So Netflix will start offering game rentals soon -- thoughts?

So as part of Netflix's just announced structural changes, the company announced it would be adding video games to their rental-by-mail service. (It's only briefly touched on, though, both in the article and on the Netflix Blog.) GameFly was previously the only big-name online rental service for video games, so Netflix's sudden entry could be interesting given their superiority in this rental field.

So, thoughts? Personally, I'm intrigued. GameFly, reliable as it is, has always been notoriously slow with delivery, whereas Netflix has been abnormally fast. If Netflix ends up having as extensive a library as GameFly, I could see myself abandoning them for Netflix.

So there will be an additional charge for games "Just like with Blu ray", as in two dollars a month extra? Because for two bucks a month I'll definitely rent games from them. But if it's $20 a month or something, meh, probably not.

Pretty cool video the way he's apologizing for the big price increase. I've always thought I got way more than my money's worth from Netflix, even with the price increase. But it's cool he sincerely apologizes anyway.

That is good news, and that will most likely put GameFly out of business eventually. UprootedDreamer

Kind of a strange move - with digital distribution gaining power, the time for game rentals is drawing to a close. NetFlix is jumping onto a sinking ship.

Not to mention the fact that most developers use on-line codes and other deterrents, specifically because of crap like this.

Between this and their other recent misfires, I'm beginning to think NetFlix was taken over by pod people.

That's great news. If they can have the same inventory for games as they do for movies, I'll have to subscribe. The only reason I don't for Gamefly is they never have newer titles available. Hopefully this will push them to lower prices and better stock. MirkoS77

Do they have more distribution centers than Gamefly? I would be interested in hearing how their subscriptions and fees would change. A little competition would be a good thing, though I am pretty content with Gamefly at the moment. _Dez_

I think Netflix has at least one distribution center in every state, whereas GameFly only has a few across the country.

I'll upgrade depending on the price. Though being able to pay my Netflix account with Paypal is a huge plus for me; Gamefly doesn't let you pay with Paypal. Either way, this is good news. Hopefully this will get Gamefly to step it up and open up more distribution centers and maybe lower their prices.

With developers and publishers doing everything they can to eliminate used games sales, renting videogames and borrowing / sharing with friends are soon to be a thing of the past.

With developers and publishers doing everything they can to eliminate used games sales, renting videogames and borrowing / sharing with friends are soon to be a thing of the past.

The_saint1976

With developers and publishers doing everything they can to eliminate used games sales, renting videogames and borrowing / sharing with friends are soon to be a thing of the past.

The_saint1976

[QUOTE="MirkoS77"]That's great news. If they can have the same inventory for games as they do for movies, I'll have to subscribe. The only reason I don't for Gamefly is they never have newer titles available. Hopefully this will push them to lower prices and better stock. Dracula68

Yeah but how often are you sitting there with nothing to play while you burn up "paid for" days of the month? I had the two out plan and had one slot reserved for new titles ( I would have all new titles and ONLY one "available now" older title in my queue ) and one slot reserved for stuff I knew they could send me in a decent amount of time.

I would cycle 2 or 3 games ( recieved, played, returned ) through that one slot in the amount of time they spent sending something new in the other slot even when i had 5 or 6 new games from which they could choose.

Sure, the way you are talking about greatly increases your chances of getting something new but it always made me feel like I was getting half of what I paid for.

When you couple low inventory with inexplicably slow shipping ( 4 days to send a game a distance I could probably walk in the same amount of time? lol ) it's hard to believe that the new netflix service WONT be lots better. If the price is anywhere near right it'll be a no brainer.

Yeah but how often are you sitting there with nothing to play while you burn up "paid for" days of the month? I had the two out plan and had one slot reserved for new titles ( I would have all new titles and ONLY one "available now" older title in my queue ) and one slot reserved for stuff I knew they could send me in a decent amount of time.

I would cycle 2 or 3 games ( recieved, played, returned ) through that one slot in the amount of time they spent sending something new in the other slot even when i had 5 or 6 new games from which they could choose.

Sure, the way you are talking about greatly increases your chances of getting something new but it always made me feel like I was getting half of what I paid for.

When you couple low inventory with inexplicably slow shipping ( 4 days to send a game a distance I could probably walk in the same amount of time? lol ) it's hard to believe that the new netflix service WONT be lots better. If the price is anywhere near right it'll be a no brainer.

Alter_Echo

I have one game out at a time. I never had to wait long at all....maybe a few days if I finished a game on a Tuesday then I had to wait till the following Tuesday to ship a new game. Yeah shipping is ridiculous since they added more than just the CA center. I swear I used to get games in 3 days and now it is 4 at the minimum coming from only 200 miles away from me.

Nah I got gamefly. There is a shipping center in Tampa so I get my games within 2 to 3 days.

