When I was just starting to get into console gaming, PS1and xbox, I used to go to a store that you may have heard of called Game Stop. Ya, it’s a nice little chain of stores. Ok, it’s not little. It’s the largest gaming retail chain in the US. I loved going there and seeing all the new games, but there was a part of the store that was a lot more interesting to me than the new games.

In the back of the store they had a section for used games.  You know, the games that your older brother would trade in to get beer money or another gamer would trade 4 or 5 old games in for the newest and hottest release.

red alert 1 was awesome. Watch out for TANYA!

That’s where I found some real gems to add to my collection for about 10 bucks. I bought the original Red Alert at Game Stop, as well as a sweet game called Battlezone. Those 2 games alone kept me gaming for a really long time. Actually, I spent the better part of 1 summer and 1 winter in my room playing Red Alert.

The gaming industry is in a tyrade about used games because they are big business. Billions and billions of dollars get pumped into the gaming industry every year. There are some in the industry that think used games are hurting sales and should be taken out of circulation altogether.

But then there are some, like myself who see the real value of a used game. The real value of mowing 3 lawns and walking to the game store to buy a used game. Without people like me, less people would be gaming. I know that if I didn’t have access to cheaper games I wouldn’t be sitting here typing this article for a gaming magazine.

Thank you Game Stop and all the little mom and pop stores that sell used games, it’s you guys that keep gamers gaming.