As you may have noticed, I did not write last week on July 4. I have been out of town most of last week and am just getting back into things. Luckily, summer has been a bit slow and you didn’t miss much because of the missing update.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
This week’s question comes from a news item I received today about DVD games. Here is an excerpt:
JULY 11 | LAS VEGAS–Imagination Games wants to play in DVD aisles.
Widely launched at retail in 2003, DVD games represented a nice portion of the home entertainment industry last year, totaling $150 million to $200 million in sales, according to Imagination. But the company is angling to win slots for its titles in straight DVD sections, away from its usual retail board game sections, to score mass consumer appeal.
Distinguishing itself from rival DVD game suppliers, Imagination sells most of its titles in typical DVD cases.
The most popular title in the category, the Scene It? game franchise from Screenlife, made up more than half of all DVD game business in 2005. Scene It? editions are generally packed in large cardboard boxes and normally stocked in the board game area.
But Imagination believes it can boost business by pushing its products into more heavily trafficked channels, such as chain rentailers and sell-through DVD stores.
“Board game buyers are females age 30 to 40, who are mainly buying for their kids,†Imagination executive VP Dean Bolte said. “But if you put product in the DVD section, where there are comedies and dramas, a number of different products, there is great opportunity. We think this category will continue to expand.â€
Currently, Imagination is courting DVD-centric Blockbuster, Redbox and Netflix to consider renting its DVD games to customers.
So, this week’s question is: What do you think about having DVD games in the Redbox? How about video games (xbox,ps,etc)?
Click here and scroll to the bottom to answer this week’s question.
THIS WEEK IN MOVIES
If you didn’t think Redbox was listening to us here at InsideRedbox, wait til you see a new title in the box this week…
Last week’s major releases were: The Libertine, The Matador Stoned and Irresistable.
This week has nearly all minor releases: Grand Opening, Tortillas Again?, Witches of the Caribbean, Oprah Winfrey Show: 20th Anniversary, and… Commander In Chief: Season 1, Part 1.
Did you catch it? A TV show in the box? Lets hope this means there are more to come.
There has been one new verified code added recently:
BBQ
Keep using and reporting those codes so all can benefit. Also, remember to try new codes as often as you can. Words related to movies, holidays, names, etc… will sometimes turn up some great new codes.
OWN MOVIES FOR LESS
You know, I can’t say that I buy a ton of movies unless I really like them. I do have a DVD collection of over 100, but I tend to stick to classics or just plain great movies. Since I am super-cheap (aren’t we all?), I like to pay as little for movies as I can…
A great way to get movies super-cheap is through a DVD club. Now, don’t get me wrong, these clubs are in it to make mony from us, but if we are smart we can pay next to nothing for our movies and use their system to our advantage. Where else can you get 6 new movies for $12 and pay no shipping costs?
Click here for your cheap DVDs!
Well, that is all for the week. Make sure you answer the new question of the week, and lets keep working to make Redbox what we want it to be!
Michael
Founder, InsideRedbox.com
I think that games would be a terrific addition to the Redbox.
I would love to be able to get XBOX 360 games (or any system for that matter!)in the redbox machine! The rates at the local stores are outrageous and sites like Gamefly take too long!
I think it would be great to have PS2 games in the redbox machine! I’d pay $1 to rent a game overnight!
we don’t have game systems at our house, but it would definitely be worth it to me to rent a PC Game for a night or two to see if we like it before actually going out to buy it. Maybe they need to come out with a WhiteBox next to the RedBox with games in it?
cool id love 2 try that out :)
I got to say what schrenia said. IMO try it before buying would be great. so, i vote.
I disagree with games from Redbox. Why not add more movies? Honestly, you can only watch so many movies before you’ve see all of the offered titles at Redbox.
Get more movies, throw the game idea out the window.
I think games would be a waste of space. Who wants a game for 1 night? Hollywood Video does a good job with 7 days or better yet,if used right, Blockbuster. With Blockbuster’s “End of Late Fees” policy you can have a game out more then a month for under $5.00. Here’s how it works…You rent a game on the 1st, it is due on the 3rd but you do not return it, 7 days later Blockbuster charges your credit card for the price of the game, you then have 30 DAYS to return it and they refund your card all but $1.50 restocking fee. Make sure the Blockbuster you go to still has the “End of Late Fees” special still going as some have broken away from the plan. But more then 5 weeks for a movie or game for $5 is unbeatable!
Why I think games at redbox is a bad idea….
When we rent a game from the F2F store, the kids play it for at least 3 or 4 days… not just overnight…. rent a game from the redbox for 4 days at $1/day you might as well go to the F2F store where they have a larger selection and rent it for 7 days at the same price. Plus you deal with a real person who will give you a replacement disk if the one you get is all scratched up or unplayable.
I guess that if redbox partners a deal with Microsoft or Sony we will see one type of game or the other, but I bet we won’t see both. Adding 9 or 10 game titles will crowd out the movie titles and TV titles. (and didn’t we just decide they needed MORE movie/tv selection, not less?)
Plus what are they going to do about the 24 day rule — you keep your DVD for 24 days and you have bought it. Some games run over $50…. it would be a real good deal to keep it for the 24 days and just be able to buy it that way. And if they do rent a game from redbox, who is going to take their game back before 7pm?? (not my teenagers!)
Bottom line for our famiy is… We will NOT be renting any games from redbox.
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Redbox shouldn’t even try to become all things to all people. IMHO they should stick to what works, stick to their original demographics and their original target audience.
