You can save a lot of money if you resist the temptation to buy every new release. The gaming industry is doing everything it can to get you to part with your money, but you can avoid some of these tactics by being aware of them. For instance, don't buy every year of a specific sports franchise. Major updates will occur every three years at best. Otherwise you're just playing the same game with an updated roster and some new comments from the announcer.

If you're a casual gamer, many pawn shops are well-stocked with used games. You can always get a bargain on older games, especially if you take a handful of them to the counter and make the proprietor an offer. Check retail outlets and liquidation centers for a bargain bin of older games. Sure there's a lot of crap in the pile, but it's always fun hunting for treasures.

If you must buy brand new games, get your favorites for sure, but for those questionable ones, wait a few weeks. Check out the reviews and word-of-mouth. Then decide if it's worth purchasing or renting. Take advantage of social networking to find gamers that have purchased these games in question, and see if you can "borrow" them, or work out some kind of exchange/barter system. You won't know if you don't ask, and it's always easier to take rejection from an email.

And finally, get the hell out of the house you lethargic, socially maladjusted vampire. Meet up with other gamers. Challenge them with classic games, or play the co-op mode. You'd be surprised how much more mileage you can get out of your old games when playing with real people. Who knows, you might even get to talk to a girl, and you'll have enough money saved to buy a new AC/DC shirt for your first date.

By Cole Smith Contributing Writer Date: August 24, 2012

*The views expressed within this article are solely the opinion of the author and do not express the views held by Cheat Code Central. This week's is also purely a work of fiction*