GameStop's TV ad proudly proclaims that it's the "biggest trade event ever." We can't really disagree. Starting today, GameStop stores will be offering an extra 50% bonus on used game trade-ins, boosting their usually-paltry offerings into the "sort of worth it" zone. Your old copy of Madden 08 won't really help you much in this promo. Instead, look to capitalize on newer game trade-ins. Using the CAG database, we discovered that Modern Warfare 2, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Dante's Inferno, and BioShock 2 will net about $35 of credit each.
The best bet right now seems to be Mass Effect 2, which will net you a whopping $52 worth of credit (and if you have an Edge card, you'll earn 10% more). Just make sure that, as with many of last year's and this quarter's games, you don't intend to stick around for all that DLC.
As much as you may sympathize with the difficulties publishers face in the used games market, the ongoing 2010 onslaught of games -- including Heavy Rain, Final Fantasy XIII, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, God of War III, Pokemon, and more -- might force your wallet to seek out as much help as it can find.
[Thanks, Alan S.]
Reader Comments (103)
Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 12:33PM StormEagle said
Yeah, right. I'm gonna trade in my copy of Mass Effect 2 less than a month after I purchased it....NOT!
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 1:52PM The angry pro consumer gaming ga said
@jerkface, Best game ever? Yeah the hours I spent scanning for resources took it out the the best game ever category pretty quick.
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 1:52PM The angry pro consumer gaming ga said
@whylecat, "core" does not equal masochist. Seriously now that the beer goggles have worn off ME2, I suspect the scanning is going to be a real hindrance when contending for GOTY.
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 2:05PM StormEagle said
Even still, being a completionist has nothing to do with it. While it's true I've yet to complete my first playthrough of the game, it's still only been out one month. I may want to play through it again at the Paragon level or as a different class. Or maybe I want to take a different squad with me the next time out. Another good reason is that my wife happens to LOVE the series and she's still waiting for me to play it.
So why would I trade in a game a month of purchasing it and just lose $8? I shouldn't have even bothered buying the game in the first place.
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So why would I trade in a game a month of purchasing it and just lose $8? I shouldn't have even bothered buying the game in the first place.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 2:27PM (Unverified) said
I only scanned for resources when I couldn't afford an upgrade. Seemed less time consuming that way. I still visited every planet to check for anomalies, but I certainly didn't comb every planet for minerals.
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 2:57PM TheDarkWayne said
Geez, scanning is going to be a hindrance to it winning Gotys? It was a completely optional feature, even if you were trying to keep all of your team alive, you only had to scan a couple planets, it didnt take more than 10 minutes! If you hate it that much, DONT DO IT!
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 3:29PM Katana Master said
Same, I have beat it 3 times and got all the achievements. It's one of my favourite games ever, no way I'm trading it in.
I'm itching to play it for a fourth time, this time I will be aiming for a badass Shepard (renegade).
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I'm itching to play it for a fourth time, this time I will be aiming for a badass Shepard (renegade).
Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 5:00PM andsoitgoes said
@whylekat - no, there isn't. The list is very doable unlike the first game, which some of the ally achievements make me want to break an effing TV.
Seriously, I played through 20 hours on a casual run-through and thought I did damn near every quest and STILL didn't get the effing Asari one. WTF do I have to do? SIGH.
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Seriously, I played through 20 hours on a casual run-through and thought I did damn near every quest and STILL didn't get the effing Asari one. WTF do I have to do? SIGH.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 3:04PM BrianH said
but seriously, how can they afford to pay 55 dollars for mass effect 2?
what are they going to sell it for?
and whats the point of buying it used if you know it is going to cost 50 dollars, and then you might want to get cerberus?
seems like a lose lose for ebgames
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what are they going to sell it for?
and whats the point of buying it used if you know it is going to cost 50 dollars, and then you might want to get cerberus?
seems like a lose lose for ebgames
Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 12:43PM mywhitenoise said
I'm totally selling Bioshock 2. The sequel wasn't needed, and the multiplayer made me so mad with it's constant connection drops, lag, 5 minutes to connect, more connection drops...all because of that stupid level 40 trophy that was keeping me away from a platinum. Reaching level 40 says nothing about your skill, all it says is that you wasted 20 hours playing a horrible online game with the same generic game modes that every other multiplayer game has.
