GameFly Information & GameFly Links at HealthHaven.com

GameFly, Inc.
Type	Private
Founded	September 8, 2002
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California
Key people	David Hodess, CEO & President; Sean Spector, Co-Founder & VP of Business Development and Marketing; Jung Suh, Co-Founder & VP of Content and Strategic Alliances
Industry	Rental
Products	Video games for video game consoles
Website	GameFly.com

GameFly is an American online video game rental subscription service that specializes in providing games for game consoles and handheld game consoles.

Similar to the DVD rental subscription service Netflix or Blockbuster online, GameFly sends games to subscribers via the United States Postal Service in re-mailable, pre-paid mailers (non-US residents are ineligible for the service, as GameFly does not ship overseas). The subscriber then can keep the games for as long as desired while paying the monthly fee, although the number of games is limited by the type of subscription plan chosen by the subscriber. Additionally, the user can create a queue, known as the "GameQ", of up to 50 games. Upon returning the game to a GameFly distribution center, GameFly automatically ships out the next game in the "GameQ", making the process cyclical for as long as the user is a subscriber and updates his or her "GameQ". Customers typically expect delivery of their requested games within 2–5 days of shipment. If the received game disc or cartridge is damaged or unplayable for some reason, or if the wrong game was received, the customer can return it for a replacement or have the next item in their rental queue sent instead.

Subscribers can also purchase selected pre-played games at a reduced price should they choose to keep the game, in which case the case and instruction booklet will be subsequently mailed to them. Non-subscribers may also buy games, though not at a discounted price afforded to subscribers.

The process is all managed online, where the user must provide a credit card as a form of payment and means of verification.

Also, retail outlets such as Best Buy offered prepaid versions of GameFly for new subscribers,^[1] where they pay one month for two months worth of service, and gift certificates can be sent to friends and family.

[edit] History

In mid 1996, Sean and Jung partnered with founding CEO Toby Lenk to start GameFly. GameFly later received venture capital funding from Sequoia Capital.^[2] In February 2009, GameFly acquired the gaming news and community site Shacknews, along with its digital download and streaming video sites.^[3]

[edit] Rental offerings

Launched on September 8, 2002, GameFly offered 6000 titles for the PlayStation 2, 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

[edit] 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 tax is not included and, where applicable, it is charged on a per-rental basis in most states.

One game out at a time costs US$15.95 per month.
Two games out at a time costs US$22.95 per month (this is the most popular and promoted plan).
The three game out at a time plan, which is only available to eligible users in good standing for a duration of 60 days, costs US$29.95 per month.
The four game plan, which is only available to eligible users in good standing for about 60 days as well, costs US$36.95 per month.

For those who wish to try out GameFly's service before committing to a plan, there is a 10-day free trial that Gamefly offers, giving customers a chance to see for themselves whether renting games is more beneficial than buying them.

GameFly provides email service. Email customer service is available seven days a week with a 24 to 48 hour response window.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

GameFly's Official Site
GameFly at Facebook
GameFly on Twitter
GameFly at MySpace
Interview with GameFly co-founder, Sean Spector on GameSpot

[0] "PrePaid GameFly Subscriptions at BestBuy". http://onlinevideogamerental.info/2009/06/10/prepaid-gamefly-subscriptions-at-bestbuy/. Retrieved 2009-06-11.

[1] "Sequoia Capital funds GameFly". http://www.sequoiacap.com/company/gamefly/.

[2] "GameFly 'Shacks' Up". Forbes.com. http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/03/gamefly-shacknews-videogames-technology-personal-tech_0204_gamefly.html. Retrieved 2009-02-04.

[3] ttp://www.gamefly.com/press/pr_20050321.asp?pg=4&prn=1

[4] ttp://gamefly.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/gamefly.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=62&p_created=1116916457&p_sid=dSQrA3Xh&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD0xMDgmcF9wcm9kcz0mcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PSZwX2N2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfcGFnZT0y&p_li=&p_topview=1

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