Video Game: Rent, Buy, or Trade

Pros and Cons of Renting Video Games

You might be asking why you should rent video games instead of just buying them outright. By taking the route of renting, you have the opportunity to try out a lot of different titles for a lot less money than if you were to buy them from the store at retail price. From GameAccess to Blockbuster, there are many game rental companies for you to consider.

As you've surely noticed, most games that you play do not have much in terms of replay value. You may get all excited about them at first, but you will likely get bored of them after finishing the story once or twice. By renting video games, you are granted enough time to play the games without having to commit to a full purchase. When choosing to rent, buy, or trade video games, renting can be pretty cost effective.

This is particularly true with online video game rental, because there are no due dates and no late fees. Every time you return a title, a new one is sent back to you. In this way, you can have an ever-changing library to play.

On the down side, you don't actually own any of the titles that you rent. If you find a title that is particularly enjoyable, it can be hard to give it up. Moreover, the monthly rental fees can start to add up, especially if you are on one of the bigger plans.

The Advantage to Buying

Clearly, the biggest selling point -- no pun intended -- to buying your titles from video game stores is that you get to keep them. There is a certain level of enjoyment to be had by knowing that you actually own the game and that it doesn't belong to some rental company. This also means that you can take as long as you'd like to play through the storyline, unlocking all the secrets, and enjoying the multiplayer with all your friends.

Just because you're buying doesn't mean that you're restricted to brand new titles. To get your hands on some great cheap video games, you can consider buying used. It's not quite the same feeling as tearing open that shrinkwrap, but you do own the game.

Buying video games is probably the best option when it comes to games that take a long time to finish, like RPGs, or games that have long-lasting value. Sports games, fighting games, and other titles with heavy multiplayer aspects fall into this category.

However, it can get very costly if you go and buy every video game that you want to play. You can easily spend hundreds of dollars each month, so shop carefully and exercise some restraint.

Trading: Out with the Old, In with the New

How about the best of both worlds? You can head out and buy the newest video games, only to trade them away when you grow tired of them. Swapping used video games with your friends can be a great way to experience new titles without shelling out any additional money.

Alternatively, you can look into the trade-in programs at your local video game store. The trade-in values are usually pretty low, so it might be a better option to just buy and sell on eBay or some other online marketplace. Look up local forums and other websites where you can get together with gaming enthusiasts in your area, trading video games and keeping your respective libraries fresh. What's old for you is new to someone else.

The trouble with trading is that it can be a time-consuming experience and you may be left with some used video games that don't work so well. Most titles depreciate over time as well, so you will need to add some money as you go along.

Video Game: Rent, Buy, or Trade?

In the end, the choice is yours with how you want to deal with a video game: rent, buy, or trade. They each have their advantages and disadvantages, so you'll want to weigh your options to see which strategy works out best for you. Perhaps the best way to go about it is to take advantage of all three in varying degrees. Rent, buy, and trade video games!