Played a lot of Zubo lately? Logging in tons of time with Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? Chances are, probably not. But as a recent spate of under-the-radar PC and video game gems are quick to remind, sometimes the most compelling titles aren't the ones splashed all over your TV or local GameStop.

For example: PC outing Plants vs. Zombies, which hardly seems an obvious choice for strategy fans. But the downloadable epic -- demanding you use sunflowers, cherries and potatoes to keep shambling cadavers from invading your garden -- doesn't just boast a great sense of personality and attractive hand-drawn visuals. It's also incredibly deep, and one of the simplest to learn, yet hardest to master tactical combat challenges we've ever encountered.

According to the Entertainment Software Association, 40 percent of video game players are female, while women over 18 represent a larger built-in audience than even teenage boys. But where are the titles which speak to this diversity, and intelligently at that? One glance at store shelves and online portals -- crowded by childish outings (My Fashion Studio), self-help programs (Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2009) and cutesy diversions (Diaper Dash) -- and it's hard to tell.

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.

Real-time strategy (RTS) titles have been a cornerstone of electronic gaming since the earliest days of computing. With hundreds of miniaturized troops and vehicles fighting atop lavishly rendered landscapes that change every second, these virtual conflicts provided a brisker, more accessible alternative to tabletop favorites like Stratego, Axis & Allies or Risk. Thanks to the success of franchises like WarCraft and Command & Conquer, the genre has swept across PCs.

To me, nobody's got Fisher Price and its 65-year-old View-Master beat when it comes to 3-D. Sure, its paper discs are only capable of conveying still images, but no matter how many so-called 3-D movies, games, ads, or even football matchups I've seen over the years, nothing's come close to duplicating the awe I experienced the first time I ever peeped into those famous red binoculars. So, it was with great anticipation that I test drove the new GeForce 3-D Vision gaming goggles from Nvidia this week.

Ask today’s most accomplished game developers, and they’ll tell you that making a hit title is like trying to capture lightning in a bottle. But repeating that success? You know what they say about atmospheric discharges of electricity striking twice. Still, at least some software creators have figured out the secret to making everything old feel new again. We tested a number of recent retro-fabulous outings to see who’s really got game, what lessons may be learned from these attempts, and if you really can go back. You may be shocked to learn the results.

Like skinny jeans and Wall Street panics, everything old is new again, especially if you're a gamer. Thank golden-age throwbacks (i.e. Street Fighter IV) and budget-priced anthologies (see: Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection), which continue to score well with misty-eyed Gen X-ers. In an unexpected comedic twist though, two refreshingly cheeky titles are suddenly making sport of treasured childhood memories. Nor can these interactive outings resist asking just how blinded joystick lovers really are by nostalgia's lenses.