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Q&A: GameFly's Sean Spector

  • By Staff, GameSpot
  • Posted Sep 1, 2006 3:11 pm PT

Cofounder of the "game Netflix" ponders the next-generation console conflict, the current-generation consoles' demise, and the future of the game-rental business.

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Over the past several years, the traditional video-rental business has been in decline. One factor for the slump is the rise of Netflix. Founded in 1997, the increasingly ubiquitous service lets subscribers rent an unlimited number of DVDs, all for a flat fee. Customers pick the DVDs online and have them mailed to their homes, bypassing often frustrating video-store visits and late charges.

Though many outlets rent games as well as DVDs, another reason video-rental stores are taking a hit is the increasing popularity of video games. So when GameFly launched in 2002, it seemed like a perfect idea. The company would apply Netflix's successful unlimited mail-rental model to games, allowing subscribers to rent titles on all current console and portable platforms.

Four years later, Netflix has mushroomed into a publicly traded multibillion-dollar corporation with distribution hubs all over the country. By contrast, GameFly remains privately held, and its operations are still limited to a single Los Angeles shipping center.

However, the face of the game-rental business may soon change. With third-party Xbox 360 games already costing $59.99, many analysts are expecting similar sticker shock when the first PlayStation 3 titles hit store shelves in mid-November. Though the Wii remains the wild card in the next-generation console race, Nintendo will have to make up for the cost of its console's low price--expected to be under $250--somewhere.

The rising price of games will likely force many gamers to reevaluate how they buy games. That, according to Sean Spector, is where GameFly will come in. The company's cofounder is betting that the cost of the next-gen console war will be a boon for his rental service, which is already allowing customers to reserve PS3 and Wii games. GameSpot sat down with the executive, who could pass for a close relative of Keanu Reeves, to find out.

GS: So do you guys mind being referred to as "Netflix for games"?

SS: That's a fair comparison.

GS: Netflix got very huge very quickly. Do you guys have any plans for expansion?

SS: Growth is our number one objective. What's going to happen soon is there's going to be two new systems, and we're going to support those--we're already supporting those on the Web site...

GS: But what about expanding actual operations? I know one of the more frequent criticisms of GameFly is that you guys only have one Southern California distribution hub...

SS: You know what's so interesting, someone pointed this out to me: Netflix had only one [San Jose] distribution hub for many, many, many years.

GS: Yeah, I know. My stepfather in Milwaukee would always complain, "I didn't get my DVD for a week!"

SS: Well, they've been around for around 10 years and we've only been around for just four. In terms of expected growth, we're ahead of our own expectations. We obviously do have future plans for a new distribution center, but nothing that we're ready to announce.

GS: How many subscribers does GameFly currently have?

SS: We don't ever disclose numbers, but we have a really great and active base of subscribers.

GS: Most video-rental chains rent both DVDs and games. Have you ever thought of doing a deal with Netflix to provide games as well?

SS: You know what, they've stated publicly that they're focused on movies. That's really their number one objective and they're trying to figure out the whole download component to their business. We're so focused on games, we have no intention of doing movies.

GS: So why do you do UMD movies, then? [UMD--Universal Media Disc--is the format used by the PSP.]

SS: We do UMD movies, really, because of the form factor and the fact that it's playable on a game system. We don't have any plans to do HD-DVD or Blu-Ray. We're really focused on the gamer.

GS: You recently put up product pages for Wii and PlayStation 3 games...

SS: I think we have 27 PS3 and something like 30 Wii titles.

GS: Do you have any idea when the so-called "launch titles" for the platforms will actually launch?

SS: We've heard November. That's what we've heard.

GS: What about the Wii itself? Do you know when that will go on sale?

SS: We heard it could be sooner. It takes a little bit of time to build up a really cohesive marketing campaign. So I don't think it's coming out next week. But it could come out in October, or it could come out at the end of September.

GS: Obviously, you guys already rent Xbox 360 games. What's your take on the next-generation console war so far?

SS: Obviously, the games are important. So you'll see [that] Gears of War is already being put in people's queues. Halo 3 has been in people's queues for months, but we don't even have a release date. But the folks are so passionate about games and so passionate about the service, that we feel it's important to let people sort of tell us [what] they want way in advance.

