Gaming Forums => General Gaming => Topic started by: cardsgirl1980 on April 05, 2009, 07:59:59 PM
Title: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: cardsgirl1980 on April 05, 2009, 07:59:59 PM
I pretty much rent everything from gamefly since I - like a lot of people these days - don't have the cash to just go out and buy everything I want to play every time the mood strikes. Gamefly ends up being way cheaper and I play a lot more than I would if I had to buy everything. It's literally the difference between playing 4 games a year or 40 from a financial standpoint.
For me gamefly's the only way to get my hands on new releases and not go broke in the process. Renting has won out over buying for me by a long shot.
What do you think? Renting the new buying?
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: Mop it up on April 05, 2009, 08:22:58 PM
Renting isn't for me, mostly because it wouldn't give me enough time to play games. It took me two months to 100% complete Super Mario Galaxy which, with the regular cost of GameFly's single-game rental, would have been $32. That's actually more than what I paid to buy the game. Then there are games like Mario Kart Wii which I haven't stopped playing since its release, and Mario Party 8 which I like to have around in case a party breaks loose.
Of course, renting just to try a game might not be a bad idea. I wish I had rented Boom Blox before I bought it... *sigh*
I guess it depends on how much time you can invest into your games. If you'll be finished with them within a week then they probably aren't worth buying, but for me they are more long-term investments.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: cardsgirl1980 on April 05, 2009, 09:10:01 PM
I can definitely see your point. Where some games go it is worth owning them. I've still employed the strategy of renting first though as that way I can get whatever I'm buying with my gamefly discount which is a nice option. Not to mention the benefits of "try before you buy."
Still, if I'm really enjoying something and I realize it's going to take me a while to get through it or it's something I just want around (like Mario Party 8 for example) I'll just use the keep it feature. Not always but once in a while. I'm honestly trying to avoid buying games as much as possible so I use the 2 at a time plan and can have something going for a while and cycle through other stuff as well.
I hear ya on Boom Blox. Glad I rented it. When you think about it, just being able to toss it back in the mail pretty much paid for my gamefly subscription a couple times over.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: Mop it up on April 05, 2009, 09:31:23 PM
The "keep it" feature is nice, though I don't know if I'd want to buy a game that was used as a rental. People don't take care of rental property, it's a proven fact, so who knows what kind of condition it'll be in. Do they send you the case, manual, and inserts too, assuming they haven't gotten lost/stolen?
The main complaint I've heard about GameFly is the transit time, that it can take up to a week to receive your next game. For a service where you pay monthly, that seems pretty dirty floors.
I managed to sell Boom Blox for close to what I paid for it, so it ended up costing me close to what a rental would have anyway. Of course, the selling process is more hassle than returning a rental, but it still allows you to buy with confidence.
I just noticed that you're a new member (despite joining three years ago. Been there myself though :)). Welcome to the forum!
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: cardsgirl1980 on April 05, 2009, 09:44:21 PM
Yeah, I'm "new" more or less but have been nosing around for a while now actually. I didn't realize it had been nearly 3 years! Yikes. Thanks for the welcome. I know I've posted stuff here before but it's been a while. I guess there's a shelf life. Anyway...
To answer your question, yes, gamefly sends along all of the original packaging and manuals if you buy a game from them. Surprisingly, their quality control is exceptional. Out of the gate I was dubious as well but I'm really impressed with the quality of everything I get from them. I don't know how they manage it but netflix could pick up a few pointers where this is concerned. If I had to guess I'd say 1 out of 5 discs I get from them are damaged in some way. I don't think I've ever had an unplayable disc from gamefly. Go figure?
A little trick I've used in the past which isn't really a big secret anymore but nonetheless... is to get new titles into my queue before they actually release. As long as there's an open slot for a game to ship and the title is at the #1 position it will ship on release day. So, you've basically got yourself a brand new game untouched by anyone but you. Then, if you decide you want to keep it you can just buy it outright for anywhere between 10% - 20% off retail. More if you've got some gamefly coupons (they send these every couple months).
