My mailman's name is Ching and he looks nothing like this.
I’ve been a long time advocate of Gamefly’s online game rental service; it’s like Netflix, only for games. Brill-yunt. But it has been rocking the same coat of orange-colored paint for what seems like an eternity now. Well this weekend, Gamefly is celebrating the birth of People Magazine’s 2008 “Lord and Savior of the Year” with a fancy new makeover and a few extra features that will please gamers the world* over!
In addition to the much more functional and accessible user interface, Gamefly has opened its used games buyback program to the public. You can enter the title or UPC of any game you own and Gamefly will tell you what ridiculously low price they will buy it back at. But they won’t give you straight cash money or Jeffery Dollars to buy other games from them, instead your newfound virtual wealth is strictly for paying off your monthly subscription.
For as low as $8.95 a month, you could be this guy!
To give you an example of what to expect, Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, which just came out five minutes ago, is worth $25. Odin Sphere on the other hand, one of the best games ever made, is worth $6 and some change. Somewhere Vanillaware is crying in it’s beautifully hand-drawn office…
Still, if you don’t want to deal with those ****sucking, mother****ing, somethng-else-that-ends-with-”ucking” ******* at Gamestop, this provides an excellent alternative for putting to use all those Wii games your grandmother bought you. And, with the unveiling of OnLive, it’s only a matter of time before Gamefly also begins streaming game rentals. Take that mailmen, your transformation into complete obsoletion is nigh!
If you haven’t checked out Gamefly yet, now would be a good time. You still can’t stream The Office on Xbox Live with your account, but it’s a start.
*Gamefly is only available in the United States, sorry everybody else! Maybe move to a country that doesn’t suck.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:51 am
A rental system I used in the UK tried this out a couple of years ago. Although I like the idea of not carrying a giant disc to a local store and trading it in there, the value was horrific. Could I trade in GRID and get 12 months of Xbox Live for £3 (whatever that is in dollars) on Gamefly? Probably not. Could I get that kinda price in a (UK) store? Yizzur.
And the second picture is just straight up stupid.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:51 am
I’d much rather rely on GF to get some piece-of-crap excuses for games. That way, I can send it back the day after receivng it (after finding out how bad it is) and then get something else sent straight away. All jokes aside, the short time I’ve used Gamefly has been great. Haven’t had one problem. I’ve even had some good luck when games that are supposedly “very low” in availability get shipped to me unexpectedly. Always brightens my day. So yes. Sign up…unless you like paying 60 bucks a pop for everything that crosses a disc tray.
April 12th, 2009 at 1:10 am
I have never used gamefly and I dont think I ever will really…I usually dont take too much chance in picking games to buy … I think I can count on my one hand how many titles i have bought and did not like. I kept them anyway, and i fi paid the money im not going to turn it in for some stupid small amount of money for it. Plus to me its a collection. Then again if people start doing this and not doing it at gamestop, where will i buy my cheap games?!?! =)
April 12th, 2009 at 1:16 am
I can attest first-hand to the quality of Gamefly’s used games though. I can also attest to the absolute shit quality of Gamestop’s used games. I suggest at least giving Gamefly a whirl, the 2-week trial is free. What do you have to lose?
April 12th, 2009 at 1:29 am
I have never had a problem with used games but you do have a point…trying would not hurt.
April 12th, 2009 at 1:37 am
My postal worker does not look like that.
April 12th, 2009 at 1:46 am
my postal worker…fo sho..
April 12th, 2009 at 5:05 am
While I won’t use the new trade in system I do love gamefly. I play so many games that if I attempted to buy them all I would be broke. With the kids it’s also great too, I will play Bee Movie but I refuse to buy it. My pride will not allow me to go to a store willing ask for it and hand over cash for it. I much rather it be sent to me in an discreet unlabeled envelope.
Another plus with gamefly is that the shipping times have improved big time. I tried them out when they first came around and it was awful waiting for them to ship my games out to me. I was in MD and the shipment center was from CA. Now the distribution centers are all over so I don’t bang my head on the mailbox whenever I go to check the mail and find out my game isn’t there.
