GameFly
Encyclopedia
GameFly is an American
online video game rental subscription service that specializes in providing games for game consoles
and handheld game console
s.
The business model of GameFly is similar to the DVD-by-mail subscription service Netflix
or Blockbuster online, GameFly sends games to subscribers for a monthly fee.
funding from Sequoia Capital
. In February 2009, GameFly acquired the gaming news and community site Shacknews
, along with its digital download and streaming video sites.
In February 2010, Gamefly filed with the SEC to raise up to $50 million in an initial public offering.
, Xbox
, and the Nintendo GameCube
. A few months after launch, GameFly began renting Game Boy Advance
games in addition to disc-based games. In November 2004, GameFly added Nintendo DS
games to rent. On March 21, 2005, GameFly added PlayStation Portable
(PSP) games to their offerings, and near the end of April 2005, GameFly also added UMD
movies.
GameFly also began offering Xbox 360
titles prior to the launch of the console in November 2005. On July 6, 2006, Gamefly offered games for Nintendo's Wii
and Sony's PlayStation 3
.
GameFly does not support older game systems, such as the Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64
, Super Nintendo
, PlayStation
, or the Dreamcast. They also do not plan on adding PC games to its catalog due to legal issues involving the requirement to install PC games onto the owner's hard drive. However, this could soon change since Gamefly has acquired Direct2Drive
, which offers PC game rental services.
On the 8th September 2011, GameFly launched a beta version of the direct download to PC subscription. This service will enable customers with beta invites to download and play PC titles from their computer. The same subscription model applies however, games can now be digitally delivered.
is not included and, where applicable, it is charged on a per-rental basis in most states.
Members are not able to enroll in the 3 disc and 4 disc plans until after they have had a paid account on the site for 60 days.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
online video game rental subscription service that specializes in providing games for game consoles
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
and handheld game console
Handheld game console
A handheld game console is a lightweight, portable electronic device with a built-in screen, game controls and speakers. Handheld game consoles are run on machines of small size allowing people to carry them and play them at any time or place...
s.
The business model of GameFly is similar to the DVD-by-mail subscription service Netflix
Netflix
Netflix, Inc., is an American provider of on-demand internet streaming media in the United States, Canada, and Latin America and flat rate DVD-by-mail in the United States. The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Los Gatos, California...
or Blockbuster online, GameFly sends games to subscribers for a monthly fee.
History
In early 2002, Sean Spector and Jung Suh partnered with founding CEO Toby Lenk to start GameFly. GameFly later received venture capitalVenture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
funding from Sequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital is a Californian venture capital firm located on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California. The Wall Street Journal has called Sequoia Capital "one of the highest-caliber venture firms", and noted that it is "one of Silicon Valley's most influential venture-capital firms"...
. In February 2009, GameFly acquired the gaming news and community site Shacknews
Shacknews
Shacknews, commonly referred to as "The Shack", is a website offering news, features, editorial content, and forums relating to computer games and console games. Shacknews and its sister site, FileShack, are currently owned by GameFly...
, along with its digital download and streaming video sites.
In February 2010, Gamefly filed with the SEC to raise up to $50 million in an initial public offering.
Rental offerings
Launched on September 8, 2002, GameFly offered 6000 titles for the PlayStation 2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
, and the Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
. A few months after launch, GameFly began renting Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
games in addition to disc-based games. In November 2004, GameFly added Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
games to rent. On March 21, 2005, GameFly added PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
(PSP) games to their offerings, and near the end of April 2005, GameFly also added UMD
Universal Media Disc
The Universal Media Disc is an optical disc medium developed by Sony for use on their PlayStation Portable handheld gaming and multimedia platform...
movies.
GameFly also began offering Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
titles prior to the launch of the console in November 2005. On July 6, 2006, Gamefly offered games for Nintendo's Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
and Sony's PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
.
GameFly does not support older game systems, such as the Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
, Super Nintendo
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
, PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
, or the Dreamcast. They also do not plan on adding PC games to its catalog due to legal issues involving the requirement to install PC games onto the owner's hard drive. However, this could soon change since Gamefly has acquired Direct2Drive
Direct2Drive
Direct2Drive is an online game store offering PC videogames via direct download. On May 25, 2011, Gamefly acquired Direct2Drive from IGN Entertainment Group .- Competition with Steam :...
, which offers PC game rental services.
On the 8th September 2011, GameFly launched a beta version of the direct download to PC subscription. This service will enable customers with beta invites to download and play PC titles from their computer. The same subscription model applies however, games can now be digitally delivered.
Service plans
GameFly offers four different plans, depending on how many games are rented at a time. All plans are for unlimited games, meaning that the user is not charged on a per-rental basis, but on a monthly basis. Sales taxSales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
is not included and, where applicable, it is charged on a per-rental basis in most states.
- Currently, the first-month introductory price for all new (first-time) members is $7.95, with every following month a set [regular] price based on the plan selected.
- 1 game out at a time-$15.95 per month
- 2 games out at a time-$22.95 per month
- 3 games out at a time-$29.95 per month
- 4 games out at a time-$36.95 per month
Members are not able to enroll in the 3 disc and 4 disc plans until after they have had a paid account on the site for 60 days.
See also
- Video game
- GottaplayGottaplayGottaplay Interactive Inc is an online video game rent-by-mail service. They are in many ways similar to Gamefly. It provides access to a library of thousands of gaming titles, spanning 9 popular gaming consoles...
- Blockbuster online
- NetflixNetflixNetflix, Inc., is an American provider of on-demand internet streaming media in the United States, Canada, and Latin America and flat rate DVD-by-mail in the United States. The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Los Gatos, California...
- Online Blu-ray Disc / DVD RentalOnline DVD rentalDVD-by-mail services allow a person to rent DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, video games and VCDs, among other film media online; for delivery by mail. Generally, all interaction between the renter and the rental company takes place through the company's website....
- Xbox 360Xbox 360The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
- Playstation 3PlayStation 3The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
- Nintendo Wii
External links
- GameFly's Official Site
- Interview with GameFly co-founder, Sean Spector on GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...