rental

Once upon a time, $40 or $60 went a long way towards satisfying your gaming jones. Not only did it buy a hot new title or two, but also must-have accessories like chips and soda. Nowadays though, that's the bare minimum you'll drop on first-run PC, handheld, or next-gen console releases. So what's a poor, cash-starved player to do? Easy -- take advantage of a new breed of products and services designed to help you get more for your dollar.

As I sit down to write this week's Grouse column, I find myself having to work through one of those rather dull and annoying headaches, which, I'm almost certain, is from repeatedly slapping myself in the forehead over the course of the last few days. It's not that I'm a masochist -- I'm just upset with myself for not being the first to think of a Netflix-style site for books and book lovers.