Selling it out of spite.
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Selling it out of spite.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 12:49PM BrianH said
yea, i played the online a few times and it was pretty meh, it just doesn't work.
And the single player was definitely worse than the first one, i honestly did not know wtf was going on, even though i got just about all the tapes etc, it just made no sense.
The first one was so good, but this, i don't know what it is.
drill specialist was fcking fun though.
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And the single player was definitely worse than the first one, i honestly did not know wtf was going on, even though i got just about all the tapes etc, it just made no sense.
The first one was so good, but this, i don't know what it is.
drill specialist was fcking fun though.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 1:40PM KungFuChaosNinja said
Played and finished the single player. While the story wasn't quite on par with the first, the story in BioShock 2 was still better than 90% of the stuff that's currently out on retail shelves. They had a lot to live up to, and while they didn't meet or surpass that monumental task, they certainly created a great game with a great story.
The spots where BioShock 2 did improve the formula, however, was in the combat. The overall combat is a lot tighter and dual wielding is a nice and very welcomed addition.
I own BioShock 2 for Xbox 360, and aside from some random freezing annoyances, the muliplayer has been pretty smooth sailing and a much better experience than I was anticipating.
I think you guys need to show a little respect and stop being so down on it. It scored well amongst critics and has garnered quite a bit of support amongst gamers who were truly surprised by tis quality.
While the random annoyances should be patches -- and they will...
BioShock 2 is a great effort by 2K Marin and other parties involved.
Give credit where credit is due.
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The spots where BioShock 2 did improve the formula, however, was in the combat. The overall combat is a lot tighter and dual wielding is a nice and very welcomed addition.
I own BioShock 2 for Xbox 360, and aside from some random freezing annoyances, the muliplayer has been pretty smooth sailing and a much better experience than I was anticipating.
I think you guys need to show a little respect and stop being so down on it. It scored well amongst critics and has garnered quite a bit of support amongst gamers who were truly surprised by tis quality.
While the random annoyances should be patches -- and they will...
BioShock 2 is a great effort by 2K Marin and other parties involved.
Give credit where credit is due.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 1:43PM Funkmaster General said
I'm enjoying Bioshock 2 very much. I haven't played the multiplayer, and I don't plan on it. The existence of this sequel seems to be very polarizing among gamers, and that's not a bad thing. I, unlike you, was frothing at the mouth to get back to Rapture and I felt that old thrill when entering it this time as I did the first time.
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 2:07PM Vcize said
What system were you playing it on? I've heard about a lot of lag issues with the PC version, but everyone I've talked to playing it on the 360 has said it's been pretty much smooth sailing except for some isolated incidents the first night after it came out.
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 3:40PM Danthaman said
Okay, honestly, the game wasn't THAT bad. This just seemed like angry ranting about connection issues, and about the multiplayer ranking system. I guess it wasn't your style of game, but honestly, I love the multiplayer. The adrenaline rush to get to a Big Daddy suit never gets old, and it actually takes work to kill someone, unlike MW2, where bullets cut through you like paper. Also, a person did not waste their time if they enjoyed the game, but you are acting as if people shouldn't be ALLOWED to like this game. Why?
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 3:55PM BrianH said
im not saying i didn't enjoy it, but after playing the first and loving it dearly, this one just didn't match up.
I know i'm not supposed to compare games, and accept them as individual projects, but thats hard to do when it's a sequel that's definitely worse than the first.
And game sequels are usually better than the first, a very very common trend in this industry.
But it feels like the new developers took the IP for granted and coasted on the success of the first.
Sorry, just how i feel.
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I know i'm not supposed to compare games, and accept them as individual projects, but thats hard to do when it's a sequel that's definitely worse than the first.
And game sequels are usually better than the first, a very very common trend in this industry.
But it feels like the new developers took the IP for granted and coasted on the success of the first.
