Weekly Opinion - Double pack - Used Video Games

Like other sources of entertainment, there is a market for used video games. Unlike used books and music, however, it is somewhat hampered by Digital Rights Management attempts, but all the same, there is a small industry for it.

I Liked This Game, You Can Do

There are a few reasons as to why a person can resell their game to one of a few stores. One is that they didn't like the game and enough time has passed that they aren't able to return it to get their money back. Another is that the game is quite old, for much the same reason. Yet another is that people sometimes want to share the games, or just want to make room if they have a ton. And some just see it as a way to make a quick buck (as I did once).

There are a few places one can look. eBay and Amazon.com are good places, though one must be careful for bootlegs and the like. A place like Gamestop will often buy back games, but be warned there, they do not buy back older games (I recall hearing recently they stopped buying back Playstation 2's) and often shortchange a person, or find some minuscule reason to not buy back a game or system.

Finally there is Play N Trade. I haven't been to one yet myself, but I have heard good things, and it would appear that they even have games going back to the old Sega Genesis and Nintendo days. Excellent!

Bargain Bin Hunting and Buried Treasures
There's two other good reasons to go shopping for used games. First, you can often find a game for quite a low price. Though, be careful that the game is not damaged in some way.

But the main reason, in my eyes, is to find that diamond in the rough. Though you can sometimes find them in mainstream retailers (I found previously reviewed game Tribes at Best Buy for all of $20 or so, if memory serves), you're far better off in the backwater stores.

Go Digging

So go and find your nearest used game store. You may be surprised by what you find.