I had planned to do this entry almost two months ago, but I never got around to doing it. Today I ran across this post by Matt Haughey and decided that now was as good a time as any. So, here goes.
Video games are expensive, and we all know it. Some games can take as little as 5 hours to finish, so paying $50 for it seems absurd. This is why a lot of people rent most of their games and buy the ones that have a lot of replay value. Even if I take two weeks to finish a game, it still only cost me $12 to rent it. Now, imagine if there was a Netflix-like service that did the same thing for games. Sounds perfect, right? It must be only a matter of time before Netflix starts doing this, but until they do I have compiled a few sites that are a step ahead.
GoVoJo
1000 Titles PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, Gameboy Advance
1 game per month: $13.95, 2 games: $19.95, 3 games: $29.95, 4 games: $34.95
Despite the horrible name, I would say this is one of the best, behind only Red Octane.
Gamefly
360 Titles PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
1 game p/m: $13.95, 2 games p/m: $21.95
This one seems pretty good. I especially like the "keep it" option, which lets you buy the game at a used price if you like it. The site is also well designed.
VeeGeez
Titles - PS1, PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
2 games p/m: $19.95, 3 games: $24.95, 4 games: $29.95, 5 games: $34.95, 6 games: $39.95
I'm inclined not to trust this site, mostly because it is an eyesore. It's not too tough to navigate, but it is worth checking out for yerself.
Red Octaone
1500 Titles - PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
2 games p/m: $18.95, 3 games: $23.95, 5 games: $39.95
This is the best designed and seems to be the most reputable site.
Numb Thumb
Xbox, PS2, Gamecube
1 game p/m: $13.95, 2 games, $21.95
This one seems to be pretty stinky. A really good deal, but I just can't trust them based on the amount of information they provide.
Angel Gamer
PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
1 game p/m: $14.95, 2 games: $19.95
The design of the site is just alright, but it seems to be an interesting and affordable option.
Boomerang Games (No longer exists)
PS1, PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
2 games paid yearly: $19.99 p/m, paid biannually: $22.99 p/m, paid monthly: $24.99 p/m
I don't like this one. Anyone who has "I only wanted to try BoomerangGames's free trial, so why did I get charged?" in their FAQ, is probably not a good company. [link via Shifted Librarian and LazyWeb]
Added 3/4/03:
Spunel (No longer exists)
625 Titles - PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
1 game p/m: $9.99; 2 games: $17.99; 3 games: $24.99
This seems to be the perfect middle road. Some good prices, especially the 1 game option, usable design and a solid selection. I don't know if this is the absolute best, but I think these guys will do well. I recommend it. UPDATE: Nevermind. The website is no longer up right now--a domain holder page is there instead--and someone left a comment explaining that they were ripped off. I do not recommend them.
Trigger Fingers
PS1, PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, GBA, GB Color
3 games p/m: $19.95; 4 games: $24.95; 5 games: $29.95; game console rental for additional $19.95 w/ $100 refundable deposit
Well, they have a great deal, that's for sure. Unfortunately, the money you save in rentals was probably taken out of site design. If they can get a more usable site, this just might be my favorite. Good selection and cheap prices.
Added 3/13/03:
GetAnyGame
700 Titles - PS2, Gamecube, Xbox
2 games p/m: $20
These guys have an amazing, original idea. You can send them old games, which they'll rent out, and you get $2 every time it's rented. I'm not sure how well this will scale, but it could be very cool. Otherwise, the site is well designed and relatively easy to navigate (I like that they have forums). Very cool.
Game Lender
5,000 (!) Titles - PS2, PS1, Gamecube, N64, Xbox, Dreamcast, GBA, GBC, and more.
2 games p/m: $15.99/$17.99; 3 games: $19.99/$21.99; 5 games: $25.00/$29.99 (1 year contract/no contract)
That is an amazing amount of titles. This service is obviously for the hardcore gamer who refuses to give up his/her old systems. The design is fairly poor, but the number of titles make up for it. Definitely worth checking out.
Added 3/15/03
DVD Avenue
250 Titles - PS1, PS2
2 p/m: $14.99; 3 p/m: $19.99; 4 p/m: $24.99; 6 p/m: $34.99; 8 p/m: $44.95
I hadn't planned on doing the DVD/Game places, but now I am. In fact, it is probably a better overall deal to do something like this because you can split up your monthly rentals between games and movies. DVD Avenue seems to be a good service. It's no Netflix, but it's well designed and relatively easy to navigate. I'm perplexed that they don't mention games in their FAQ, but I assume you rent them like any DVD. If so, this gets my approval.
