Although game publishers aren't particularly fans of the trend, more and more retailers are getting into the used game business. While GameStop has been making a mint off of the business for years, other stores such as Wal-Mart, Radio Shack and Best Buy have also dipped their toes into the water. Today, a report is out that big box store Target will begin accetping used games starting this month in their Northern California locations through a program entitled Target Electronics Trade-In.

Target's system will allow consumers to bring used games, DVDs, mobile phones, and MP3 players to a participating Target Mobile counter where they can trade them in for Target store credit. The value of a particular item will depend on the item being traded, as well as the condition it is in. Once the value is finalized, customers will have the option of taking either immediate in-store credit, or a Target GiftCard.

Again, as of right now this service is only available in Northern California Target locations, but the company plans to have open it up to 850 stores by the end of 2010, with a nationwide rollout being completed at some time in early 2010. So once again, while publishers may bemoan the loss of revenue on new game sales, gamers will have one more place to compare used game prices in order to maximize the trade-in for their merchandise.

[Source]