Netflix ("Quikster") to get into game rental

[nitromullet]

I (along with many of you I'm sure) received an email today containing this from Netflix: http://blog.netflix.com/2011/09/explanation-and-some-reflections.html

Aside from the splitting of streaming and rental services, the other interesting thing was that they are getting into game rental.

we will rename our DVD by mail service to “Qwikster”.

We chose the name Qwikster because it refers to quick delivery. We will keep the name “Netflix” for streaming.

Qwikster will be the same website and DVD service that everyone is used to. It is just a new name, and DVD members will go to qwikster.com to access their DVD queues and choose movies. One improvement we will make at launch is to add a video games upgrade option, similar to our upgrade option for Blu-ray, for those who want to rent Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 games.

Been a long time Netflix customer, and they've always offered top notch service at a decent price. I'll definitely be interested to see the pricing on game rental.

 

[Rage187]

Meh,

I use redbox but might check it out. In the last two weeks, I have rented Dues Ex (returned after a day), Space Marine 40,000 (rented, beated and returned after a day) and MLB Nicktoons Baseball (rented, beated and returned after a day).

Total cost for all 3 games? $6.18

Qwikster might be cool for games I plan on keeping longer than a week, like BF3 or GoW3. But I'll keep relying on my redbox for my one night stands.

 

[digiram]

Meh,

I use redbox but might check it out. In the last two weeks, I have rented Dues Ex (returned after a day), Space Marine 40,000 (rented, beated and returned after a day) and MLB Nicktoons Baseball (rented, beated and returned after a day).

Total cost for all 3 games? $6.18

Qwikster might be cool for games I plan on keeping longer than a week, like BF3 or GoW3. But I'll keep relying on my redbox for my one night stands.

You beat Deus Ex in a day?

 

[Rage187]

You beat Deus Ex in a day?

nope, didn't like it :/

I wanted to play it like a shooter but never gave it a chance. Apparently it becomes an option past the first mission which I never completed. I'll pick up again one day when I have some more time.

 

[nitromullet]

Meh,

I use redbox but might check it out. In the last two weeks, I have rented Dues Ex (returned after a day), Space Marine 40,000 (rented, beated and returned after a day) and MLB Nicktoons Baseball (rented, beated and returned after a day).

Total cost for all 3 games? $6.18

Qwikster might be cool for games I plan on keeping longer than a week, like BF3 or GoW3. But I'll keep relying on my redbox for my one night stands.

Yeah, it really comes down to price. Game rental has generally been too expensive IMO.

As of Sept. 1 Netflix is offering a one DVD out at a time option for $7.99/mo. To me this wasn't worth it in addition to the $7.99/mo I'm already paying for streaming because those DVDs usually just sat on the coffee table. If Qwikster offers the option of one DVD, Blu-Ray, or game out at a time for $7.99/mo it would definitely be something I'd be interested in though.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Meh,

I use redbox but might check it out. In the last two weeks, I have rented Dues Ex (returned after a day), Space Marine 40,000 (rented, beated and returned after a day) and MLB Nicktoons Baseball (rented, beated and returned after a day).

Total cost for all 3 games? $6.18

Qwikster might be cool for games I plan on keeping longer than a week, like BF3 or GoW3. But I'll keep relying on my redbox for my one night stands.

That's great if you intend to go through games in a day (whether it be beating it or losing interest). Unfortunately, it's fairly unlikely that that would be the norm.

 

[DaveSimmons]

That's a nice upgrade for when there is a game I want to try before buying or that has a short single-player (since I rarely play online).

I've never bothered with GameFly since I wouldn't get $15-20 worth of value out of it, but for me qwixster will still be mostly for DVD / blu-ray.

 

[Sonikku]

Gamefly is probably panicking something fierce at this change. They have a horrible reputation for taking forever to get games out to people on the east coast. Netflix however always ships first class. With games getting shorter and shorter by the generation to deal with shortening attention spans and the lack of gamers that ever see the end of the games they play, this service can only get better and better.

 

[American Gunner]

Gamefly is probably panicking something fierce at this change. They have a horrible reputation for taking forever to get games out to people on the east coast. Netflix however always ships first class. With games getting shorter and shorter by the generation to deal with shortening attention spans and the lack of gamers that ever see the end of the games they play, this service can only get better and better.

I reported a game missing with gamefly that I sent back a week earlier. They cancelled my membership and said they couldn't risk losing games, even though they eventually got it. I hope the prices for netflix are good.

 

[Sonikku]

I read on cbs news that they were comparing the games price hike to their blue ray service.

 

[Malak]

Gamefly is probably panicking something fierce at this change. They have a horrible reputation for taking forever to get games out to people on the east coast. Netflix however always ships first class. With games getting shorter and shorter by the generation to deal with shortening attention spans and the lack of gamers that ever see the end of the games they play, this service can only get better and better.

Yeah I am actually surprised it took Netflix this long. They murdered their competition without trying, pretty sure Gamefly will be dead in 6 months.

 

[JoPh]

if the prices are better and shipping is quicker im may try it out.

 

[gorcorps]

Yeah I am actually surprised it took Netflix this long. They murdered their competition without trying, pretty sure Gamefly will be dead in 6 months.

What do you mean without trying? Just because you didn't see what they did to succeed didn't mean they weren't working their ass off to get there.

 

[Malak]

What do you mean without trying? Just because you didn't see what they did to succeed didn't mean they weren't working their ass off to get there.

Netflix was a success before it had any competition. Several companies tried to take them on and lost without any additional effort from Netflix. And now traditional rental places are closing up shop. Netflix is a threat to so many businesses simply by being good at what they do.

 

[Chapbass]

I'd definitely be down for this assuming its reasonable. I had a 1game through gamefly, but they took like 2 weeks between when i sent them my game to when i had the next game in hand. Thats half of the month that I'm paying for wasted on shipping, ridiculous. Especially when I don't exactly live in the middle of nowhere (chicago).

 

[boomhower]

It will depend on the price. I gave up my netflix DVD's and went streaming only so it will have to be pretty cheap to justify it for the games only essentially. Gamefly is expensive with slow shipping and horrible service. It won't take much effort for Netflix to drive them to bankruptcy. I'm really surprised it took them this long to do it.

 

[digitard]

I'm very interested at this. Netflix/Qwikster has a warehouse in AZ so when I did have the DVD plan (I stream only now) I would drop it in the mail one day, and they'd have it the next, and the new movie in my box the next. It was awesome.

If they can stock up on games, and have fast shipping like they do movies... I would drop Gamefly in an instant. As long as the price is less than Gamefly I would probably consider it regardless.