Video gaming doesn’t have to be a hugely expensive hobby and, for the majority of people, it isn’t. Whilst it’s nice to have a mega gaming rig and all of the latest titles, most of us don’t stretch to such grand expenditure in the name of video games. However, a lot of us could still save money without having to try too hard. These tips are perfect for those who’d just like to save a little here and there, without compromising on their own enjoyment.
Look Out for Microtransactions
If you enjoy mobile gaming then the chances are that you’re already familiar with microtransactions. A lot of games nowadays, but in particular ones for mobile, are designed to be free to download and play, but with small fees for various things. It might be that you want to customise your player’s outfit, skip through a long wait time, or play without an ad banner. All of these things will likely cost just a couple of dollars, which isn’t a big deal at all. However, when you start spending without thinking about it, all of those one and two dollar transactions can still add up. There’s nothing wrong with skipping ahead through a boring section of a game, but keep an eye on your microtransactions and see if they tally with what you thought you were spending. If not, you could try setting up a spending cap on your phone and save the money for a more meaningful purchase.
Play Free Versions of Paid For Games
If you find yourself splashing out on games regularly, then sometimes it’s easy to find free versions of your favourites to play online. In the case of arcade-style games, like slot machines, for example, it can be possible to find free online games that exactly match the ones that you pay for online. With some of these games you don’t need to make a deposit, yet it’s still possible to win money. These can be a great solution for casino and arcade gamers. If you prefer to play another style of online game, then check to see if you can find a similar deal. If not, then playing the demo version of a game before splashing out on the actual title might end up saving you money in the long run. If there’s been a lot of hype around a game before its release, then spending a little time on the demo might actually lead you to find that it isn’t as great as you were hoping, so you can avoid purchasing unless you love it.
Become a Game Tester
Those that enjoy playing demo versions might also enjoy playing versions of games that just aren’t quite ready for public release yet. Games in Beta versions need ‘normal people’ to play them and check that they make sense, look out for glitches, and provide useful feedback before the game is fully finished. If you have an eye for detail and don’t mind playing games with little plot holes or unexpected glitches, then you might find this is the best way of saving some gaming costs. When you get really good at spotting the little flaws that other people miss, you might even be able to find paid work as a games tester, further boosting those savings.