GS: We've been looking at the NPD numbers the last couple of months, and we know that current-generation Xbox sales have gone way down, as have the Game Boy Advance game sales...

SS: We've seen a big shift from the Xbox to the 360. Close to half of our base has a 360. So they're migrating right now from their old software to the new software. And with the price point being around $60 for 360 games, GameFly has a tremendous amount of value for someone who owns an Xbox 360. With a new console launch, there's a lot of software you're not sure about. So renting makes a ton of sense. We'll see the same thing with [the] Wii and PS3.

GS: Right. Now, GameFly launched in 2002. You're going on four years. But you guys launched after the current generation of consoles was already available, so you've never had to deal with a format, in a sense, dying. What's your plan for what happens when the Xbox, GBA, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 are discontinued?

SS: Well, the Xbox hasn't died for us. I mean, I think it's died more for retail than it has for us. The reality is, Microsoft sold probably 20 million Xboxes and they've sold about 5 or 6 million 360s. So there's still a lot of people with Xboxes. There are still a lot of people playing those systems. There [are] a lot of people [who] have upgraded to the 360, but they've given their younger brother or their younger cousin their Xbox. That person needs games, and retail, like you said, really isn't supporting the Xbox as much as they were a year ago.

Also, we sell most of our games to our members by just allowing them to keep a game they already have. So we do a good job of managing that inventory--we're not sitting around with a bunch of Xbox games. A year from now, we won't be sitting around with a bunch of PS2 games. Our members are really good with purchasing games or really good at selling games to nonmembers.

GS: Will GameFly ever sell used games at a retail chain?

SS: No. Currently, we only sell our games at GameFly.com.

GS: Now, there was also a rumor going around that the PlayStation 3 is not going to be able to play used games or rented games. Sony has, for the most part, denied that. Obviously, if that were to happen, GameFly's business would be severely affected.

SS: We've heard probably the same rumors you've heard. Sony's really the best one to ask for that, you know? I mean, are they really going to do that, or is it just technology that they've got?

GS: Right, but what would you guys do if Sony did implement a system like that down the line?

SS: That's a good question. I mean, we really need to wait and see what happens. You know, the neat thing is 30 percent to 40 percent of our business is PS2, and the other 60 percent to 70 percent is 360. It's also going to include the Wii and it already includes [the] GBA, DS, and PSP. So we're not dependent upon any one single platform.

GS: Now, that kind of segues into my next question. Now, looking into the far-future idea, many publishers are very excited about online distribution of console games. You're already seeing that to a certain extent, with downloadable demos for the Xbox 360.

SS: Sure.

GS: Now I know a lot of people rent games through GameFly just to try them out. But, if I can download a demo off Xbox Live Marketplace in 10 minutes and try it, then why bother renting it? Are you worried online distribution will impact your business at all?

SS: It hasn't. I think it's only helped, really. The more people have access to try stuff, whether it's a single level or an entire game, it gets more people playing games. So for us the 360's been incredible. The fact that close to half our base has a 360, that's pretty telling about our membership base.

As for downloadable games, I think it will come someday, but I don't think in a meaningful way. I think it's five to 10 years away. Remember, the consumer still likes to go to retail. Think about World of Warcraft. They have over 6 million subscribers, and most of those people walked into a retail location and bought that initial disc. People like that retail experience. I don't think that's going away any time soon.

GS: But isn't GameFly designed to help people avoid the physical retail experience to a certain extent?

SS: Well, yes. I mean we're an online retailer. So it's a little different but it's not completely different.

GS: Right.

SS: If downloadable games become the next big thing, by then we'll have a very sizeable membership base...consumers don't want to go to five different publishers to download games. They're going to want to go to an aggregator. In the retail world that's Best Buy. In the cable world that's like an HBO. So I think we're in a good spot if that happens.

