Receiving movies in the mail has rapidly gained popularity over the last few years. Once seemingly impossible, movie fans now make a list of movies they want to see and get them in the mail once those movies become available. It seems so long ago that I trekked to the store and dealt with rain checks, annoying cashiers, and an endless supply of problem customers. Now, this convenience is available for gamers. The question is: Is Gamefly worth the cost and the wait time for the average gamer?
Selecting and receiving games you want to play without leaving the comfort of your own home has long been every gamer’s wet dream. “What?” they say, “I don’t have to put down my pint of Cherry Garcia to make a trip to the local gaming or video rental store?” Yes, we now can continue eating our ice cream while opening today’s mail and pop in our newly arrived, highly anticipated, shiny gaming title.
For those who know nothing about Gamefly, let’s review the basics:
Gamefly is currently running specials on the price of their plans, making it even easier to convince yourself to start an account. Without any specials, Gamefly plans are priced as follows:
- 1 game out – $15.95 per month
- 2 games out – $22.95 per month
You can also give the site a 10-day trial, commitment and hassle free. If you have any questions about whether or not you would enjoy an account, this is the best way to test it out.
After setting up your account, Gamefly will ask you a series of questions about what kind of games you prefer and what systems you own. These questions help Gamefly recommend new, upcoming, or past titles you may enjoy. It also prevents you from making stupid mistakes, such as checking out Madden 2009 for the Xbox 360, when really you only have a PS2.
From there you create your GameQ. Similar to Netflix, you select games that you would like to rent and they pop up on a list. You can arrange your list from most to least anticipated, by release date, or whatever your crazy mind can think of. You can also click and drag a title to change the order in your GameQ. Luckily, the GameQ will prevent you from trying to put two of the same title on your list. The GameQ can hold up to 50 games at a time; if you need more than that you should find something more constructive to do with your life.
After you’ve chosen some games, Gamefly will ship the games to the address you provide. Gamefly ships via US First Class Mail and has four shipping centers: California, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas. Typically, you will receive your game within 2-4 business days. The transit time can be longer if there is inclement weather, you have a weird postal route, or you live a greater distance from the distribution center than the norm.
Once you get the game, you have two options. First, you can keep the game as long as you want. For those of us that like to play completely through our games, this option is awesome. Secondly, you could buy the game that was sent to your home at a discounted price. Prices vary depending on the age of the game (not your particular disc, but the title itself).
If you’ve decided that you’re done with a game, you will put it in the postage-paid, self-addressed envelope and ship it back to Gamefly. In the “old days” of Gamefly, the turn around from game in the mail to new game at your door took literally forever. Now, Gamefly has partnered with the USPS in attempts to improve shipping times. Enter “Fast Return”. Fast Return will start processing the next game in your GameQ once the Postal Service has scanned your game and confirmed that a game return is in the mail. The only problem with this is: if your archaic post office does not own a scanner you will have to wait longer.
Gamefly also wants to keep your business. They reward you with Gamefly dollars and a percentage off of all used games for every three consecutive months your account is open.
In addition, Gamefly has now added a “trade-in” feature to their site. You can trade in your video games to Gamefly for credits on your account that you can spend on other games. The process is a great idea: type in your title, print out the shipping label, ship your game. Gamefly on average gives less trade in credit than Gamestop, but they give credit sight-unseen. Not that the average person would trade-in a defective title, but it is a way for Gamefly to cover its own ass.
Gamefly gives the gamer the benefit of the doubt when a game gets lost in the mail. Once you report a shipping problem, the report will be noted on your account. Hopefully losing games would not become a pattern.
As with anything, there are drawbacks to a Gamefly account. The turn around time for receiving games, although improved, is still quite slow. For any serious gamer looking to play the latest and greatest title, you may be sorely disappointed. Also, game supply is controlled by demand. If Grand Theft Auto IV (read our complete walkthrough here) is highly requested, you may be waiting several weeks after the release to receive a copy of the game. If there is a game you are highly anticipating, you will be better off reserving it at any gaming store so it is available on launch day.
The price of Gamefly may also turn away some gamers. $15.95 a month is not that steep, (considering it’s the price of four 16oz Starbucks’ mochas per month), but for an extra expense and the fact you may only receive one or two games a month (depending on your gaming style), Gamefly may not be the best choice for you.
Really, Gamefly’s worth needs to be put into perspective. If you are a serious, avid, or average gamer, Gamefly is a good deal. To make this easy to see, I’ve compiled a handy list.
- Gamers who love to play games all the way through on their own time
- Gamers who are picky about only purchasing games they really love or that offer longevity
- Gamers who like to check out games before they buy
- Parents who want to monitor and read reviews on games their children want to play, without forking over $40 a pop
- Gamers who would like the option to buy a game after trying it out
- Gamers who don’t mind playing the newest games a little after the release date
- Gamers who trade in games frequently
- Gamers who do not live close to a game store
Who Gamefly is not good for:
- Gamers who want to play specific games on or close to release date
- Gamers that do not play games often enough to justify a membership
- Gamers who are impatient with their mail, have a sketchy mail box, or don’t check their mail
- Gamers who want to play or buy brand new discs only
- PC gamers (unfortunately, Gamefly does not offer PC titles for rental)
- Retro gamers (Gamefly does not cater to Atari or SNES either. Sorry people)
For most gamers, I would recommend starting up a Gamefly account. The games come in great (if not new) condition, you can play for as long as you want without a time restraint, and you have the option to buy all without having to leave your home. You can also read average gamer’s reviews and information about upcoming titles before adding them to your GameQ. Gamefly is simple, effective, and cheaper than a bucket of KFC. Let your gaming begin!