Reduced Price Game Guides: Thread XI

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IAmTheCheapestGamer

IAmTheCheapestGamer

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First off, let me welcome you all to the new guide thread. Second, I'd like to ask you all to please keep conversations not pertaining to guide drops to a minimum to avoid cluttering the thread. It's not that I don't enjoy the chit chat, but that it may stop others from locating information on the newest drops.

That being said, let me thank Cheapy for creating this site, without which I would've spent probably 10 times what I HAVE spent on games and guides. Moreover, let me thank each and every one of my fellow CAGs for continuing to contribute to making this site a great place to find out about sales and clearances of the items we as gamers use most. Without a great community, NONE of this would be possible.


Now, with that out of the way(and before I get to rambling), let's get on to making this new thread.

Useful Information(and links):

Game Guide Trade Thread(KEEP ALL TRADE REQUESTS HERE OR IN PM'S):

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175548

PLEASE keep ALL trade requests in there or PM's. Thank you.

Reduced Price Guide Discussion Thread(KEEP ALL DISCUSSION NOT RELATED TO GUIDE DROPS HERE!!!):

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169252

What is the purpose of this thread?

The purpose of this thread is to let our fellow CAGs know when a guide has dropped to a low price(it's NOT ALWAYS A PENNY), so they can go out and grab guides for themselves and for trading with other CAGs.

Anytime you have guide drops to report, post them here. Please specify at which store you found them and which guides you found and list them in alphabetical order. Thank you. Please, whenever possible, use RED font to make the drop info stand out. Thanks again.

What are penny guides?

Penny guides are guides which have been on the market for a while and the publisher(or store chain) decide that the remaining stock of these guides have little to no chance of selling, so they issue an order to pull them from the shelves and destroy them. At that time, they are also marked as .01 in their inventory system, except in the case of BBV, which marks them .01 only AFTER pulling them.

Most stores have an agreement with the publisher that states that if they destroy the remaining stock of those items, they will receive a credit for their value from the publisher. This is why many stores are usually annoyed when we CAGs come in and buy the guides AT the penny price, since otherwise they would've received a credit for those items.

According to an employee at a local BB, they also have a recycling program for the pennied stock, so as to not clutter landfill space with the guides. As to how true it is, I cannot confirm, but I would hope that the paper is at least recycled instead of just dumpstered.


Prior Reduced price game guide threads:

Guide Three:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...ighlight=guide
Guide Four:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/....php?p=1496376
Guide Five:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...ad.php?t=85976
Guide Six:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=116918
Guide Seven:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=131717
Guide Seven and a half:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=142400
Guide Eight:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=167157
Guide Nine:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=187222
Guide Ten:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219547

Finally, below is a list of website links, each of which goes to their respective guide page. Whenever possible, I will update the links with better ones(if available).

Amazon
Barnes&Noble
BestBuy
Gamestop
Overstock
Strategyguides.net
ToysRUs

Thanks to floormat, Guinaevere and anyone else who has created and maintained the guide thread before, as well as to all of those who find out either advance information on drops or provide a list of which ones dropped when we do have a drop.

The post below this one contains a list going back at LEAST six months of the more current guide drops, which stores they occured at and which ones dropped. Note that sometimes(Oblivion guide, Quake Wars: Enemy Territory)there are multiple versions of a guide, be it that there are Prima versions, Brady versions and the occasional Nintendo and Doublejump guides.

Please specify WHICH version has dropped when mentioning possible guide drops. Thank you.

Common Guide Drop Related Questions(FAQ):

FAQ - If you are new (or a vet with a few questions) look here SECOND! (After reading the above!)

Q: What Are Penny Guides?
A: Penny guides are guides which have been on the market for a while and the publisher(or store chain) decide that the remaining stock of these guides have little to no chance of selling, so they issue an order to pull them from the shelves and destroy them. At that time, they are also marked as .01 in their inventory system, except in the case of BBV, which marks them .01 only AFTER pulling them.

Most stores have an agreement with the publisher that states that if they destroy the remaining stock of those items, they will receive a credit for their value from the publisher. This is why many stores are usually annoyed when we CAGs come in and buy the guides AT the penny price, since otherwise they would've received a full credit for those items.

