1561

This is CheapAssGamer’s official Toys R Us clearance thread; I think you have to be registered with CAG to view it.

1562

My own experience with TRU has been very very poor. The only time I went there for a deal is when they were going to offer Super Mario Galaxy with a gift card. I called them 3 times the previous day and they assured me multiple times that they wouldn’t be putting the game out for sale until 1pm, and arriving before that would be a waste of my time. So I arrived and discovered that they’d sold out the game minutes after the store opened. I’ve also gone there a few times since to see what they have in the bargain bin, and I’ve never seen anything but shovelware for the PS2, DS, and Wii. Never anything as cool as Zach & Wiki, or any of the games you guys are describing, and definitely nothing for the 360. So I’ve officially given up on TRU, personally. It’s out of my way, gas prices are high, and it’s just not worth it to go to a store with shitty customer service on top of a crappy bargain bin.

1563

That’s too bad Rock8. I guess everyone’s mileage varies, but I’ve had pretty decent luck with TRU’s bargain bin. As for their special promotions like the Mario Galaxy one you mentioned, your experience is similar to mine. I don’t bother with promotions like that at TRU anymore because, for whatever reason, they sell out extremely quickly, which doesn’t happen at Best Buy or Target.

1564

Searched for “eye” over the last month of posts, didn’t see it mentioned.

Wal-Mart has the PS3 game Eye of Judgment + PSEye camera package for just under $30. The camera itself retails for more than that, if I’m not mistaken. I found the last one at one of the local Wal-Marts in my city, but other stores could potentially have stock.

Word is that LittleBigPlanet can make use of the camera, so this would be an easy way to get in on that and a bonus game. (I’ve heard some folks really dig EoJ, but haven’t had a chance to try it myself.)

Also, my local Wal-Mart had Farsight’s Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection for PS2 marked down just under $10. The PS2 version has superior textures to the PSP version, and for that alone was worth the price for me. (I also double dipped on the Gottlieb collection, so this isn’t anything new for me.) I did not see any copies of the Wii version, but Target has it locally here for $19.99. Still worth it, but not necessarily a bargain deal in the traditional sense.

1565

My local Target also has plenty of copies of Williams Pinball for the Wii for $19.99.

I’d love to get the PSEye for $30, with or without Eye of Judgment, but no Walmart around me has it in stock.

1566

I’m enjoying it, although I haven’t played it very long. The rules are easy to understand, but there’s a lot of strategy involved. I haven’t purchased from the PSN, yet, the ability to use the 2nd set of cards. Perhaps I will one day.

1567

Condemned 2 for 360 for $20

1568

I think that is the new retail price for Condemned 2, eb is selling it new for $20 I think on their site.

1569

This week’s GoGamer sale includes Mass Effect (PC) for $30, Sam & Max Season One (import version) for $13, and Spellforce 2 for $6. They also have SimCity Societies for $13, but Amazon has it for just $10.

1570

Is Mass Effect still DRM gimped?

1571

I think it still has online activation and limited to 3 installs, but no retarded 10-day periodic phone-in like before.

As I pointed out during the controversy, there is no DVD check, so it’s almost like they want you to sneakernet pirate it by giving it to two of your buddies with no hassle at all.

I’m waiting for it to get under 20 bucks on the used market.

1572

Online activation and install limited is gimped. No sale.

1573

Amen. Effectively taking away the customer’s ability to resell his/her copy (installation limits) is bullshit.

1574

I see this all the time, but no one seems to have an issue with Valve and Steam over the same thing.

1575

I do and I don’t give them any business. If this is the new paradigm for PC gaming, then I’m pretty much done with it. In no other entertainment medium do you not own the product. When I buy a book, DVD, music CD, etc, I own it and can resell it. Somebody needs to sue for user rights in this issue.

1576

I thought they went to online activation, but unlimited installs? I could be thinking of another game.

1577

there is. the 1st time it’s authenticated online the disc must be present. the protection routine then checks the usual disc based securom protection on the actual disc just as if it were a “regular” game. after that initial check the disc does not have to be in the drive. as far as i know all versions behave like this. either way, i can tell you with certinty that all mass effect discs (the 1st disc only) do have the usual disc based securom “rings” (protection), it’s just that they are not used(1) when the user uses the game as intended by the developers. (read: submits to the draconian drm)

1 = after the initial one off check.

the pc version? why ? do you assume that the seller would have used it only once - thus giving you 2 installs ? one of the pros for ea using this drm is just to stop people like you. so, how will you know if you’ll be able to use the game if it’s second hand ? (without resorting to 3rd party means - which one could do so now anyway)

online authentication, which is the “happening” thing with pc games of late, is exactly what divx was back in 98/99. and i hope it gets the same results.

let’s see: bioshock, mess effect, aitd and more to come… these are all primarily single player games. these three are not the 1st to use online authentication actually, but the ones before them were not major titles by big studios, there were not that many, and more importantly, they were optional regional versions. that is to say “proper” disc based versions were also available for them. what it comes down to is control. with any kind of online authentication, you never really “own” the game. even if you only have to register/authenticate the game once, that’s once too many times. if i can’t buy a game at retail that i can then take in a sealed box to a deserted island with no internet or telephone access and open/install/play it that way i’m not ever buying it. the games i am talking about are traditional single player pc games. so i am not talking about any kind of mmog’s like wow et al, ok ? also i’m not talking about games like team fortress 2 or the battlefield series since they are primarily online games. they are designed that way, that’s fine. do not confuse them. also do not confuse single player games that have a multiplayer component. the letter, should only have online authentication (if they must) for the online part only.

+1

here’s one of my favorite quotes from master of ceremonies Gabe Newell
“It’s a dangerous thing to pirate one of our games because later on, when we catch you, you lose all your games, or you can’t play multiplayer.”
translation: don’t fuck with steam because we CAN fuck you back. and will!!!

see ??? because you never have total control, they can do it. and this is what most of you embrace ??? instead of the normal and good enough disc based protection that today is the status quo ? by the time you realize it, it may be too late.

i think you mean limited installs ?! …because they are.

1578

i think you mean limited installs ?! …because they are.

1579

I know, I meant that you could install it, give it to a friend to install, and you’d still have another activation until they remove the limit in a year or so.

the pc version? why ? do you assume that the seller would have used it only once - thus giving you 2 installs ? one of the pros for ea using this drm is just to stop people like you. so, how will you know if you’ll be able to use the game if it’s second hand ? (without resorting to 3rd party means - which one could do so now anyway)
I would happily buy a game that had been installed once or not at all, perhaps without a box or manual, for $15 and hope for the best. If not, I’d just get a crack or call EA. It’s only $15. shrug Had perfect luck so far while purchasing 70 or 80 games, although none of them had limited activiations.

Philosophically I’m right there with you, but otherwise I’m just here to play cheap PC games.

1580

It’s unlimited installs, but restricted to three physical PC’s.

Hopefully they’ll go the Bioshock route, and remove the limitation once the game has passed its effective shelf life.