GameFly

[Drew]

Does anyone use this service? I've read up on it and most people seem to like it (I did read an interesting article about how they have way more items stolen in the post office than Netflix). Any first hand opinions?

[Androidpk]

I had it for awhile and it was ok. Good luck on getting the new games that come out though, I never got any on my list.

[Kitsun]

My bro and I have it. We like it since it lets us test out games we normally wouldn't bother with until bargain bin and we've hit a whole shit ton of meh games. We would love it but 1) their availability seems low on many games 2) you have no idea what you're going to hit off the queue because of the wonky availability 3) the shipping time isn't anywhere near as quick/efficient as say Netflix.

[The Ponzzz]

Yeah, I currently have it. Sent a game back June 2nd. Got the email that they received it June 14th and sent the new game, still haven't gotten the game yet. I want to cancel, but Blockbuster has like 17 games on their shelves.

[Androidpk]

Doesn't blockbuster also rent games that way?

[The Ponzzz]

They use to do the game card, but I don't think so anymore.

[Renian]

I have Gamefly and have had no problems with it. But I don't powergame as hard as I used to so I'm less likely to run into problems with sending games back and getting new ones.

[Cephalopod]

I rented a game from Blockbuster tonight for the first time. Fucking $9.95? Really?

Might try this instead.

[Stretch]

GameFly has promotions for a full free month trial relatively frequently. Try it out and see how you like it.

Availability is a pretty big issue, and it's not really that cheap anyway. I canceled it after I realized that I probably end up spending the same amount on the subscription as if I had bought it outright by the time I finish a game.

[Androidpk]

I rented a game from Blockbuster tonight for the first time. Fucking $9.95? Really?

Might try this instead.

How many nights do you get the game for?

[The Ponzzz]

Two nights. And I think Vin hit the nail on the head about Gamefly.

[Geshron]

I have it, they haven't sent me my game after receiving the one I sent back over 4 days ago. Kind of annoying at times and yeah, you will certainly not get low availaibility games unless you put them in your Q way, way early. I kind of hate them at times.

[The Ponzzz]

Heh, 4 days. I'm still waiting for the game I sent back on June 2nd!

[Geshron]

See usually they are pretty good about sending me what I want for ps3. That may also be why it's easier for me, I don't have the most popular console by far. But most of the time it's like clockwork, I get my game 3 days after I sent out. We'll see what Monday brings, I'll update.

[Drew]

So I subscribed and of course got the two crappiest games in my Queue. Is the trick not to put anything but the low availability games or will they just not send you any at all that way? I've pared down my list to get rid of most of the stuff that is high availability that would annoy me if they sent it before the games higher up in my Queue.

[Geshron]

I guess the sooner you put a game in your queue (even pre-release) is how they decide who gets what, and when. Which is really absurd that I'd be putting games in that come out in November now. I'm sending my games back and cancelling. Battlefield 1943 and NHL 09 will keep me happy enough until 10 comes out.

[Bhuryn]

if it works anything like netflix the lower volume users get first crack at new releases.

[Geshron]

I dunno, the system I described above was what the customer service rep told me precisely. Which I gave the same response, I feel like a douchebag requesting a game that comes out in 7 months but that's what they recommend. Still cancelling though, would rather play GS and BF1943.

[Liberi Fatali]

I don't use this service, but what I do use is available to everyone and free: the library.

It may sound nerdy, but the library is absolutely brilliant, like.

My library, for instance, allows you to check out up to TEN games for TWO weeks at a time AND you can reserve them. They currently have PS2, PS3, Wii and X-Box 360 games.

I just got the Wii Fit AND the balance board yesterday and I get it for two entire weeks. I've also rented Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart, Medal of Honors 2, Super Mario Galaxy, etc.

My library has about 30 games for each console, HOWEVER, when you request a game the list includes all of the libraries in your vicinity as well -- so there's literally a list of about 300+ games to choose from. It's amazing and FREE.

