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Cyber-Monday Gaming Deals Demystified

30.11.09

To paraphrase Stan Lee, with great Cyber Monday online and retail game deals comes great responsibility not to rubber stamp them. That said, the pressure's on, especially after a report from the National Retail Federation suggested US consumers spent significantly less at the outset of the holiday season this weekend than over the same period last year.

If you're not already shopped out, here's a glance at what the majors are up to in their effort to tease your wallets (and hearts, and minds) open for the season's second-most-important 24-hour shopping cycle.

(Be sure to check out Ian Paul's general Cyber Monday tech guide for a few more game-related deals .)

Calling their online specials "unbelievable," Wal-Mart lists a Nintendo Wii Value Bundle , which 'includes console, Wii Sports, extra controllers, your choice of games & more' for 'just $249'. The Wii by itself sells for $199 with one remote and Wii Sports (which I've long since stopped thinking of as a bundle game, since you can't buy it standalone). Click "shop now" from the specials page , however, and you'll see the usual disclaimers about the final price depending on options and base price being subject to availability. I can't speak to availability (the site claims "in stock" at the moment) but concerning the bundle itself, you'll have to choose a pink third-party Wii remote and either a fairly old or obscure Wii game to keep the price locked at $249. Opt for the alternatives like "Wii Play with BONUS Remote Wii" or component cables for a high-definition TV and you'll add significant dollars to the final tally. As usual, Wal-Mart hides the price total at the bottom, so you can't see what's a cost-bumper without making a selection, then scrolling to the bottom to see if anything changed and by how much.

Source: PC World