With all the newfangled systems running up price tags of at least $200, I can barely find the funds to do anything fun anymore. With such a lack of money, the ominus "Food or gaming?" question comes to mind. Well, I chose to have both by investing in older systems like the Xbox and Playstation 2. Crazy as it may sound, I feel content with playing previous-gen games like Red Dead Revolver and Silent Hill 2 (which are two of my favorite games of all time). I know that most people on Gamespot usually keep themselves up-to-date with the latest gaming news, products, and gadgets but I simply can't afford to follow them into the expensive world of cutting-edge technology.

Game: $3 ; Satisfaction: Priceless

Personally, buying and playing old games isn't a new habit. I've always been behind a console generation, whether I had a Game Boy Color during the time of the Game Boy Advance or had a Sega Genesis during the time of the first Playstation. Sure, everyone else was running around with their expensive new consoles but I was perfectly fine with owning an old console and having a lot more games to choose from for less coin.

In fact, when you're a console generation behind, you can walk into any old game store with a $5 bill and come out with five games. For example, I recently bought Jet Set Radio Future, Deus Ex: Invisible War, Sega GT 2002, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 for only $4! Not only did I get my bang for my buck, I also had the satisfaction of seeing my friend's faces flare up in amazement when I told them I got all those awesome games for well over an eighth of the price of a new Xbox 360 game!

"I'm only worth $1!?"

Then again, there have been times I've been tempted to buy a current-gen console. The most recent test of my patience came from Fallout 3. With its flashy graphics and massive play area, it was enough to make me shed tears of joy. However, I stayed strong and reminded myself that I can buy that game for peanuts at a used game store about 3-4 years from now. Good thing there's never been a game that has been a console-buyer for me (so far).

Of course, there will be a time when even newer consoles are released and the current consoles are priced down enough that you can buy them for the same price as one of their new games during their prosprous days. When that happens, you'll see me at the game store walking out with four Playstation 3 games I purchased with only four paper George Washingtons.

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Alright, so here's what I got for $3:

R.E.M. - Eponymous

1. Radio Free Europe [Original Hib-Tone Single]
2. Gardening at Night [Different Vocal Mix]
3. Talk About the Passion
4. So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
5. (Don't Go Back To) Rockville
6. Can't Get There From Here
7. Driver 8
8. Romance
9. Fall on Me
10. The One I Love
11. Finest Worksong [Mutual Drum Horn Mix]
12. It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

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Woah, only $3 for so many songs! I got this CD used at a music store but it was in perfect condition (not a single scratch)! Still, most of the songs are a little too slow for my taste and they start to pile up through the middle of the album. However, the last three songs are what brings this one up a notch (especially the last one). Even if the songs were a little too slow for me, I bet I can get used to them eventually.

In all, I don't regret buying this one bit.

9.6/10

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I've reached level 38 and I wanted to make a blog about that for some reason...

Oh, and the new forum layout is worse than awful.