DVD Barn
130 Titles - PS2, Xbox
1 p/m: $8.95; 2 p/m: $14.95; 4 p/m: $23.95; 7 p/m $37.95; 10 p/m $49.95
First, the site broke in Safari, so I would not use the service. If you can't have a site that works in every browser, then you shouldn't have the service. Aside from that, it's just ok. They have a very small selection and clearly video games aren't their priority. The only positive thing here is the price. It costs $6 per week at Blockbuster to rent a game. For $3 more you can have it for a month. Can't beat that.
Note: This is a list of companies that only offer videogames. There are others that offer both DVDs and games.
02/01/03 5:32 AM
hey check out www.spunel.com. i'm using this, and they're great. the best thing about these guys is they have a "returned game" link. they'll send your next games before they receive them. it shortens the shipping times. pretty worth it for 17.99 a month.
03/04/03 2:26 PM
Hey I recently found out about a new kid on the block for these game rentals. www.triggerfingers.com. They are local to me (Colorado) but better than that, they are fairly central in the US. Not only can you rent games AND CONSOLES!!!, but you can also buy everything they rent. They have three plans: The economy (19.95/month) will let you have 3 games out at a time, Mid-Sized (24.95/Month) four, and the Luxury (29.95/month) five games. The Consoles are intriguing, you have to have a games rental membership and you can add what they call the Plus Plan. For 19.95/month you can rent a console. You have to give them a $100 deposit, but it's refundable. (In other words you need an economy plan and the plus plan (each 19.95/month) to rent consoles). They have a lot of titles, but if they don't have something you want, they have a request address and it seems to work so far. You should check them out.
03/19/03 1:45 PM
Hey I got an xbox that I really don't play cause it's time consuming, and my studys come first, I'm thinking about renting it to some guys or gals that might be interested on my campus, what do you think is a reasonable price to charge
04/06/03 8:48 PM
Hey, I like the idea of video game rental.
I live in the Atlanta, Ga region. I would like it if you could give me some direction on starting my own type of service here in the local area.
I think many people, like myself, would love the opportunity to rent games at a low cost and then return them without buying the game if they so choose.
Thanks for the links to the sites, they were very informational.
04/16/03 9:25 PM
u stink that is too expensive u r ripping people off it should be free, free ya here me. Not a million dollars
04/16/03 9:25 PM
u stink that is too expensive u r ripping people off it should be free, free ya here me. Not a million dollars
05/08/03 3:59 PM
I recently signed up for Spunl. I have not received any games and they have not responded to any of my e-mails. Beware if you are going to use this service. Anyone have any suggestions please e-mail me at Bsoxroc@aol.com. Thanks.
12/20/03 11:28 PM
awesome breakdown of the sites. definitely very informative. thank you
12/22/03 6:33 AM
You guys need to check out VeeGeez again in Jan 2004. They were bought out by a company called GamezNFlix. They are making a new site and are going to have a lot of options...like buying the games you like. Some time in Jan 2004 the ugly curent site is going to be replaced with the new site....its cool looking...I saw a sample of it out on the web.
12/22/03 6:35 AM
You guys need to check out VeeGeez again in Jan 2004. They were bought out by a company called GamezNFlix. They are making a new site and are going to have a lot of options...like buying the games you like. Some time in Jan 2004 the ugly curent site is going to be replaced with the new site....its cool looking...I saw a sample of it out on the web.
12/27/03 6:09 PM
GameZNflix will be the new name for PGHI, which acquired VeeGeez. If you are looking for an investment in GameZNflix, now is the time to get in. It's only 4 cents a share and could grow the way NetFlix did. VeeGeez will have a re-modeled website soon and a 2nd distribution cntr for movies and games.
Cheers!
01/24/04 8:38 PM
MUST READ !!!
January 31, 2004,
New Entry In Online Vid Race
By JILL KIPNIS
There's a new kid on the block in the online video rental world.
Gameznflix.com, owned by Franklin, Ky.-based holding company Point Group Holdings Inc. (PGHI), is launching next month with an offering of DVDs and videogames.
The service's business model is similar to that of Netflix, the leading online rental company based in Los Gatos, Calif. Users will pay a monthly subscription fee that enables them to receive DVDs or games through the mail. After a subscriber returns a title in an envelope with prepaid postage provided by gameznflix.com, another title from the rental selection list they have created is sent.
