use Steam and GOG.com now.

 

[Sam25]

Originally posted by: Born2bwire
I use Steam and GOG.com now.

Yeah, GOG is a really nice website. Some of the titles there you'll probably never get in the stores.

 

[LittleNemoNES]

Little bit of column a and column b.

Latest game I bought: FSX Gold @ BB -- 2 weeks ago.

 

[Kalmah]

Usually Steam.
Sometimes I'll goto BB or Walmart.