Sightings of Redbox-like kiosk-machines at Wal-mart which would allow customers to trade in their used games.So far, there are 77 of the "Video Game Buyback" stations at select Wal-mart locations around the country as part of a "very limited" pilot program for Ohio's E-play. The 77 locations actually make up only two percent of Wal-mart's 3,656-store U.S. empire, and the space is on lease to E-play.
Rather than receive cash back, those who accept the terms of the buyback price-point from the kiosk will receive credit applied to a credit card of the user's choice within 1-2 days, depending on who the user is signed up with.
Store credit can range anywhere from 50 cents to 25 dollars for a more recent, high-demand title. However, E-play Marketing VP and Business Development Exec Kristen Fox declined to go into the specifics of Wal-mart's contract with E-play, or what the company then does with their newly-acquired used games.
So, do the likes of GameStop have anything to fear from E-play's enterprise? "I can't see this having tremendous appeal to hardcore gamers, unless the credits are substantially higher than those offered at GameStop," said Everyone's Favorite Analyst, Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter. He does believe it might, however, appeal to some cash-strapped customers.
"Even if this takes off, it's not going to make much of a dent in the used market. … I don't see it being a big deal."
Source: PS3 Kombo