Too little -way-, way, way too late. They should have had this ready to go about..5 years ago? Six? They weren't ready when Netflix started to take off, they weren't ready when Gamefly took off and they have stood around, dumbfounded when Redbox has took off.
Sorry Blockbuster, but it's time to die. This late in the game, changing your business model can't save you.
too long, didn't read version: BB sucks, but Movie Mania is worse. Netflix streaming is fantastic. If Netflix rented games, they would own the market.
I JUST cancelled my blockbuster online. Even if I was able to add the game service to it, it would be nearly $30 a month... bleh. Blockbuster can eat it- This is what my online que looked like:
very long wait
very long wait
very long wait
short wait
very long wait
very long wait
just hang yourself
etc.
And $8.99 to rent a game instore? Woah. Icing on the cake: the physical store nearest to me does not stock either Ghost Dog or Network. Wtf. It is not like I am walking in expecting to rent El Topo or Arabeskebi Pirosmanis temaze or something; it's mother-flipping Ghost Dog for chrissakes.
Now currently sharing Netflix with a friend; the streaming disc for PS3 sealed the deal- A pretty decent selection of movies and shows to watch, surprisingly good A/V quality- and it works perfectly, not a single hiccup or interruption. And the interface isnt bad either- very easy and enjoyable to browse visually, a good couch experience compared to using the pc. ...aaaand "IT Crowd" season 3, hilarious. Thanks Netflix!
Despite being no big fan of BB, their store still beats the nearest video store to me in Detroit- a "Movie Mania". Going in there is like stepping back to the early 90s- almost all their new release dvds are pan & scan- PAN & SCAN. I cant believe they still make those. As well, their throw-back late fee policy is draconian- $1.75 a day, no limit. I rented Ghostbusters not too long ago, kept it for two weeks, and owed $25. Unbelievable.
Unfortunately, they can get away with it- most people in my neighborhood are relatively poor & don't drive, and they are the only store for miles. On top of that, whoever buys their games has no clue what they are doing- 5 copies each of X-men Wolverine & Terminator Salvation, but only one copy of Uncharted 2? WTF, Do you think these are movies? At least I can buy a used copy of Mirror's Edge or Bad Company for $49.99 each, and pick up a VHS head cleaner while I am at it.
Gamefly is excellent and I doubt Blockbuster can compete with them at this late stage in the game.The outcome is going to be the same as it is with Netflix and will probably be handled in the same shoddy manner as their movie rentals are.
Netflix and Gamefly also do not have the added baggage of brick and mortar stores to bring down their profits.
@heretrix: I've heard Gamefly is pretty bad, otherwise I'd have it myself. But then BB probably isn't any better. Netflix is as good as it gets. I wish they did games also.
Gamefly is awesome. 90 percent of the time I get what I want and when I don't, it's pretty much because I didn't have a queue slot open. I've used them for 5 years and have rarely had a problem. I get my games within 3 days of notification that they have been sent to me.
Ugh, Blockbuster just needs to die. These assholes ripped me off for $60.00 when I canceled my account. I haven't set foot in one of their stores since, and I was a frequent renter.
@DNinja: Yep. The sooner this company dies the better. I remember their overzealous late fees and inflexible policies from the early to mid 90's when I used to rent from them. They really tried to grab you by the balls just because they could back then.
I switched over to mom and pop rental places pretty early on way back then (and have since moved entirely to Netflix) and I'm delighted when I drive past the old Blockbusters in my town and see that they've gone out of business. It warms my heart.
Well, well, well. Look at that. I'm moving to Seattle in just about a month and a half. I have a rough choice.
See with Netflix I get the streaming to my PS3 (the disc thing isn't a big deal.) So do I drop that for this? I don't know man... I don't know. If I get in-store games too then I'm already sold.
@DigitalHero:
You live there? I know like... two people in the city. I need friends, will you be mine? Haha, could I make that sound more pathetic?
Wind and rain huh? Bring it. It's the snow I can't do.
@Friedhamster:
Yeah I've been living here 15 years, my PSN ID is: DigitalHero.
(We get snow every now and then. Last year was a fluke, we got 18 inches and it stuck around for over a week, it even snowed again on Christmas. Rain, we get quite often on non-summer months)
It's tough. $7.99 a month seems like a great deal BUT I can't justify having both Blockbuster and Netflix and the Netflix integration into XBL is fantastic.
@BigBadHarv: You can't stream games. And the future of that market is becoming more and more involved with DLC.
Besides, in the next few years when bandwidth gets less scarce, you'll be able to download games and rent them for a limited period of time. It's the total control console manufacturers and publishers have always wanted.
@wheelis: Depends on what you want out of it, but I'm on an old plan, so not sure what the new ones are. As far as my plan, it's $19.99 per month for 3 movies out at a time and unlimited in store exchanges (take a movie that was mailed to me into the store and exchange it for any movie there for free). I also receive one free video game rental per month. So another $7.99 on top of that.
@thegreatpablo: They still have stores open in your area? They have been closing down stores nationwide, there are only a handful left here in Raleigh. And more rumored to close.
