Video Games
Guide to video game rentals
Video games are expensive. Even the most basic older games retail for $19.99, and if you're lucky enough to track down a popular title on the used market, you will pay at least the same price, with no guarantee that you will like or use the game in the future. The best option is to look into video game rentals. With rental titles, you can try out a game for a specified period of time at an inexpensive price and see if the game is worth purchasing.
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Start by looking at local rental shops in your area instead of the big-name chain stores. They have a smaller selection, but they are usually cheaper, and you may even find rentals for the older consoles. There is a small independently owned video rental store in my neighborhood that still rents out games for the original Xbox and PlayStation, which the big stores stopped carrying years ago.
You can also try renting video games at the big-name companies like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video. The stores charge $3.99 to $4.99 per title and allow you to keep the games anywhere from 2 days to 5 days. Most stores allow older titles to be rented for an extended period of time, while the newer games usually have a shorter rental period. The big disadvantage is that newer games tend to rent quickly and rent often, meaning you may have a difficult time finding them. The other disadvantage is that the stores can't carry every title, so they have to guess at what titles will be popular. You may find different video game rentals at different stores, depending on where you live.
The newest way to rent video games is through online companies, and this is gaining in popularity every day. Gamefly is one such option and is currently the biggest company around for renting video games. Gamefly works like the popular Netflix - by sending titles directly to your house. It offers a free 10-day trial and charges a $21.95 monthly fee after the free trial expires. You are allowed to rent two video games at any one time. After you are finished with the game, you return it in the mail, and Gamefly sends you another title from your list. It’s an easy way to try out as many games as you want for as long as you want.
RentZero is another online rental company; after a two-week free trial, its plan costs $9.95 a month. Game Lender is a great option for people looking for older games for the Sega Genesis, Dreamcast or Nintendo 64 platforms. These are a few of the more popular online lenders that rent video games, but a quick search of the Internet will reveal dozens of choices.
Video games rentals are a great alternative to spending a lot of money on a game that you or your child will play a few times and then stick back on the shelf.
Top Video Game Picks
Although trends change, especially among kids and teens, and the most popular video game this week may be all but forgotten next week, there are a few video games that seem to be continuous favorites:
- Pokemon: These "pocket monsters" were created by Nintendo in the mid to late '90s and soon became all the rage, with trading cards, toys, a TV show and many other media. True to its roots, though, the franchise has remained popular as a series of video games.
- Guitar Hero: Much newer to the scene, Guitar Hero was released in North America in 2005. It's designed for the PlayStation 2 video game console, and while it doesn't have quite the media franchise behind it that Pokemon does, it does have a popular group variation called Rock Band.
- Animal Crossing: Another Nintendo release, Animal Crossing (and the Nintendo DS follow-up Animal Crossing: Wild World) is a real-time-observing simulation game in which players, as characters, take up residence in the town and complete tasks in order to increase the size of their house. They also interact with other players via their characters.
- Harvest Moon: Originally released for the Super Nintendo game console, Harvest Moon was released for the Wii Virtual Console in early 2008. A simulation game similar to Animal Crossing, players complete daily farming-related tasks, using their time strategically for the best possible outcome. The idea is to keep the farm operational and its crops and animals healthy.
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i love acww its the awesmist game in the world!!!
Posted on 7/18/2009 8:09:00 PM by Anonymous
Mario Super Sluggers rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have won over 100 to 1. this game is nice
Posted on 7/9/2009 3:25:00 PM by Anonymous
ILL TAKE IT *calls china* hey china i have a offer you can no refuse... yeah a friend code to animal crossing
Posted on 7/3/2009 7:39:00 PM by Anonymous
this is one cool website :) my name is not amber it is bobby
Posted on 6/12/2009 5:10:00 PM by Anonymous
how do u find the flute in the legend of zelda??
Posted on 6/1/2009 5:17:00 AM by Anonymous
Donkey Kong is good I have to admit. But Zelda OOT is the best game ever made.
Posted on 5/9/2009 11:37:00 PM by Anonymous
Oh and sorry person who likes donkey kong my sister is upsesed with hobos and banana peles if your reading this. P.S. I think john is ugly shannon jahred is better!
Posted on 4/15/2009 11:52:00 AM by Anonymous
but there R not alot of people on here but me you and person who likes donkey kong........ :)
Posted on 4/15/2009 11:46:00 AM by Anonymous
SHANNON DONT BRAKE UP WITH JOHN THATS MY BFS BROTHER U GUYS ARE GOOD TOGETHER P.S. SORRY I SAID THIS IN FRONT OF EVERY ONE WHO GOES ON THIS WEBSITE BUT ITS TRUE
Posted on 4/15/2009 11:44:00 AM by Anonymous
Dont talk about hobos like that shannon they dont suck banana peles they eat them!!
Posted on 4/14/2009 7:06:00 PM by Anonymous
I think new super mario is fun too there are alot of levels and worlds and when you get to the end of the game (last level) you get to save prinnces peach!! its fun i have ot and play it all the time.
