Walyou’s Black Friday Gaming Shopping Guide 2012

Welcome to our handy-dandy guide for finding the best gaming deals on Black Friday.

Black Friday video games image

Here we are again, Thanksgiving week and Black Friday. It’s time to stuff down that turkey feast and get in as much holiday shopping as you can before drifting off in a tryptophan-induced slumber. Ah, what a country!

Like years before one of the hottest commodities – besides flat-screen televisions and laptops – on the Black Friday market are video games and tons of them, including some of this year’s best titles, at cray cray prices, all discounted two-to-three times off their original MSRP.

I have no doubt that’s why you’ve gather here and like the embodiment of Jolly St. Nick – except way skinner and hardly any facial hair – I aim to please by laying out what sweet gaming deals you can expect at big league retailers across the states.

First though, a huge thanks to our value conscious friends over at Cheap Ass Gamer for assembling all this data for the rest of us too ashamedly lazy to do our own research. Hint, hint: me. Yeah, “ain’t I stinker.”

Now, the list below is a rather simplified version compared to larger, in-depth list that can be found over at Cheap Ass Gamer. If you want to see what I didn’t get around to posting (and there was a lot, no kidding), it’s viewable right here. Alrighty, so without stalling much further, let us get to the shopping guide.

Video Game Console Deals

Nintendo Wii

  • Wal-Mart – White Wii System $89 – Thursday at 8pm
  • Sears – Black Wii Bundle* $99.99 – Thursday 8pm to Friday 1pm
  • Target – Black Wii Bundle* + Free Just Dance Kids 2 $119 – Thursday 9pm to Friday 11pm
  • Toys R Us – Black Wii Bundle* + Free LEGO Remote $129.99 – Thursday 8pm to Saturday close

*Includes copy of Wii Sports/Sports Resort

Nintendo 3DS/DSi

  • Best Buy – 3DS Holiday Bundle* $149.99 – Friday 12am
  • Kmart – 3DS Holiday Bundle* + $30 gaming coupon $169.99 – Friday 5am to 11am (Shop Your Way Reward members only)
  • Sears – 3DS Holiday Bundle* $169.99 + $20 in points for Shop Your Way members – Thursday 8pm to Friday 1pm
  • Target – 3DS Holiday Bundle* $199.99 – Thursday 9pm to Friday 11pm
  • GameStop – Limited Edition 3DS Bundle (Super Mario 3D Land Pre-Installed Digital Version) + copy of Nintendogs $169.99 – Friday Only
  • Wal-Mart – DSi XL $99.96 – Thursday 8pm

*Includes Flame Red 3DS & Super Mario Land 3D

PlayStation 3

  • Wal-Mart – PS3 Holiday Bundle* $199.99 – Thursday 8pm
  • Best Buy – PS3 Holiday Bundle* $199.99 – Friday 12am
  • Amazon – PS3 Holiday Bundle* $199.99 – Thursday 5:10 pm to 9:10 pm PST
  • GameStop – PS3 Holiday Bundle* $199.98 – Friday Only
  • Radio Shack – PS3 Holiday Bundle* $219.99 + $40 in-store coupons, Friday 6am to Saturday
  • Target – PS3 Holiday Bundle* $199.99 – Thursday 9pm to Friday 11pm
  • Toys R Us – PS3 Holiday Bundle* + Free Airflo controller $199.99 – Thursday 8PM to Saturday close

*Includes 250GB unit, Uncharted Greatest Hits Dual Pack + inFAMOUS Collection

PlayStation Vita

  • GameStop –Vita (white system) Assassin’s Creed III Liberation Bundle $199.99 – Friday Only
  • Best Buy – Vita Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified Bundle Wi-Fi Bundle $199.99 – Friday 12am
  • Target – Vita WiFi system + Free LEGO Batman 2 $199.99 – Thursday 9pm to Friday 11pm
  • Toys R Us – Vita Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified Bundle + Free 10-in-1 PS Vita Essential Pack $199.99 – Thursday 8pm to Saturday close

