Lets be honest, we all like a deal right? But is there a distinction to be made between using deals to your advantage, and taking advantage of a companie's deal?

I'm on the fence. Part of me feels that since I'm not doing anything illegal, and I'm merely taking advantage of a companie's own stupidity, its really just a clever gain. This aspect is heightened by the fact that I've had some utterly horrid experiences with the companies I take advantage of the most (EBgames/GameStop and BlockBuster Video) so there's a little bit of "stick it to the man" type moxy to it.

Take BlockBuster Video for example. Last month, they had a promo here in Canada in which they were clearing out thier pre-owned video games with a "buy 2 get 1 free deal". They were also running a deal in which any current gen game was worth a minimum of $10 trade. The joke is, they sell some of those used games for only $9.99!! THINK ABOUT IT!! You could go into a blockbuster and buy 3 used games priced at $9.99 for only $20 (because the 3rd $10 game is free) and then EACH of those games is still worth a minimum of $10 apiece (so $30 in credit for what just cost you $20).So I took that $30 in credit, bought more $9.99 games (every 3rd one free remember) and flipped those back in for $10 apiece and so on and so forth. You basically gain $10 every time you flip a set of 3 $9.99 titles. I ended up getting a brand new extra retail game ($59.99 value) because every time I swapped games, I put the extra credit on gift cards.

Is it wrong for me to do that? I mean, if a company is stupid enough to keep giving me $30 trade for stuff I just bought from THEM for $20, is it wrong for me to purposely flip those games in a few times to gain that $10 each time? I mean, they're setting thier trade prices, I'm just smart enought to work the system right? Or am I being fraudulant at this point?

Same applies to the deals you see at EBgames/Gamestop. When they have those "trade 3 used titles get a brand new game" deals on, I'm all over that! They usually restrict the deal to games that trade in for at least $8 or higher, but even still, there are deals to be had. For example, I just purchased "Uncharted 2" and "Demon Souls" for my PS3 based purely off those 3 for 1 deals, and it cost me about $50 total for both games. I just used that buy 2 get 1 free used deal at BlockBuster to purchase used games on the cheap, and provided they count for the GameStop promo, those 3 used games (that just costme like $30 or so at BBV) are traded for a brand new $69.99 game at Gamestop or EBgames under their 3 for 1 deal.

This of course is all aside from the other deals that are to be had, such as digging rare games out of pawn shops and garage sales and flipping them on Ebay and the likes for big money (a copy of Final Fantasy VII fished out of a garage sale for $5 can fetch you upwards of $60 on Ebay for example). Pawn shops are a goldmine if you know whats rare and what'll re-sell for profit.

So should one feel bad about taking advantage of these deals and loop-holes? I mean, retailers are making thier money, especially when you see EBgames/GameStop locations popping up everywhere. And those companies set thier own promotions and prices. So is it wrong to take advantage of them when the situation presents itself?

The question is folks, where does your morality sit in regards to deals in gaming? Are you a savy shopper? A crafty crook? Just a guy who relishes the hunt of a sweet deal?

Gordon Freeman?

Really?

Seriously?

One of the best video game heroes of all time!? Are you kidding me? And he beats out characters like LINK and SOLID SNAKE!?

Complete joke.

Okay, I get. All the PC hounds voted for him because he essentially represents the PC quotient, especially seing howmost of the other characters were from console series. But c'mon now, Gordon Freeman being considered one of the greatest gaming heroesof all time is the equivalent of Micheal Jackson being considered one of the greatest babysitters of alltime. Too soon? Meh.

I realize this is nothing to get worked up over, and its just a rediculous and subjective internet poll, but when an outcome is this absurd, you can't help but say something, and just wonder what planet people are on.

Appologies for my absence as of late folks, I started University this september, and as of day one it has consumed my time as if it were a monster feeding upon my flesh. Perhaps a rather grim analogy, but a fitting one none the less I can assure you.

Thusfar, I've been struggling with the transition. Not only has it proven difficult to keep up with the materials and readings, but considering its week three and we're already writing papers, I can't help but feel I'm being put to the test before I've even had time to learn anything relevant.

This has also meant much less time being devoted to gaming. I've managed to grab a few more platinum trophies, for BioShock and the Genesis Collection taking my total to five, and numbers six and seven will come if I ever find the time to scoop up the last few trophies from Killzone2 and InFamous.

I've also got two games incoming, having pre-ordered "Uncharted 2" and "Demon Souls", but given my recent and ever growing workload at University, they'll probably sit on my shelf unappreciated for longer than I'd like.

Anyhow, my time has been spoken for as of late, but I did want to check in and send my regards to you all, especially those friends from my unions whom I dearly miss chatting with more frequently.