This is definitely good for the economy and for consumers themselves. More competition means more options and possibly better prices for goods/services. Let's hope that GameFly and Netflix will compete really hard against each other for the consumer.

[QUOTE="Dracula68"][QUOTE="MirkoS77"]That's great news. If they can have the same inventory for games as they do for movies, I'll have to subscribe. The only reason I don't for Gamefly is they never have newer titles available. Hopefully this will push them to lower prices and better stock. Alter_Echo

Yeah but how often are you sitting there with nothing to play while you burn up "paid for" days of the month? I had the two out plan and had one slot reserved for new titles ( I would have all new titles and ONLY one "available now" older title in my queue ) and one slot reserved for stuff I knew they could send me in a decent amount of time.

I would cycle 2 or 3 games ( recieved, played, returned ) through that one slot in the amount of time they spent sending something new in the other slot even when i had 5 or 6 new games from which they could choose.

Sure, the way you are talking about greatly increases your chances of getting something new but it always made me feel like I was getting half of what I paid for.

When you couple low inventory with inexplicably slow shipping ( 4 days to send a game a distance I could probably walk in the same amount of time? lol ) it's hard to believe that the new netflix service WONT be lots better. If the price is anywhere near right it'll be a no brainer.

Yup, that's the problem. I had a 2 out plan, and ended up waiting weeks with no games. Not worth it, and it felt like I was getting 50% of my money's worth. I don't know what everyone's talking about with the slow shipping though, I live in Hawaii and my turn-around is usually 2-3 days (which is unheard of coming and going from the mainland). Perhaps they have a warehouse on O'ahu, but generally I've found their shipping to be fairly fast.

Here's how I look at it. I pay $17 for just one game out at a time, but if I can get a movie and a game for $20 that would definitely be worth it. Might be time to bid Gamefly adieu and get back to Netflix.

And I bet you have to wait forever if its a new game that is popular. I see the words "Long Wait" in all your futures.Lostboy1224

Wouldn't be any different from GameFly in that regard. That's just something you willingly put up with when you rent games.

I'm leaning towards cancelling my netflix. What started at about $12/month(I do the bluray option), is now at about $25/month.

I'm leaning towards cancelling my netflix. What started at about $12/month(I do the bluray option), is now at about $25/month.

Heirren

[QUOTE="Heirren"]

I'm leaning towards cancelling my netflix. What started at about $12/month(I do the bluray option), is now at about $25/month.

Just-Breathe

That is why I go back and fourth between whether or not I want to cancel. I look at the big picture though, I spend $30 or so for cable internet, $50/year for xbox live, $25 for netflix, and then the phone bill of course. It adds up.

I don't use it as much as most people, which is why i'm considering ending netflix. Before it was like, "okay, $10/month is nothing. Even if I only watch 3 movies a month it is still worth it, but now?" Hmmm. I think they are running themselves into the ground.

[QUOTE="Just-Breathe"][QUOTE="Heirren"]

I'm leaning towards cancelling my netflix. What started at about $12/month(I do the bluray option), is now at about $25/month.

Heirren

That is why I go back and fourth between whether or not I want to cancel. I look at the big picture though, I spend $30 or so for cable internet, $50/year for xbox live, $25 for netflix, and then the phone bill of course. It adds up.

I don't use it as much as most people, which is why i'm considering ending netflix. Before it was like, "okay, $10/month is nothing. Even if I only watch 3 movies a month it is still worth it, but now?" Hmmm. I think they are running themselves into the ground.

[QUOTE="The_saint1976"]

With developers and publishers doing everything they can to eliminate used games sales, renting videogames and borrowing / sharing with friends are soon to be a thing of the past.

Dracula68

With the online pass starting to hit full stride, most used online games have half the game locked unless you pay that 10 dollars for the pass. Just bought R3 can't take over buddies house and play online on his PS3, because the game is tied to my account. Never had this issue before and it will only get worse.

What I'm wondering is why Netflix feels the need to have a game rental-by-mail service. They know better than anyone that physical media is going to die out soon, why waste time on a service that won't last more than a few years?

And I bet you have to wait forever if its a new game that is popular. I see the words "Long Wait" in all your futures.Lostboy1224

[QUOTE="Lostboy1224"]And I bet you have to wait forever if its a new game that is popular. I see the words "Long Wait" in all your futures.Dracula68

As much as I love gamefly, they just weren't worth it. The games took 2-3 days to arrive (opposed to netflix where I could get them the very next day if lucky), and at $15 a month for one game out, it was a bit pricey. Qwikster (as the new non stream service is called), is the same $8, but offers me the full allowance of DVD's too plus faster shipping out, and if they can have the same amount of inventory then I'm sold (Gamefly often doesnt have newer games for weeks due to high demand).

Sorry gamefly, I loved you guys, but this is a much quicker, more featured service.