Announced in February of this year, Blockbuster's Games By Mail program is an extension of the company's Total Access movies by mail service. Competing with Gamefly the same way Total Access competes with Netflix. Now Seattle area Blockbuster Online customers can opt into the games service, which allows them to rent any number of games, 1 out at a time, for $7.99 per month.

"We know our customers in Seattle love games, so we're excited to expand our Games By Mail pilot to include this market," said Keith Morrow, Blockbuster CIO. "We hope customers will take advantage of the service and share their feedback with us, so that we can build on our key learnings from Cleveland and further refine the offering in preparation for a national launch."

Any readers in the Seattle area planning on taking advantage? Are any of you even renting movies from Blockbuster anymore?

Blockbuster's Total Access rental program might soon have a distinct advantage over rival rent-at-home company Netflix with the introduction of video game rentals to the service. Having focused solely on movie DVD rentals since its inception, Total Access will soon begin offering select customers the option of having video games delivered directly to their door as well, as part of a pilot program that will lead directly to a nationwide launch of the service in the second half of this year.

"We already rent more video games than any other company, store-based or online, in the nation, so we know our core customer loves games as well as movies," said Bob Barr, Vice President and General Manager of blockbuster.com. "With this pilot program, we're laying the groundwork for offering BLOCKBUSTER Total Access customers easy online access to the movies and games they want, through an integrated subscription offering."

The move could give Blockbuster a leg up on rival Netflix, which currently only offers movies, as well as stirring up competition for game rental service GameFly.

This of course all depends on how well Blockbuster implements the service. I've found that Netflix generally has wider selection and better availability, and as many a Blockbuster game renter can attest to, the company tends to be rather selective when it comes to which games wind up on store shelves.

Still, some video games is better than none at all, and the added ability to trade in your online rentals for half-priced game rentals at your local Blockbuster is certainly a plus. Time will tell if the move can help Blockbuster persevere in the face of an increasingly hostile business environment.

“The Austin-area distribution center is strategically placed to provide the quickest shipping times to a large number of members across multiple states,” said Jeff Kawasugi, vice president of logistics for GameFly. “In addition, we are extremely pleased to join the Austin business community and look forward to a mutually beneficial and long-term relationship.”

Now all they need is a center in Seattle and they're golden. Sorry Hawaii and Alaska, but you knew what you were getting into in the first place.

GameFly Opens Latest Distribution Center in the Austin Area
New Distribution Center Provides Enhanced Delivery for Members in Seven States

LOS ANGELES—(BUSINESS WIRE)—GameFly, the leading online video game rental service, today announced the official opening of its latest distribution center located in the Austin area. The warehouse represents the third distribution center to open within the last 13 months and enables GameFly to deliver games more quickly to its members.

This distribution center further reinforces GameFly’s strong foothold in the online video game rental industry by confirming the growth of the company and gaming industry. Initially, the warehouse will service Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico. Additional Midwest states may be added in the future.

“The Austin-area distribution center is strategically placed to provide the quickest shipping times to a large number of members across multiple states,” said Jeff Kawasugi, vice president of logistics for GameFly. “In addition, we are extremely pleased to join the Austin business community and look forward to a mutually beneficial and long-term relationship.”

“We always strive to enhance the gaming experience for our community, whether it’s creating new applications, incorporating unique features or simply just providing a better service,” said Dave Hodess, CEO of GameFly. “We are thrilled so many gamers have found that GameFly makes videogaming an even better experience and expect the new distribution center will be a great benefit to our members in and around Texas.”

"We are continually optimizing our service to provide the best possible experience for our members," said Dave Hodess, CEO, GameFly. "The GameFly team was very strategic in selecting the location of the Tampa warehouse in order to ensure the most efficient delivery throughout the region."

GameFly Opens Latest Distribution Warehouse in Tampa Area

LOS ANGELES - (Business Wire) GameFly, the leading online video game rental service, today announced the official opening of a distribution center in the Tampa area. The new center will allow GameFly to more quickly serve members in the Southeast.

The new distribution center further emphasizes GameFly's commitment to ensuring member satisfaction and expedited shipping for its growing community. Initially, the distribution center will service members in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.

"We are continually optimizing our service to provide the best possible experience for our members," said Dave Hodess, CEO, GameFly. "The GameFly team was very strategic in selecting the location of the Tampa warehouse in order to ensure the most efficient delivery throughout the region."

"We are excited to have GameFly join the Tampa business community," said Howard Volland, Financial Services Project Manager for the Committee of One Hundred, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. "This distribution center emphasizes the growing businesses in the area, and the continued economic vitality of Hillsborough County and the state of Florida."

Just got a call from my girlfriend who works for Blockbuster Video (yay free movies!), who wanted to let me know that they've received a big ol' box of PS3 and Wii titles in their regular Thursday shipment. Well okay, she originally called to tell me that they got in Spongebob Squarepants for the Wii, but I made her check the other boxes. She really does mean well.

When the 360 was released last year it took most normal, non-Game Rush stores weeks to receive games for rent, but it looks like this time around Blockbuster is on point, with a wide variety of titles ready for rent as early as tomorrow morning.

At my girlfriend's store I'd aim for Saturday, since she seems to share my particular work ethic. Michael Fahey