In this economy, video games are a great bargain for your entertainment dollar. You get hours of enjoyment from a single game. But video games aren't cheap.

New games cost as much as $50 or $60. You also need a console and accessories, unless you want to stick with PC games. So, it is easy to invest hundreds of dollars on gaming.

Now, you can get new games by trading in old ones. Many sites and stores accept used games. Some even accept used gaming consoles. You'll get store credit. Other sites let you sell or trade directly with other users. Visit www.komando.com/news for links to sites mentioned.

TRADE-IN VALUE

Trading games is much like trading in books or CDs. Stores need to make a profit when they resell a game. So, you'll only get a fraction of what you paid.

Trade-in values aren't set in stone. A game's popularity and age affect how much you get. Trade-in values also vary between stores.

Finding out how much you'll get for a game isn't always easy. Sites for game stores don't list trade-in values for all games. You'll need to visit the store.

For a new, popular game, you may get half what you paid. If the game is for an older-generation console, expect a few dollars. Your games should be in good condition.

LOCAL STORES

Your local game store probably accepts trades. Walk in with your games and receive store credit. You can redeem it immediately.

Check GameStop's trade-in specials before visiting the store. You may receive extra trade credit based on the number of games you trade. Or, get a bonus for applying a trade to advance purchases.

GameStop's Edge card ($15 yearly) entitles you to 10 percent off used games and accessories. You'll also get a 10 percent bonus on trade-ins.

GameStop owns EBGames, which has the same policies. Both accept used consoles and accessories.

Game Crazy works much like GameStop and EBGames. Check its promotions page before heading to the store. Its MVP card costs $10 yearly. You'll get 10 percent off used games and accessories. There's also a 10 percent bonus on trade-ins.

Trade-in values are competitive. For example, you'll get about $23 for "Super Mario Galaxy." It retails for $50.

AMAZON.COM

Amazon has gotten into the used game business. Its site lists used games it accepts, along with trade-in value. Most stores don't offer this level of transparency.

You must mail your games to Amazon, but Amazon provides shipping labels and packing slips. It even covers shipping costs.

Shipments must be worth $10 or more. Amazon takes up to two days to inspect games. It then adds an online gift card to your Amazon account. You can use the credit on anything in Amazon's store. Amazon doesn't accept used consoles.

OTHER WEB SITES

There are also sites where you can trade directly with other gamers.

Game Trading Zone and Trade Games Now facilitate transactions between gamers. Buy, sell or trade games for free. Transactions are not guaranteed, though. You need to watch for bad traders.

Goozex is a better solution. You list games you want to trade. You get points instead of cash or games. Use these points to buy games from others. You can also buy points. You pay $1 per trade. Trades are guaranteed.

You may be unhappy with what you get from gaming stores and sites. In that case, try eBay or www.Half.com. These sites require more work, but you set your own price.