If you're looking for used games, Gamestop is usually your only option. Personally, I go to the local mall where there's a Gamestop at the top and bottom of the same escalator. Now it seems we'll have some choice as Circuit City has announced it's expanding its sale of used video games.

SmartMoney said that the electronics store chain conducted a one year test online and in ten of its stores and were encouraged by the sales of the used games. It's unclear how many of Circuit City's 600+ stores in US and Canada would begin carrying previously purchased titles. Senior Vice President Irynne MacKay said that stores would create shelf space for the initiative by shrinking their selection of music CD's (remember those things?).

Circuit City doesn't plan on accepting trade-ins, though, so you'll need to go to another store for that. Their supply of used games comes from an unnamed vendor. Competitor Best Buy had tested the used games market back in 2005 with limited success (a crucial difference being they didn't sell the used titles online). If Circuit City's particular business model pays off, will other big retailers (Target, Wal-Mart, etc.) follow suit?

What would be the long-term ramifications of an overall widening of the used games market? As a consumer I like being able to buy cheap games but publishers rarely see any profit from the game resale. If anything, having new copies of your game sitting on a store shelf next to used copies priced at ten dollars cheaper actually hurts profits.