Best Buy and Target to start used game trade-ins and sales

Looks like GameStop might have some serious competition on its hands. Best Buy announced today it will start selling used video games in 600 of its store nationwide. Gamers looking to trade in games will take them to the customer service desk or to the trade counter in some specialty stores and will be given gift cards redeemable for anything Best Buy sells. You will also be able to trade games in online with the gift cards being mailed to you, and the retail giant has included a handy value estimator on the website in case you were curious just how much you would get for a game.

On top of this news, Kotaku is reporting they have been contacted by Target, who states its stores will start allowing for game trade-ins and used game sales as well.

This can only be a good thing for gamers. The more choices there are out there, the more it will force GameStop to actually offer something approaching reasonable trade-in value for games. As we have said many times here at EDG, competition is a good thing.

Sources: Joystiq on Best Buy, Kotaku on Target

Splinter Cell: Conviction on sale for $20, Gamefly offering used game sale

Speaking of Best Buy, the company seems set on offering great games for great prices. Last weekend, you could get Tekken 6 for the 360 for $10.00; now you can get Splinter Cell: Conviction for $20.00 online, and from what Joystiq is saying, they will match that price in store. That;s 50% off the retail price.

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Looking for more deals? Well, if you are a Gamefly member, you are in luck. Gamefly is offering some great deals on used games, including:

Wii

• Little King’s Story – $19.99
• Silent Hill: Shattered Memories – $24.99
• New Super Mario Bros. Wii – $29.99

PS3

• God of War 3 – $21.99
• MAG – $24.99
• Darksiders – $14.99

Xbox 360

• Bayonetta – $14.99
• BioShock 2 – $14.99
• Final Fantasy XIII – $24.99

DS

• WarioWare D.I.Y. – $19.99
• Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box – $19.99

That price does not include the extra percentage off lone time Gamfly members receive.

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Bioshock 2 DLC ‘Minerva’s Men’ due out August 31

Bioshock 2‘s latest DLC, ‘Minerva’s Men,’ will be hitting the PSN and Xbox Live August 31st. Priced at $10, the DLC will open up new areas of Rapture and will run parallel to the game’s primary storyline.

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360 Headset Audio Improvement headed our way

So even people who do not get Kinect are going to benefit from the Xbox 360 system patch Microsoft is doing to make the console compatible with its motion sensing camera. The company will be upgrading the audio codec which handels all of the online chatting. What does that mean? The easy short answer is we should hear a dramatic improvement in the sound quality of game chats.

This is *crackle* news, but will *crackle* if people actually use the *crackle*set which came with the co *crackle*.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Busy weekend for gamers

This si a good weekend to be a gamer. First up, High Moon Studios is running a 4X XP weekend for Transformers: War for Cybertron. Then there is Steam’s deal on the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, offing the bundle at 75% savings through Monday. Then there is the insane deal being offered by Best Buy: Join the company’s free Reward Zone club (if you are not already a member), bring in this printable coupon and pick up Tekken 6 for the 360 for just $9.99 through Sunday.

The “real” set list emerges

So Harmonix decided to “refute” the video that had “leaked” many of the songs for Rock Band 3 yesterday by making a video of their own. Only one issue: the video showed the ENTIRE 83 SONG SET LIST behind the three Harmonix studio members. The list includes the songs which were shown yesterday, along with such hits as “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears, “I Love Rock and Roll” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, “The Look” by Roxette and “Roundabout” by Yes. You can check out the entire list, which is a little too long to post here, in Joystiq’s article.

Yes, I know War’s “Lowrider” is on the set list. No, you will not hear me covering that song for the Gone in 60 Seconds intro.No, I will not budge on that decision.

The New HD has arrived

Microsoft has yet to announce the selling of the new 250GB HD for the newly designed Xbox 360, but that has not stopped GameStop from selling it. Not only has it started appearing in the stores, you can buy it off GameStop.com for $130. While that is a fair amount cheaper than the debut price of the 120GB for the old system, it does kind of defeat the $100 savings you get from buying the 4GB 360.

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SIGN UP FOR THE STAR WARS MMO BETA!!!! Oh wait, wrong MMO

Unfortunately, Bioware is not taking sign-ups for an open public beta for Star Wars: The Old Republic. Take heart, fans of the force: Sony is taking sign-ups for its Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventrures MMO. While it may not be the one everyone is waiting for, it might just whet the appetite for those hungry to try a Star Wars MMO.

Okay, even I don’t believe that, and I typed it. Still, if you are a Star Wars fan, it may be worth giving a try.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

This is not a feint: RUSE to release September 7

Some would argue Ubisoft has been too in love with it’s World War II RTS’s name, offering several different release dates that have not stuck. So now the company expects everyone to believe that the new one for RUSE, September 7, will hold. The date was originally tweetedby Ubisoft’s Aymeric Evennou, leaving people to wonder if it was just another fake, but the company has independently verifies this will be the date the game releases on the PS3, 360 and PC.

