How do you afford gaming?

[Miktar]

In between buying DVDs, manga, books, games and more DVDs, I tend to run up my credit card quite a bit each month (but then paying it off when the pay comes in). But I'm also practically in debt.

How do you afford gaming, and how much do you spend per month on average?

[Gambit]

I buy everything I need cash meaning I save up for whatever I need and then buy it. I know that won't last forever but I am staying away from credit for now. (Apart from my car that I am paying of I don't have any dept, so I have quite a bit of disposable income each month. I am gonna enjoy it while it lasts. :) )

[Etienne]

I still live with the Parents, so my expenses are quite low. Where my colleagues have to pay rent and other stuff, I buy games.

I'm busy saving up for a nice HD TV. Will buy one in December when I get my 13th cheque. Disposable income ftw! :D

(PS. I'm not a reckless spender. I do save money every month as well)

[wisp]

I try and put away R200.00 per month for new games and possible upgrades,(like saving up for Hellgate now ) but doesnt always work out so the old credit card is a backup, just a bugger to pay it back :( . So many games , so little money :(

[Cyberninja]

On games, not alot. Most of the games I buy come from the bargain bin/platinum range. Those R99-R199 titles. I roughly spend about R200-R500 pm. So I don't play the "latest and greatest" that's currently out. Sad but true. Most of my money is spent on Anime/ 80's-90's animation dvds.

[ioiiooio]

Hehe, I think it's funny how everyone so far has basicaly said "I break the bank, oops, I mean I save diligently and use what scraps I have left over..." Thats called denial peoples and I gots ta tells ya it's one of the first signs of addiction.. hehe

I can liking games very much! I spend way too much on games but try make up for it where I can by trading at the local Cash Crusaders, but Im a good boy, I pay my rent and buy the dude on the corner a loose first.

peace-1ove-ase

[Azimuth]

Hehe, I think it's funny how everyone so far has basicaly said "I break the bank, oops, I mean I save diligently and use what scraps I have left over..." Thats called denial peoples and I gots ta tells ya it's one of the first signs of addiction.. hehe

Only one person out of five respondees said that.

For me, it really depends on what's coming out in any month. I might spend nothing, I might spend R800. This month, I've spent about R1300 on games, but that's because I'm on holiday. And stuff.

[kHayne]

My gaming expenses are pretty slim. 120 bucks for my monthly Blizzard blood-money, 700-odd for my adsl, and then the occasional purchase of a title that's truly outstanding. Like Overlord.
Which is why I reckon my WoW addiction actually saves me money. Previously I was spending in excess of R1500 a month on titles for both ps2 and pc, most of which would never really be played al lthe way through so I wouldnt even get my money's worth. But that's a topic for another time/thread.
I don't really budget for any other purchases, like dvd's or whatnot, but I usually spend less than about 500 bucks a month on miscellany.

[Frozenfireside]

I have always made/had money. I saved up cash working for an IT store for 1.5years and now I have a decent savings I can jol and buy the odd title each month.

My basic plan though is waiting for a online title (such as BF2) to become cheap and then I buy it. I prefer online games to offline games.

I am never in debt and can pay for things in one lumpsum-It makes buying second hand easy and cheaper.
If you can wait for the price to drop and then offer instant cash-people will take it. It makes life easier.

[ioiiooio]

Only one person out of five respondees said that.

For me, it really depends on what's coming out in any month. I might spend nothing, I might spend R800. This month, I've spent about R1300 on games, but that's because I'm on holiday. And stuff.

^_^ hehe, excuses excuses

Ja, those other blokes hadn't responded yet while I scratched my brain for that BRILLIANT reply....

[Azimuth]

Well, that wasn't really an excuse, actually. Perhaps I should have elaborated - I'm on holiday in the UK, and the selection of games is phenomenal. I'm stocking up while I can.

[CaptainCrunch]

I [am quite stingy]/[save diligently] (pick one) and have never really run into debt.
Not being a hardcore uber gamer with oodles free time also means my gaming expenses are quite manageable.
I do notice however that the spending has picked up after acquiring a 360, and i can just imagine how it must be owning multiple consoles.
I aways have a fair amount of disposable income available each month, which i never exhaust, so i can afford to binge when the really good titles roll in.

[wisp]

Well, that wasn't really an excuse, actually. Perhaps I should have elaborated - I'm on holiday in the UK, and the selection of games is phenomenal. I'm stocking up while I can.