"This is a long-term project that will offer an alternative to Netflix," says John Fleming, CEO/president of PGHI. "We will crawl, then we will walk and then we will see about running into the future."
Netflix ended 2003 with about 1.5 million subscribers, a 74% increase over 2002.
Fleming says that the availability of videogames will differentiate gameznflix.com from such competitors as Netflix and walmart.com, which only offer DVDs.
A Netflix representative could not be reached for comment by press time.
PGHI has already established an online videogame rental service through its 18-month-old Web site veegeez.com, which will be incorporated into gameznflix.com next month. Fleming would not disclose how many subscribers use veegeez.com.
It currently distributes veegeez.com orders through centers in San Diego and Franklin. Fleming says two more distribution centers will open soon.
At launch, gameznflix.com will offer about 50 top DVDs and a full stock of videogames. According to Fleming, 99% of published videogames, including such older titles as "Pong," will be available for rent.
"It costs $50 to buy a game. The gamer beats the game or likes it or dislikes it and is over it in about two weeks and three days," Fleming says. "Now, they can rent it for $20 a month."
Fleming would not disclose what the monthly subscription fee for gameznflix.com will be, though its veegeez.com offers plans that range from $19.95 to $39.95. For example, the $19.95 plan allows users to have two titles rented at a time, while a $29.95 plan allows four rentals at a time.
PGHI has signed a joint venture deal with Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Legend Mobile to develop a marketing campaign for gameznflix.com's launch. Legend Mobile spearheads campaigns involving celebrities, such as the recent Visa debit card promotion with Hilary Duff (Billboard Bulletin, Oct. 25, 2003).
Rental data from online services are not reflected in Billboard's rental charts
02/03/04 6:41 PM
You readers mayy want to check out veegeez.com once more? Veegeez's website has been completely revamped, and if I do say so myself, IT LOOKS SPECTACULAR!
Check it out. There's lots of great promotional deals available, it may be the best video game rental company out now!
02/04/04 11:38 PM
If anyone is thinking about a membership to rental service, I hope this might help.
I signed up with Veegeez.com 5 months ago. No problems at all, and a good selection of games. From what I understand, they will be adding DVD's to their site very soon.
I am very happy with their service, no complaints.
02/06/04 4:46 PM
I second Josh's comments regarding Veegeez services. I have been a member for about 4 months and have received exceptional customer service. The new website is now icing on the cake...
...and their parent company, GameZnFlix (GZFX), is about to offer DVDs as well.
03/11/04 4:24 PM
What I would like to see is reviews on their inventory. Example, GameFly's queue always says NOW AVAILABLE. But with GPLAY.com, they never have inventory available. I currently have 10 games in queue and they are all listed as either SHORT of LONG wait. I currently have NO games rented out because of their inventory. So watch out!
03/29/04 1:51 PM
Gplay.com has a great website and game-listing, BUT... very little ever gets shipped. WEEKS go by with your next game never shipping, with 20 "short-waits" in your queue. It's almost impossible to get anyone on the phone or to answer your customer-service emails. If they do it's just a useless apology but nothing changes. Their game-availability dates are very inaccurate too. Great looking package but overall it's the poorest-run online enterprise I've ever seen, bar none, in terms of actual delivery of advertised service. Beware!
04/07/04 2:51 PM
I'm a college student in Illinois and have been assigned to a project team which has been given the task of designing a "Video Game Delivery" web-based application for video game rentals. If you have a few moments to answer some questions for me, that would be great. We're doing our preliminary research prior to designing the website.
What rental websites do you currently use?
If you could design the ultimate video game rental website, what features would this site include?
What do you dislike about the rental websites you currently use?
Thanks very much for your feedback!
Karen
05/06/04 8:35 PM
Check out this one www.rentalwire.com . Being using them for the past couple months. Very helpful they have online live support. They update there site constantly. They are both in the US and Canada to. I have never had a problem with low inventory from these guys.
07/10/04 11:22 PM
You can probably take triggerfingers.com off the list. It looks like gplay.com bought them, raised their prices, and reduced the number of games you can rent at any given time. Time to find another service.
07/14/04 12:34 AM
This seems to be the only service to Canada, and they have US only game releases (i.e. NCAA 2005) I'm going to try it out.
11/13/04 8:57 AM
Check out gameznflix. They are the best. I can get my games I want and dvds at the same time! Also if you sign up for a year it is only $15 a month! How can you go wrong.