Redbox Getting Games As Promised
"As promised, video rental kiosk outfit Redbox is expanding its operation to include other things that appear on optical discs, beginning tomorrow. It's a simple idea, we know, but considering the market GameFly has been able to build up with its over-the-mail service, ala Netflix, we're surprised it took Redbox this long to leverage its omnipresent kiosk army to dispense something besides movies.
Unlike GameFly, selection will be limited to what actually fits inside a 'box. Tomorrow's selection spans all three home console platforms and will include major new releases like Duke Nukem Forever, LA Noire, Red Faction: Armageddon, and Infamous 2, while also including some notable evergreens, like Call of Duty: Black Ops and Just Dance 2. Game rentals will run $2 each day, compared to $1 a day for DVDs, $1.50 a day for Blu-ray discs, and $10 a day for Laserdiscs."
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/psa-redbox-kiosks-packing-games-starting-tomorrow/?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook
Also from Money MSN
"Starting Friday, renters can get video games in addition to Redbox's traditional movie offerings.
By Kim Peterson on Thu, Jun 16, 2011 4:23 PM
Redbox, owned by Coinstar (CSTR), is beating Netflix (NFLX) to the video-game punch.
Starting Friday, the company will begin renting video games at 21,000 stores across the United States, the Associated Press reports. The games will rent for $1.50 a day. Redbox already charges $1 to $2 to rent DVD movies for a day.
Redbox has been testing video-game rentals since 2009. The move gives the company an advantage over Netflix, which doesn't rent video games. Some of the games available at Redbox will include "Call of Duty: Black Ops" and "LA Noire."
Only the top three consoles -- the Nintendo Wii, the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 -- will get games from Redbox. The Nintendo DS, as of now, will be overlooked, VentureBeat reports. Coinstar shares closed up 1% today to $47.26.
Gamefly has led the way so far with rent-by-mail video games. Will Redbox annihilate the company? Since Redbox hasn't hurt Netflix's business, VentureBeat guesses Gamefly may be OK.
By the way, why did Citigroup (C) upgrade Netflix to a $300 price target? The stock closed at $249.90 today. The bank's analyst explains the move in the following video: "
http://money.msn.com/investment-advice/article.aspx?post=7f547aa8-4c7f-4edc-b715-ea75d03648b9
From RedBox through MarketWatch
"Get Ready to Play! Redbox Rolls Out Video Game Rentals Nationwide
Redbox Now America's Destination for Movies and Games
OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL, Jun 16, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Beginning Friday, June 17, video game rentals launch at more than 21,000 redbox(R) locations nationwide. Featuring video game titles across three platforms, PLAYSTATION(R) 3, Nintendo Wii(TM) and Xbox 360(R), redbox will rent games for $2 a day, DVDs for as low as $1 a day and Blu-ray(TM) Discs for $1.50 a day. Redbox is the convenient one-stop shop for entertainment.
"From your local grocery, convenience or drug store straight to your family room, the next dance off, face off or family night just got more affordable and fun," said Joel Resnik, vice president of video games, redbox.
Looking for fun this weekend? Video game titles available to rent this Friday include:
-- Brink (PS3, X360)
-- Call of Duty: Black Ops (PS3, X360, Wii)
-- Duke Nukem Forever (PS3, X360)
-- Family Party: 90 Great Games (Wii)
-- Infamous 2 (PS3)
-- Just Dance 2 (Wii)
-- LA Noire (PS3)
-- Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game (X360, Wii)
-- Michael Jackson: The Experience (Wii)
-- Red Faction: Armageddon (PS3, X360)
-- Rio (Wii)
-- Transformers: Dark of the Moon (PS3, X360, Wii)
-- You Don't Know Jack (X360)
Movie and game fans can visit redbox.com or the free redbox iPhone(R) app to reserve the titles of their choice and pick it up at the location of their choice.
"America's destination for movies is now giving consumers access to the latest DVDs, Blu-ray Discs and a selection of today's top video games," said Mitch Lowe, president, redbox. "Redbox is now America's one-stop shop for entertainment."
The roll out of video game rentals at redbox gives consumers thousands of new locations to discover and rent the latest games. According to a 2010 report by the Entertainment Software Association, 67 percent of American households now play video games.
About Redbox Redbox Automated Retail, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coinstar, Inc. CSTR +0.02% , offers new release DVD and Blu-ray Disc(R) rentals through its network of conveniently located, self-service kiosks. Redbox renters have enjoyed more than one billion movie nights, and redbox is available at more than 27,000 locations nationwide, including select McDonald's restaurants, leading grocery, drug and convenience stores, select Walmart locations and Walgreens locations in select markets. Video game rentals are available at more than 21,000 redbox locations nationwide. For more information, visit www.redbox.com/mediacenter .
Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including phrases conveying expectation or intent and other expressions identifying future performance. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance which may vary materially from performance expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Differences may result from actions taken by Coinstar, Inc. or redbox as well as those of third parties and from risks and uncertainties beyond our control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, changes in the number and timing of anticipated locations, our ability to attract new retailers and penetrate new markets and distribution channels and the termination, non-renewal or renegotiation on materially adverse terms of contract terms with our significant retailers. The foregoing risks and uncertainties are illustrative, but by no means exhaustive. For more information on factors that may affect future performance, please review "Risk Factors" described in our most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements reflect Coinstar, Inc.'s expectations as of the date of this release. Coinstar, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update the information provided herein."
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/get-ready-to-play-redbox-rolls-out-video-game-rentals-nationwide-2011-06-16?reflink=MW_news_stmp
Two different stories on the prices, but either way i think this may be worth it...
What does everyone think?