84 Comments

  • getbig

    Posted Sep 11, 2006 5:55 pm GMT

    I been a member for 2 years last game i bought was madden 2004 I never buy games i got the 40.00 a month subscription 4 games at a time why bother/BUT delivery time does suk and a couple of games have disappered but THEY don't hold I responsible so I'm a happy customer

  • OrionNM

    Posted Sep 11, 2006 2:34 pm GMT

    I've been a GameFly.com member for over 3 years now and my only complaint is delivery time. So I get double the rewards of the top level renter, meaning every 3 months I get $10 off any game I want to buy, plus the 10% discount that comes with being a member. So if they would just speed things up a little bit, and maybe drop the price plan slightly so it doesn't hurt my wallet so much, this service would be pretty much perfect. Sometimes I can mail a game Monday and get a new one by Saturday if I'm lucky,but it usually takes about 6 business days to get back to me. I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

  • NintendoWarrior

    Posted Sep 11, 2006 2:05 pm GMT

    im definitely with conkersbat

    im a subscriber to gamefly myself, and im satisfied, too, but i wish they were as fast as netflix

  • dryden555

    Posted Sep 11, 2006 10:51 am GMT

    If you live on the East coast you wait a week to get a game and it takes a week to return your game back to them. Gamefly REALLY has to address that issue is the want to expand. Not cost effective for the consumer if you live in the east.

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Sep 9, 2006 11:29 am GMT

    GS: How many subscribers does GameFly currently have?

    SS: We don't ever disclose numbers, but we have a really great and active base of subscribers. And that is why everybody wants on-line retailing. No accountability.

    Game cost isn't just about retail price, it's about gameplay too. I was told by a web game media editor that, for example, given that $50 full games now only have 10-12 hours of gameplay, Half Life EP2 costing $20-30 for 5 hours is not so bad. So the defence of the media on behalf of the industry is that because in the last year or so full price games are giving us 12 hours rather than 30 hours of entertainment, it's okay to pay $20 for 5 hours of entertainment! Is it any wonder the market is collapsing? This editor also said the price would come down with competition as more games were sold on-line. When has that happened in the gaming business? If competition took placed in the games business why are all games either $49.99 or $59.99? Yes, you can save on retail by searching the web, etc, but I am talking about the retail price before discount. If there was truly competition wouldn't we have different retail prices to start off with?

    From what I have read and heard in the last week, I am more pessimistic than ever that we are in the last months of PC gaming and the last year or two of video gaming on anything like the level we have now. And what we have now is 50% less than 15 years ago already!

  • conkersbat

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 9:47 pm GMT

    I wish they expanded their operations over the country, like Netflix. I wanna be able to request a game and get it within a day, like Netflix. I also wanna be able to return a game, they recieve it same-day, and ship it out that night and I recieve it tomorrow... like Netflix. The sad thing is: it'll never happen.
    ...S***.

  • pantweasel

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 11:42 am GMT

    Now I kinda wanna subscribe to GameFly....

  • ashuncc2

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 8:25 am GMT

    I have been using gameznflix.com for the past 6 months, or so. I don't think I have ever had as much fun or played as many games before. Plus, I can also rent an occasional movie.

  • Rhubarb9

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 2:24 am GMT

    Brian - There's a woodpecker on your head.
    Keanu Reeves - Yeah, he comes and goes.

  • Neurothustra

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 9:53 pm GMT

    I've Saved a good deal of money thanks to Gamefly, and that what matters to me. the service does have it's flaws but I don't have an inflated sense of entitlement. I did find this statement to be rather odd though: "Halo 3 has been in people's queues for months, but we don't even have a release date"

    Halo 3 is not listed anywhere on the gamefly site, it just isn't available for queue - what is he talking about?

  • AZisBack

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 2:32 pm GMT

    I love gamefly! I've had one problem with a game I shipped back but it was easily fixed.

  • taisui

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 1:03 pm GMT

    GameFly rejected my service after 3 games are lost in the mail!!! Now I stick with Gamerang.

    It's rediculus that they say "the mailing route to my house is not reliable," but "they are not going to continue my service even if I go rent a PO Box."

    ARE THEY HIGH?

  • Gigastormz

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 10:28 am GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • Moondogg1982

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 9:16 am GMT

    here's some good advice...Use what you like, its that simple.

  • qiwihead

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 8:50 am GMT

    I live in Brooklyn and subscribed to Gamerang for about 6 months, but I've found that I only got the games maybe a day sooner than I would have gotten it from Gamefly. It seems like the Gamerang warehouse just isn't have as efficient as Gamefly's is, so they don't necessarily get your next game out the same day they get your last one back. Other than that, though, Gamerang was fine. Gamefly's website is much better, though.