Totally ignoring i0ii00i0

@ Azimuth despite the exchance rate are games cheaper over there and are their a lot of games that you see their that we can't get here ?

[Azimuth]

Er, yes and no. The RRP is probably around the same (even factoring in the exchange rate) and new releases are often quite expensive, but shops tend to price games competitively, especially with sale / special stuff. For example, I've pre-ordered Bioshock for Xbox for just 25 quid - that's around R350. Back home, it's at least R500. HMV (a sort of Look & Listen equivalent) has a lot of 2-for-1 offers for games over 3 months old, and their budget stuff (the Sierra adventure compilations, for example) are in the 5-10 quid price range.

You'd be flabbergasted by the range of games available. The games section of HMV and Virgin Megastore can easily take up a third of the floor space, while chain stores like Game stock new and secondhand titles on Xbox 360 and original, Wii, PS2, PS2, PSP, DS, and PC.

I suppose one does find games not available back home, but they tend to be minor niche releases - although stock of old games is easy to find. I've seen the Fallout series, the Longest Journey, old LucasArts titles, old Sierra games, and all that sort of stuff on the shelves.

[Kensei]

I used to not be able to afford to game... Had enough money to buy games but resorted to playing older games after my rig fell below the minimum specs. Hah hah, in fact I think that the minimum specs for Doom 3 were twice as powerful as my PC [I used to struggle to even watch the movies on the NAG CD]

I'll spare you the entire sob story but I will say that I never, ever want to hear someone complain about lag unless they are playing it on the lowest specs and it is still lagging. ('Well, duh its lagging, you are running it at high graphics!)

Since I am now a working gal with a nice salary, I have some money spare after paying for petrol, rent (food is inclusive!) and dog training.
Depending on the games, I can buy a large amount of second hand ones - like from BidOrBuy or Bargain bins (yee haa, finally found Crusader:No Remorse!). But I have been saving for my USA trip, where upon I will return with a more powerful PC :D

I...er... don't want to mention how much I spend on games because bargain bins are my weakness

[Azimuth]

You do realise that if you're nabbed by customs, you could end up paying more for your PC than you would have back home?

[cYn]

You do realise that if you're nabbed by customs, you could end up paying more for your PC than you would have back home?

AFIAK when you import PC parts there is no duty, only VAT. Trevor's attempt to make us a more technological society. Won't the same apply to bringing it in as luggage?

Anyways I can't afford gaming but I do it anyway. Debt. I also import all of my most expensive components. I'm quite happy to spend my money on gaming as I feel it enhances my quality of life : |

[Ruandre]

I live with my parents still. I save up meh moniez and shop selectively.

[dammit]

Always been the saving type, and I've been working since I was 15 yrs (waitressing, stocktaking etc etc). The total I collected in those few years gives me a nice little gold-pot to dig into once in a while when I really want a new game/gaget.

Anything else, I save toward tho (ie: don't take out of my savings) from about 10% of my monthly earning. another 80% i'm saving towards studying a specialised course and the last 10% is for entertainment purposes.

[dislekcia]

I spend a lot of time talking about games with Miktar and getting interesting emails from pubs, so I know what's coming up and what's likely to be good. I also have friends with very good taste in games, meaning that I basically get to play pretty much everything new (or watch it get played) quite early and then cherry-pick the titles I'm really going to spend a lot of time in.

-D

[dawid22]

Things are better these days, believe it or not. I remember paying R700 for Hitman 2 R720 for Tekken 4 when it launched on the PS2 several years ago. It was when the Rand went totall bonkers. However, saying that, I used to buy 3-4 games per month (for all in 2003 when I went GameCube crazy) Nevermind the R300 I spent per month of gaming magazines.

Now I buy 1 game per month 2 magazines (NAG and GamesMaster - which I bought since 1995.) My wife is a gamer as well, so I do not have any resistance when buying games in that way.

I used to wipe out my credit card, but have learned my lesson since. Now I buy only what I REALLY want. I also do a lot of game trading a a local games shop here in PMB for the 360. last time I bought a brand new game was last year November when I bought Splinter Cell: Double Agent.

So yes, I can afford it, but with all the consoles out there and trying to buy arcade games and retro Wii games it does become a bit pricey.

[Antharias]

Saving up for a holiday, paying for my studies and trying to live takes most of my money. Only game that I am buying this year is GW:EN so that is nice and easy.

Just my usual EVE subscription every month and nothing more.

