From TheGamersPress

Gamefly

• Platform: Other

• Genre: Other

• Publisher: Gamefly - http://www.gamefly.com

• Developer: Gamefly - http://www.gamefly.com

• Good Thing 1: Pretty much every

• Good Thing 2: Fast shipping.

• Good Thing 3: Cheaper used prices and better quality.

• Bad Thing 1: Only 50 items in your queue? What's up with that?

• Bad Thing 2: More playstation games!

• Bad Thing 3:

• Summary: Hands down, the best video game rental service I've tried.
• Score: Buy

Personal Note: Yes, it doesn't make sense to give a rental service a "buy" rating. Just deal with it.

Update: It turns out that there's a basic "Instruction" tab that gives the basics on how to play. And they'll be adding the entire manual in PDF form in a few months. So, cool. Now you can stop going into the stores, ripping open the game packages to read the manuals.

A few months ago, I started to simplify my life - taking games out of the boxes and putting them in CD holders so cut down on drawers of space. Sad thing was, I noticed how many of the games were "on the list" - games I picked up meaning to play, but hadn't gotten around to yet.

Then I reviewed my mental list of games I wanted to get, and thought to myself "There is no way in hell I'm going to buy more games to have them sit about for 6 months". Especially when a new game is $50.

And I'm too worried about games going out of stock before their time, such as the case with classics like "Suikoden II". So I started to look for a way to make sure I could play the games I wanted without spending all of my hard earned cash at once.

For a few years now I've been using <a href="http://www.netflix.com">Netflix]], the DVD rental service. Sure, I wish they had a bigger anime section, but that's the geek in me. So I thought I'd give a similar service a try with video games.

About 18 months ago I tried out <a href="http://www.redoctane.com/">RedOctane]], and it wasn't bad, but to be honest I had a problem getting more "current" games. Yes, it was 18 months ago, so if anybody at RedOctane wants to complain, if you've gotten better, congrats.

But instead I've been hearing good things about <a href="http://www.gamefly.com">Gamefly]], and after being offered a free six-month trial, I figured "what the hell". But I didn't do the "free six month" thing - instead, I went ahead and paid my money so they wouldn't know whom I was to Adam.

So how was it? Let me sum up: kick ass.

Gamefly offers pretty much every PS2, Gamecube, GBA, and Xbox (well, except for Steel Battalion, but they have the upcoming upgrade!) available for rent. The service is pretty simple:

For $21.95 a month, you can rent up to two games at a time. You keep the games as long as you want (granted, as long as you keep paying) and play as long as you want. The games come in the mail, and when you're done playing you put them in the provided envelope and put them back in the mailbox. Once they get them back, they send you the next game in your list.

The game comes with just the disk - no manual. If you're someone who needs a manual, you're stuck. Personally, I would have liked to have a PDF manual download so at least I could see the manual. With most games this isn't an issue since many include a full instruction set and training part of the game, but your mileage may vary.

The same service is available for $13.95 a month for only one game. Considering that I used to pay about $50-$100 a month for a brand new game, I just cut my budget by about 80%.

But what if you like a game? Well, all you have to do is go back to the Gamefly web page and click "Keep It" on the games you have. A few days later, a new case with manual comes for the game. This is how I finally bought a copy of "Cubivore" after my old copy was lost. (Let a friend borrow a game, and you never see it again. After they move. Out of state. With no forwarding address.)

And the used prices are better than what I've normally seen. Take Cubivore:

Gamefly Price:	$29.99
<a href="http://www.ebworld.com">Ebworld.com]]:	Not Available
<a href="http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=916181">Gamestop.com]]:	$34.99
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/B00006N5T4/all/ref=xs_ap_bun1_xgl63_a/002-1697776-3150433">Amazon.com (best used price)]]:	$32.99

Cubivore came in. The disk, which I had already been playing, was in perfect condition and I knew it worked. The case and manual took about 2-3 days to arrive, and both were in perfect condition.

I've been trying it for a few months now, and haven't had a single complaint except for the desire to have downloadable manuals. Right now I'm playing "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic", and "Halo" is finally coming in (yes, I'm finally going to play Halo. Like I said, it's been on my "to do" list).

Sure, there will always be games I just go out and buy, but I have the feeling that Gamefly has just reduced my gaming budget by a huge number every year. And with a solid service, I think I'll be using them for some time.

Hm - I wonder if now I can get a six month free trial....

As always, I'm John Hummel. And that's my opinion.