Game exchange is big business. Electronic Arts (EA), HMV and Game Group PLC are cashing in with in-store trade-ins and exchanges. But with pre-owned games costing up to £30 on the High Street, it’s no surprise that savvy gamers are going online in search of a game exchange bargain. While points-based systems and dodgy security has put some gamers off, new game exchange platform, GaBoom.co.uk promises to bring new life to online pre-owned games market.

And just at the right time. With EA proposing to issue a license for games with an online element, even if you buy second-hand, you could have to pay an additional fee to play online. Entrepreneur and gamer, Jess Ratcliffe, launched GaBoom.co.uk earlier this year, giving the UK a platform for trading pre-owned games in reaction to industry attempts to encourage gamers to buy brand new.

“We have developed a safe, easy and unique way of trading games online; providing users, not only with our automatic user-matching system but two secure and insured postage options to take the hassle and risk out of trading their games online,” says 20-year-old Jess.

“With approximately 12.4 million people in the UK currently buying their games second-hand, it is going to take something massive for all of them to switch to only buying their games brand new,” she Jess.

GaBoom.co.uk is now running in open beta and set for it’s official launch later this summer. With a little girl power, GaBoom.co.uk could bring an exciting twist to the pre-owned games market – despite EA’s plans to lure gamers back to buying brand new games.

What do you think? Do you prefer to buy games brand new or do a game exchange? Let Witch Tech know.