Their (in-store) prices are outrageous to begin with anyway. It was always hard to justify the rental price for a game or a movie for that matter, much less their mail service offerings. I was never impressed by their selection for the 3 months I used their mail service.
You'll be paying $27.98 a month just to rent 3 movies and a game. A total $335 a year. You can buy a lot of things (including games and movies) for that much mulah. Just seems like a lot of money to me.
@L3G10N: In the end, it is a lot of money, but to be fair, there are 5 television shows I watch each year. If I were to buy them on DVD, that's $250 (before tax) every year, not to mention the other movies and such that I rent. So what I pay right now isn't a bad deal at all all things considered. However, I don't rent games, so I won't be picking up this deal. I'm also moving to Netflix since they now offer it on the PS3.
@tommyscomics: Gamefly is getting there. I get my games within 3 days..Netflix wasn't always as fast as they are now, they keep adding warehouses and now they are all over the place, insuring that you get your stuff quickly. Gamefly is doing exactly the same thing.
11/18/09
11/18/09
Sorry Blockbuster, but it's time to die. This late in the game, changing your business model can't save you.
11/18/09
I JUST cancelled my blockbuster online. Even if I was able to add the game service to it, it would be nearly $30 a month... bleh. Blockbuster can eat it- This is what my online que looked like:
very long wait
very long wait
very long wait
short wait
very long wait
very long wait
just hang yourself
etc.
And $8.99 to rent a game instore? Woah. Icing on the cake: the physical store nearest to me does not stock either Ghost Dog or Network. Wtf. It is not like I am walking in expecting to rent El Topo or Arabeskebi Pirosmanis temaze or something; it's mother-flipping Ghost Dog for chrissakes.
Now currently sharing Netflix with a friend; the streaming disc for PS3 sealed the deal- A pretty decent selection of movies and shows to watch, surprisingly good A/V quality- and it works perfectly, not a single hiccup or interruption. And the interface isnt bad either- very easy and enjoyable to browse visually, a good couch experience compared to using the pc. ...aaaand "IT Crowd" season 3, hilarious. Thanks Netflix!
Despite being no big fan of BB, their store still beats the nearest video store to me in Detroit- a "Movie Mania". Going in there is like stepping back to the early 90s- almost all their new release dvds are pan & scan- PAN & SCAN. I cant believe they still make those. As well, their throw-back late fee policy is draconian- $1.75 a day, no limit. I rented Ghostbusters not too long ago, kept it for two weeks, and owed $25. Unbelievable.
Unfortunately, they can get away with it- most people in my neighborhood are relatively poor & don't drive, and they are the only store for miles. On top of that, whoever buys their games has no clue what they are doing- 5 copies each of X-men Wolverine & Terminator Salvation, but only one copy of Uncharted 2? WTF, Do you think these are movies? At least I can buy a used copy of Mirror's Edge or Bad Company for $49.99 each, and pick up a VHS head cleaner while I am at it.
11/18/09
11/18/09
Netflix and Gamefly also do not have the added baggage of brick and mortar stores to bring down their profits.
This is going to be interesting to watch.
11/19/09
11/20/09
Gamefly is awesome. 90 percent of the time I get what I want and when I don't, it's pretty much because I didn't have a queue slot open. I've used them for 5 years and have rarely had a problem. I get my games within 3 days of notification that they have been sent to me.
11/18/09
11/18/09
I switched over to mom and pop rental places pretty early on way back then (and have since moved entirely to Netflix) and I'm delighted when I drive past the old Blockbusters in my town and see that they've gone out of business. It warms my heart.
11/18/09
See with Netflix I get the streaming to my PS3 (the disc thing isn't a big deal.) So do I drop that for this? I don't know man... I don't know. If I get in-store games too then I'm already sold.
11/18/09
We have some nice rain and wind waiting for you. :)
Back on topic, it appears that most people are like that here. Most use other digital services and I doubt they will switch over to Blockbuster.
11/18/09
You live there? I know like... two people in the city. I need friends, will you be mine? Haha, could I make that sound more pathetic?
Wind and rain huh? Bring it. It's the snow I can't do.
#speakup
11/18/09
Yeah I've been living here 15 years, my PSN ID is: DigitalHero.
(We get snow every now and then. Last year was a fluke, we got 18 inches and it stuck around for over a week, it even snowed again on Christmas. Rain, we get quite often on non-summer months)
11/18/09
Cool, I'll add you and we can chat.
PSN ID: Friedhamster (big surprise!)
#speakup
11/18/09
11/18/09
11/18/09
Besides, in the next few years when bandwidth gets less scarce, you'll be able to download games and rent them for a limited period of time. It's the total control console manufacturers and publishers have always wanted.
11/18/09
11/18/09
11/18/09
Their (in-store) prices are outrageous to begin with anyway. It was always hard to justify the rental price for a game or a movie for that matter, much less their mail service offerings. I was never impressed by their selection for the 3 months I used their mail service.
You'll be paying $27.98 a month just to rent 3 movies and a game. A total $335 a year. You can buy a lot of things (including games and movies) for that much mulah. Just seems like a lot of money to me.
11/18/09
11/18/09
11/18/09
11/18/09
#speakup