According to an employee at a local BB, they also have a recycling program for the pennied stock, so as to not clutter landfill space with the guides. As to how true it is, I cannot confirm, but I would hope that the paper is at least recycled instead of just dumpstered.

Q: Do all guides from all stores drop at the same time?
A: No. While most chains have nationwide drops within their own store (as in every BB will have the same drops coast to coast), not every different chain drops at the same time (what drops at BB is NOT necessarily dropped at GS). When in doubt, check post TWO for drop info.

Q: I found a penny guide and a clerk denied me! I'ma report 'em!
A: Whoa, hold your horses there, pardner! First of all, not a question. Second, just because something is on the shelf, the clerk does NOT have to sell you that item. Most stores are PRIVATE property and as such can deny you just about anything they want - including a sale. The best advice is to not be rude, not be arrogant, and just try hard to get them to have pity on you.

Q: Why don't the clerks want to sell me their penny guides? Aren't they just throwing them away?
A: As stated above, the stores are ordered by the publisher to trash the guides, and are then given credit for those guides. If they don't do this, the publisher won't give them the credit - it's like losing a sale. On the employee level, selling a penny guide can sometimes get them in trouble (or even fired!) I know it seems silly, but this is their job we're talking about! Respect the man (or woman) behind the counter and you'll get a lot more guides than otherwise!

Q: Should I just ask if the store has penny guides then?
A: No, since that denotes that you have some insider information as to the runnings of these businesses.

Q: What if the clerk wants to know how I know so much about guide drops?
A: If asked where you got your info about guides that pennied, simply say either 'the internet' or 'a friend of mine told me they're on clearance'.

Q: But clerks will know what a penny guide is, right? I can talk to them like anyone else here...
A: Never use the word pennied to ANY store clerks unless you have built up a good rapport with them. Even then, it may seem a little fishy if you know more about their shop than they do.

Q: Are guides labeled as a penny on the shelf?
A: Sometimes. Most times, no. GS seems to label everything that gets a price drop, so often times guides will be stickered. But even so, they most likely won't sell them to you. A sticker does not mean 'have to sell'.

Q: I tried to buy a guide that this thread said was pennied and it didn't ring up as such! What gives?
A: Either 1) Our source was wrong (this rarely happens and is usually verified a FEW times within maybe an hour of posting), or 2) The clerk changed the price. It's usually number 2.

Q: What's the easiest way to get penny guides? This sounds like TONS of work!
A: Best Buy is probably the best place to get guides, followed by GameStop, GameCrazy, Toys R Us and then Blockbuster. From what I've seen though, probably 95% of guides that people get are snagged at BB - the rest come from the other stores. But it never hurts to try!

Q: Has there been a drop recently?
A: If you are asking this question you didn't fully understand the OP - go back and read it once more. When a drop happens, it will be posted, and then placed in the second post - trust us.

Q: How do you guys know so much about penny guides?
A: We sometimes have inside sources with the information from the stores themselves; other times, fellow CAGS just like you or me simply take suspected guides to the register and ask them to ring them up, to check their prices. Feel free to do this yourself, and help give back to the community by telling us what you find! However, DON'T ask "Has anyone checked XXX lately?", unless you are in the right thread (discussion area).

Thanks to GrilledWitOnions for creating the above FAQ, which should eliminate the need for such questions popping up in the thread from this point on out.
 
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[quote name='JordanPlayer']Well, I did pick up Demon's Souls for $30 just to have something else at checkout... I didn't even come close to cleaning the place out either; just got what I wanted and an extra. They still had a couple GoW 3 CE guides I left, and they had plenty leftovers of all of the regular guides on this drop. I don't like hoarding everything on the first time, just in case there are any other CAGers in the area looking for stuff. Will probably swing by the place again tomorrow and double-dip if the guides are still on the shelves:D At another BB I found a couple of Crackdown 2 guides and another Kane & Lynch 2 and checked out for 3 cents. I just chit-chat with the cashiers (both women if it really matters) and they just remarked at how cheap the guides were.[/QUOTE]

Ya, with BB penny guides if you're not there day 1 of the drop hope that BB employees are still lazy and leave some.
 