Unless Ubisoft changes its policies on PC DRM, it will not matter to me when this game releases. RTSs are really only good on PC, but I will not buy a PC game with that kind of draconian copy protection.

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Best Buy lowering price on 360 bundles

On August 2, Amazon is planning on offering a sale of the Final Fantasy XIII Xbox 360 along with along with Bioshock 2 and UFC Undisputed 2010 for $300. Well, a reliable source is telling Joystiq that Best Buy is going to be reducing its versions of that bundle along with the Splinter Cell 360 to $299 until they are sold out of the product. While the deal might not be quite as sweet as Amazon’s, it will be going on for more than one day, and for those who do not like to purchase consoles online, this will give them another option.

See, this is why competition is a good thing.

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Insomniac will announce new game before PAX

So it appears more companies have decided to announce announcements. Sometime between now and Labor Day Weekend’s PAX Prime, Insomniac will be announcing a new game, which will be demoed at the Penny Arcade Expo. Now before you all get too excited, this will be a PS3 exclusive game; Insomniac is not ready to reveal its multiplatform game the company is making for EA.

The rumors are this will be Resistance 3. I will leave it to you to decide whether that is a good thing.

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Intellivision to make a comeback on DS

Intellivision fans rejoice; the games we grew up playing are making a return appearance on the Nintendo DS. Virtual Play games has announced Intellivision Lives!, a collection of 60 games from the Matel console that captured the hearts of retro gamers (granted, we were not retro at the time). Along with such hits as Astro Smash, Armor Battle, Night Stalker and Shark! Shark!, the collection includes 6 games never actually released. The collection is due out in September.

So, you think this might lead to a Retro Active on the Intellivision?

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StarCraft done with Legos!

I have nothing else to add to this. Just check out the video (courtesy of Machinima.com).

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Happy Memorial Day From The Everyday Gamers!

In between all of your grilling and gaming today, be sure to remember all of our fallen heroes that allow us to live the way we do everyday.  On that note, everybody here at Everyday Gamers wish you a safe and Happy Holiday.  Be sure to tell us what games you’ve played over the long weekend!

Release Date List For 5/30-6/5

This week we have the highly anticipated RPG Espionage Alpha Protocol hitting store shelves this Tuesday. Not your thing?  There are also 5 new Modern Warfare 2 maps that you can get your hands on this Thursday.  Check out our source below for the full list of goodies.

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Treyarch Gives 100% Dedication

To what should be no surprise, Treyarch has decided to become 100% dedicated to only Call of Duty titles from here on out.

Treyarch is a 100 percent Call of Duty studio — and it has been for a long time now, long before any of [the Infinity Ward] events occurred

says Mark Lamia, Treyarch’s studio head.  Lamia also mentions

We focused all of our efforts on creating the best Call of Duty game we possibly can and what that meant is not working on anything else.

It seems like the Call of Duty franchise is only beginning.  Are you burned out by the amount of Call of Duty’s that we are seeing now? Let us know how you feel in the comments section.

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Split Second Wrecks Amazon

Don’t feel like waiting in lines at your local Best Buy to get Split Second? Well online shoppers you can now head over to Amazon and pick up the game for $39.99.  The deal is good for the PS3 and Xbox 360.  This may be a today only sale so head over to Amazon quickly to get your copy!

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Original Wii Bundle $150.00 At Best Buy

On Best Buy’s website they have the original Wii bundle for $150.00.  The bundle includes the original Wii Sports but not Wii Sports Resort or MotionPlus.  If your just looking for a quick Wii fix and do not mind receiving  the new add-ons then this seems like a great deal.  Supplies could be very low so you may want to act quickly if you have any interest.

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Joe Danger Rides To PSN June 8th

Been dying to get your hands on the motorcycle racer Joe Danger? Hello Games have finally announced a June 8th release date and what not a better way to start the summer downloadable games off.  If you are in any way a fan of arcade racers then this game should definitely been on your list.

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Unfortunately, we realize for many of you this just is not a realistic ideal. Being the largest video game retailer in North America and one of the few that deals in used games, GameStops are everywhere, and for many of you there just really is no good competition in your area. On top of that, the company uses its market share to negotiate special deals with game makers, allowing it to offer exclusives the competition just cannot match. In the end, even those of us who are the most hardened against the company find ourselves having to deal with it from time to time.

In light of this, we at EDG thought it would be a good idea to share some of the insights we have gained on how to get the most out of your dealings with the game retailer. These insights come from years of being GameStop customers and, for at lest one of us, from being an employee. Hopefully these tips will help you even the odds a bit the next time you go to purchase or trade games with the company.

