Rent video games before you buy

How can you be sure you’re getting the best deals on games? It used to be that renting video games was a great solution and as inexpensive and pain-free as a visit to your local movie store. However serious game enthusiasts who rent a lot of games at once discovered how quickly those rental charges can add up. If you include the injury of forgeting to return a bunch of games by the due date and you’ll see that the late fees can really hurt.

Here are some timely ideas on getting the best deal on video games and video game rentals.

First, ask your community library. Many offer free video game rentals to members of their community. You probably pre-paid for their selections with your property taxes so you might as well get your money’s worth.

Game Review Websites - Generally sites offering video game reviews include game details, ESRB ratings, available platforms, even actual gameplay footage. Check out the video graphics online first. You might find the game is overly violent for your tastes or not acceptable for your own children, even if the ESRB ratings indicate it should be age-appropriate.

Never Pay Full Price - With online discount websites like eBay and Amazon, there’s just no reason to pay retail ever again. Many times you’ll find games for PSP on sale by checking these companies first.

Rent Video Games Online - Several companies offer online video game rentals for a low monthly subscription. Members select from over 6000 of the most popular games, delivered right to their mailbox, can keep them as long as they want, never pay a late fee for holding them too long, and return games to the company with postage-paid envelopes. If you find a game you like, simply tell the company and you can keep it for a small fee. A few sites like GameFly include a free trial period. Try them out to see how the program works before you join.

Gamers who are serious about their passion can save a bundle of cash if they know how to look.