Some of you may be wondering what I'm referring to when I talk about being your own video game tester. Although there are video game jobs that have you play and test games and be paid for it, this actually has nothing to do with that. Before I go any further though, let's get one thing straight - Video games aren't exactly the most affordable form of entertainment. If any of you visit game forums or blogs, you may have come across someone talking about how they're saving their money, or set some money aside, so that they can purchase an upcoming new game console or a particular software title that they've been looking forward too.
I think it's safe to say that in many ways, purchasing something video game related can also be quite an investment. It can be a real pain having saved up all that money only to find out that the game you just purchased simply didn't live up to your expectations. It's something no gamer looks forward too. Personally speaking, this has happened to me many times. In many ways, it can be a really exciting time - You're looking forward to a particular software title that has you really excited and ready to play. On the flip side of the coin, the end result can be a very daunting experience - that title you were so anxiously waiting for not only didn't live up to your expectations, but let's face it, just plain sucked. What a waste of your time and money!
Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to help take back the time you've invested in being excited about a software title. On the other hand, their are ways to help cut back on the cost before you purchase the game at full price, brand-new. One of those ways is too actually rent the software title you're interested in before you buy it. It's seems obvious, but it actually surprises me at how many people I personally don't see doing this, especially if they're not sure whether they really like the game or not. This is the time where you actually become your own "video game tester." Essentially, you want to test out the game and get a feel for it - by doing this, you can better evaluate whether the game is for you or not. If it is, then you go through with the full purchase. If not, then you just saved yourself some money and the satisfaction of knowing you didn't just blow it on a title you didn't like.
In some cases, you may actually beat the whole game during your rental - in that case, you owe yourself a pat on the back as now you beat the title and saved yourself some cash at the same time. On the other hand, some people may find that even after renting and beating their game, the replay value is so high that they go ahead and purchase it at full price anyway. So again, it's all a matter of course. Save yourself the hassle of being disappointed in a purchase you thought was going to live up to your expectations, and rent before you buy. There are many benefits to renting a video game and it shouldn't be overlooked.
Alternatively, there's another option that could help save you some money on games your interested in - especially ones that for whatever reason passed you by, or you simply didn't have the time to invest in. This goes beyond the "testing phase", as now you won't be renting but instead buying. Don't panic - this is great news, and again, it surprises me at how many people I don't see doing this. What am I talking about? Purchasing used-games, of course! To keep things short, let's just say that it is not difficult to find games for very cheap at the "used section" of almost any game retailer you can think of. Some of those retailers include Blockbuster, Micro Play and EB Games. So, always remember to test out those titles before you purchase them brand-new. Or, try and find older titles you may have forgotten about at the used section of your closest video game retailer. Good luck!
Andre Garcia has years of experience playing video games and has been involved with the gaming industry for many years. For those that love games may also be interested in learning if it's possible to make money as a video game tester. For all your gaming needs, visit: Gaming Portal [http://www.videogamesforus.com]
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