Easy ways to trade old video games for the latest titles

— -- In this economy, video games are a great bargain for your entertainment dollar. You get hours of enjoyment from a single game. But video games aren't cheap.

New games cost as much as $50 or $60. You also need a console and accessories, unless you want to stick with PC games. So, it is easy to invest hundreds of dollars on gaming.

Now, you can get new games by trading in old ones. Many sites and stores accept used games. Some even accept used gaming consoles. You'll get store credit. Other sites let you sell or trade directly with other users. Visit www.komando.com/news for links to sites mentioned.

Trade-in value

Trading games is much like trading in books or CDs. Stores need to make a profit when they resell a game. So, you'll only get a fraction of what you paid.

Trade-in values aren't set in stone. A game's popularity and age affect how much you get. Trade-in values also vary between stores.

Finding out how much you'll get for a game isn't always easy. Sites for game stores don't list trade-in values for all games. You'll need to visit the store.

For a new, popular game, you may get half what you paid. If the game is for an older-generation console, expect a few dollars. Your games should be in good condition.

Local stores

Your local game store probably accepts trades. Walk in with your games and receive store credit. You can redeem it immediately.

Check GameStop's trade-in specials before visiting the store. You may receive extra trade credit based on the number of games you trade. Or, get a bonus for applying a trade to advance purchases.

GameStop's Edge card ($15 yearly) entitles you to 10% off used games and accessories. You'll also get a 10% bonus on trade-ins.

GameStop owns EBGames, which has the same policies. Both accept used consoles and accessories.

Game Crazy works much like GameStop and EBGames. Check its promotions page before heading to the store. Its MVP card costs $10 yearly. You'll get 10% off used games and accessories. There's also a 10% bonus on trade-ins.