I generally wait about 3 days for stuff from them and I'm fine with that. Once in a while I might wait a day or two more but all said and done it's still a bargain and I play way more than I would otherwise so I'm not complaining.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: BeautifulShy on April 05, 2009, 09:54:57 PM
Welcome cardsgirl to the forums.I have been a member since January 08.Welcome.
I typically buy all my games. I tend to either play through them quickly or it takes a while. RPGs I can get through quickly.Sometimes I get distracted with recent games that I purchase.So it may take a while to beat older games.
Once again welcome.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on April 05, 2009, 10:24:02 PM
Another good option is to wait until there's a price drop for a game or wait until there is a sale for that title in question, it works out well since you get to keep the games and you don't have to pay full price for it.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: Morari on April 05, 2009, 10:50:15 PM
Modchips are also a good idea. That way, you can kind of rent the game, but also sort of own it. Win/win!
Seriously though, I don't like renting games. The time it takes me to play through most games is far beyond that of an average rental time. Besides, in an ideal situation, the games I purchase are really good and worth playing through again sometime down the road. This also fails to take into account multiplayer games, which always recieve years and years of fairly solid play.
User has been warned for promoting piracy ~Flames_of_chaos
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: cardsgirl1980 on April 06, 2009, 12:20:42 AM
Modchips are also a good idea. That way, you can kind of rent the game, but also sort of own it. Win/win!
Seriously though, I don't like renting games. The time it takes me to play through most games is far beyond that of an average rental time. Besides, in an ideal situation, the games I purchase are really good and worth playing through again sometime down the road. This also fails to take into account multiplayer games, which always recieve years and years of fairly solid play.
I get what you're saying. Personally, I'm kind of a junkie. I always feel like I'm missing out on something if I'm not playing the hottest new release, even if I only end up playing it for an hour it still satisfies this insatiable desire to get my hands on all things new. I think I might have a problem! There's the addiction factor and then the more logical fact that I have more than one console.
One nice benefit I've found renting over buying has been getting a hold of the random sleeper hit I probably wouldn't have otherwise even bothered with. Mario Galaxy being one. Granted, that may not fall into the "sleeper" category but I rented it sort of half heartedly and ended up loving it. I know for certain I wouldn't have ever even considered buying it so, you know, there are some happy surprises.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: DAaaMan64 on April 06, 2009, 02:42:13 AM
I rent what I am un sure of, everything else I will buy. Unfortunately, I have no money really so I only buy once in a blue moon. Only game I've bought this year was madworld.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: KDR_11k on April 06, 2009, 02:51:10 AM
I'm too erratric in my game playing for any rentals, never mind that rentals are too damn expensive around here. I just grab pricedropped games instead.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: Stratos on April 06, 2009, 03:35:34 AM
I'm too erratric in my game playing for any rentals, never mind that rentals are too damn expensive around here. I just grab pricedropped games instead.
Amazon deals for the win! :)
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: cardsgirl1980 on April 06, 2009, 11:08:36 AM
I feel like gamefly's store compares is pretty competitive compared to Amazon or Ebay. http://www.gamefly.com/store/?stp=13 (http://www.gamefly.com/store/?stp=13) (link goes directly to Wii games but you can search on all consoles) You don't have to be a member to buy games from them and shipping is free so that's a factor to add into the equation.
I really only ever buy games from them since I rent from them too.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on April 06, 2009, 11:12:07 AM
Gamefly has some good deals sometimes, if you don't mind that those copies are rental copies. I think it's good to shop around for deals. I usually go to cheapassgamer to hunt for game sales, since that forum is usually the best place to go if you are looking for deals (http://www.cheapassgamer.com).
