

Also notable for its range of casual, kids' and Mac releases, the site may overwhelm you with its sizable catalogue, but it offers endless ways to kill a leisurely afternoon. Shoppers will find a host of titles both familiar ("Assassin's Creed II," "Borderlands"), fresh ("Iron Grip: Warlord," "Mount & Blade") and unknown ("Konung 3" or "Pro Cycling Manager 2010," anyone?).



Veteran gaming enthusiasts can't help but be impressed, as Good Old Games offers a compelling selection of critically acclaimed floppy disk and CD-ROM classics ready for retrieval right to your desktop.Ī veritable waltz down memory lane, $9.99 or less nets you a broad selection in all categories, from adventure ("Gabriel Knight 2," "Sanitarium") to role-playing ("Fallout," "Realms of Arkania") and strategy ("Commandos," "Jagged Alliance").īetter still, games come free of copy protection and are updated to run on modern machines, making it a simple and painless way to relive your misspent youth.įor those with more eclectic tastes, there's no better online retailer than GamersGate, which offers a massive array of obscure imports, independent offerings and esoteric European releases. The gold standard for digital distribution services, a vast range of current and retro releases provides ample reason to browse Steam's virtual aisles.īrought to you by Valve, makers of the "Half-Life" and "Portal" series, its ongoing spate of discounts, specials and money-saving promotions ensure there's always reason to keep coming back.Ĭonstantly adding prominent new high-profile debuts, as well as a number of notable indie game selections and obscure releases, it caters to all interests. Below, you'll find four of my favorites, all of which let you instantly browse, purchase and enjoy hundreds of amazing titles from yesteryear and today without having to get off the couch. (CNN) - Downloading games straight to your favorite handheld or set-top video game system has quickly emerged as one of the simplest, most wallet-friendly ways to get the most from your gaming dollar.īut while console owners are confined to dedicated online shopping services such as PlayStation Network, Xbox Live and WiiWare, PC owners have a broader selection of virtual vendors from which to pick. His most recent book is "Get Rich Playing Games." He frequently appears as an on-air technology analyst for ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and CNN. Editor's note: Scott Steinberg is the head of technology and video game consulting firm TechSavvy Global, as well as the founder of GameExec magazine and Game Industry TV.
