As our coverage continues on the second mega-release this year, Best Buy has posted its list of midnight store openings for the Grand Theft Auto IV launch. We've placed the list after the break, and the Best Buy site has maps to the locations for those who need it.

We don't have explicit details how the Best Buy midnight launch should go -- like we do for Wal-Mart -- but it's best to show up early Monday evening. Plus, the company states that there'll be "Grand Theft Auto-related giveaways, but quantities will be limited." And just to prove how non-highfalutin of a site we really are, this blogger will be standing in line at the Dedham, Mass., store taking pics and waiting to get his copy just like everyone else.

Although a tip we received was specifically about Best Buy's trade-in program, it appears the service is actually provided by a company called Dealtree.com, which seeks to offer "fair value" for old electronics. For example, the trade-in price for a Gamecube in good condition is $25; if that seems acceptable all the customer has to do is print out the pre-paid shipping label, send it to the company and in seven business days it'll send a Best Buy gift card for the value of the trade-in.

Dealtree.com apparently provides its services to a variety of retailers. It appears trade-in values are universal as a very quick check using the same parameters on the Circuit City version yielded the same trade-in value as with Best Buy. A sterile alternative to eBay or Craigslist for those looking to unload old consoles.

[Thanks Michael]

Following an apparently successful ten-store test program started nearly a year ago, Circuit City has decided to broaden its used game sales, according to SmartMoney. No word on how many new stores will be adding a used games section or how quickly the expansion will roll out, but Circuit City Vice President Irynne MacKay said the company wants to be "competitive on pricing." That's a relief. We were worried they wanted to gouge us.

High margin used game sales could help the struggling electronics retailer, whose sales fell 11 percent last year in the face of competition from Best Buy (which, incidentally, was also testing out used game sales at one point). The company is also toying with gaming tournaments, a 10% off "Gamer Savings Club" (with a $20 annual fee) and a new store layout that prominently features gaming kiosks. That all sounds well and good, but we'd recommend caution with the placement of those Wii kiosks. There's nothing worse than an overzealous Wii Sports player knocking over an innocent customer looking at big screen TVs.

The PS3 pricing structure is like a really wily monkey. You may think you have him, you've got your stun club and net all ready and then ... poof! He loses you, leaving behind only a monkey-shaped cloud of dust. In what appears to be its latest juke, the 80 GB version of the PS3 will apparently go closeout (read: no new shipments) at Best Buy stores, according to an internal memo sent to PS3 Fanboy.

What does this mean for the PS3 exactly? We've checked with our team of experts and are now able to report that we have absolutely no clue. It's worth noting that in Japan, the 20 and 60 GB SKUs of the system were dropped to focus all efforts on the 40GB model, but we don't know if that's what's happening here. The only facts now seem to be that something is up, and Sony's saying it's business as usual. We'll let you know when we hear more.

You know we love it when stores break street dates, so we're sort of hoping the (so far unsubstantiated) rumors that some Best Buys are selling Super Mario Galaxy early are true. According to this GameFAQs forum thread (yeah, we know, just stick with us, okay?) some Best Buys have received copies of Super Mario Galaxy and, since there's no official release date, they're selling them as they come in.

Now, if you're like us, something about that rings false. That's right: Reggie announced the game's release date as November 12 at E3 earlier this year. Normally, we'd shrug it off and hit the bars early, but we spotted a purported pic (with obligatory receipt) of the game over at Go Nintendo that once again imbued us with rays of cosmic hope. We'll leave it at that and pass the whole thing off to you for further inquiry. So, readers, anyone happen to score a copy of Super Mario Galaxy early and, if so, what say you share a little pic of your plunder with good ol' Joystiq?

[Via Wii Fanboy]

Read – I went to Best Buy Today.... And They HAD it!
Ogle – Best Buy locations breaking Super Mario Galaxy street date