Xbox 360

  • Best Buy – XB360 Holiday Bundle* $199.99 at – Friday 12am
  • GameStop – XB360 Holiday Bundle* + Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Friday Only
  • Wal-Mart – XB360 Skylanders Starter Pack Bundle $149.99 – Thursday 8pm
  • Kmart – XB360 4GB Kinect Console $199.99 – Thursday 6am to 4pm
  • Radio Shack – XB360 4GB Console + Free headset + $30 in coupons $169.99 – Friday 6am to Saturday
  • Amazon – XB360 Kinect Holiday Bundle** $199.99 – Thursday 9:10 pm to 11:45 pm PST
  • Target – XB360 Kinect Holiday Bundle** $199 – Thursday 9pm
  • Sears – XB360 4GB Kinect Bundle $219.99 + 50% off Assassin’s Creed III or Epic Mickey 2 – Thursday 8pm to Friday 1pm
  • Toys R Us – XB360 4GB Kinect Console + Free Air Flo Controller + 50% off 3 months of Xbox Live $249.99 – Thursday 8pm to Saturday close

*Includes 250GB unit, Forza Motorsport 4, and Skyrim
**Includes 4GB unit, Disneyland Adventures, and Kinect Adventures

Video Game Deals

Assassins Creed III

  • PS3/XB360 – $34.99 at Best Buy – Thursday
  • XB360 – $38.96 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm
  • XB360 – $59.99 + $20 gift card at Target – Thursday 9pm
  • PS3/ XB360 – $49.99 at GameStop – Friday & Saturday

Batman Arkham City

  • PS3/ XB360 – GOTY Edition $19.99 at GameStop – Friday and Saturday
  • PS3/ XB360/PC – GOTY Edition $10 at Amazon – Thursday 9:10 pm to 11:45 pm PST
  • XB360 – GOTY Edition $14.99 at Kmart – Thursday, Friday, Saturday
  • PS3 – GOTY Edition $10 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm
  • XB60 – Regular Edition $10 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm

Battlefield 3 Premium

  • XB360 – $25 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm
  • PS3/XB360 – $29.99 at Best Buy – Friday 12am
  • PS3/ XB360/PC – $29.99 at GameStop – Friday Only

Borderlands 2

  • PS3/XB360 – $25 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm
  • PS3/XB360 – $34.99 at Best Buy – Friday 12am
  • XB360 – $34.99 at Target – Thursday 9pm
  • PS3/XB360 – $39.99 at GameStop – Friday & Saturday

Dance Central 3

  • XB Kinect – $24.99 Best Buy Exclusive Edition with 2 Bonus Tracks – Friday 12am
  • XB Kinect – $29.99 at GameStop – Friday Only
  • XB Kinect – $29.99 at Kmart – Thursday, Friday, Saturday
  • XB Kinect – $15 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm

Darksiders II

  • PS3/XB360 – $29.99 at Best Buy – Friday 12am
  • PS3/XB360 – $29.99 at Amazon – Thursday 1:10 pm to 5:10 pm PST

Diablo III

  • PC – $29.99 at GameStop – Friday and Saturday
  • PC – $34.99 at Best Buy – Thursday

Dishonored

  • XB360 – $25 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm
  • PS3/XB360/PC – $25 at Amazon – Thursday 1:10 pm to 5:10 pm PST
  • XB360 – $29.99 at Kmart – Thursday to Saturday
  • PS3/XB360 – $29.99 at GameStop – Friday and Saturday
  • PS3/XB360 – Eligible for buy 1, get 1 free at Toys R Us – Thursday 8pm to Saturday close

FIFA Soccer 13

  • XB360 – $25 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm
  • PS3/XB360/WiiU – $25 at Amazon – Thursday 1:10 pm – 5:10 pm PST
  • PS3/XB360 – $34.99 at Best Buy – Friday 12am
  • PS3/XB360 – $34.99 at Kmart – Thursday 6am to 4pm
  • PS3/XB360 – $39.99 at GameStop – Friday and Saturday

