Video games were originally invented by the military as a way to teach men and women in uniform which color of ghost is safe to eat and how to effectively leap over barrels. Utilize these virtual maneuvers with today's Groupon: for $10, you get a 10-hour game card at Underground Games in San Marcos (a $30 value).

Guests at Underground Games can recline on comfy seating and gaze at flat-screen televisions as they play the latest games for various consoles. Battle with chums (but note that passes cannot be split between multiple people) or adventure alone through an assortment of riveting titles, from the first-person alien obliteration of Halo: Reach to the super-heroic antics and genial brawling of Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Players can walk through walls and dash over bridges of light in Portal 2 or savor a match of Mario Kart Wii, an ultra-realistic racing game that teaches motorists the dangers of giant banana peels and malicious turtle shells. The 10-hour card can be used over multiple visits or all at once, allowing ample time to descend with friends into virtual dungeons and return with backpacks stuffed full of the gold coins of camaraderie.