April 12th, 2009 at 5:08 am
There are some games that are actually worth the $60 game tag, but a vast majority… I’d rather take a peek at before buying it. I like having access to new games without having to incur sticker shock. I like a few niche games that my friends may not care for, and the reviews vary but still are based on personal taste.
While I do like that Gamestop will give you cash, I think in the end the game you buy afterwards is more where it’s at. You’re not really getting much in trade in at all if you sell to an affiliate, so this makes perfect sense.
April 12th, 2009 at 6:58 am
This sounds like a good idea, hopefully this well help them compete with Gamestop.
April 12th, 2009 at 8:01 am
I am pretty big on the trade idea! I usually take my games back to gamestop for trade in value. I’m not the gamer with the million dollar collection… I just keep those “must haves” that I’ll probably play again like final fantasy 7 and super mario kart.
So, if I can trade my games without having to use a ton of gas (the closest gamestop is 27 miles away) then YAY for me and money saved!
April 12th, 2009 at 9:31 am
I actually used this feature a couple months ago. If you’re selective, it can work in your favor. I had purchased Assassin’s Creed from GF for $13.49, kept it a couple months, completed it and sold it back for 8 dollars and change. Well worth the effort for a $5 loss.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:49 am
I have been thinking about getting GF. It is such a good idea and I have Netflix. The two should just go hand in hand. Their commercials are hilarious too!
April 12th, 2009 at 11:35 am
I hope people take advantage of this feature. I think GF is a great thing for the industry. If people can TRY games for relatively cheap and not buy them, they might give more games a try. Which in turn will hopefully encourage developers to take more risk rather than just producing a million clones of successful games. We need more innovation in gaming and hopefully things like GF can help make that happen.
April 12th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
That is exciting, I have been thinking about Gamefly, because rentals at the video store are completely unbearable. I think that this will do well for the company not only to expand their own library of games but to help other people get games they would not normally be able to get their hands on. Gamefly for the win!
April 12th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I’d get GF but I have a fiancee….see what I did there?
April 12th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
When can we download the games straight into our heads?
April 12th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
I am always up for giving a new game rental/ buying system a shot. I mean it can’t be much worse than what I already deal with at Blockbuster. As long as there is a good screening process for any used games that are sold to them (to ensure quality and playability), sounds like gold to me! And I totally agree with VampireKitten; there are so many hard-to-find under appreciated games that just need to get out there. I mean so many people are just discovering the brilliance of Beyond Good and Evil NOW - imagine if it had been more accessible?
April 12th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Congrats, William. I laughed my ass off reading that article!
If the quality of the game discs and delivery time is good, I don’t see why GameFly *doesn’t* make sense. In fact, if for the past 19 or so years I wasn’t constantly 3-5 years behind in next-gen gaming—thus severely reducing the price of games I bought—I would already be signed up. But for once I am caught up in at least the PlayStation next-gen gaming scene, and quite frankly, I feel like that jerk in debit card commercials who slows down the line by writing a check. Or an old lady at a check-out with fifty coupons. In other words, I’m standing in the middle of the next-gen road scratching my head.
Also, Jill … I concur.
April 12th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
WITA, may I recommend an Xbox 360? It has games, and everyone you know is already on it, waiting for you.
April 12th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Yeah … can you loan me the $200? SDCC and other finances are robbing me of even getting a DS (I REALLY want Chrono Trigger, damnit)! I’m too poor to have even bought my PS3, but it was so shiny and pretty, I was unable to resist.
April 12th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Gamefly and Netflix are both great concepts for those people with a good sense of responsibility and time management. I had to cancel my netflix account and pay a hefty sum for a lost game to gamefly. SNIFF. It was only one time though, I swears it.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
What happened to Brad Pitt?! Is he ok?
April 12th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I have always wanted to try out GF, but then I would need to quit my job..
no seriously, even the used game prices at GS are ridiculous, and considering this is loads cheaper than renting a game from Blockbuster or buying a game used that’s $5 off the new price, just to resell it back for a mere $5, putting that money towards the whatever less than $10 a month fee sounds like a deal to me.
May 4th, 2009 at 9:23 am
I cant believe that you didnt use this picture
http://ronworkman.tumblr.com/post/103102862/my-star-wars-video-game-pyramid-scheme-by-ronnie