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: cardsgirl1980 on April 06, 2009, 12:39:11 PM
Yes, cheapass gamer is a great site all around. I'm a regular lurker there.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: NWR_DrewMG on April 06, 2009, 12:43:30 PM
I can't recommend Goozex.com highly enough for budget gaming. Ever since I discovered the site last November, I've been playing tons of games that I'd meant to try before, but never got around to it, and I probably haven't dumped more than about $40 total into the site.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: cardsgirl1980 on April 06, 2009, 02:06:43 PM
Yeah, I've heard of Gooex. Sound great if you've got stuff to trade. That's kinda where I'm at a loss. I don't have a stock pile of stuff to trade being primarily a renter and all. What I do own I want to keep. Gamefly just started a game trade-in option not long ago. I haven't used it as, like I mentioned, I don't have much I want to part with but credits go toward the cost of your monthly membership so it's a nice way to unload stuff that's gathering dust and try out some new stuff without making any financial commitments. Theoretically, you could probably get gamefly "free" for a few months on some good trades. At least that's what I've heard other people who've used it say. Makes me wish I had more I was willing to part with.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: NWR_DrewMG on April 06, 2009, 02:36:54 PM
I still keep almost all of my first party Nintendo games, and major 360 releases, but just about everything else is free game. I've traded away:
Far Cry 2 for 360 Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin for DS Halo 3 for 360 Okami for PS2 Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia for DS Animal Crossing: City Folk for Wii GTA: San Andreas for PS2
and a bunch of others. I guess I"m not a collector anymore. The only games in my collection that I consider to be absolutely untradable are Mario titles, Zelda Titles, Mario Kart titles, and Smash Bros. titles.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on April 06, 2009, 02:48:45 PM
I'm still a collector. I finished college to enter a career that would support my buying habits.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: vudu on April 06, 2009, 02:54:42 PM
Am I really the only person here who's cynical enough to automatically assume cardsgirl1980 is a GameFly plant?
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on April 06, 2009, 03:01:44 PM
It's a man... baby?
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: ShyGuy on April 06, 2009, 03:30:30 PM
www.gamefly.com is your source for game rentals. Keep the post office in business people!
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: cardsgirl1980 on April 06, 2009, 03:57:52 PM
I'm still a collector. I finished college to enter a career that would support my buying habits.
HA! I did too and I'm still paying for it! Sadly a degree doesn't guarantee financial independence. Particularly these days.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: D_Average on April 06, 2009, 04:19:34 PM
I have a 2 movie/game pass at a Blockbuster right next door that works out great for me. Just in the last week or so I was able to try Shroom Men, Wii Control Pikmin and Mario Tennis, Wario Shake it and Gran Tourismo Prologue. The only downside to this, is I always lean going to pick out a new game rather than finish the ones I own. But overall its my preferred method so I can at least try what everyone's raving about.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: Morari on April 06, 2009, 06:06:48 PM
Modchips are also a good idea. That way, you can kind of rent the game, but also sort of own it. Win/win!
Seriously though, I don't like renting games. The time it takes me to play through most games is far beyond that of an average rental time. Besides, in an ideal situation, the games I purchase are really good and worth playing through again sometime down the road. This also fails to take into account multiplayer games, which always recieve years and years of fairly solid play.
User has been warned for promoting piracy ~Flames_of_chaos
Piracy, really? Never mentioned it. The statement was a joke anyway. Something you would see if you read things in context. Grow a sense of humor and develop that waning gray matter a bit more. Your superiority complex is embarrassing.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: Stogi on April 06, 2009, 06:12:17 PM
I like renting games, I just don't like paying to rent games. So how have I got around this?
I have a hook up, duh. He works in Hollywood video and allows me to have a gamefly like service, but for free. I simply bring it in, switch it out, and then peace.
Games I want to own; games like PES and Zelda, I'll buy them easy. It's games like Wanted and Mirror's Edge that I'll rent.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: Nick DiMola on April 06, 2009, 09:20:45 PM
Modchips are also a good idea. That way, you can kind of rent the game, but also sort of own it. Win/win!
Seriously though, I don't like renting games. The time it takes me to play through most games is far beyond that of an average rental time. Besides, in an ideal situation, the games I purchase are really good and worth playing through again sometime down the road. This also fails to take into account multiplayer games, which always recieve years and years of fairly solid play.
