And the more sophisticated and social video games available today mean that a family night spent playing video games can be an engaging interactive experience, and even an educational one! Video games are expensive, though, with many new titles selling for more than sixty dollars (US) each. One way to save a lot of money is to buy "pre-played" or used video games.



Another great pastime is to track down older games for older systems: so-called "retro gaming" is very popular among teenagers, who are discovering and playing old classics that are new to them. Often these games are the same ones that parents remember from their own childhoods, which makes for an even better family experience.

Between garage sales, video game stores and your own closets and attics, you can probably find older video game consoles, those Ataris and Intellivisions, Nintendo Entertainment Systems and Segas that took up all your time in your own childhood. Today, these older consoles can often be found for only a few dollars, and they often come with a random selection of old games already! Finding the exact games you're looking for can be more of a challenge, but luckily we have the Internet for that.

There are literally millions and millions of old videogame cartridges and CDs for sale on online auction sites and other clearinghouses, often for only a few dollars. Of course, one downside of buying online is that you don't get to see, examine or test the game before paying. If you have the luxury of a used or "vintage" video game store in your area, you should use this! Be sure to examine the games for damage, and if possible TEST them before you pay and leave the store. Of course, modern games can be "used" too.

Many people buy the newest games, play them from start to finish in only a week or two, and then return them to the stores for credit. These "barely used" games can often be found for half the new price, or less! That's a terrific savings for being a few weeks behind the curve.

Again, whether you're buying a game that is two weeks old, or two decades old, be sure to check out the sellers history, or at least be certain of the store's return policy, in case you get a scratched disk or damaged game cartridge. Have fun with your gaming experiences, life is to short not too.