NFL Madden 10: Never pay full price

NFL Madden 10 hits the shelves at 12:01 a.m., sending gamers into blitz mode as they rush retailers in hopes of getting their hands on the game while it’s still hot.

And this year, the game’s developers have taken it to another level, outfitting Madden 10 for a reportedly more sociable and interactive experience for the Wii platform.

Gamers will plop down $59.99 to get the new release for PlayStation3 and XBox360. As we know, though, first and frugal don’t always meet nose-to-nose. Wait a minute, in this case, and you stand to save a lot of hard-earned cash.

Two days ago, I went to half.com and saw NFL Madden 2004 — with No. 7 Michael Vick on the cover — for 97 cents. A browse through the same site today delivered these gems, among countless others:

NFL Madden ‘09 — $9.49

NFL Madden ‘08 — 75 cents

Is it golf you prefer? How about this? Tiger Woods 2010 is $33.43 on the site; the 2006 version is 75 cents.

If you’re someone who has to have the best, and have it first, then this note isn’t for you — unless you have an open mind. But, if you’re patient and a savvy spender, you’ll heed these tips for getting the best value on video games. Game Crazy, the second-largest video retailer in the nation, including many locations in metro Atlanta, has some suggestions:

1. Buy used. Used game purchases have increased 16 percent since the beginning of 2009, according to a recent Nielsen report.

Note: Before you buy a used game, ask to try it out in-store to make sure it’s in good condition. If you’re buying it as a gift, make sure the store has a good return policy that will allow you to bring back games in poor condition.

2. Out with the Old. If you’re nostalgic — Do you still have an ’80s Atari game stored somewhere in the basement? — don’t sell the old game. But if you’re just looking for the next charge, you can use the money from your sell to help you buy a newer game you may be more interested in.

Note: You’ll get more if you trade in your used games quickly. Now, you may want to hold onto it for a while, but if it’s no longer challenging or entertaining — or you haven’t even looked at it in months — go ahead and sell it to maximize your return.

3. Know your product. Some games hold their value longer than others. Sports games and kids’ games with popular cartoon characters drop in value pretty quickly. Others, like role-playing games, driving and flying simulation games, and top-tier action games hold their value the longest, according to Game Crazy.

4. Here’s a non-Game Crazy tip. Rent the video games. You can rent video games for a few nights, or even a week, if you can’t afford to purchase them. Pay less than $10 a month for rentals at GameFly.

5. Free Downloads. On some systems, you can download for a free demos of new games. It’s generally only about 20 minutes long, but it’s a good way to try out a new game for free and have fun in the process.

Top 10 Games Trading at More than $20 as of July 28 (All games; information provided by Game Crazy):
1. UFC 2009 Undisputed
2. Call of Duty-Wold at War
3. Prototype
4. Fallout 3
5. Resident Evil 5
6. Fight Night Round 4
7. Infamous
8. Killzone 2
9. Red Faction 3: Guerilla
10. X-Men Origins: Wolverine