User has been warned for promoting piracy ~Flames_of_chaos
Piracy, really? Never mentioned it. The statement was a joke anyway. Something you would see if you read things in context. Grow a sense of humor and develop that waning gray matter a bit more. Your superiority complex is embarrassing.
Joke or not, piracy discussion of any sort is against our forum rules. If you don't like it, don't post here. Also, attacking another member is against our forum rules, especially a moderator.
I won't increase your warning level for this, but keep our rules in mind. It's obvious why Luke construed your post the way he did. This isn't the first time you've gone on about piracy, so he acted appropriately.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on April 06, 2009, 09:47:39 PM
owned so bad.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: Morari on April 06, 2009, 09:49:14 PM
Modchips are also a good idea. That way, you can kind of rent the game, but also sort of own it. Win/win!
Seriously though, I don't like renting games. The time it takes me to play through most games is far beyond that of an average rental time. Besides, in an ideal situation, the games I purchase are really good and worth playing through again sometime down the road. This also fails to take into account multiplayer games, which always recieve years and years of fairly solid play.
User has been warned for promoting piracy ~Flames_of_chaos
Piracy, really? Never mentioned it. The statement was a joke anyway. Something you would see if you read things in context. Grow a sense of humor and develop that waning gray matter a bit more. Your superiority complex is embarrassing.
Joke or not, piracy discussion of any sort is against our forum rules. If you don't like it, don't post here. Also, attacking another member is against our forum rules, especially a moderator.
I won't increase your warning level for this, but keep our rules in mind. It's obvious why Luke construed your post the way he did. This isn't the first time you've gone on about piracy, so he acted appropriately.
Joke or not, I never mentioned piracy within this thread. In fact, I'm pretty sure that I promoted the purchasing of games over renting them. Renting is practically stealing from the industry in and of itself, y'know... Developers don't see any money from the collective consumers in that situation. I just can't get behind putting developers out of business... They need those brand new cars and vacation houses! ;)
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: NWR_Lindy on April 06, 2009, 10:28:58 PM
Morari, I'm not going to get into the semantics of the argument in this thread, but kill the piracy stuff and carry on.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: cardsgirl1980 on April 06, 2009, 11:33:40 PM
Renting is not stealing. If it was gamefly wouldn't exist. Take a look into what it takes to operate a business that rents games successfully. First, developers aren't being hurt. In fact, I'd go so far to say they are probably in complete compliance. Second, gamefly has to buy X number of games to meet its demand and stay in business. They also need to consistently invest in games since they 1. sell them; and 2. rent them. Add in basic wear and tear, theft, and damages and it's clear that gamefly has to regularly invest in its overhead to stay competitive. The fact they have been able to do it and do it above and beyond anyone else is noteworthy. $hit ain't easy. Especially when you're catering to a bunch of heathens. *wink*
I'm not saying they keep the whole thing afloat but they certainly aren't hurting it.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on April 06, 2009, 11:48:38 PM
Renting is not stealing. If it was gamefly wouldn't exist. Take a look into what it takes to operate a business that rents games successfully. First, developers aren't being hurt. In fact, I'd go so far to say they are probably in complete compliance. Second, gamefly has to buy X number of games to meet its demand and stay in business. They also need to consistently invest in games since they 1. sell them; and 2. rent them. Add in basic wear and tear, theft, and damages and it's clear that gamefly has to regularly invest in its overhead to stay competitive. The fact they have been able to do it and do it above and beyond anyone else is noteworthy. $hit ain't easy. Especially when you're catering to a bunch of heathens. *wink*
I'm not saying they keep the whole thing afloat but they certainly aren't hurting it.
Agreed since the rental company already purchased the copy of the game so the company can do as they can please with it. The only reason blockbuster ever got in trouble with Nintendo is because Blockbuster photocopied game manuals which can be considered a violation of copyright. Gamefly always resurfaces games, to get as much use as they can out of a copy.
Title: Re: Gaming on a budget. Rent vs. Buy?
Post by: Mop it up on April 06, 2009, 11:57:38 PM
There's a topic about rentals and their revenue here:
