As most parents (like me) may have already suspected, the computer and video game industry is growing and, according to PC Magazine, the number of U.S. households with game consoles rose notably, up from 33% in 2007 to 38% in 2008.
Thanks to our new best friends at Nintendo, we now have a Wii (review coming, soon) and are joining the 63% of parents who believe games are a positive part of their children's lives.
So, when Mom Central offered This Full House of used games and cheat codes the opportunity to review our local GameStop store, I half-reluctantly agreed, even though it goes against the contract that I made my kids sign (they are 14, 12, 9 and 7) in return for a one year subscription to a popular online game:
We will not buy any PS2 games or computer games for a full year in return for Blankety-blank-blank Online!
February 24, 2008
Signed: Thing One, Thing Two, The Boy, Mini-me
We received a $30.00 gift card and I was more than happy to allow my kids to use it, for review purposes only, of course!
GameStop carries titles for:
- Xbox and Xbox 360
- Sony PSP
- PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3
- PC Games
- Nintendo Wii
- GameCube
- Nintendo DS
- Nintendo GBA
As well as used games for:
- GameCube
- Nintendo DS
- PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3
- PSP
- PSP Movies
- Wii
- Xbox and Xbox 360
We scanned the shelves and my kids agreed that Endless Ocean was a good pick - no thanks to me.
"Whatever, just pick one!"
Actually, giving four kids a choice of one...of anything...can take hours, or sometimes days, and there are those times when we leave the store, you know, empty-handed!
"Actually, it's probably the mellowest game we've seen here."
SOLD!
Here's the thing, there were three clerks working that day (two in front and one in the storeroom) and, though they were readily available to answer all of our questions, I did NOT feel pressured into making a impulse purchase, whatsoever.
Hovering salespeople creep me out!
"Do you want to trade in any of your video games?"
Here's the OTHER thing, shopping at GameStop (rather than buying your video games at popular chains) allows you the opportunity to trade-in used (or, completed) games. The prices for traded-in movies and games vary, but my son went back with 8 old completed game titles (some released as long as 4 years ago) and received a $15.00 credit.
They can also reserve game titles for you and if you become a "GamesStop Member" you receive a subscription to Game Informer magazine and a 20% discount on used games.
Excellent!
Final Verdict: GameStop has all of the perks a gaming family (like ours) needs. They also have computer games, consoles, accessories, and other novelty items.
Find It Here: GameStop [http://gamestop.com] or submit a search here to find a GameStop, near you!
[This Review was brought to you courtesy of Mom Central]
[Oh, and did you know that we host a Review Bloggers Carnival, too?!?]
© 2008 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
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