Posted on 4/14/2009 7:04:00 PM by Anonymous
On the game animal crossing wild world that I have for my DS is really fun you can do so many things like catch bugs go fishing talk to people buy and sell things send letters to people have your own house and town plant flowers and trees and sell sea shells and fruit to tom nook! its sooo cool I luv it alot
WOW I WROTE ALOT!!!
Posted on 4/14/2009 7:01:00 PM by Anonymous
HI
Posted on 4/14/2009 6:55:00 PM by Anonymous
u r a idot if u think donkey kong is cool because its not!!!!! it sucks like hobos suck banana peles from the dumster! you must have rabies or the chicken poxes!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a loser/hobo!!!!!
Posted on 4/14/2009 6:55:00 PM by Anonymous
ANIMAL CROSSING IS THE BEST EVER!!!!!!
Posted on 4/14/2009 6:46:00 PM by Anonymous
donkney kong is the best game ever!!!!!!!1
Posted on 4/14/2009 5:26:00 PM by Anonymous
?ANIMAL CROSSING?
Posted on 4/11/2009 7:38:00 PM by Anonymous
I'm tring to go to another town in the game animal crossing city folk is there any one that would be willing to give their code mine is 3609-7176-7733 my name is ray
Posted on 4/11/2009 4:39:00 PM by Anonymous
WHATS THAT????
Posted on 4/10/2009 12:04:00 PM by Anonymous
i wanna buy ratchet and clank
Posted on 4/9/2009 10:46:00 PM by Anonymous
THIS IS A COOL WEBSITE FOR SHARING CHEATS
Posted on 4/9/2009 7:10:00 PM by Anonymous
MARIO IS AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on 4/6/2009 6:14:00 PM by Anonymous
:) animal crossing ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
p.s. animal crossing ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on 4/6/2009 6:12:00 PM by Anonymous
O.M.G no one hardly talks on this website someone please tell me some cheats for animal crossing wild world i go on here all the time so someone ansewer me!
Posted on 4/6/2009 6:02:00 PM by Anonymous
how do you get the adult wallet in Majoras mask
Posted on 4/2/2009 2:10:00 PM by Anonymous
Does any one ov U peoples hav Animal crossing wild world I do!
P.S. WRITE BACK From Makayla.C.
Posted on 4/1/2009 4:09:00 PM by Anonymous
Does Any one have animal crossing wild world I do!
Posted on 4/1/2009 4:06:00 PM by Anonymous
I have the game animal crossing wild world for my DS and it is sooo cool!!
From, Makayla.C.
Posted on 4/1/2009 4:05:00 PM by Anonymous
I LOVE ANIMAL CROSSING IT IS SOOOOOOOOOO COOL!!!!
Posted on 4/1/2009 4:00:00 PM by Anonymous
In Zelda Phantom Hourglass on Zauz's Island,north of his hut there is a stone that says to,"Find the stone tiles east and west of this island.(did that)Connect the eastern stones with a line.Do the same with the western stones.(did that)Dig in the extensions of these two lines intersect."(did that) I dug right in the middle of the X but nothing was there! HELP!!
Posted on 3/7/2009 10:33:00 AM by Anonymous
how do you get new course on mario kart wii!!
Posted on 2/15/2009 7:25:00 PM by Anonymous
For some odd reason my guitar for guitar hero jus messed up n i dont know what to do. If any of u guys know what to do other than takin it back to the store please let me know.
Posted on 2/14/2009 7:10:00 PM by Anonymous
hello all the boys and girl we visit this website is so increible... so... so... good bye...
Posted on 2/4/2009 6:08:00 PM by Anonymous
AWESOME!!!! I HEART ANIMAL CROSSING!!!!!!!!
Posted on 1/28/2009 4:29:00 PM by Anonymous
can wii disc go into gamecube?
Posted on 1/26/2009 2:07:00 PM by Anonymous
i love this website
Posted on 1/24/2009 3:30:00 PM by Anonymous
ouch, zoo tycoon for Nintendo DS isn't like the computer game at all
make sure you really want it before you get it. :'- ( i got it with my gift certifacate for video games etc. and it was a waste of a perfectly good certifacate, don't get it.
Posted on 1/17/2009 2:02:00 PM by Anonymous
is drawn to life a good game? i'm a girl so i'm kinda cautious about knowing it's sorta like a war game.
Posted on 1/17/2009 1:56:00 PM by Anonymous
When a young child lets say 5-8 still has trouble with those complicatedon there older siblings Xbox 360 game system,
then you should try joysticks, they are easy video games that can be played by all ages, there are lots of difrent kinds of joysticks,
try one today:-D.
Posted on 1/17/2009 1:41:00 PM by Anonymous
To Anon: Posted on 1/13/2009 10:22:00 AM
You may have purchased XBox 1 games. These are not all compatible with XBox 360 games.
Posted on 1/13/2009 5:16:00 PM by Anonymous
I bought my son the xbox 360 awhile ago, acade version. For Xmas he got the 60 gig harddrive. I was told that now he could play all the regular 360 games, i bought 3 games that were reg. 360 games, one worked the other 2 pop-up a message not compatable for x360, can anyone help me, is there something I can download that allows me to play all 360 games, or is there a list of which games of 360 are compatiable with his x360, PLEASE HELP!!!
