The problem with sports games is that they come out each year. MLB The Show, Madden, NBA 2K, NHL, whatever else I'm missing. So when it's time to buy a new $60 game, the older ones are super cheap.

Like when all the 2019 versions came out, most of the 2018 versions were selling for $10 already.

So when do you buy them? Do you pay full price right when the game comes out? Do you wait for the first sale? Do you wait until a new game comes out and get the previous years one?

I never buy a new sports game unless it's racing. For most sports I'll get the one that's 1 or 2 years old for $10 or less.

zanderlex :

Consumers are strange like that. There are people out there who will go to great lengths to get the latest version despite the fact a new version is already in the works for next year. I simply do not buy them period. If I did, I'd only get one version of the game and that is that.

Also, you got to put this into consideration:



Image upload: 580x430 totaling 27 KB's.

I don't buy sports games very often and usually only if there is a significant change to the game. There isn't much point in buying the game for a single year roster update and there have been plenty of cases where that is basically all people got. Of course the menu got a bit of a tweak and maybe a feature or 2 got refined.

It's only worth full price when the game has been improved significantly or you're on a new console.

I never buy sports games unless they have something to make them feel truly different from the rest. Games like Madden and FIFA just come off as the same thing every year.

geeogree : For the kinds of games I play, I rarely see any changes even after a few years. Like for MLB The Show I usually have to skip 2-3 years for the console versions.

It's easier to play older games now because for most games, the community uploads updated rosters for players to download, so you can have a current team in a 3 year old game.

Also not really big on sports games though I'll say I'm a sucker for basketball games sometimes. I haven't bought one in forever though, last one I got was maybe the NBA 2K17 and I got it since it was free for PS+. Maybe it was 2K18 but I'm not positive. I've been meaning to try it but the space on my PS4 is pretty limited so I'll have to clear the backlog on my games list first.

If I were to choose a time frame for when I'd update the games though, I'd probably buy them once every 3 years.

Depends on the sport.

For MLB the Show, NBA 2k, and WWE 2k, I purchase the newest one every single year. Regardless of the improvements on each one. I just like updated rosters, and graphics for those games, since I play them constantly.

For Madden, it's every other year. I haven't bought a consecutive Madden title since I was a child. I can go two years before the football itch returns.

For FIFA, it depends on what is on offer. I haven't bought a FIFA title the last two years. Might be tempted to buy this year's. Dunno yet. I care more about the World Cup, but they haven't made a true World Cup title since 2014.

I almost never buy new sports games, unless you count Mario Kart. I really take advantage of the bargain bins...Fifa 14 for $2.99? Yes, please!

I also don't have a PS4 or Xbox One, with no plans to get either (although if I happen to perchance win one, I may welcome that). I game mostly on PC or mobile these days, though I do revisit the Wii U and 3DS from time to time.

I never buy the games new, and I only buy “upgrades” if a new team I like (ex. NHL 18 with vegas) gets added, then I normally buy it. I have a ton of the older madden games (99-06) mainly because of how cheap they are, and they offer different types of customizables.

I still play NBA 15 (with OKC Kevin Durant on the cover) and F1 2014, because they were cheap and play just as well as the newer ones.

Barathemos : Man those old Madden games must be next to free by now. Heck, the ones that are only a fee years old cost like $2.

I can't wait until the Switch sports games get that cheap.

dark mode : There used to be a retro game store near my house, the most I ever paid for a madden game was $6 and that was for Madden 2005 on the GameCube. I got tons of NES, SNES, N64, and GameCube games for under $3. That was a great time.

It’ll likely be yearssssss before any switch games go for anything remotely close to that low but when they do, I’ll be all over it.

I play a lot of sports games honestly, They're pretty much my chill games if that makes sense, I'll play them when I don't really feel like playing much that requires much thought.

As to when I buy them it really depends on the franchise.

FIFA I pretty much usually buy on release, Even if the changes are pretty much non existent I usually get 50 hours plus on each game because the small things they change also changes how the AI plays, and I like to play on legendary with my home team.. It's challenging but fun. I HOWEVER don't do the FUT trading card stuff though.. It's a cash grab.

Madden is basically the "ehhh, I guess I'll try it game" so it can be literally any time in the year... Bought madden 18 near that years super bowl (not sure if there's already been one after that super bowl that is) and haven't got the new one yet.

F1 is a fun racing game that I enjoy playing as the little teams in, I actually ignored this series for a bit but actually got interested in 2016 and now buy it yearly. 

WRC I buy every release on launch.. To those who don't know what WRC is.. It's a rally game. 

Never played a MLB game. Cant stand the NBA games despite trying a few, and the WWE games get worse each year so I stopped buying them in 2017. 

Finally I buy tennis games whenever they come out hoping to actually get a decent one... No luck as of yet either... AO tennis is alright and tennis world tour is sub par..

Sorry this got so long.. I play a lot of games lol.