  • WillT12345

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 7:53 am GMT

    To all you East Coasters I recommend www.gamerang.com
    if you think Gamefly takes to long. They have 3 or 4 distribution centers.

  • capthunt

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 7:51 am GMT

    pfff consoles.

  • fantasy_cheater

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 10:45 pm GMT

    Well some times it can be $hitty I was going to rent some Xbox 360 games several months after the systems release and most of the good games were still gone like they only had a few 10 in stock. Ive lost a couple of games but never had to pay for em. If I did I would take my business else ware. I rented metriod prime hunters and since it takes forever to get to were I live. Its stupid cause the game sucks balls and It will prolly take two weeks to ship back and get a new game on my queue.

  • XJRockcrawler

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 10:24 pm GMT

    Mnmnanau, you mean when you're not posting on a game site?

  • fraudbot

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 8:23 pm GMT

    Gamefly's response time is jacked.....I've sent games and got them back within the same week before so I expect that since I know that they can do it......but now it takes over a week for them to receive games I send back and about as long for me to get them

    I use them but I'm not happy with them,I'll be looking into Gamerang, or whatever else is out there

  • holenjd

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 8:04 pm GMT

    I LOVE my gamefly!! I rented then bought Chromehounds for like $46 the week it came out. Awesome!!

  • iwhitby2000

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 6:05 pm GMT

    any people in the u.k should use swapgame.com they send games in 1-2 days and have sent me most of the new releases I wanted only a few weeks after thay come out

  • mnmnanu

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 4:24 pm GMT

    i dont use gamefly.. i like getting out of the house sometimes.

  • Murpheus007

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 2:08 pm GMT

    I never had to wait more than 3 or 4 days to get my game when I wanted it. Plus, while there were a few games that I wanted that had long waits, I basically got to try most of what I wanted to try during my free trial.

  • Digital-Devil

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 12:25 pm GMT

    Never used Gamefly

  • vincentvega210

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 8:23 am GMT

    Gamefly sucks major amounts of ass. Seriously they lost about 4 or 5 games i sent back and charged me for it. It's crap.Gamez n Flix is the way to go.

  • CrankyGuy

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 7:38 am GMT

    With that big Gamefly logo on the front of each mailling label 3 of 4 shipped games got stolen in the mail.

  • evansdada

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 6:30 am GMT

    Gamefly is a pretty decent investment to me. I keep the games as long as I want and when I wish to get the next game I send it back to get the next one on my list. It doesn't bothers me that it takes a week to get the games. Just gives me something to look forward to when they do arrive.

  • RIDETHEDEATHCAB

    Posted Sep 3, 2006 9:19 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • TexEx03

    Posted Sep 3, 2006 5:40 pm GMT

    Forget GameFly - Go with Gamerang. I have used both and Gamerang is FAR better. They have 4 hubs (OK, CA, MN, & NJ) so the turnaround time is cut in half for me - returning games to Oklahoma instead of California. My 360 games are shipped with a tracking number (at no extra cost). 19 times out of 20 I get a new title mailed to me when I manage my que wisely. GameFly is better for buying games, but Gamerang is far superior in every other regard. Give them a try!

  • _Sam_

    Posted Sep 3, 2006 2:07 pm GMT

    I love gamefly, I just wish it was cheaper. It ads up over time, especially when I'm busy, and not able to play many games- that money is wasted

  • wild_homes

    Posted Sep 3, 2006 2:02 am GMT

    I've had gamefly for about six months. I live in Houston, and it takes about two days for the games to get here, which is fine, provided I don't send games out on like sunday or something, which I always do. I suck. the only downside I've experienced is that the post office doesn't give notice to gamefly that my returned games are in the mail, so it takes longer for them to make it back to California. whatever. the buy prices are really cheap compared to retail, and generally you've already got the disc in hand so you know it works (assuming you're renting it) and the book and case you get are brand new since they never ship those with the rentals. I haven't had any problems with not being able to get the titles I want (for 360, primarily, and some PS2) but I like to keep my queue full just in case whatever I want is on wait. if you live close enough to California that the shipping is fast, Gamefly is pretty aces.

  • Bayani789

    Posted Sep 3, 2006 12:18 am GMT

    Hell yeah gamefly is the best. I live about 10 minutes from where they ship in Cali so I get my games every 2 days from when I put them in the mailbox for return, sometimes even the next if I mail them early in the morning.. now thats gangsta

  • fedgem

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 11:29 pm GMT

    Gamefly rocks, I just hope they do end up expanding like Netflix to speed up their delivery. I don't rent games just to try them, I rent them to play them and beat them. It costs way too much to rent at Blockbuster or any other chain, but since I started doing Gamefly, I just stopped purchasing games altogether. I do three at a time, which ends up being like 30 bucks a month, and I play them until I get bored of them. It's cheaper in the long run to pay 30 bucks a month for three games than it is to pay 60 dollars for just one that I might end up not playing after I beat it. I love Gamefly.

  • 3xthrtx3

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 10:02 pm GMT

    1. The only Legend of Zelda Gamecube game without a long wait and short wait (Wind Waker) is Four Swords.

    2. If you want Def Jam, four out of the six title accross all the systems have a long wait.

    3. You want to watch the Warriors on the PSP? Well, forget renting it. You got to buy it on top of your monthly fee.

    4. Tiger Woods, lots of titles on long wait.

  • Breakfast_Clubber

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 8:29 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • ffgothic

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 7:45 pm GMT

    I love Gamefly. Though they do take a while to recieve the games I sned back.

  • Da1ShrpSh0trGrl

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 6:33 pm GMT

    3xthrtx3 is right most of the games you want to play are on a waiting list. They do not supply enough games. Anyways I had Gamefly for a few months and I canceled the subscription because they never had the games I wanted right the way and the shpping takes too damn long. Blockbuster let you pick the game up in the store so you can do both movies and games. Gamefly still has a long way to go before they get and Ok from me.

  • ultrazone

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 6:17 pm GMT

    3xthrtx3...a lot of the games you listed aren't even that great...and old, or are new releases...this means that either they're popular and in high demand, or that they dont carry a large number of copies of that particular game due to low demand. besides the wait isn't that long even on those marked "long wait".

  • 3xthrtx3

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 5:42 pm GMT

    Xbox 360
    Ninety-Nine Nights - Short Wait
    Madden 07-Short Wait
    Ridge Racer 6 - Long Wait
    Tony Hawk American Wasteland -Long Wait

    PS2
    Dirge of Cerebrus - Short Wait
    Madden 07 - Short Wait
    Flat Out 2 - Short Wait
    Ant Bully - Short Wait
    NACC 07 -Short Wait
    Pirates of Carribean - Short Wait
    Naruto: Ultimate Ninja - Short Wait
    And 1 - Short Wait
    Rogue Trooper - Long Wait
    Barnyard - Short Wait
    Lego Star Wars - Long Wait
    Marvel vs. Capcom - Long Wait
    Battlefield 2 - Long Wait
    Leisure Suit Larry - Long Wait
    Disgaea: Hour of Darkness - Long Wait
    Marvel Nemisis: Rise of the Imperfects - Long Wait
    Street Racing Syndicate - Long Wait
    Godzilla: Save the Earth - Long Wait
    NBA 2k6 - Long Wait
    Burnout 2 - Long Wait
    ESPN 2k5 - Long Wait
    Tony Hawk 2 Underground - Long Wait
    Tiger Woods 2005 - Long Wait
    Call of Duty - Finest Hour Long Wait
    Crash N' Burn - Long Wait
    MX vs. AT Unleashed - Long Wait
    Major League Baseball 2005 - Long Wait
    MLB 2k6 - Long Wait
    Gungrave Overdose - Long Wait
    Bad Boys Miami Takedown - Long Wait
    Silent Scope 3 - Long Wait
    Timesplitters 2 - Long Wait
    Halflife - Long Wait
    Head Hunter - Long Wait
    James Bond 007 Agent Under Fire - Long Wait
    Quake III - Long Wait
    Slipheed - Long Wait
    Soldier of Fortune - Long Wait
    Resident Evil Dead Aim - Long Wait
    Ghost Recon Jungle Storm - Long Wait
    Time Crisis 3 - Long Wait
    Dark Cloud 2 - Long Wait
    Romancing Saga - Long Wait
    Shina Megami Tensei Nocturn - Long Wait
    Digital Devil Saga - Long Wait
    Balldur's Gate Dark Alliance 2 - Long Wait
    Mega Man X - Long Wait
    The Bard's Tale - Long Wait
    Summoner 2 - Long Wait
    Grandia II - Long Wait
    Jade Coocon - Long Wait
    Kings Field Ancient City - Long Wait
    Shadow Hearts - Long Wait
    Wizardry - Long Wait
    Xenosaga- Long Wait
    .Hack Mutation Part Two - Long Wait
    Red Ninja End of Honor - Long Wait
    Sly 2 - Long Wait
    Viewtful Joe 2 - Long Wait
    Samuari Warriors - Long Wait
    Rainbow Six - Long Wait
    Transformers - Long Wait
    Samuari Jack - Long Wait
    Way of the Samuari 2 - Long Wait
    Psychonauts - Long Wait
    King Arthur - Long Wait
    Spyro 2 - Long Wait
    Ghost Hunter- Long Wait
    Power Rangers Dino Thunder - Long Wait
    The Incredibles - Long Wait
    SD Gundun Force Showdown - Long Wait
    Ape Escape Pumped and Primed - Long Wait
    The Punisher - Long Wait
    Dragon Ball Z Sagas - Short Wait
    Mobile Suit Gundam Zeta vs. Zeta - Long Wait
    Blade 2 - Long Wait
    Dark Angel - Long Wait
    Freaky Flyers - Long Wait
    Sly Cooper - Long Wait
    Superman Shadow of Akopolis - Long Wait
    X-Men Next Dimension - Long Wait
    Airblade - Long Wait
    Army Men Air Attack 2 - Long Wait
    Dynasty Warriors 2 - Long Wait
    Fatal Frame - Long Wait
    Mobile Suit Gundam Zeonic Front - Long Wait
    Herdy Gerdy - Long Wait
    Kengo Master of Bushido - Long Wait
    Kloana 2 - Long Wait
    Metal Gear Solid 2 - Long Wait
    Monster Jam - Long Wait
    The Mummy Returns - Long Wait
    Onimusha Warlords - Long Wait
    Pirates Legend of Black Kat - Long Wait
    Rayman 2 - Long Wait
    Rune - Long Wait
    Shadow of Man - Long Wait
    Shadow of Destiny - Long Wait
    Star Wars Jedi Starfighter - Long Wait
    State of Emergency - Long Wait
    Stretch Panic - Long Wait
    Robotech Battlecry - Long Wait
    Seek and Destroy - Long Wait
    Tenchu 3 - Long Wait
    Clock Tower 3 - Long Wait
    Silent Hill 3 - Long Wait
    Metal Gear Solid 3 Substance - Long Wait
    Freedom Fighters - Long Wait
    Wallace and Grommit - Long Wait
    Whiplash - Long Wait
    Ape Escape 2 -Long Wait
    Chaos Legion - Long Wait
    Star Trek Shattered Universe - Long Wait
    Tak and the Power of Ju Ju - Long Wait
    Futurama - Long Wait
    Lord of the Rings Return of the King - Long Wait
    Fatal Frame 2 - Long Wait
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Long Wait
    Frogger's Adventure - Long Wait
    Mobile Suit Gundum Encounters in Space - Long Wait
    Firefighters FD 18 - Long Wait
    Nightshade - Long Wait
    Drakengard - Long Wait
    NHRA Championship Racing - Long Wait
    Need For Speed Underground 2 - Long Wait
    NASCAR 06 - Long Wait
    Burnout 2 - Long Wait
    Colin McCrea Rally 3 - Long Wait
    Fererri F355 - Long Wait
    NASCAR Dirt to Daytona - Long Wait
    Jet X20 - Long Wait
    Artic Thunder - Long Wait
    Driven - Long Wait
    Formula One - Long Wait
    Freakstyle - Long Wait
    Gallup Racer 2001 - Long Wait
    Jeremy McGrawth Supercross - Long Wait
    World of Outlaws Sprint Cars 2002 - Long Wait
    World Rally Championship - Long Wait
    Hyper Sonic Extreme - Long Wait
    Roadtrip - Long Wait
    Grand Prix Challenge - Long Wait
    Indy Car Series - Long Wait
    XGRA Extreme - Long Wait
    Smash Cars - Long Wait
    Freestyle Metal X - Long Wait
    Hot Wheels World Race - Long Wait
    NASCAR Thunder 2004 - Long Wait
    Mx Unleashed - Long Wait
    Saturday Night Speedway - Long Wait
    Dukes of Hazard - Long Wait
    Gallop Racer 2004 - Long Wait
    eJay Clubworld - Long Wait
    Bass Strike - Long Wait
    Mark Davis Pro Bass - Long Wait
    Reel Fishing 3 - Long Wait
    Samuari Warriors Extreme Legends - Long Wait
    Theme Park Roller Coaster - Long Wait
    Army Men RTS - Long Wait
    Ring of Red - Long Wait
    The Sims - Long Wait
    Commandos 2 - Long Wait
    Jurassic Park Genesis - Long Wait
    The Guy Game - Long Wait