So roughly R150 a month atm.

How I get them, well I save like a mofo and if I have money, then I treat myself. Bank account does not look healthy though >_<

[0blivios]

well I'm 13 so i live with my parents, I'm supposed to get R120 per month and my NAG.yea lately my parent's must be forgetting about me or something. So i guess i don't really afford gaming *sob*.0 but on you tube i recently saw a movie about this website called www.xpango.com , there supposed to run on a credit system by advertising there sponsors or something .but you can get lots of cwl stuff there and there supposed to ship world wide. but when I try 2 sing up it just pops up with an error that reads:

ADODB.Command error '800a0d5d'

Application uses a value of the wrong type for the current operation.

/fe/htm/login/register.asp, line 40

Any way if any one can get this 2 work plz help me.

YaY. we might all get free Xbox360 elite consoles.

P.S. when u register you need a code u can get e'm on you tube . just search for Xpango

@(~.@(#.@($.$)@.^)@.*)@
yea monkey army!

[Kensei]

AFIAK when you import PC parts there is no duty, only VAT. Trevor's attempt to make us a more technological society. Won't the same apply to bringing it in as luggage?

Anyways I can't afford gaming but I do it anyway. Debt. I also import all of my most expensive components. I'm quite happy to spend my money on gaming as I feel it enhances my quality of life : |

cYn is correct, Azi, there is no duty on PC components - I have no plans to try cheat the system or defy the law. I do usually play a Paladin in D&D, the Lawful Good thing tends to rub off on me :P

Now that Gldm has shown me the light, I will be importing most of my PC components here on out

[Azimuth]

Oh, I wasn't suggesting you'd try and cheat the system. I hope it didn't come across like that. It's just that people don't always factor that in.

Anyway, I'd no idea PC components were duty-free. That's rather nifty.

[Stoffel]

To me affording the games isn't so bad because I am a PC gamer so I just pay R300 for games. Plus I only buy games I really want that I know will be good. The problem to me comes in the upgrades a PC has to have, the video card and ram gets old fast. And the only thing keeping me from buying a Xbox 360 or PS3 is the prices of those games, I mean I find the fact of paying R400 to R550 for a game is just too much.

[Azimuth]

...but on you tube i recently saw a movie about this website called www.xpango.com , there supposed to run on a credit system by advertising there sponsors or something .but you can get lots of cwl stuff there and there supposed to ship world wide. but when I try 2 sing up it just pops up with an error that reads:
...

Protip: There's no such thing as free stuff.

[CaptainCrunch]

I just did a quick calculation of some of the current 360 games i still need to get and some of them that are arriving in the next coupla months.
With a total steadily approaching R5000, i'm starting to get quite scared.

[Insomniac]

Being a student I don't have the fortune of having disposable income so I have to slowly save :(
I'm usually fairly wise with my purchases and wait until the price has dropped or find out about a sale. I also trade a lot of my games at my local games store Games Direct which comes in very handy.
Otherwise I had to get a part-time job at uni assisting with first year practicals to help pay for my 360.

[DeMoN]

Me and 5 of my buddies buy every second month a new game and swop it out when we are done. Works pretty well, it means that I have 6 new games every 2 months to play.

[someoneelse]

I sell cocaine...

[Nandrew]

Two things:
(1) A not-so-gameworthy laptop (not really suited to the whole "imma run Crysis" thing)
(2) A sudden crack-like addiction to casual games.

The former means that I'm forced to only fork out for bargain-bin stuff and older collections. Money saved. The latter means that most of my "gaming" nowadays consists of half-hour bursts of joy from the Internet (Newgrounds ... and sea of glomp omigah) and other sauces, which just happens to be absolutely free while still being quite lenient on my webernetz-cap.

If I ever spend a considerable chunk of money on gaming, it's in rare "WANT!" cases that don't dent my pockets too much in the greater scheme of things.

[GeometriX]

I buy two types of games: The super-uber-omg-need-this type of game, which is usually like once every few months, if that. The others are are oldies or budget/re-release titles, which I probably buy about once a month. I also tend to buy quite a few games second-hand, since that's often the best way to get the real classics.

[Kensei]

I'm surprised - 4 pages into the topic and not one person has owned up to piracy :D Clever people...

