Blockbuster to begin renting games through the mail

[Queasy]

Link - Pretty big news. While I don't care for BB that much, competition can't be anything but a good thing.

PRESS RELEASE -- An upcoming pilot program from Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE:BBI) (NYSE:BBI.B) , a leading global provider of media entertainment, will offer consumers one-stop shopping for their online video game and movie rental needs. The pilot program, which will be launched during the second quarter, will allow select BLOCKBUSTER Total Access(TM) online customers to rent video games, as well as movies, through the mail as part of their subscription plan. With a goal of having the offering available nationally in the second half of the year, the company is launching the pilot program as the first step in its plan to make BLOCKBUSTER Total Access the only online rental service offering both movies and games.

"We already rent more video games than any other company, store-based or online, in the nation, so we know our core customer loves games as well as movies," said Bob Barr, Vice President and General Manager of blockbuster.com. "With this pilot program, we're laying the groundwork for offering BLOCKBUSTER Total Access customers easy online access to the movies and games they want, through an integrated subscription offering. Plus, according to their plan, they'll continue to be able to exchange their by-mail rentals both for free in-store movies as well as half-price in-store game rentals. A combination video game and movie online offering -- with in-store exchange privileges -- is a tremendous value and convenience offering not available through anyone other than Blockbuster."

In addition to more than 90,000 movie titles to choose from, BLOCKBUSTER Total Access subscribers in the pilot program will have the option of selecting from game titles across major platforms - including Nintendo Wii(TM), PS2(TM), PS3(TM), Xbox and Xbox 360. Participating subscribers will also continue to have the same subscription benefits as they currently do, plus the added benefit of video game availability.

 

[R Nilla]

It will be interesting to see how this develops. The lack of distribution centers and my desire to maintain a game library have prevented me from using Gamefly, but it would really be a lot cheaper. I wonder if Netflix will respond if Blockbuster sees success from this.

 

[Deeko]

hmmm if the price is right, I might switch back from Netflix to Blockbuster.

 

[Queasy]

Yeah, it may be a long time coming though. They are basically going to be beta testing it now with it not being fully implemented until the second half of next year.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

I just can't believe it's taken them this long to try this out. The price will probably make or break this service and I imagine people will claim lost discs for games more often than for movies which would be bad for BB.

 

[gorcorps]

This could be a pretty good move if they do things right. My parents subscribe to BBs mail video service (whatever it's called) and love being able to trade in movies at the store if they want a new movie a little quicker. Having games work the same way would be awesome if it's priced right.

 

[Robor]

I loved my original BB plan - 3 movies out at a time with unlimited exchanges in-store for < $20/month. That plan now costs almost 2x what it did then.

BlockBuster... :thumbsdown: (and I'm still a subscriber)

Heh, found a link on this deal

Edit: had the thumb going the wrong way

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes
I just can't believe it's taken them this long to try this out. The price will probably make or break this service and I imagine people will claim lost discs for games more often than for movies which would be bad for BB.

Good point.

Hopefully their in-stock selection is a lot better than local Blockbusters. I've given up on trying to rent new releases at Blockbuster. By new releases, I mean anything from the last two months.

 

[vi edit]

I'm still biding my time to when they finally nerf my online account.

4 out at a time.
Unlimted instore exchanges.
2 free coupons a month (good for games)
$14.99/month

The games are funny. You get 5 days out. But it's not really enforced for almost 14. I took Fallout 3 back last week after having it out for 10 days (used a coupon) and wanted to re-rent it with another coupon. The guy behind the desk looked at the return date and said "Dude, you still have another 4 days to play this before you get charged, sure you want to waste the coupon today?"

Heh.

I basically get a month worth of game rentals that way. Plus movies tossed in for free.

 

[Queasy]

Yeah, I had the plan but somehow I got nerfed. Really ticked me off too since we were members since just after BB Online started. Part of the reason why I'm now with Netflix.

I used MyCoke Rewards to get rent one game get one free coupons now.

 

[herkulease]

Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes
I just can't believe it's taken them this long to try this out. The price will probably make or break this service and I imagine people will claim lost discs for games more often than for movies which would be bad for BB.

gamefly somehow manages to survive. I"m sure there will always be a small percent of people who claim lost stuff.

 

[vi edit]

You'd think that somebody with Blockbusters's size would be able to basically get the disks for free and just lease licenses for the games from distributers. Basically operated like an enterprise license through Microsoft. If they lose a game in the mail or it gets busted up, they are out nothing but pennies in media. They still own the license for it.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

what do you guys currently use for game rentals? what do you guys recommend for someone who lives in southern california?

 

[sactoking]

If it's in beta now, what are the odds BB goes BK before the program goes public? I'd say 25% chance.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Netflix is enjoying healthy growth. BBI has to react, and this is a good start. As others mentioned, they need to improve plan pricing too, if they expect to keep Netflix from pulling away.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: makoto00
what do you guys currently use for game rentals? what do you guys recommend for someone who lives in southern california?

Blockbuster with Coke Rewards rent 1 get 1 free coupon.