    I think I made my point. Sorry if it bugged any readers. The question wasn't even asked by Gamespot. What is up with so many games not being available. I have been a gamefly user and was severely disappointed in that a lot of my games weren't available when I wanted them. Usually the hot new releases and a bunch of my games in my list. It was Batman Begins that broke my camel's back. I could not get that game to save my life. So I cancelled and that wasn't easy, as they buried the cancellation information, just like gametap.

    Gamecube, xbox and the rest of the platforms suffer from the same amount unavailability.

    I spoke with a supervisor and they told me that there business would not be profitable if these games were really available to the customer.

    Clearly, there is a problem with their business model.

    Don't be fooled. They are not like Netflix at all. There turnaround time is not very good. If you have play a lot of games in your life you find that a lot of games you want will not be readily available.

    I agree it is nice to be able to rent, but when you can't get the title you want, after a while it gets old fast.

  • halopower67

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 5:15 pm GMT

    yeh ive had gamefly for like a year and a half its been a grat service because it lets me try the games without paying for them.

  • GodsBloodBurial

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 5:06 pm GMT

    a couple days after i got a 360 i got gamefly.
    it's really worth it.

  • Erebus

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 4:48 pm GMT

    I've been SERIOUSLY pondering GameFly... and I am a 360 owner... I think these kids are onto something. Time to setup an account. =)

  • makemeweak

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 12:21 pm GMT

    "You know, the neat thing is 30 percent to 40 percent of our business is PS2, and the other 60 percent to 70 percent is 360." Wow - that's awesome!
    Their selection is amazing! i love being able to try out different games that I would never pay money for. I'm usually pleasantly surprised by games that don't get rave reviews (at least if I'm not paying $60 for them!)

  • IgnatiusX

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 12:16 pm GMT

    "Though the Wii remains the wild card in the next-generation console race, Nintendo will have to make up for the cost of its console's low price--expected to be under $250--somewhere."

    What the hell kind of biased crap is this? Nintendo makes a profit on every console they sell, they even said they wouldn't sell below the manufacturing price.

  • map586

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 12:01 pm GMT

    The only reason I have GameFly is for the DS games, otherwise I would use the Blockbuster near my house...

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 10:51 am GMT

    gamefly was a genius creation

  • GFofgaming

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 9:42 am GMT

    Great interview, rental games will be very important in this generation with prices high.

  • XJRockcrawler

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 9:41 am GMT

    take a cue from the other places, GET MORE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS!!!

  • p22pqq2

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 8:42 am GMT

    Gamefly is great and I highly recommend them. I do know that they can ship games faster now when they get notice that you sent a game back to them from the post office. That cut's down time considerably. Games are getting expensive and I just can't roll the dice anymore on $60 titles. Case in Point: Enchanted Arms for the 360. I've heard OK things about this title but I wasn't sold on it. It came out last Wednesday and I should be getting it from Gamefly today. Not bad, I wait three days after release to get a brand new title which I know is in GREAT CONDITION. If I like it I can keep it and it will cost me about $15 LESS than if I was to buy it at my local EB games. If I don't care for it I just send it back to them. So I get to try out games I'm on the fence about AND if I like the game I can buy it for less than the retail price. PRETTY SWEET. What about Blockbuster or Hollywood video? Just rent it from them? I don't know about you guys but I can NEVER rent a game the first time it comes out. They are all rented before I get there. In fact that is why I subscribed to Gamefly, I know I will get a new release. Bottomline, Gamefly is a really good company and I know that I won't ever be stuck with another clunker title again.

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