My mother is getting sick of me, because every time I walk past the bargain bin I go "By CliffyB, I have been looking for that game for sooo long" .
BTW: I should publish my list of old games I want, who knows maybe someone has them and wants to part with them (I already found Hexen 2 - huzzah). And there is a very old game...callled er....um... I think it was called Crysis - if anyone has it, can they please let me know - I might even pay like a whole R50 for it

[cov1e_stalker]

I come from Grahamstown(WTF) .me and my friends get 1 Game every 1 or 2 Months and we pirate eachothers games .
No 1 here realy cares about piaracy

[MrDeVil_909]

Since getting the 360 I've actually got a bit better with my spending. I have a weakness for budget titles, even if I'm not likely to play them, so I would get 3 x hundred rand games and get them on my budget facility. (great silliness) But then I have assuaged my guilt over my piracy filled youth and bought some old favourites.

The prices of 360 games has made me a bit more discerning and if it isn't a MUST BUY (Overlord/Bioshock/GH2) then I will wait in hope for the Classic release. Currently waiting for Viva Pinata and Crackdown.

And Kensei:

And there is a very old game...callled er....um... I think it was called Crysis - if anyone has it, can they please let me know - I might even pay like a whole R50 for it

very witty ;)

[Kensei]

I come from Grahamstown(WTF) .me and my friends get 1 Game every 1 or 2 Months and we pirate eachothers games .
No 1 here realy cares about piaracy

No, no-one cares about 'piaracy' ... but some do care about 'piracy'...I'll forget that you are attempting to start a flame war [And my sister will hunt you down if you continue this line of arguments - she is also in Grahamstown]

If people can get over not having the latest game, then affording games become more affordable. I only bought Doom 3 last year November :D

[Karuji]

hmm get the parents to but the games or use some of that cash ive been saving up

[Stoffel]

I come from Grahamstown(WTF) .me and my friends get 1 Game every 1 or 2 Months and we pirate eachothers games .
No 1 here realy cares about piaracy

Yeah sure, its always easier to pirate games. but can you you play that game online? No. And its always nicer to have the box and manual and everything. I rather fork out the cash and enjoy it online.

[someoneelse]

If people can get over not having the latest game, then affording games become more affordable.

NEVER!!! *waves fist around*

[0blivios]

Protip: There's no such thing as free stuff.

maybe so but I did see allot of convinced smilies. and I never said there was free stuff only what i saw on you tube. any way did you try it? if you did and you got the same error as me them im pretty much convinced but take a look, please.

[ioiiooio]

If people can get over not having the latest game, then affording games become more affordable. I only bought Doom 3 last year November :D

The difficulty I have with this is the fact that it can be hard to find these older games.

[Cyberninja]

The difficulty I have with this is the fact that it can be hard to find these older games.

You can order older games from Amazon or Take2. Just type the name in the search bar to see if they have it in stock. Presto.

[Kensei]

The difficulty I have with this is the fact that it can be hard to find these older games.

There are always places to find these games...

People selling them to buy a 360.
Cash Crusaders
Midyear/end of year sales at stores
Gaming Bundles
Abandonware sites
Bid Or Buy

You get my point ;)

[Petruz]

Gaming is getting more and more expensive these days like i am a major playstation (3) fan
but cant affort it well i can buy the machine but not the games once off 6 grand aint that bad.
But R500-700 bucks a game is just 2 much.You can build yourself a major pc up if you
take the money you spend on just the machine and about 10 games.

[Azimuth]

You can buy a PS3 for about R3500. It's called an Xbox 360. This model also has better games.

[Petruz]

Dude i like x-box played the crap out of Halo2 on x-box 1 but the problem
is some games are not gone go x-box like the new MGS and the new FFs.

And alot of x-box titles go to pc aswell and i got a Rather fast rig already.

[ioiiooio]

Dude i like x-box played the crap out of Halo2 on x-box 1 but the problem
is some games are not gone go x-box like the new MGS and the new FFs.

And alot of x-box titles go to pc aswell and i got a Rather fast rig already.


I know, it seriously sucks, why cant we all just get along? :(

[Uncle Buck]

I spend no more than around R500 per month on games. On a really crazy month, maybe R1000. Unfotunately I have many interests (all of which of course require money) and I tend to spread what I have amongst those interests.

[Petruz]

I spend no more than around R500 per month on games. On a really crazy month, maybe R1000. Unfotunately I have many interests (all of which of course require money) and I tend to spread what I have amongst those interests.
Thats like 1 ps3 game a month better make sure its a good one

[GeometriX]

You can buy a PS3 for about R3500. It's called an Xbox 360. This model also has better games.

