Judge James is the Local Editor of the Victoria Advocate, James David Herd. In this column, he presents his opinions on all things entertainment, from movies to video games to everything in-between. Email topic ideas to James at [email protected] or call him at 361-574-1285.

I like to—jokingly—say I am a cheapskate. In all seriousness though, the truth is I know how it feels to be incredibly, incredibly broke while also having a lot of expensive hobbies like movies and video games.

There was once a time where I’d only buy a new game a couple of times per year because most of my income was reserved for bills before it even hit my bank account. I now have the opposite problem—I have learned to be an expert at media thrift shopping, and my library has grown to include more games than could possibly be played in a single lifetime.

So, for my final column of 2024, let’s talk about thrift shopping for various forms of media, including books, movies, and video games.

BOOKS

As a recent Victoria transplant, I was devastated by the lack of bookstores—especially coming from a city like Austin, where it seems like there’s either a Barnes & Noble or Half Price Books on every corner. To be frank, I have been known to journey into Austin and go on a Half Price Books tour.

I collect manga—Japanese comic books, for the uninitiated—and Half Price Books is a treasure trove of both new and old classics alike. I started collecting a series from my youth called “Jing: King of Bandits,” which has likely been out of print for so long I wouldn’t have found it anywhere else.

But if manga isn’t your scene, there are still a multitude of possibilities for you. I found (and acquired) copies of Bradbury’s classic “Fahrenheit 451,” Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road,” and the first “Game of Thrones” book, all for relatively cheap and in pretty good condition. It might be impossible to find Half Price Books here in Victoria, but if you’re ever in an area with one, you would be remiss not to make a stop.

MOVIES

If you thought Half Price Books only had books … Well, I could see why you thought that, but depending on the location you’re at, the collection of movies—from VHS to Blu-ray—could be quite impressive.

I walked into the Round Rock location with the intention of holding onto my money, and I walked out with all three “The Hobbit” movies, as well as a collection of eight—that’s right, eight—”SAW” movies. Based on that, you’d think I really, really, really love the “SAW” movies, but I really only tolerate them. I just saw—get it?—I could get eight movies for a grand total of $20 and I knew no reason I shouldn’t.

VIDEO GAMES

It goes without saying that video games are an expensive hobby to have. On average, you’ll easily spend upwards of $50-$70 per new game, and that price doesn’t look to be declining anytime soon. It costs so much to make these games, plus when you factor in the effects of inflation, it’s no wonder, too.

I’m aware the joke around the internet is GameStop will undersell you when trading games in, but my first recommendation to thrift shop for games is to take advantage of the periodic sales on used games. It’s quite hard to predict because every store seems to do it differently, but if you can find out when your store is hosting a Buy 2, Get 1 Free sale, you can easily clean house. I owe much of my current library to simply waiting until this sale is going on, then going ham on the used games section.

I know I’ve been a cheerleader for Half Price Books in this column, but I wouldn’t recommend them if you’re looking to buy games on the cheap. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a good sale there and, in my experience, much of their gaming stock is priced at-or-near market value.

But I would shout out Children’s Heaven in Victoria Mall, if for no other reason than they are the only place in town—to my knowledge—that carries games for older generations like the original PlayStation or Sega Dreamcast. In the Round Rock Outlet Mall, there’s Press Play, which is a similar joint that sells antique games as well as other general fandom merchandise. And in locations across Texas, including Austin, Arlington, San Antonio, and Houston, the vibes at Game Over Videogames can’t be beat.