Before I list my final tally for the day, I will say two things so I don't get flamed:
I took all the LEs I found since I didn't want them pulled after I left and before someone else could get there.
I left some of the other guides at both stores, but one was pulling the ones I left when I went back in a few minutes later to check on GoW LEs. The other store still had what I left out when I went back to grab the GoW LEs. (I missed that when putting the list on my phone this morning)

Ok, here's the final tally from two stores:
Bioshock 2 LEs: 4
Alan Wake LEs: 3
GoW III LEs: 4
BF Bad Company 2: 1
Red Steel 2: 1 (no idea why I could only find one of each of those)
Alpha Protocol: 6
Pokemon Platinum: 4
Dead to Rights Retribution: 4
Mod Nation Racers: 4
Star Wars TFU: 5/6 (can't tell without getting up atm, and I'm feeling lazy right now :p )
Iron Man 2: 2
Kane & Lynch 2 Dog Days: 3
Crackdown 2: 4
Bakugan Battle Brawlers: 9

Should total up to 54 if I didn't forget any in my car. :p

Oh, before people start PMing me about the LEs, two local cags have first dibs after I take out what I am keeping for myself.
 
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none in sunnyvale pulled. probably pulled all in south bay from what i remember from previous times. also there are a lot of caggers and sders.
can't be botehred to check the resst.
 
BB #2 actually had some guides - got my Alan Wake LE, but no Bioshock unfortunately.
I grabbed a couple other guides i remembered from the drop, but only for trade fodder.
 
[quote name='kk012']Did anyone check the BBs in SF Bay Area, yet? I can't go until after work:([/QUOTE]

Don't bother going to San Carlos, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, San Jose, Blossom Hills, or Santana Row. Aside from Mountain View, they were all either pulled or cleaned out.

Mountain View had a huge stack of Bakugan guides if you're interested in those, and a couple of Red Steel 2 guides when I left there around noon. No idea if they're still there though.

I managed to find 2 Alan Wakes and a couple of regular guides, but didn't find any Bioshock 2 CE. :( I really wanted a couple to collect the picture set that's included in those.
 
[quote name='HaLLuZiNaTiOnZ']Went to second bb, nothing. Only finding regular guide got Alan wake not ce version.

Is the star ocean last hope guide rare? Saw like 3 of those....[/QUOTE]
I assume you mean the "International" version. It's not really rare. I have sold a couple on eBay, but only to International buyers, so I assume it is not available overseas.
 
Pacoima & Porter Ranch BB stores pulled all the penny guides. I did find a misplaced Crackdown 2 in the Pacoima store, so brought it home even though I don't want it.

dabamus I sent you a PM =) I was really hoping to bring home Bioshock 2, Alan Wake, Alpha Protocol, & God of War III so anyone willing to sell, trade, or a combo of both please PM me.

BTW what does BB do with guides they pull off the shelves? Any chance on a successful dumpster dive?
 
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[quote name='RedFoxCommando']So I'm standing in front of a full rack of game guides, you mean to tell me that they are only 1 cent right now?[/QUOTE]

If they're on the list, then yes! Dibs on Bioshock 2 CEs please!
 
@ragingst0rm6 and judgedee, thanks for update. i haven't had much luck at the local BBs. it definitely doesn't help much when this drop was posted on SD. good luck to all the other CAGs!
 
Hmmm, I posted but it didn't show...so here goes again. Pacoima & Porter Ranch BB stores pulled all the penny guides. I did find a misplaced Crackdown 2 in the Pacoima store, so brought it home even though I don't want it.

dabamus I sent you a PM =) I was really hoping to bring home Bioshock 2, Alan Wake, Alpha Protocol, & God of War III so anyone willing to sell, trade, or a combo of both please PM me.

BTW what does BB do with guides they pull off the shelves? Any chance on a successful dumpster dive?
 
