Joystiq Holidaze: best of Black Friday

By James Ransom-Wiley

[embed=]Stuffed full of poultry, pork, potatoes, pie and gravy you rise from your food coma dazed, angry, and ready to shop. It's still dark outside. Welcome to Black Friday.

We've trimmed the fat and cut the crap, bringing you the gaming highlights from the retail world's annual sale. Remember, the best shopper is an armed a prepared shopper. Use this guide to target the needs of your whiny loved ones, while avoiding bold-lettered traps (Joytip: It's no bargain price if you're cleaning out retail garbage). This year's sales favor Xbox 360 products, though there are valuable savings in the PlayStation 3 department. As for PSP? Not so much (actually, none at all). And only a few Nintendo-brand listings pop out (Joytip: Unless you're camping on the concrete, ignore Wii bundle listings; the console will be as scarce as ever).

This Joystiq guide focuses on brick and mortar retailers (Amazon's Black Friday listings are here) and only includes our recommendations. (Joytip: Each image is linked to additional information about the corresponding product). Please use the comments section to share additional deals you've discovered!

Hardware
  • Joytip: Avoid retailer-assembled bundles that force you to buy games & accessories you don't want
  • Joytip: Don't purchase retailers' replacement plans; manufacturers have solid built-in warranties — especially Nintendo

Xbox 360:

  • Xbox 360 Pro Value Bundle (w/ Forza 2 & Marvel Alliance) & 2 games (choice of: Halo 3, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty 4, or SmackDown! vs. RAW)
    FYE – $419.97 [after $50 mail-in rebate]
  • Xbox 360 Pro Bundle
    Best Buy – $349.99 [free Guitar Hero 2 bundle]
  • Halo 3 Xbox 360 & Halo 3 game
    Target – $459.98 [$60 gift card]
  • Xbox 360 & migrate paid Xbox LIVE subscription (for original Xbox) to Xbox LIVE Gold
    Any retailer – price varies [free Halo 3]
    Offer expires 12/21/07
  • Xbox 360 HD DVD drive
    Wal-Mart – $179.99 [free Heroes Season 1 HD DVD/DVD Set]
  • Xbox 360 HD DVD drive
    Any retailer – $179.99 [5 free HD DVD movies; mail-in form]
    Offer expires 2/28/08


PlayStation 3:

  • 40GB or 80GB PlayStation 3
    BJ's – $299.99/399.99 [$100 instant rebate]
  • 80GB PlayStation3
    Wal-Mart – $499 [10 free Blu-ray movies of choice]
  • Any model PlayStation 3
    Any retailer – price varies [5 free Blu-ray movies; form]
    Offer expires 2/29/08


Nintendo DS:

  • DS Lite Zelda/Nintendogs bundles
    Circuit City – $139.99 [save $10]
  • DS Lite Zelda/Nintendogs bundles
    FYE – $129.99 [after $20 mail-in rebate]


PlayStation 2:

  • PlayStation 2
    FYE – $99.99 [after $30 mail-in rebate]
  • PlayStation 2
    GameStop – $129.99 [receive $30 gift card]
  • Joytip: If you're really in the market for a PS2, why not hold out for the new model?

Software

Xbox 360:

  • Assassin's Creed
    Circuit City – $59.99 [receive $10 gift card]
  • Call of Duty 2
    Circuit City – $9.99 [save $20]
  • Call of Duty 4
    Target – $48 [save $11.99]
  • Gears of War
    Target – $38 [save $21.99]
  • Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
    Best Buy – $20 [save $20]
  • Guitar Hero 2 bundle (includes guitar)
    Circuit City; Kmart; Sears – $59.99 [save $30]
  • Halo 3
    Circuit City – $59.99 [receive $10 gift card]
  • Orange Box
    Kmart – $39.99 [save $20]
  • Project Gotham Racing 4
    Circuit City – $44.99 [save $15]
  • skate
    Target – $48 [save $11.99]


Wii:

  • Super Mario Galaxy
    Circuit City – $34.99 [save $15]


PlayStation 3:

  • Assassin's Creed
    Circuit City – $59.99 [receive $10 gift card]
  • Call of Duty 4
    Target – $48 [save $11.99]
  • Ratchet & Clank Future
    Circuit City – $59.99 [receive $10 gift card]
  • skate
    Target – $48 [save $11.99]


Nintendo DS:

  • Meteos: Disney Magic
    Toys R Us – $9.99 [save $10]


PlayStation 2:

  • Bully
    Circuit City – $9.99 [save $10]
    Joytip: Enhanced Xbox 360 & Wii ports are in the works
  • All EA Sports 08 games
    Wal-Mart – $19.88 ea. [save $10.11]
  • Guitar Hero III bundle (includes guitar)
    Circuit City – $89.99 [receive $10 gift card]

Accessories
  • Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
    Kmart – $39.99 [save $10]
  • Xbox 360 Wireless Headset
    Target – $48 [save $11.99]
  • PS3 Blu-ray Remote
    GameStop – $9.99 [save $15]
  • Joytip: Don't waste $$$ on brick-n-mortar stores' overpriced HDMI cables, shop for cheaper options online: HDMI cables (Amazon) — anyone'll do, really
  • Joytip: Avoid 'cooling systems' like Nyko's infamous Intercooler
  • Joytip: Plastic extensions don't make Wii Sports more fun (but if you must, be less of a sucker by buying the Sports Pack at Circuit City for the $9.99 sale price)
  • Joytip: Consider switching to AA rechargeable batteries for all applicable accessories (they offer longer playtime than battery packs)

Dumpster Diving
  • Buy two used games or accessories, get one free
    GameStop – prices vary [buy 2, get 1 free]
  • Entire stock of games is buy one, get one free [limit 4 free games]
    KBtoys – prices vary [buy 1, get 1 free]

Links to Store Locators

Bonus: Fanboy's Recommend

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