Hoi, allemaal! Ik ben de gamer_vrouw! (Hi, everyone! I'm the gamer_vrouw!)
Budget gaming. It's a phrase that really speaks to me.
From my understanding, budget gaming refers to being a gamer and not having enough money to buy the most expensive gaming merch, consoles, and games. In that case, budget gaming has you waiting for game and console prices to go down (go on clearance, or be on sale), so that you can actually buy them.
I'll put this into more perspective:
Throughout my life, I found myself "waiting" to get consoles and games that I've wanted.
- The PlayStation 2 came out in 2000, I believe. I didn't get my hands on it until 2016 for Christmas.
- The Nintendo Switch came out in 2017. I didn't get my own Switch until summer of 2020.
- The Playstation 4 came out in 2013. I didn't get my own PS4 until spring of 2021.
So, in the recent years (between 2016 and today), was it worth the wait?
Well, sort of.
Saving for games and consoles was nothing new, when I was growing up. My parents did their best to provide for me - they would pay bills, work, and put food on the table. And, I was careful with what I wanted for birthdays and Christmas; so, if I wanted a game or console, it had to be something reasonable in price. Luckily, Christmas of 2006, I was fortunate enough to get a Nintendo Gamecube from family. (Needless to say, I was pretty content with a Gamecube.) Plus, the Nintendo DS was often good on the wallet (whether I've saved up for it, or if it was given to me by relatives).
In hindsight, being a budget gamer taught me to save money for things. In the three scenarios mentioned, I had to work and save my own money to get the games and consoles that I've wanted for so long. In 2016, I was unemployed; but I've managed to find a PS2 online that was cheap and in great condition, along with a good video game for it. In 2020, I started working as a remote freelance writer, and I had eventually saved enough money for a Nintendo Switch (despite the console shortage that happened during COVID-19). And, early this year, I was able to save money on a PS4 and a game for it.
As for the Playstation 5, well, prices are still outrageous, especially with the darn scalpers online trying to sell the console for $1,000 or more! It hasn't been a year yet, and the PS5 is still expensive, due to the shortage of consoles. Wow! First, the Nintendo Switch, and now the PS5 experiencing shortages? Funny!
Now, I'm not rushing to get a PS5, mainly because my PS4 already done a lot for me. I can still play a lot of games on it; so, I'm good. Plus, this vrouw isn't going to spend over $1,000 for a friggin' console. Seriously...
But anyway, this post reserves as a testament of how budget gaming doesn't have to be a curse. It's all in good faith, and it's actually made me be wiser about my money. Hopefully, the gaming industry will get it together and make games and consoles budget-friendly.
Until next time...
Ik ben de gamer_vrouw! (I am the gamer_vrouw!)
Dag! (Bye!)