Posted on 1/13/2009 10:22:00 AM by Anonymous
Nintendo DS also states on their website that if you would like to test a game prior to purchasing, you can download the game for FREE at any store selling Nintendo DS games. It is only FREE or available on your Nintendo DS console as long as the console is powered on... once you turn off, it no longer is there. Great way for kids to try new games to see if they like it. We made the mistake of purchasing a game that our youngest son thought he would like, but it's proved to be way too difficult and "boring" for him.
Posted on 1/1/2009 4:29:00 PM by Anonymous
harvest moon/ friends of mineral town
Posted on 12/3/2008 7:04:00 PM by Anonymous
Your site is suppose to tell me everything I ever wanted to know about Harvest Moon. I haven't learned one thing. Since you can not deliver you shouldn't say you can.
Posted on 11/30/2008 9:20:00 PM by Anonymous
animal crossing teaches kids about real life. i luv it.
Posted on 11/30/2008 8:23:00 AM by Anonymous
i absolutly love animal crossing wild world. Its fun, and thers a lot u can do. like fishing, bug catching, fossil digging, making new friends on wi fi, eating fruit, paying of a morgage to make ur house bigger, check the lost and found for items for your home, go to other towns, visit nabors, and a lot of other mouth dropping passtimes. so buy the game! its fun!!!!!!!!
Posted on 11/29/2008 11:09:00 AM by Anonymous
I am absolutely in love with the Nintendo DS! I gotta know who invented this awesome masterpiece! I will search all day if I have to! (not really)
Posted on 11/28/2008 11:07:00 AM by Anonymous
send me game
Posted on 11/27/2008 12:00:00 PM by Anonymous
does anyone know how to get out of the tree on the legend of zelda ?
Posted on 11/26/2008 9:57:00 PM by Anonymous
does anyone know where to find the heart events for HM DS???
Posted on 11/25/2008 9:54:00 PM by Anonymous
??? To make a heart hold down Alt and press three once, them let go of both buttons!! ???
Posted on 11/25/2008 5:27:00 PM by Anonymous
Will someone help me with animal crossing: City Folk.
Posted on 11/25/2008 4:19:00 PM by Anonymous
I love animal crossin! ~jessica M
Posted on 11/25/2008 2:42:00 PM by Anonymous
the comment right there was from Jessica M again... =)
Posted on 11/25/2008 2:41:00 PM by Anonymous
does enyone here have animal crossing wild world?
Posted on 11/25/2008 11:38:00 AM by Anonymous
how do you find out your code?
Posted on 11/24/2008 8:35:00 PM by Anonymous
cool
awesome
ok
Posted on 11/23/2008 7:21:00 PM by Anonymous
Is this cheats for Super Mario Brothers????? I am here for Super Mario Brothers cheats.
Posted on 11/23/2008 11:27:00 AM by Anonymous
Great game. Kid friendly and colrful. Tots will enjoy watching even if not old enought to play. I love to go fishing and try to get cool fish. Donatioing to the Museum is fun and flowers add to game beuty. Only problems are that (atleast in wildworld) there is a Lost and Found that you cant take from even if it isn't yours and that There is a character that comes named Redd and he sells furniture and other items... illegaly. So it is a great game but there are some points that don't mean well for children.
Posted on 11/21/2008 5:10:00 PM by Anonymous
i want to see pictures
Posted on 11/20/2008 4:58:00 PM by Anonymous
start now
Posted on 11/20/2008 10:47:00 AM by Anonymous
I have to say if you/you're kids have a Nintendo DS, Gamecube or Wii you will enjoy Animal Crossing. Animal Crossing is new for the Wii old for Gamecube and kinda medium for Nintendo DS but the fun never stops! I have a blast with it, so do the kids. You get to buy/get furniture and decorate your house, help villagers out and if you have a buddy with the same game you can travel to each others town. I LOVE IT!
Posted on 11/12/2008 11:03:00 PM by Anonymous
Harvest moon is one of the best games ever created for the Nintendo DS. I highly recommend buying this game for your children. Yu get to raise a farm, ranch, and animals. It teaches children the value of money while they have fun.
Posted on 11/11/2008 9:33:00 AM by Anonymous
cool i just got hl2 death match ot steam steam is great and it has tons of action games
Posted on 11/1/2008 6:28:00 PM by Anonymous
Does anyone have a friend code? If so tell me! Mine is 438229702397 and my town is Whoville and my person is Lila. Keep your gate open!
Posted on 9/7/2008 10:04:00 AM by Anonymous
Action games are spectacular for the imagination. And sport games may get them in to sports
Posted on 5/27/2008 8:53:00 PM by Anonymous
Great tip, I;ve been buying used games for myself and my kids from blockbuster whenever possible. Sometime the used games are as cheap as rental.
Posted on 2/6/2008 11:11:00 AM
by smellis