Online video game rental service comes to IU

GameFly, a leading online video game rental service, has chosen the IU Bookstore to install one of its first automated rental kiosks as part of the company’s first offline program.

GameFly’s “G-Box” kiosk functions as a vending machine for the newest Xbox 360, PlayStation2, PlayStation3 and Nintendo Wii video game titles.

Similar to the popular Redbox movie rental kiosks, the G-Box will allow students to rent games simply by using the touch screen, swiping a credit card and picking out the game of their choice.

The G-Box is scheduled to open Friday at the IU Bookstore in the Indiana Memorial Union, and GameFly has offered students a code – GBPIU – to use for a free one-day rental at the G-Box kiosk.

“We’re really excited to bring the G-Box kiosk service to IU,” said Sean Spector, GameFly’s co-founder. “IU was among a few campuses chosen because of their active campus life and large student body that hopefully will help the program to be a success.”

Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 games will cost users $2.49 per day and PlayStation2 and Nintendo Wii games will rent for $1.99 per day. Users have no due dates, late fees or memberships, but the daily rental fee is automatically charged to students’ credit cards until the game is returned.

GameFly is a Los Angeles-based company that was founded in 2002 by Spector, David Hodess and Jung Suh. GameFly uses an online video game subscription service that delivers games for handheld and regular consoles through the mail. However, GameFly’s current G-Box project is its first rental program away from their Web site.

“The program has been started up at a select few college campuses across the country,” Spector said. “Our hope is that the G-Box will provide people on campus with a convenient location to pick up the newest games right there in the campus bookstore.”