GameFly is an online video game rental service akin to Netflix. Basically, you queue up a smorgasbord of video game titles that you’ve been itching to get your paws on, and then suffer a few business days until your fix arrives via snail mail. The service offers titles from all current-gen systems, including portables, and also many games from last generation’s bundles of joy, totaling nine platforms.
The monthly subscription prices vary, ranging from one to four simultaneous game rentals. I started off at the $15.95 per month, one game at a time rental rate, but quickly bumped it up to the recommended $22.95 two game plan to avoid any lapse in my entertainment.
I’m a poor college student. With a plethora of new games fast approaching last holiday season, I thought it best to sign up for the service since the cost was only a fraction of just one game per month. There is no instant gratification here besides a heavier wallet. All of my nerd friends who rushed out on day one were able to play Left 4 Dead for a few days before I could join in on the zombie beatings. I can take a day or two of relentless teasing and anticipation, but for all those who find it necessary to be the first to own, this service is not for you at all. Delivery dates fluctuate, probably due to GameFly having only four national warehouses, so some games with a low quantity may have been shipped from as far away as California. In respect to consistency, Netflix is much more well established and easily takes the cake. Not that the services are competitors, but if GameFly were nearly as efficient, I would be happy to recommend it to anyone.
On the subject of “low quantity” games, the service would do well to be a little more specific. A week or so ago, I literally skipped home one day, anticipating some Nazi slaying in Call of Duty: World at War, only to fall to my knees in agony as I opened the package to find Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. This game wasn’t even at the top of my “GameQ” that tallies a baker’s dozen. I am now officially convinced that God hates me and am still a little sore at GameFly for this travesty. Call of Duty isn’t even new anymore! Fuck!
If you find yourself holding up your queue with your current timewasters, GameFly grants you the ability to purchase the title for a price that is comparable to GameStop’s used game prices. Once purchased, GameFly will ship you the box and instructions for the game free of charge. This can be a beautiful thing if you catch the game brand new, as you can just hold it hostage until the price drops and then purchase it at your leisure.
The company’s website also offers a selection of used games for purchase that change daily, but the selection is laughable and certainly nothing to write home about. The service has a decent rewards program for longtime subscribers and also a severely out of place quintet of selected mp3’s for download every month. GameFly may be working through some growing pains, but offers an overall worthy and affordable alternative to shelling out $60 per game.
For the patient gamer dealing with a small budget. No instant gratification here.