[quote name='ZCG']Pacoima & Porter Ranch BB stores pulled all the penny guides. I did find a misplaced Crackdown 2 in the Pacoima store, so brought it home even though I don't want it.

dabamus I sent you a PM =) I was really hoping to bring home Bioshock 2, Alan Wake, Alpha Protocol, & God of War III so anyone willing to sell, trade, or a combo of both please PM me.

BTW what does BB do with guides they pull off the shelves? Any chance on a successful dumpster dive?[/QUOTE]
No chance of dumpster diving for them at BB unless your BB is one of the ones that doesn't have an enclosed dumpster of the compactor variety. Otherwise once the guides are pulled they go into the dumpster and that's it for them.

Wouldn't it figure that as soon as I'm not feeling good is when BB has another fuckin' drop. Maybe if I'm not limping too bad tomorrow I'll try to get out and go to the closer store and see if anything is left.
 
I am not going to lie, I was greedy but not too greddy.

Bioshock 2 LE Guide (x2) they had 4 of them
GoW 3 LE Guide (x3) they had atleast 7
Alan Wake LE Guide (x2) they had 3
Dead to Rights: Retribution (x4) they had a shit ton of these
ModNation Racers (x2) they had 3
 
So my BB had 1 copy of the GOW 3 LE guide...problem was it was missing the barcode...instead it had a slip of paper on it with the SKU but whatever employee put the SKU on put the one from the reg edition so it rang up at 19.99. Sucks but w/e I wasn't gonna argue that it was the wrong SKU just to have them look it up and tell me they couldn't sell it to me. I did manage to get Dead to Rights Retribution though.
 
OK....so since I just skimmed all of the posts since this drop was reported(and didn't see any master list posted in RED), I'll assume THIS is the correct and complete list and update the second and third posts in a bit:

Alan Wake LE
Alpha Protocol
Bakugan
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Bioshock 2 LE
Codes And Cheats Spring 2010
Crackdown II
Dead To Rights: Retribution
God Of War III LE
Iron Man 2
Kane & Lynch II: Dog Days
ModNation Racers
Nintendo DS Pocket Guide
Pokemon Platinum
Red Steel 2
Singularity
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Thanks to Shan82 and Shrike for compiling the list.
 
Second post updated....will work on updating the third post in a bit....btw wtf is that weird A with a line over it in between the 1 and the ¢ on the lists in the second post?

It's weird and I don't recall it being on there when I updated the post last.
 
Just got back from BB and luckily they hadnt pulled thier guides.

Grabbed:
Alan Wake LE (2) one for a friend
Crackdown 2
Kane and Lynch
Nintendo DS pocket guide
Alpha Protocal
Dead to Rights

Missed out on the BioShock 2 one which I wanted real bad, GOW 3, and ModNation Racers one.
 
[quote name='bruticus']
Missed out on the BioShock 2 one which I wanted real bad, GOW 3, and ModNation Racers one.[/QUOTE]

I'd trade my ModNation Racers for an Alan Wake, but you'll have to tell your friend that you only managed to find one.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']OK....so since I just skimmed all of the posts since this drop was reported(and didn't see any master list posted in RED), I'll assume THIS is the correct and complete list and update the second and third posts in a bit:

Alan Wake LE
Alpha Protocol
Bakugan
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Bioshock 2 LE
Codes And Cheats Spring 2010
Crackdown II
Dead To Rights: Retribution
God Of War III LE
Iron Man 2
Kane & Lynch II: Dog Days
ModNation Racers
Nintendo DS Pocket Guide
Pokemon Platinum
Red Steel 2
Singularity
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Thanks to Shan82 and Shrike for compiling the list.[/QUOTE]

Appears to be right from what I've gathered today. Checked each guide in system before I left today and didn't see anything else.
 
[quote name='iKilledChewbacca']I saw atleast 3 Assasin's Creedd II LE Guides, have they dropped yet ?[/QUOTE]

I'm pretty sure it did at GS but not at BB.
 