You win 5 internets.

[FoX]

Well i buy a med-range rig every 3 jears that way i can play most new games on med and i dont go bankrupt :)

[Uncle Buck]

Thats like 1 ps3 game a month better make sure its a good one

I haven't bought a game in two months...still got a whole bunch of older stuff to finish first.

[Gazza_N]

I'm not sure anymore - I seem to be running out of kidneys. :P

I don't buy games all that often, and when I do I ensure that it's something I'll enjoy (that's where NAG comes in, among other sources ;)). Generally I buy budget titles, or pull an old/obscure classic from Steam. On the odd occasion I'll buy a brand-new blockbuster, but the last game that received that honour was C&C3. Otherwise I'm like many others who've replied, I set aside some monies every month and save up.

[Squirly]

Any game I buy I tend to research first - I've been burned to often by ****ty purchases, though that doesn't prevent the occasional lemon from slipping through (damn you BF2142!) Not that BF2142 is crap, but it's not worth the cash in my case. I borrow from friends as they borrow from me (though my friends are horrible when it comes to actually buying a game for once - they just don't have the appreciation for the smell of the inside of a new game box).

I also tend to buy a lot from the bargain bin. This serves two purposes:

1) It's cheaper;
2) These games will actually run on my machine;

Hardware is a different story entirely. I tend to upgrade when spare RAM or whatnot lands on my head. ie: I seldom upgrade.

[Interfan]

Easy no rent to pay and a free car( thank you mom and dad). Not paying rent and insurance or any of those things mean I can put my R4000 bucks a month to good gaming use.

But seriously I only play pc rpg's and the football games , I will play other genres but the game must have gotten great reviews for me to consider it. So I tend to only buy certain games and only pc games. So I don't buy hundreds of titles merely the ones I like.

[Mic]

mmm... well... most money goes to food... yeah... I pay for my own snacks and ****.... but I rarely buy a game per month...

like 1 game every term.... mainly because almost every weekend is a LAN and why pay if you can get games for free

(and don't even think of saying I'm pirating, you all pirated at a time too)....

and with an income of R130 per month I don't think I'll be affording those R500 exclusive games any time soon...

but once I've got a job my expenses will either go to other thing like upgrades to my pc.... but if there are really cool games out there... then I'll pay for it...

just a shame that very little of my friends LAN RTS games.

[Azimuth]

Awsomemic, your claims of everyone else doing it are irrelevant. The rules of this forum clearly stipulate that discussion of piracy outside of its economic / political context is prohibited. This is the second time you've transgressed.

[Stoffel]

I shudder to think of all the money ive spent on games, and If I rather used that money to upgrade my PC and play fewer games at full graphics it would problary have been a better choise... but each time a game like COD2 or farcry or FEAR comes out I just have to buy it...
and I dont say piracy is right, cos its not. but to my opinion your not a gamer if you haven't got at least one pirated game.

[Azimuth]

but to my opinion your not a gamer if you haven't got at least one pirated game.

What a load of bollocks.

[.dB]

Currently, zero. Moving out end of this year (hah, before I turn 19), so I'm saving up. Also looking to purchase a car, with some help from dad, but still.

I bum off my friends - Game there, eat their food etc.

[Plan 9]

I hardly ever buy games, the latest crop of games are not impressive enough imho, I am satisfied with BF2 and Counter Strike, they are playable online and are great for LAN's too. I seldomnly play Doom 3 too.

In essence, I spend about R300-400 every 3 months or so on a game.

[Azimuth]

I hardly ever buy games, the latest crop of games are not impressive enough imho

O_O Are you living under a rock?

[Plan 9]

O_O Are you living under a rock?
Perhaps :p . However I don't mean they are lame, I guess I just sort of lost my interest in gaming over the last 2 years. It's nice to play every now and then to relax a little though :)

[dangarratt]

Budget games every few months, and a brand new one (C&C3, Star Wars Empire at War) when it comes out. Probably average R100 - R150 per month.
And that's why I won't get a console - what's the use when you can only play one game a year!!
Oh, and to all you idiots standing up and being proud for being thieves: STOP STEALING SOMEONE ELSE'S WORK!!! You're just as bad as the oke who reached in through your window and pinched your wallet. Just because you do it in a less offensive manner doesn't make it any better. It's like saying white collar crime isn't crime! Who's worse? The oke who stole your wallet cause he has no food, or J Arthur Brown who stole millions of rands from widows and children just because he was GREEDY?
Ok, rant over....