[Beguiler]

Got a subscription to GameFly for my son for Christmas. He loves it. Of course we're patient, sometimes it takes a week or so to get the new games, but we get them. He really enjoys being able to try out games, and I know it's cut down on the 'buy me this game!' and then two days later hearing 'gosh this is lame!'. If he loves a game, they have deals/rewards that help make the purchase pretty decent deals.

[longshot]

It may sound nerdy.

It's nerdy at it's very best.

My thoughts are start with "incredibly sad", and work south from there...

[Parkbandit]

I don't use this service, but what I do use is available to everyone and free: the library.

It may sound nerdy, but the library is absolutely brilliant, like.

My library, for instance, allows you to check out up to TEN games for TWO weeks at a time AND you can reserve them. They currently have PS2, PS3, Wii and X-Box 360 games.

I just got the Wii Fit AND the balance board yesterday and I get it for two entire weeks. I've also rented Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart, Medal of Honors 2, Super Mario Galaxy, etc.

My library has about 30 games for each console, HOWEVER, when you request a game the list includes all of the libraries in your vicinity as well -- so there's literally a list of about 300+ games to choose from. It's amazing and FREE.


Why would a public library carry games and lend them out for free? I don't get it.

[Bhuryn]

The Fort Worth library is tiny and they have a pretty ridiculous movie list according to my friend. You can also apparently checkout media right from their website and import it to your ipod now too. It's not a big stretch that some of the bigger libraries might have games as well.

[MrTastyHead]

About a week is average time for me to get my next game too, but I blame that on the fact that it seems the only distribution center is in LA. So my games literally have to go coast to coast and back again.

It would be nice if they would open up an east coast location. I'm hoping it will come in time.

[Parkbandit]

The Fort Worth library is tiny and they have a pretty ridiculous movie list according to my friend. You can also apparently checkout media right from their website and import it to your ipod now too. It's not a big stretch that some of the bigger libraries might have games as well.

I clearly haven't been in a public library in quite some time.. I always thought it was a place you can check out a book.. not a local Blockbuster.

Another fantastic example of tax dollars being pissed away.

[Bhuryn]

I clearly haven't been in a public library in quite some time.. I always thought it was a place you can check out a book.. not a local Blockbuster.

Another fantastic example of tax dollars being pissed away.

At least it's local tax dollars so you might actually be able to do something about it =P

[Fallen]

Hollywood Video is doing a program now where you pay X bucks a month and are able to rent games as long as you like. It is fairly comparable to Gamefly, except you get the games when you want them, and they have a good selection.

[Liberi Fatali]

I clearly haven't been in a public library in quite some time.. I always thought it was a place you can check out a book.. not a local Blockbuster.

Another fantastic example of tax dollars being pissed away.

Our local library is about 10x better than the local Blockbuster. Not just because it's free; but rather because it has almost double the amount of DVDs that Blockbuster has.

It's not just educational videos/DVDs, like one would assume would be at the library. I'm talking drama, complete series, comedy, war, etc.

I checked out the entire complete set of Sopranos, Deadwood and the Carnival series from HBO.

They get brand new DVDs within 3 weeks of their release. I saw Hancock almost immediately when it came out on DVD as well as Bedtime Stories and Transformers -- all for free.

I don't know why a lot more people don't go to their local libraries. The movies, however, you only get for 7 days (as opposed to the two weeks for video games). The BRAND new movies you only get for one day. Still, though, you can't complain when it's free.

[Drew]

About a week is average time for me to get my next game too, but I blame that on the fact that it seems the only distribution center is in LA. So my games literally have to go coast to coast and back again.

It would be nice if they would open up an east coast location. I'm hoping it will come in time.

GameFly has several east coast centers. My games so far have come from Tampa and Pittsburgh (more obscure game), I live in South Florida. They have a center in LA, Pittsburgh, Tampa, and Austin and then Seattle is opening up.


http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/gamefly-expanding-to-seattle-washington/