Aside from my family, my whole life is video games. Over the years I've collected almost every console gaming system that has hit the market; Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Gamecube, Sega Genesis, Dreamcast, Playstation (1,2 and 3), Xbox, Xbox 360 and it doesn't stop there. I've also collected handheld systems like Gameboy, Nintendo DS, PSP, and others. Why? Because Video Games are like a well told story...they pull you in and make you a part of the experience. A well made video game gives you an experience that most movies only wish they could.

Obviously having all of these systems over the years has taught me some valuable lessons on how to save money on video games. There's no way that I could have gotten half of these consoles, or the huge collection of games I have for them, if I was paying full price for them. It's important to remember that electronics are always the most expensive when they come out. It's the fad mentality, when something is considered "in" or "new" people will pay more for it (whether it's worth that much or not) and the Gaming companies know that. Do yourself a favor and show some restraint...it is better to buy 3 month old games for $80 rather than one newly released game for that same $80. After all, how long is a month?

Like I said in the title, I'm a professional Gamer. This means that I live and breathe video games; I keep up with the latest news, I keep up with designer plans and press releases, and I have a large circle of friends who come to me for gaming tips, walkthroughs, and ways to save money on video games. Years ago the only advice I could give people was "be patient", but now I've got a whole new secret to save money on video games and I'm going to share it with you here. Download your Console Games. Yes, download them. Don't try to pirate them, don't search for illegal copies of them, just pay for a membership at one of the many websites offering Console Game downloads (there are a lot though, so do your research before you decide which one to use).

This is the ultimate way to save money on video games and it's the wave of the future for us gamers. With newer console systems like PS3 and Xbox 360 you can take advantage of the built in hard drive (you can even get more space for that hard drive) and the internet access these systems provide to log into one of the "Unlimited Downloads" sites and get any game you want right there and then. Fast downloads, safe connections, and (if you find the right service) only a one time fee and no hidden costs. With the Nintendo Wii you can easily purchase an additional 2Gig (or 4Gig) SD Card and store your downloads there.

This really is the best and easiest way to save money on video games. Think about it...you purchase a membership for less than the cost of a new game and all your other games are absolutely free. Just think about it...while you're thinking about it, I'll be playing some of my newer games. Take care and Happy Gaming!