Over the last month or so, I made a killing with video games. Admittedly, most of the titles I bought were not new by any means, but I am happily finding out that old games can be just as good as the new ones.

First I was at Best Buy, and it was there that I bought the only new game in question. I got Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, and almost didn't have to pay for it. I used two Reward Zone gift certificates to purchase the game and a DVD ("Choke"). The certificates should have covered the entire purchase, but because of some B.S. logic, I couldn't use the second one because the purchase had to exceed the value of the card PRIOR to tax being applied. So I had to pocket my $10 gift certificate and pay $10 and change.

Then I went to Gamestop to redeem my $25 gift certificate (courtesy of www.utalkback.com) to get some old GameCube games. I walked out with Splinter Cell, Geist, Second Sight and Enter the Matrix, and still had $1 and change on the card! How's that for a steal?

Lastly, I made a trade with a guy I worked with for his old Game Boy Color, Game Boy Pocket and four Game Boy games (Donkey Kong Land 2, Driver, Wario Land and Baseball). All I gave up in exchange was one lunch at Gorilla Burrito (our local small-town knock-off of Chipotle)! He also gave me his old carrying case, and while I'd like to forget the disgusting extra he had stashed away in there, I still think I got a good deal.

I haven't had a whole lot of time to play most of these games, but so far Splinter Cell is fantastic! Long live retro gaming!