Rent

deals

Rent-To-Own A Nintendo Wii For Just $948

We should all know by now that rent-to-own plans are nothing short of vicious wallet rape for the mentally and creditally challenged, but just in case the lesson hasn't quite sunk in yet, observe this ad from renter-retailer Kelly's. After a mere 12 monthly payments of $79, you could own a $250 Nintendo Wii! Given that 12 x $79 = $948, the sad populace who takes advantage of such a "deal" will find themselves out $698 in games, accessories and pride.

Kelly's Will Rent-To-Own You This Wii For $948 [Consumerist]

11:40 AM on Fri Feb 29 2008
By Mark Wilson
16,439 views, 116 comments

study

A Renter Does Not A Buyer Make

Here's some confirmation of what most of us already knew: a study by Frank N. Magid Associates shows that renting is bad for game sales. In particular, check out these two findings:

1. Nearly 50% of all console game renters didn't purchase a single game they rented last year.
2. Only 9% of renters bought 11% or more of the games they rented.

In short: if you rent a game, you don't buy it. But who ever bought that whole "try before you buy" argument, anyway? Though I will admit to keeping a few games from my monthly mail rental service of choice.

Game Rentals Eating into Purchases [via maxconsole]

12:00 PM on Wed Nov 28 2007
By Mark Wilson
1,867 views, 103 comments

just don't gamble away the rent

Some New Offerings For the Skill Gamers Among Us

PlayNoEvil keeps an eye on skill gaming - playing for cash, and (usually) in a different category than straight up gambling - and points to SkillGround, which has some new offerings, including a fighting game, a FPS, a racing game, and more in the pipeline. Of course, with money comes problems - particularly because some of these games are particularly vulnerable to all manner of bots. More »

3:30 PM on Sat Aug 11 2007
By Maggie Greene
2,495 views, 15 comments

people still rent movies at the store?

Blockbuster Decides to Back Blu-ray

Blockbuster is going forward with the Blu-ray format over the HD DVD format in 1,450 of its stores nationally, though the chain will still carry HD DVDs online and in 250 of its stores. More »

10:40 AM on Mon Jun 18 2007
By Kim Phu
5,563 views, 177 comments

you just may be able to make rent for a change

Xbox 360 Prices May Be Cut by Christmas

Microsoft is starting to realize that it's going to take a lot more than a couple of pinatas to expand their Xbox audience. Worried that the 360 will get "pigeonholed as a hard-core machine", Microsoft is looking at this holiday season to see what can be done. Though he declined to say for sure whether or not Microsoft will reduce the cost of the Xbox 360, David Hufford (a director of Xbox product management), sees the potential for making it more affordable for the consumer: More »

9:40 AM on Fri Jun 8 2007
By Kim Phu
4,999 views, 100 comments

Latest by Sloopydrew: This news tears me into two segments. Segments fanboys of MS (how is that possible?) or Nintendo will not enjoy. First, let me play the MS fanboy: You freaks know no shame and that's all you know. Your entire business has more »

diff'rent strokes

Capcom On DMC 4: PS3 And 360 Versions Are "Identical"

In an interview with IGN, Capcom reveals that characters Dante and Nero in Devil May Cry 4 are quite different. What about the console versions? Nope. According to translated comments: More »

2:00 AM on Wed May 2 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
2,408 views, 46 comments

diff'rent strokes

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

I did something really stupid. It was an impulse purchase that I regret. I bought Ibara, a Cave-developed top-down shooter for the PlayStation 2. The Japanese PlayStation 2. What's so brainlessly stupid about that? Taito's issuing a "The Best" version any day now, something that would've saved me close to fifty bucks American. Whatever. As long as that drug money keeps rolling in, it really should've affect me financially. I'm just frugal! More »

4:20 PM on Fri Feb 23 2007
By Michael McWhertor
1,493 views, 62 comments

sega

Night Trap Remake Comes Just In Time

No one's is going to argue that Night Trap was a good game. Far from it. But it was fun and enjoyable in a "its so bad its good" kind of way. Or a "I like looking at nubile teens in negligee" kind of way. Or maybe a "I am so sick of playing Kriss Kross: Make My Video on my Sega CD" kind of way. More »

5:06 PM on Sat Oct 28 2006
By Michael McWhertor
745 views, 6 comments

ps3

Rent-A-Center Claims to Have PS3's "In the Back"

Aeropause tells all the best anecdotes. When Pausonaut Richard stopped in at furniture rental agency Rent-a-Center to inquire about their 360 rent-to-own deal, he was greeted with weird and shady mumblings and bumblings about the PS3 More »

6:40 PM on Mon Sep 25 2006
By egauger
2,668 views, 22 comments

e3

Booth Babes Protest E3 Bikini Ban!

A couple of booth babes were nearly thrown out of E3 for protesting against the ESA's depressing "No Bikini" regulation. More »

9:40 AM on Thu May 11 2006
By brownlee
2,837 views, 6 comments

Kotaku

Green Lantern, Joker Join MK Vs. DC Universe Line Up

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