Forza Horizon

  • XB360 – $15 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm
  • XB360 – $34.99 at Best Buy – Friday 12am
  • XB360 – $34.99 at Kmart – Thursday 6am to 4pm
  • XB360 – $59.99 + $20 gift card at Target – Thursday 9pm
  • XB360 – $39.99 at GameStop – Friday Only

Halo 4

  • XB360 – $59.99 + $20 gift card at Target – Thursday 9pm

Just Dance 4

  • XB360/Wii – $25 at Amazon – Thursday 5:10 pm to 9:10 pm PST
  • Wii – $39.99 with free $10 gift card at Target – Thursday 9pm

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

  • 3DS – $14.99 at Best Buy – Friday 12am
  • 3DS – $19.99 at GameStop – Friday Only
  • 3DS – $19.99 at Toys R Us – Thursday 8pm to Saturday close

Madden NFL 13

  • PS3/XB360 – $25 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm
  • PS3/XB360 – $25 at Amazon – Thursday 9:10 am to 1:10 pm PST
  • PS3/XB360 – $34.99 at Best Buy – Thursday
  • PS3/XB360 – $34.99 at Kmart – Thursday 6am to 4pm
  • PS3/XB360 – $34.99 at Target – Thursday 9pm
  • PS3/XB360 – $39.99 at GameStop – Friday & Saturday
  • PS3/XB360 – Eligible for buy 1, get 1 free at Toys R Us – Thursday 8pm to Saturday close

Mortal Kombat

  • PSV – $14.99 at Best Buy – Friday 12am
  • PSV – $14.99 at GameStop – Friday Only

NBA 2K13

  • XB360 – $25 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm
  • PS3/XB360 – $25 at Amazon – Thursday 1:10 pm to 5:10 pm PST

Need for Speed: Most Wanted

  • XB360 – $25 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm
  • PS3/XB360 – $29.99 at GameStop – Friday Only
  • PS3/XB360 – $29.99 at Best Buy – Friday 12am
  • XB360 – $34.99 at Target – Thursday 9pm
  • PS3/XB360 – $34.99 at Kmart – Thursday 6am to 4pm
  • PS3/XB360 – Eligible for buy 1, get 1 free at Toys R Us – Thursday 8pm to Saturday close

Ratchet & Clank HD Collection

  • PS3 – $15 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm
  • PS3 – $19.99 at GameStop – Friday Only
  • PS3 – $15.00 at Amazon – Thursday 9:10 pm to 11:45 pm PST

Sleeping Dogs

  • PS3/XB360 $29.99 at GameStop – Friday Only
  • PS3/XB360 – Eligible for buy 1, get 1 free at Toys R Us – Thursday 8pm to Saturday close

Super Mario 3D Land

  • 3DS – $29.99 at Kmart – Friday 5am to11am

Super Mario Bros Wii U

  • Wii U – Free New Super Mario Bros Wii U game with $40 purchase at Old Navy, doorbuster with very limited quantities

The Amazing Spider-Man

  • PS3/XB360 – $25.00 at Amazon – Thursday 5:10 pm – 9:10 pm PST
  • PS3/XB360 – $29.99 at Best Buy – Friday 12am
  • PS3/XB360 – $25 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm
  • 3DS/DSi – $19.99 at Toys R Us – Thursday 8pm to Saturday close

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

  • XB360 – $25 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm
  • PS3/XB360 – $25 at Amazon – Thursday 5:10 am – 9:10 am PST
  • PS3/XB360 – $29.99 at GameStop – Friday Only

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

  • 3DS – $19.99 at GameStop – Friday Only

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

  • PS3/XB360 – $25 at Wal-Mart – Thursday 8pm

That does it for me and Black Friday, but before I go I want to wish you, your family, and friends a happy and safe Thanksgiving from all of us at Walyou, purveyors of all things geeky like R2-D2 rebuilt with soda cans and digital short films about Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda.