Blockbuster Considers Games-By-Mail, Netflix Bashes Idea

[Starke]

GamezNFlix used to do that exact thing. Until they went out of business.

High loss rates, or no one cared?

 

[Burst6]

Wait.. Doesn't blockbuster have next day delivery? If their library of games is good, i can finally kick gamefly out (who sends me a new game a week after i send mine).

 

[Jared]

Well, anything is worth a shot, and, if it means that people can get access to old titles and still play them in years to come I think it will be pretty epic!

An investment for sure

 

[Outlaw Torn]

Haven't Blockbuster been doing this for years already? I thought they jumped on the bandwagon when Lovefilm offered both games and movies through the post (mail if you are an Americano). I certainly find renting games through the post (mail) more convenient, but since they typically only have the really crappy games I don't actually want to play I don't use them. It's also a discrete way to rent porn, just a shame the internet is even more discrete.

 

[Suicideking]

GamezNFlix used to do that exact thing. Until they went out of business.

High loss rates, or no one cared?

If wikipedia is to be believed, their financial loss was higher than their revenue.

 

[Vohn_exel]

Heck, I might even get in on this. Especially since I watch so many movies...but what really needs to happen is a Blockbuster Redbox type thing, that also will include games. Or just a video game Redbox. Who wouldn't pay like a dollar a day to play video games? I'm sure it'd be higher then that but I think it could be doable with an easily justafiable cost.

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

And here I had been theorizing that Netflix would eventually buy out Gamefly. What an ignorant viewpoint. Since when does, "It's a different economic model," automatically lead to, "It would never work for us."

 

[Dr. Crawver]

I agree with you that there are definately profits to be made, but honestly I prefer to go to specialist shops like game

 

[Pimppeter2]

GamezNFlix used to do that exact thing. Until they went out of business.

High loss rates, or no one cared?

If wikipedia is to be believed, their financial loss was higher than their revenue.

Then again they have not even a quarter of the name brand recognition that Blockbuster has.

Its like if you somehow got away with opening a fast food parlor that was exactly like Mcdonalds but cheaper. More people would still be going to Mcdonalds because of the renowned Golden Arches.

 

[DTWolfwood]

Good job Blockbuster for thinking with the times! Id get Blockbusters total access over have a gamefly and netflix subcription! This idea is total win! do it blockbuster and then u can rub it in netflix faces when your fiscal quota rises!

 

[LTK_70]

Renting movies and games by mail is very interesting and all, but has no one ever considered providing a download service for rentals? Such a service would provide some obstacles, like movies that aren't available in a digital format yet, but with piracy the way it is, that can't be hard to overcome. Speaking of piracy, it might provide a larger window of opportunity to crack games and upload them for free, because you're paying less for the full game for a limited amount of time. I don't think the limitations to the time it is rented would be a large problem, seeing as Steam is already providing free weekends of certain games for some free publicity. Why not expand that with a rental service where you can download a game to play for a week? You download, you play, the game gets locked after a week, the end. You need do nothing more but remove the game, or simply pay for another run without having to leave your chair. It should be feasible, right?

 

[Mr.PlanetEater]

Sounds like a smashing Idea, now I can get Mass Effect 2 and Rent Desperado on the Same subscription. Also, I'd for one still like to play a game from 1995 mr. Netflix executive..

 

[Rayjay06]

If Blockbuster incorporates this I would either wait for them to also incorporate Watch Instantly or for Netflix to adopt the game idea. Until then, I don't plan on switching anytime soon. Sounds like a superb idea, though.

 

[Suicideking]

GamezNFlix used to do that exact thing. Until they went out of business.

High loss rates, or no one cared?

If wikipedia is to be believed, their financial loss was higher than their revenue.

Then again they have not even a quarter of the name brand recognition that Blockbuster has.

Its like if you somehow got away with opening a fast food parlor that was exactly like Mcdonalds but cheaper. More people would still be going to Mcdonalds because of the renowned Golden Arches.

Yes, not too many people knew of gameznflix. I knew about it simply because one month subscriptions used to be sold at Circuit City, where I had worked for a couple years.

 

[KnowYourOnion]

Europe's got LoveFilm and that works superbly I mean seriously if you like console games and films get a LoveFilm account. They'd be idiots not to follow a similar business plan.

 

[Svenparty]

I can just imagine how much Blockbuster would want to crucify Me if I don't return it for an extra day though..They need to drop their late delivery fines to prosper with so many fine Film by Mail delivery systems who do not fine.


Funnily enough Blockbusters just closed down near Me /worthless useless opinion

 

[Starke]

GamezNFlix used to do that exact thing. Until they went out of business.

High loss rates, or no one cared?

If wikipedia is to be believed, their financial loss was higher than their revenue.

Either a high loss rate or lack of sales will result in negative income. Loss Rates are a term for packages which are lost in transit, either because of damage, shipper error, or theft (usually theft).

Hilariously, if you go by the info on their wiki page, they were right in the middle of one of the worst areas for shipping theft in the country.

 

[Mr. Mike]

This is an awesome idea, and I'm honestly surprised no other company has considered this. Hopefully they do something like this in Australia.