When it comes to games we all have our favorites... but in this day and age... saving a dollar here and there is not just necessary... but a means of survival. Take for instance my latest purchase...

This game I really love alot and it is an awesome game anyhow. I went to my local gamestop and they had the game in both the regular format as well as this very nice attractive collectors edition box (actually it is a two sided metal box) and it has some extra's inside of it. Used it went for $7.99 for either the standard green box with no extras or in the attractive tin for the same price with some goodies for me. Wow... you just can't beat getting more for your dollar these days I thought so why not get the extra stuff. Then I walked only about 3 feet away and found the very same title in the same collectors box on the New Rack of games going for $20.00! I thought... here I am going to save almost $12.00 on this purchase because I am buying it used.

This is the question... do you as a gamer require that the game is brand new when you purchase it... or will you search for a bargin and try to save money? Some people like the rush or excitement I guess of opening up the package for the very first time (and I must admit that can be fun) but when standard living prices keep going up... it is very nice to see a break here and there on some stuff that I like.

I must admit that over 1/3 of my collection in my Nintendo DS library is used and by buying them that way I have saved well over $200.00 just there alone. In my XBox 360 collection I would say about 1/2 of them are the same way. Bargins can save you money and in the long run you still get to play the great game you like!

Even better is the fact that I have an Edge Card with Gamestop so I get the 10% extra off of each used game I purchase! Even better for me and my pocket book. I am a picky purchaser though and do like to make sure I get all the manuals and it is in clean and great condition (both box and contents too) because I am a neatnik person!

So... do you look for sales on the games that you purchaseor just rush to purchase the game at full price because you can and must have it that way?

So about 5 months ago I thought I was being smart and purchased a Bluetooth Handsfree Device for me phone from an online account on EBay. Only to have it die about 4 months later. Now I don't use my phone alot... in fact I only call about 4 people and for personal things as well. (Weather updates as I ride and even some video games too!) Today I was trying to talk to my friend on the speaker phone of it as I drove so I would be legal but it just wasn't working for me. So I decided to stop by the AT & T Store and get a new Bluetooth for $100.00.

Once inside the nice man helped me... but then something caught my eye... something I had been thinking about upgrading to in the next couple of months when my 2 year contract was up... one of these beauties...

I got the I Phone 3G 8 GB Phone!

Well I just had to ask all about it and wouldn't you know... I was eligable for an upgrade already! The only catch is that you have to have the internet on the phone but it was part of what I wanted anyhow. Well... it cost an additional $30.00 for that on top of your bill. After chatting I was able to go to a lower plan... (because most of my friends are on the same network we chat for free) and get the upgrade to the phone and my bill only will go up by $10.00 more a month! Way Cool!

I got the 8 GB Version and am just having so much fun with it. I still have alot to do to it to make it the way I want it... but over time I will get it all working. I have to get my pictures into it.. sounds and yes... my music and even a movie or two!

I love the internet as well. It is the "REAL INTERNET" not the wanna be one! I loaded up Gamespot's web page in the store and that pretty much sold the phone right there to me! So now I can do all of that and more on my phone from where ever I go. I even get Maps on it but can get MapQuest or just use the internet for directions when I am on my bicycle as well! I am so very blessed to get one of these and I know alot of people want one... includeing the nice gentleman at the store who told me he was not allowed to get one for 90 days because he is an employee of AT & T. That just is wrong! Anyhow... I have alot to go and read about... so next time I chat at you on my blog... I may be at home... or on my I Phone!

Oh... and I still didn't get a bluetooth yet... but the speakerphone on the I Phone is very awesome! My old phone I gave to my awesome friend so she could upgrade her phone to a newer one and be happy as well! It is a RazV3 and still is a great phone... just not as fun as my new toy!