Sorry, just how i feel.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 3:58PM ummhello said
I'm going to assume he played it on the PS3 (mentioned Trophies, NOT Achievements). Been playing it on the x360 with no connection problems, guess that confirms I made the right decision buying the game for my x360 and not the PS3, it's why I pay for my gold subscription, afterall....
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 12:49PM (Unverified) said
It's about time they offered more for your trade ins. Wonder how long it will actually last though.
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 12:49PM LaughingTarget said
So, that means trade-in prices will only suck half as much?
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 12:50PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
I just got back from GameStop and they gave me $87 for my copy of Sonic Unleashed ;)
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 1:17PM Stevetrop Man of Mystery said
Captain Planet there is power to that mullet of yours
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 1:47PM PedoJokerBear said
ha ha yeah ok and Johnny weir is incredibly straight.
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 2:27PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
If you think the mullet is impressive, you should see my pubes.
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 5:11PM LaughingTarget said
I keep trying to imagine how pubes can be business in the front and party in the rear, but my brain just shuts down.
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 12:53PM Bentzero said
And this is how I'll be buying Heavy Rain. I'll actually get more for Bayonetta than I paid for it. Sometimes the love hate relationship I have with GameStop tears me apart, but bonuses like this make it easier to walk through those doors. That, and I like talking to Rose.
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 2:15PM StormEagle said
I have to ask you gentlemen; Do either of your Gamestop crushes know the first thing about video games?
Because I see this trend happening in my area as well. They hire these pretty girls to work the counter but they couldn't tell you the difference between a Wavebird and a Waverunner.
It's for this reason that I've stopped going into Gamestop's all together.
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Because I see this trend happening in my area as well. They hire these pretty girls to work the counter but they couldn't tell you the difference between a Wavebird and a Waverunner.
It's for this reason that I've stopped going into Gamestop's all together.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 3:08PM TheDarkWayne said
For me "her" name is Joey and he's a 6'7 college student with a love for Afro Samurai and the rocketeer, and a strange resemblance to our own Justin Mcelroy.
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 5:13PM LaughingTarget said
My area apparently has strange people, because the last time I pre-ordered anything from there (long, long ago), "her" name was Zedrina or something along those lines.
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 12:56PM tumes said
Hey Joystiq, why don't you just go ahead and blow all of the developers while you are at it. Like they give a crap about gamers besides making money, please.
Go and cry about Gamestop ripping you off if you want, but I don't see the developers allowing you to monetize your old games. If they liked everyone so much why don't they let me return crappy games like Rogue Warrior, MLB 2k9, Fuel, etc.
Next time you play a crap game try to call the developer and see if they will you give your money back. I am sure they will since they are so benevolent and always put consumers before profits.
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Go and cry about Gamestop ripping you off if you want, but I don't see the developers allowing you to monetize your old games. If they liked everyone so much why don't they let me return crappy games like Rogue Warrior, MLB 2k9, Fuel, etc.
Next time you play a crap game try to call the developer and see if they will you give your money back. I am sure they will since they are so benevolent and always put consumers before profits.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 1:03PM Akronon said
Wow. That was totally unwarranted. By the way, developers typically love their games and gamers, while publishers only care about the money (if you're one to stereotype - which it seems you are).
Also, maybe you should read some reviews and stop paying full price for crappy games. Then maybe you won't have so much nerd rage.
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Also, maybe you should read some reviews and stop paying full price for crappy games. Then maybe you won't have so much nerd rage.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 1:45PM Funkmaster General said
What in the hell are you talking about? Did you even read the article?
Who let you in here? The kids' table is over there.
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Who let you in here? The kids' table is over there.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 12:57PM (Unverified) said
with Heavy Rain coming out tomorrow...this sounds appealing. Anyone know how much I can get back for UFC Undisputed 2009 for the PS3?
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2010 1:46PM (Unverified) said
i would think so since I asked it. The only way I can get a general idea of what Gamestop would give for it is by looking at what Amazon.com gives for it. Unless I call Gamestop directly but I try to limit my contact with Gamestop as much as possible.
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