[Kensei]

and I dont say piracy is right, cos its not. but to my opinion your not a gamer if you haven't got at least one pirated game.

Because it makes you feel l33t to have a game that you did not pay for?

Piracy is never right, regardless of the circumstances, it is not right - I love doing this, look at my post on 'What I Own'. Every single one of those games are original and that was only the ones in my cupboard. Are you saying that I am not a gamer because I own about 80+ original games

Enough piracy chatter... sorry Azi, I will shut up about it.

Back on topic: I think that playing the demos of games help a lot when deciding where to spend my money, as well as reading reviews - I bought F.E.A.R based on reviews and the demo.

[Gen0cyde]

After paying bills/fines/food I put a certian amount of my money into a savings account.
This is called my game account, where if I really want a game I will take the money out of that account and pay for it. I usually put between R1000 and R1500 into that account and would only spend about R500 a month on it.

[Petruz]

I shudder to think of all the money ive spent on games, and If I rather used that money to upgrade my PC and play fewer games at full graphics it would problary have been a better choise... but each time a game like COD2 or farcry or FEAR comes out I just have to buy it...
and I dont say piracy is right, cos its not. but to my opinion your not a gamer if you haven't got at least one pirated game.
Dude thats so true if you have to buy everything original you wont eat.
I leech a game at a mass lan check it out and if i REALLY like it and are prepared to finish it
then i buy the original i bougth some crappy originals in the past.(That ussually happen
when i didnt check the reviews in NAG)

[Kensei]

Dude thats so true if you have to buy everything original you wont eat.
I leech a game at a mass lan check it out and if i REALLY like it and are prepared to finish it
then i buy the original i bougth some crappy originals in the past.(That ussually happen
when i didnt check the reviews in NAG)

Continue this discussion Here (http://forums.tidemedia.co.za/nag/showthread.php?p=7998#post7998)

[sneaK]

I don't affort gaming :'( I have to make use of my three year old machine to win competitions, and hopefully get something new everytime...

[0blivios]

I don't affort gaming :'( I have to make use of my three year old machine to win competitions, and hopefully get something new everytime...


well I'd far rather use a three year old PC than whatever you can call the piece of recycled trash I call a PC. but don't worry ( shear arrogance ) I'm upgrading.


btw : I figure that I need a new graphics card which leads to a new motherboard which leads to new RAM. but when i get my new motherboard do i also need to buy a new CPU?

[Gen0cyde]

btw : I figure that I need a new graphics card which leads to a new motherboard which leads to new RAM. but when i get my new motherboard do i also need to buy a new CPU?

Depends on what motherboard you are getting. I take it you have a fairly old computer, so if you are going to buy a new motherboard you wont be able to support your old processor. You most probably have to buy a new CPU.

Back to topic.

[0blivios]

I think my pc is about for years old . I think its pentuim 4( if that is the CPU) . and im upgrading from a motherboard that has a AGP card slot to PCi , soz im pretty much retarded when it comes to things like this but im slowly learning. slowly.

[Machine]

Before this turns into a hardware discussion... :)

I spend about R300 - R1000 a month depending on a lot of things like whether I'm buying one or two games, or if I buying some new hardware or lighting for my PC.

I can't really afford it but I'm addicted to upgrading at the moment and I love adding new things to my PC, even silly things like UV cathode lights. I'm currently still paying off a loan I took to pay for my PC that I bought late last year. I'm STILL buying new games on an almost monthly basis even though I should give it a rest and save money for a car.

[Mouse]

I bought this:
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/aerocoolee3/

It has all the cooling I need, UV lighting was a nice bonus.
And as for games, I stick to the odd point 'n click game, cellphone game or rare games (The Dig FTW), as I dont have the time anymore for anything long requiring hours of play to finish.

[blitz]

Short answer: I don't :)

[X-Ploding_Shoes]

I do not like spending money on upgrades...I had this crappy box 17'' monitor for almost 3 years, my mon offered to buy me a new monitor but I said no...I just can't justify spending that much money on something, like R7000 for a new grahpics card..but I gave in eventually...I now have a 21" LCD...sigh Im such a capatalist :(.....

I save up money from odd jobs and pocket money and spend accordenly, as a new Xbox game is R600 and thats like one month poket money gone, and I still need to spend money on other things like movie tickets, booze ect ect...I get by maybe one or two new games a month...depending of course on titles that are out.!