1. Your Backlog
If you're reading this article, it's very likely that you're a gamer. And if you're a gamer, you have a backlog of games that you haven't played yet. That's really all there is to it. If you don't have a backlog, either you have the discipline of monk, or maybe you're not a gamer. Just kidding. Sort of. Joking aside, there is a good chance you have games sitting on your shelf, or stored on your console's hard drive, that you haven't gotten around to yet. There isn't a group of consumers on earth that is more savvy at spotting a good deal like gamers are, and while this is one of our best qualities, it can lead to the emergence of a "collector" mentality that many of us didn't even know we had, causing us to buy more games than we have the time to play. But while backlogs are often spoken of as a burden or hindrance to a gamer's life, I choose to look at backlogs as something to be celebrated. You have a pile of games to play, many of them great ones. How is this a bad thing? The good news is that there has never been a better time to get to work on those backlogs than there is right now, at the launch of new consoles. Just because your games are now technically "last gen" does not make them outdated or bad in any way. With the approach of the upcoming holiday season, combined with the fact that that many retail outlets will start thinking about clearing out some of the old to make room for the new, deep discounts should make now the perfect time to snag any of those seventh generation games that you always wanted to play but never got around to. So this makes it not only a great time to clear out the backlog, but add to it as well. Sorry, didn't mean to become an enabler there. But regardless, dive into those backlogs, folks. It's probably the best reason one can come up with to hold off on buying a new console. It's the main reason yours truly is holding off for a while, as I have at least 20 fantastic-looking games across 3 platforms that I've yet to play and really want to get to before making the leap into the next gen. Plus, once you grab a next generation console and get used to that slick new interface and improvements in technology, it can sometimes be hard to go back a generation. So give those old PS3's and 360's some loving before trading up to the next latest and greatest thing. It is difficult to not get sucked into the hype, especially with internet culture more visible and influential during this launch than it has been in any other. But while the early adopters set the precedent and clear the path, it's the rest of us who wait who end up reaping the most rewards. So hang tight, enjoy the show from the sidelines, and don't rush into the next gen. You're making a good decision.