Had to do some fast talking with the kid at the checkout to convince him they rang up accurately and then waited about 10 minutes for a price check on one without a barcode, but I got:

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (from the *last* drop!)
Codes and Cheats
DS Pocket Guide
Red Steel 2

They had a lot more guides, but with the exception of Red Steel 2 I only took ones I wanted. I was bummed that they didn't have SW:TFU and Pokemon Platinum, though.
 
[quote name='loxthefox']Appears to be right from what I've gathered today. Checked each guide in system before I left today and didn't see anything else.[/QUOTE]
Alright. Thanks lox.

And BTW people, there is a game guide trading thread, please take all trade requests there.

It's located HERE .

Thanks.
 
I literally found all of todays drops except Battlefield Bad Company 2 (and all at one store!).

Around the end of October, the I'll put the ones I have x2 of up for trade on CAG. I literally haven't found more than 1 or 2 a Pennied Guides for a little over 2 years. There's a great deal of old stuff I will trade for. If you didn't find anything today, don't fret too much because you might end up getting some of them from me. I'm very very busy with school the next few weeks though, so it won't be for a while I'm afraid.

I got 2 copies of a lot of stuff so I'd have an extra for my friends, family and co workers. Whatever's leftover after they get their picks are going up for trade (once I make a page in the CAG trading thread).

x1 Alan Wake LE
x1 Alpha Protocol
x2 Bakugan
x1 Bioshock 2 LE
x2 Codes And Cheats Spring 2010
x2 Crackdown II
x1 Dead To Rights: Retribution
x4 God of War III LE - I'm not going to lie. I hoarded these. I'll make sure they get into the hands of fellow CAGs.
x2 Iron Man 2
x2 Kane & Lynch II: Dog Days
x2 ModNation Racers
x2 Nintendo DS Pocket Guide
x2 Pokemon Platinum
x2 Red Steel 2
x2 Singularity
x2 Star Wars: The Force Unleased

x1 Evil Dead Blu Ray - $9.99 :p

I left copies of everything except the ones I only found x1 of. If them shits are still sitting there this weekend, I'm picking more up. I bet they're gone by now, so it's very doubtful. This store had literally around 25 copies of Pokemon Silver and 25 copies of Bakugan still after I left. Ridiculous.

I also found a copy of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time and 2 copies of Codes and Cheats Winter 2010.

These are the first guides I've found in years, so I'm completely ecstatic. I have a GOWIII CE game sealed, an Alan Wake CE game sealed, and Bioshock II game sealed all begging to be played. I'm so happy to have the CE guidebooks to go with them. Thank you so much to the people who found out about these drops today. You guys are the best. I just about doubled my guide collection today!
 
Well I am not going to lie, when Ballbarfer woke up this morning and saw this post his balls barfed cuz he was so happy to finally get a chance at some dropped guides for the first time in 7 months! Also not gonna lie but i cleared out a BB thats way out in the middle of nowhere. I was able to get everything on list (traded most of it into a local game store for over $120 in store credit which i'll use to get Fallout NEW VEGAS and SW Force Unleashed 2 in two to three week) but will be keeping for myself;

Alan Wake LE x2
God of War 3 LE x3
Bioshock 2 LE x4

Went to two other BBs that are closer but as usual they pulled everything in site!
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']
Wouldn't it figure that as soon as I'm not feeling good is when BB has another fuckin' drop. Maybe if I'm not limping too bad tomorrow I'll try to get out and go to the closer store and see if anything is left.[/QUOTE]

I feel ya man. I've had a terrible upper respiratory infection for the past week. I finished taking all my antibiotics yesterday. Just carrying the freaking guides wore me the fuck out me. If I didn't have an exam today, I wouldn't have even driven to Best Buy on the way to school. So on one hand I feel like I'm slowly dying of aids, and on the other hand I feel like I won the lottery for finding guides. :bouncy:
 
My BB was a goldmine

I picked up 18 copies each of

Alan Wake
GoW III
Bioshock 2
SW:STFU

love those CEs.

and by 18, i mean 1.

thank you loxthefox!
 
