I got an incredible deal on a new Dell laptop a couple of weeks ago (it’s currently being shipped and I’m expecting to receive it some time this week) and while I’m not much of a PC gamer, I may be inclined to hop into that world at some point. For the time being, I’m reasonably content with my Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii, but considering that I was once fully ensconced in the world of Diablo, I may do it again.

The easy route would be to walk into the local big box store and nab a game off the shelf, but that is usually the most expensive. Assuming that you’re not interested in import games, you can usually score a good deal through alternative measures like online stores and eBay. Online video game stores can sell their games for less than the MSRP because they typically have lower operating costs. Much like my “virtual” business of freelance writing, an online video game store does not have a brick and mortar storefront. This means that they don’t have to cover costs like building maintenance and so on, other than the costs involved with warehousing all those video games.

The downside is that most online stores cater to an American public, so it’s typically not quite as easy for us poor Canadians to get in on the best video game deals. You can probably order from an American-based site, but you will be responsible for any duties/customs/taxes that may be incurred by bringing the product across the border. For this reason, I recommend stores that ship via USPS — like the store that sponsored this post (ATC Video Games) — because it seems that USPS shipments are less likely to get “dinged” than UPS or Fedex. At least in my personal experience.

Mommies and daddies that grew up in the Space Invaders generation are playing video games too, so what better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than with a rousing round of World of Warcraft?