Video Games How do you decide how much to spend on games?

For many of us, video games are seen as an essential source of entertainment. Just as we are happy to go to the cinema, to buy a CD, or to buy a DVD, so we see gaming as an experience that helps us to enjoy ourselves.

As with those other forms of entertainment, there is obviously an associated cost. Although there are some free games available to us, particularly online, these tend to have limited appeal. Those that tempt us to play for free will often ask for payment at a later stage, in order to unlock different elements.

What this means is that we'll often end up paying for games that offer a more enticing experience. Whether we are planning to play games on a console, on a PC, or video a tablet, there's an associated cost. It's necessary to set aside some money for these purchases, even if you don't give that fact an enormous amount of thought.

You may, of course, be in the fortunate position of never really needing to worry about how much you spend on any forms of entertainment. If this describes your own situation, then there will undoubtedly be reassurance in the fact that you can buy games on the release date, without fear of spending too much money.

Even so, there may be a desire to understand exactly how much is being spent. For most people, of course, this can be seen as being even more of a priority. You may well be in the habit of limiting your purchases, in order to ensure that you can actually afford new games, without dipping into your overdraft.

Personally, I've found that it helps a lot to concentrate on a relatively small number of games. This isn't something that I have seen as being a response to the need to prioritise my spending. Rather, it's simply proved to be the case that I'll choose a game and then play it for hours on end. I feel that clear need to master it, wishing to move on to the next level, or find the right strategy.

This approach tends to restrict spending, simply because there's a limit on how many hours I will spend playing games during any week or month. Things might be different, if I didn't need to work, but this is the clear reality of my own situation.

You may take a different view, preferring to dip in and out of individual games. I'm certainly aware of the fact that some people are prepared to spend considerably more time playing games, which presumably means that they may get bored at an earlier stage. That opens the possibility to them seeking out new games at regular intervals.

It's also important that you should remember costs that aren't always obvious at the outset. As an example, you may find that you're in a situation where you choose to buy upgrades, or pay an ongoing subscription.

Find out about a range of games to suit your interests, as discussed by Keith Barrett. This article may be used by any website publisher, though this resource box must always be included in full.