[quote name='SonictheHedgehog1337']I feel ya man. I've had a terrible upper respiratory infection for the past week. I finished taking all my antibiotics yesterday. Just carrying the freaking guides wore me the fuck out me. If I didn't have an exam today, I wouldn't have even driven to Best Buy on the way to school. So on one hand I feel like I'm slowly dying of aids, and on the other hand I feel like I won the lottery for finding guides. :bouncy:[/QUOTE]
If I weren't walking around like Hugh Laurie's character from House, M.D. over the last couple of days, then I would've probably been there right at opening this morning to see what I could've grabbed.

But seeing as how any pressure I put on my foot last night sent waves of pain up my leg I wasn't even able to check CAG until about 2-3 hours ago, which is probably far too late for me to get in on this drop.

I didn't need anything from this drop anyway, but it would've been nice to have a bit more trade fodder for when I DO want a guide(like the Just Cause 2 or Dead Rising 2 ones).
 
I just looked at their listings, was it really worth their time to list and ship some of those guides for $1.49 and $1.99? They'd be lucky to make over $1.
 
[quote name='confoosious']why? is he undercutting you? :roll:[/QUOTE]

Yes. I was going to pull them off anyways, but you don't undercut by $5+... that kills the market...
 
[quote name='YoshiFan1']I just looked at their listings, was it really worth their time to list and ship some of those guides for $1.49 and $1.99? They'd be lucky to make over $1.[/QUOTE]

Exactly. That's why I only bothered putting the LEs up for a short while to see if there was any interest.
 
actually, all the undercutters are awesome. Since they kill the market and if you miss out on a guide drop, you can get most guides for $5, which is worth it if you want it and you don't to waste gas.

I certainly don't feel sorry for the resellers on here who pick up every guide.
 
^^^^^^^^^^^ Wow, took me about a total of 20 seconds to find his half.com page. You shouldn't even post his name because you're giving his free publicity right now on this thread.
 
Finally picked up one of each EXCEPT Kane and Lynch 2, which was one I actually wanted...Funny I get there and theres another guy from slickdeals prolly who didnt know what he was doing so he just grabbed as much stuff as he could. (most of it not pennied). when the first 3 things at the register rang up full price for him, he left the entire stash. So I asked the cashier if I could look through them, and lo and behold a bioshock 2 LE that was left. I was def. happy at that find haha.
 
Struck out twice today. THe Sidney Marcus store in Atlanta only has a Sabouteur guide from the last drop and the Pleasant Hill store has a Bowser Inside Story guide. Left em both.
 
[quote name='ballbarfer']Well I am not going to lie, when Ballbarfer woke up this morning and saw this post his balls barfed cuz he was so happy to finally get a chance at some dropped guides for the first time in 7 months! Also not gonna lie but i cleared out a BB thats way out in the middle of nowhere. I was able to get everything on list (traded most of it into a local game store for over $120 in store credit which i'll use to get Fallout NEW VEGAS and SW Force Unleashed 2 in two to three week) but will be keeping for myself;

Alan Wake LE x2
God of War 3 LE x3
Bioshock 2 LE x4

Went to two other BBs that are closer but as usual they pulled everything in site![/QUOTE]

xD game stores actually accept game guides for trade in credit?
 
Went to the Ashwaubenon Best Buy today, nothing. Actually, they never have much in the way of guides... One small rack dotted with guides, and an endcap with a bunch of Halo guides and such. I don't think I've actually seen most of the guides mentioned in the drop there before. Oh well, it was worth a shot.
 
[quote name='arsenalcrazy8']Finally picked up one of each EXCEPT Kane and Lynch 2, which was one I actually wanted...Funny I get there and theres another guy from slickdeals prolly who didnt know what he was doing so he just grabbed as much stuff as he could. (most of it not pennied). when the first 3 things at the register rang up full price for him, he left the entire stash. So I asked the cashier if I could look through them, and lo and behold a bioshock 2 LE that was left. I was def. happy at that find haha.[/QUOTE]

Classic! That's pretty funny. If I wasn't so exhausted, I'd be LOLing right now. I feel bad for the BB employees who have to carry that shit to the back of the store and organize it. But I'm happy you got a Bioshock 2 LE and that fuckkuckle didn't.:applause:
 
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