Well with the recent setback of my bass pedal in Rock Band... (the one that broke and will take about 4 weeks to replace via snail mail) I decided to take my gaming back to another area that I loved but still was musically oriented. Yes I am talking about Guitar Hero. I have beaten Guitar Hero II on Expert already... but still have to beat Guitar Hero III on Expert (which I am only about 3 songs away from finishing) I also am only 4 songs away from beating Rock Band on Expert on the guitar as well. Then I remembered that my Black Wireless Gibson Les Paul was acting up on me. Someitimes the strum bar would work and other times it just wouldn"t at all. Mind you I am not brutal or rough on my hardware controllers in the games... I just play them alot and the controllers do wear out overtime.

So off to Gamestop I went in search of a used Wireless Black Gibson Les Paul for my XBox 360. I did find one but they wanted almost $40.00 for it. The person I konw there could not guarantee that it would work but did offer me a 7 day return on it if it was broken. Kinda weary about that I started looking around. Then I found this...

I had heard about this coming out but totally forgot about it. The game alone was going for $59.00 and with the package pictured above... it went for $99.00. Pretty much that meant that a brand new Wireless Black Guibson Les Paul Controller was only $40.00. Same price as the used one. It came with the cool Aerosmith Faceplate, stickers, strap and more. I was very happy being I love Aerosmith alot. What a great deal!!!

They really did a great job on all of the band in the game as well. You don't always play as Aerosmith but when you do... Steven Tyler is all up in your face!

Joe Perry and all the others look just like they do in real life! It is such a great game and so fun to play. It has an awesome song list with alot of other songs from other great groups in it as well.

1979 "Dream Police" Cheap Trick

1972 "All the Young Dudes" Mott the Hoople

2007 "Make It"a Aerosmith

1975 "Uncle Salty" Aerosmith

1977 "Draw the Line" Aerosmith (encore)

1988 "I Hate Myself for Loving You" Joan Jett

1964 "All Day and All of the Night" The Kinks

1979 "No Surprize" Aerosmith

2007 "Movin' Out" Aerosmith

1975 "Sweet Emotion" Aerosmith (encore)

1977 "Complete Control" The Clash

1973 "Personality Crisis" New York Dolls

1993 "Livin' on the Edge" Aerosmith

1987 "Rag Doll" Aerosmith Yes

1989 "Love in an Elevator" Aerosmith (encore)

1985 "She Sells Sanctuary" The Cult

1985 "King of Rock" Run-D.M.C.

1976 "Nobody's Fault" Aerosmith

1977 "Bright Light Fright" Aerosmith

1986 "Walk This Way" Run-D.M.C. featuring Aerosmith Yes (encore)

1990 "Hard to Handle" The Black Crowes

1991 "Always on the Run" Lenny Kravitz featuring Slash

1976 "Back in the Saddle" Aerosmith

2001 "Beyond Beautiful" Aerosmith Yes

2007 "Dream On" Aerosmith Yes (encore)

1977 "Cat Scratch Fever"

1992 "Sex Type Thing" Stone Temple Pilots

2007 "Guitar Battle vs Joe Perry" Joe Perry

2007 "Mama Kin" Aerosmith

1975 "Toys in the Attic" Aerosmith

1974 "Train Kept A-Rollin'" Aerosmith (encore)

Bonus songs

Year Song title Artist
1976 "Combination" Aerosmith

2007 "Joe Perry Guitar Battle" Joe Perry

1977 "Kings and Queens" Aerosmith

1985 "Let the Music Do the Talking" Aerosmith

2005 "Mercy" Joe Perry

1974 "Pandora's Box" Aerosmith

1998 "Pink" Aerosmith

1976 "Rats in the Cellar" Aerosmith

2005 "Shakin' My Cage" Joe Perry

2005 "Talk Talkin'" Joe Perry

1975 "Walk This Way" Aerosmith

I will say this though... it is alot easier than Guitar Hero 3 on Hard Mode... but Expert is really giving me a workout for sure! Even though it only has 31 songs in it... and is alot easier... if you are any kind of a fan of Aerosmith... this game is for you! I do plan on getting a new faceplate for this guitar... and it is so very pretty!

Being that I love Purple and Black so very much... this just fits my guitar for me to play on! Anyhow... I have to get back on stage because Joe Perry is sick tonight and needs me to fill in!