Diluting the redbox or taking it off in another direction doesn’t make it better.
Redbox is what it is…. a convenient and cheap way to rent movies!!
Older and classic movies is a better choice for the limited space on Redbox than games, imo.
I really think games would be a great idea! i am with the idea try it before you buy it! I think it would bring more sales to the stores to buy the games. you play it for one night fall totally in love with it return it go to the store and buy it! sounds good to me! we have had to many games that we have bought and end up not liking for some reason and you can never get what you paid for the game back.
If they added an additional Rebox just for games it would be fine with me. But my redbox that I go to already has long lines to wait at . . so i wouldn’t want to add to that problem with teenage boys waiting to get their PS2 games. So that’s a “No on the games” from me!
No to the PS2 Games at REDBOX. Lines will be longer with teenagers(male/female) and even younger with parents credit cards not knowing how to use the card and/or redbox machine. Scratches on discs are getting bad. Please be careful with discs so all can view when rented!
I’d prefer to keep it in a different box, seperated from the DVDs. I think it would be a great IDEA!!
We reallay enjoy redbox. Keep up the great dvds. Our daughter and her husband would like to see redbox in AZ> They used it at Utah State and were trying to save money and really miss it now!
I would love to be able to rent xbox games and ps2 games any thing like that for any matter it would be a great assest to the oublic and the industry
Yes that would be an good idea. I always love the idea of trying the game out before wasting the money if I didn’t like it..
I agree with everyone who says no to games. There is always a line when I go to get a movie, It would be a lot more crowded if games were offered as well. I would like to see redbox expand their movie selection.
I think it would be a great idea to be able to rent games from a redbox. I (everyone one would) would like if the games were in a different machine that is put right next to the movie machine.
Another thing it should cost like 1$ or 2$ for a week because everybody plays a rented game for more then one day.
If it was a different machine and you can rent for longer but not pay as much it would be the best idea for redbox.
I LOVE the idea !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It just takes up space for much needed movies! No to Games… then we would just have a bunch of ignorant teenage boys ruining the machines because their parents havent taught them any respect!
NO GAMES. There is always a line when I go to get a movie, It would be a lot more crowded if games were offered as well. I would like to see redbox MORE MOVIE SELECTIONS.
ABSOLUTELY NO GAMES!! Have you ever been in the aisle’s of games in Blockbuster or Hollywood video? There’s always tons of boys trying to pick out the “best game” for their viewing pleasure. I know my son picks out at least three titles before finally deciding on the one to take home. This takes him at least fifteen to twenty minutes. Do we really want other boys doing the same at a redbox-when their first choice of game is already rented out (just like with movies)-they’ll scan the other titles over and over until they finally have to settle on one. Heaven forbid they not take any home. At least adults can usually make up their minds, young boys (at least my sons and his friends…IMHO…take forever. Bad idea for games in redbox!! Good idea for more movie selection.
I think that would be great. I have the Disney version of Scene it? and it gets old.
I also think renting games threw redbox would definitely boost it’s sells. I know a bunch of hard core video gamers that would rent threw redbox.
Of course everyone likes to try it before they buy it!!
I think that it would be wise to have video games. I know that I or my husband would rent them. The DVD games I am no so sure about. I would maybe try it once or twice.
We would love to see psp games in there but I think games would be a welcome addition
I would love to games to rent, I hate buying them and finding that I dont like, and that the advertisments, Gaming news, and so forth was nothing but Hype, and I waisted 49 bucks. And Blockbuster and Hollywood Video have jacked there prices you spend 25% of the cost of price of a game to rent to check it out first before you buy. So the total cost turns out to be about 69 for a game. :(
I like the idea of having Scene It at Red box, it’s a great party game and this way I could play the game without paying the high price for a game I can only play a few times before I know the whole thing. DVD games, yes, others no. DVD games are for partying, other games are – as others have commented – more for individuals, that want to play for days.
Adding games is a great idea. But, I think a separate box would be the best idea to keep the most movies available at all times and enough game choices available.
I was caught by surprise with all of the small time movies this week. I hadn’t visited redbox in about 3 weeks over the holidays so I was a little reluctant to go to the box only to find the same old boring DVD’s.
Well, much to my surprise I found a full listing of the movies like “Tortilla’s again, etc”. The problem was that I was so unfamiliarized with the movies that I chose not to rent because I didn’t want to get burned on some small time movie that sucked.
It may be annoying but what about a small screen off to the side or on the menu board showing previews of these movies. I see the potential problems with this idea but there’s got to be a better way to learn of these unadvertised movie’s. Maybe post some full fledged reviews somewhere on the box????
Great idea!
I don’t think anyone would rent a video game for just one night, and they are more expensive than DVDs for Redbox to buy. It would be a great experiment in a single market though.
I think the DVD Games and other games such as Xbox, N64 (or whatever they are called!). I know from a marketing stand point, they would definately make CASH, because WHO wants to return a game after one night? And I dont even play the silly things. I have a marketing background, and can totally see this being a success. HOWEVER!!!! I would NOT like to wait in even LONGER lines to get my movies, waiting for kids to pick out the best game.
I think Red Box needs to put in more than 1 Red Box Vending Machine in each location. Any idea if they will be doing this? There have been times I’ve had to wait for 25 minutes in Roy, Layton and Clearfield (Utah). But, when we have the codes, it’s worth the wait!! Thanks to INSIDEREDBOX.COM I have ’em!! Thanks!
how do i get the redbox codes for august 06. thank you