Tip Number 1: Not all GameStops are alike

I know it can be easy to lump all the stores together because GameStop is a retail giant, but not all stores are alike. While the prices and corporate strategies will be the same no matter where you go, the employees working for the store can make all the difference. If there are multiple stores in your area, which seems likely since GameStop loves to over saturate the market, check more than one out before deciding which one you will frequent.

Need help determining which GameStops employ friendlier, knowledgeable and helpful staff? Here are some tell-tale signs:

1. The state of the store: Look to see just what state the store is in when you enter. Does it look like the employees make an attempt to keep it looking nice? Are the games alphabetized, or are they just strewn all over the place. Do you see employees walking the store, seeing if games are out of place? The state of the store will give you a clue about just how much the employees care about their job and the customers.

2. How customers are treated: Are the employees sensitive to the customer’s needs, or are they too busy trying to force preorders and Game Informer subscriptions down their throat. Are they listening to the questions customers are asking and providing thoughtful answers, or are they just schilling the latest game corporate is choosing to push. Look for signs of a staff that actually cares about the customer.

3. Test their knowledge: Ask the employees about a few games or gaming related issues you are familiar with. Check their answers. Do they know of what they speak. If they don’t know, are they willing to admit that, or do they make things up to hide their ignorance. Personally, I would much rather have someone tell me they are not familiar with a game then try to make up an answer to hide lack of knowledge.

Once you have found a good store or two, you will find dealing with the company a much more relaxing experience.

Tip Number 2: Watch the Sales

Though GameStop’s general prices are no better than anyone else’s (in fact, they can often be worse), it does tend to have good sales. These can range from just good prices on new games to the popular “Buy 2 Used games, Get 1 Free” sales the stores have on a regular basis. Every summer GameStop runs its Gamer Days sale, and the prices during that sale can make dealing with the company worthwhile even to its most hardened critics.

If you really want to know what sales are coming up for GameStop or any retailer for that matter, there is only one website to check: Cheap Ass Gamer. As much as I am not a fan of the the name of the website, the site itself is packed with info on how to get games for great deals, and it is the place to go to find out what sales all retailers are running, including GameStop.

Want to know just how good the sales can get? Earlier this year, I picked up a copy of Street Fighter IV for $19.99 when it was selling new for $39.99. During last year’s Gamer Days sale, certain Guitar Hero controllers were being sold for $9.99; and it is not unusual to see games on sale for 50% off during that sale.

Tip Number 3: Trade to your advantage

We all know GameStop almost never gives fair value for trading in games, but there are ways you can make sure to get more for your trade:

1. Trade early: If you know you are going to trade in a game after you beat it, beat it as soon as possible so you can trade it in as early as possible. GameStop is always looking for trade ins of the hottest releases, and the company will generally give you better trade credit for them. This is becoming even more important with the recent trend of games to drop in price a couple of months after coming out, and it is a must if you are going to trade sports titles. One thing I do is look at my games and evaluate whether or not I am really going to play them anytime soon, If the answer is no, I will trade them in, knowing that is I really want to come back to them, I can pick them up later for a good price or GameFly them. Granted, I take my trades to Play N Trade, but the principle is the same.

2. Trade for New Releases: GameStop almost always has trade in deals when you put the money toward a preorder or new release. If there is a big game you are looking at preordering and you have some games to trade in, take advantage of these deals. A game that would normally only trade in for $10 will give you $12 if you get an extra 20% for preordering a qulifying game. That is how I was able to afford Rock Band; after trades, I paid about $40 for it, including all the instruments.

3. Know when to trade: After the holidays, GameStop almost always needs trade ins. As a result, the company will often offer trade deals right then. Also keep an eye out for major deals where it offers up to 40% trade credit. Those are rare, but they do happen.

4. NEVER trade for Cash: GameStop will never give you anything close to what games or consoles are worth if you trade for cash. If you need the money, look at selling on Amazon, Craig’s List or even your local pawn shop. They will generally give you a better deal.

Tip Number 4: Remember the alternatives

No matter where you live, there will be alternatives to GameStop, at least in terms of new games. Best Buy has been in the midst of a price war with the company, offering “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” deals on all games and even at one time offering to sell some new games and GameStop’s used price. Toys R Us, Target and (I hate to say it) Walmart have all been offering deals on new games as well. See if you can find local stores that offer trade credit for games, such as Play N Trade. Also, never forget the online alternatives, such as Amazon, Ebay and Craig’s List.

It’s up to you

While these tips can help you deal with the company, in the end there is only one way to make sure you are not going to be fleeced by GameStop: determine before entering the store what you are willing to deal with. If you are trading in games, think about what the lowest amount you are willing to get in return is, and if the store will not meet that, walk away. When buying, know before you go what would be a good price to pay for the games you want, and if you find GameStop’s price is higher, go elsewhere. Never forget that GameStop is not the only video game retailer in the US. If you keep that in mind, you can make sure you deal with the company on your own terms.

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