Kotaku 
Enter your username and password.
Denver, 1:09 PM
Wed Dec 2
62 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip us:
Editor-In-Chief:
Brian Crecente
| AIM | Twitter
Deputy Editor:
Stephen Totilo
| AIM | Twitter
Senior Editor:
Michael McWhertor
| AIM | Twitter
Senior Contributing Editor, Japan:
Brian Ashcraft
| AIM | Twitter
Contributing Editor, East Coast:
Michael Fahey
| AIM | Twitter
Contributing Editor, Oceania:
Luke Plunkett
| AIM | Twitter
Contributing Editor, Weekends:
Owen Good
| AIM | Twitter
Correspondent, San Francisco:
AJ Glasser
| AIM | Twitter
Columnist:
Leigh Alexander
Columnist:
Tim Rogers
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
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