Walkthrough on How to Save Money on Virtually Every Video Game!

It’s a simple fact that we here in America love the video games. They’re a great past time, good for entertainment and stress relief, and they also constitute a multi-billion dollar industry world-wide - and one of the few entertainment industries not being effected not being hurt by the current printed media vs digital download format battle (With gaming, you still need disks 99% of the time). Now, some may think that video gaming may be just for kids: but think again. A recent market study placed the age of the average gamer between 28 and 30, both male and female…and that, to us, means that there are probably at least a few of you out there that could benefit from some gaming-related money saving tips.

As any of us that partake in the hobby of video gaming know, it can get pretty expensive fairly quick. With most modern “next-gen” consoles ranging from $250-$500 and PC gaming rigs sometimes twice that, not to mention that the games themselves can easily run from $50 to $60 each, brand new, it’s not only simple but easy for you wallet to get drained in short order keeping up with the latest titles.

So, how do we keep from breaking the bank and still partake in our beloved gaming? Here’s a few simple ideas:

Avoid the hype: Games are their most expensive at their time of initial release, and their marketing teams know this. Prepare to withstand an onslaught of media hype in the form of TV and print ads, viral e-mails and, in some cases, elaborate ARG’s (alternate reality games, see also Halo 3’s “I like bees” ARG - one of the most successful marketing ARG’s of all time) all geared towards getting you, and your wallet, to the game retailer on the day of release for the maximum dollar. Unless it’s a particular title that’s been on your radar for some time now, it might be best to hold off, referring to our next point for more of the reasoning behind this one.

Go used: Most major game retailers offer a large stock of used games at a significant discount. Now, I know, there is a bit of trepidation for some gamers against buying used - and understandably so, I’ve seen the treatment that some of my own games receive…but, these retailers are in business, and no one stays in business for long by selling a faulty product. Used games are play-tested, and if found to be unoperational, professionally refurbished before bring distributed to the public. In all cases, check the disk for deep gouges and other flaws…the potential savings here far outweigh the risks of having to return the occasional faulty game for a new copy.

Trade-ins: Most major game retailers will offer trade in programs, giving you store credit for old games that you’re no longer playing to be used in-store for newer titles. Coupled with the lower cot of used games, trade ins are a great way to turn old games that would otherwise get thrown away into some cash and new gaming experiences for you and your family or friends.

Online services: Nowadays there are a number of game streaming services available through the internet, offering low monthly fees for a wide variety of games, some of which are older classics that no longer run on modern PCs, giving older gamers the chance to replay their favorite titles and giving the younger generation of gamers a chance to have experiences that would be otherwise unavailable to them.

Handhelds: Handheld portable gaming systems, while an investment in their own right, can save money in the long run over their more expensive home console counterparts. The system itself is normally less than half the cost of a home gaming system, and the software is about a third of the cost, even brand-spanking-new…and far less when used (on a side note - the cartridges used in most handheld systems are damaged less easily and are therefore a safer buy when used). Handhelds are often also useful in stifling any and all “are we there yets” from long summer car rides.

Rent rather than buy: Not 100% sure about a game? Then it’s time to hit up your local video rental store. Most rental places stock a wide variety of new games for home and handheld consoles, and believe it or not, there are a lot of modern titles that can be easily bested within the rental time, getting you all of the gaming enjoyment that the title has to offer without shelling out the full price.

Or if you’re more about convenience, Gamefly works just like Netflix in the sense that you pay 22.95 a month, and you keep your games as long as you like without having to worry about returning them on time or late fees. Warning: Gamefly is for serious gamers only, those who are afraid of having their thumbs blister, need not apply

So, there we go…let’s get out there and game hard, but not empty our saving doing so. Feel free to use the comments section to tell us all about what you’re playing…and how you saved some cash getting it!