A look at Best Buy's new trade-in kiosk
by JC Fletcher 
{ Jun 26th 2009 at 3:45PM } 
As it turns out, the kiosks aren't just for trading in games for store credit -- you can buy, trade, or even rent used games or movies from the device. The one we looked at had a tiny selection of both games and movies available (less than fifty total offerings), but that's most likely because of the early stage of the program.
We snapped some pictures of the kiosk while we were trying it out. Head into our gallery if you ever wanted to see what a game case deposit slot or a disc dispenser looks like.
Gallery: Best Buy trade-in kiosk
The game trade-in component accepts only PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox, and Xbox 360 titles. In other words, nothing too old, and nothing that doesn't use a normal-size disc (Gamecube, DS, PSP). The DS game we scanned to be extra sure went unrecognized. We went through (most of) the process of trading in a game, stopping only because the kiosk offered just 95 cents of store credit for our copy of Stretch Panic. At least we know the database is complete enough to know semi-obscure PS2 launch titles.
In any case, we can report that the trade-in process is quite simple. You just scan the barcodes of the items you want to trade in, then "check out" on the touch screen when you're ready to finish. The machine instructs you to put the discs into a disc slot (which apparently checks the condition of the discs) under the screen(s), and the cases in a different slot on the right side of the machine. Though cases are required for your games, don't expect a case with a game you purchase from the kiosk. We were informed that purchased games come out in paper sleeves.
Best Buy's CMO said that not all of the machines will have the capability for users to buy or rent products, but the trade-in portion seems like the real focus anyway, and the instant-gratification aspect of receiving store credit immediately for your used games, without having to deal with even a single person, may draw people in.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Shagittarius @ Jun 26th 2009 3:52PM
What game did you get the .95 credit for?
Shagittarius @ Jun 26th 2009 3:53PM
Durrrr....I found the other half of the story.
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 26th 2009 6:00PM
Not having the case rarely effects the value of the game. Most people I know don't even use their cases anymore, they just keep all their games in a big case and leave all the game cases in the basement. If this was the only protection against it I'm sure someone would be fine dumping off all their cases to get some extra room in the basement.
murray b @ Jun 26th 2009 3:52PM
Im interested in how it stops someone from putting in a box for one game and a disk from another.
arrness @ Jun 26th 2009 4:04PM
F-
arrness @ Jun 26th 2009 4:06PM
just kidding, im stupid.
sk8monroe81 (PSN--XBL) @ Jun 26th 2009 4:35PM
scanning.
it sounds like the machine scans the top and bottom of the disc.
the bottom for disc quality and scratches.
then the top probably for the image on the disc, which is probably already saved in the database to compare.
kinda like a national fingerprint machine database...
if you put another game disc in, the image will not be recognized probably.
simple really.
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 26th 2009 4:45PM
So how will it stop someone from printing out the image of the game on a burned copy of the game? Not simple, really.
sk8monroe81 (PSN--XBL) @ Jun 26th 2009 4:51PM
do u have blank ps2/ps3 authoring discs ?
do u have 360 hologram discs?
its going to look for that stuff too. duh.
have fun spending more money making a fake than what your going to get back.
there is a difference between normal DVD-R's and ps3 blu ray discs and ps2 black authoring discs and 360 hologram discs.
the cost to produce a great fake that would pass through this machine would cost you more money and lets not talk about the time, than what you would get back from the return kiosk.
simple really.
id like to see you try this, when the machine says hold on, and then you get the please turn around sir comment from security.
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 26th 2009 4:55PM
Huh, we must have read different things. I didn't see anywhere in the article where it said all of that. Could you please show me the article you read that mentions that the machines scanners do all of that?
sk8monroe81 (PSN--XBL) @ Jun 26th 2009 4:56PM
ctc- so your going to goto the store for blank discs, buy them, go home, copy a true game to blank, then make a recreation of the disc top on the blank disc, then attempt to pass that off as an authentic ps2/ps3/360 disc?
then spend money traveling to best buy, then breaking the law by inserting a fake disc in the machine as real...
only to wait for a $ 1.00 - $ 20.00 credit ?
then even if it worked, once they found out it would be done and they have your picture on camera and your information in the system, making it easy for them to prosecute should they choose.
have fun with the new job... j/k
lol
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 26th 2009 5:03PM
Where did I say I was going to do all that? I asked how it stopped people from doing that, I never said I was going to go try it. Nice try sounding smart?
sk8monroe81 (PSN--XBL) @ Jun 26th 2009 5:03PM
The machine instructs you to put the discs into a disc slot (which apparently checks the condition of the discs) under the screen(s), and the cases in a different slot on the right side of the machine.
I assume that a scanner that can check and probably would check the quality and number of scratches on a disc can also scan the top for image comparison, and also check the middle for holograms and the bottom for the classic ps2 black disc bottom, and ps3 ones for blu ray, etc.
fignerprint technology anyone?
sk8monroe81 (PSN--XBL) @ Jun 26th 2009 5:06PM
ctc- btw the comment about you was a joke, hence the j/k...
most people question things but don't actually partake in them in life.
u have to give current image scanning technology some credit though, when youre making this machine sound archaic.
you dont think they thought about this already?
wouldnt this be a big problem in the wal-mart kiosks?
i didnt make the machines myself so i do not know the tech behind it.
its not about trying to be smart, only knowing that a scanner today is more than capable of scanning a disc for many things and it would have been dumb for wal-mart, best buy, etc to not think of this already.
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 26th 2009 5:08PM
Alright Professor Kiosk answer this one...Why does it require a case to trade in games, yet doesn't give you a case when you buy them? If it does everything you claim it does it shouldn't need to scan your case right?
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 26th 2009 5:10PM
We all know they've thought about it, what we all would like to know is what kind of technology they are using.
Shagittarius @ Jun 26th 2009 5:15PM
Pretty sure it will simply link your credit to an account and your name and if you lie and cheat they will simply cut you off when they catch you.
sk8monroe81 (PSN--XBL) @ Jun 26th 2009 5:26PM
ctc- oh that really counters the fake copies.. thanks for answering yourself.
that alone lets them combat most stealing.
if you make a fake game disc to return you still need the original game case.
so you make 1 fake and use the case of a real game to return.
well you either paid for a real case or just lost a real case from a real game you own, making that game worth less money and more prone to damage.
if u dont have the real game, you dont have the real case, therefore making a fake game disc does little to no good.
a real game case only adds to the cost of producing the fake game i listed above, I left that out. making it even more less worthwhile.
shag- let alone prosecution. best buy arrests a lot of shoplifters.
Revariance @ Jun 26th 2009 5:36PM
C-C-C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER
Saga286 @ Jun 26th 2009 5:42PM
It will most likely be like the Red Box. Each CD has a type of barcode on the disc, if you try to put in a different CD than the one you originally rented then the machine wont take it. For the trade-ins, it might read the discs like a regular console would read the discs, if the disc was a copy then the machine wouldn't take it because the drive couldn't read it. Seeing as how all consoles need to modded to read copied discs, this would make sense.
When it comes to how to identify the game being traded, it would probably make sure there are certain files on the disc that should be on the disc in the first place.
sk8monroe81 (PSN--XBL) @ Jun 26th 2009 9:50PM
CTC see it is simple.
saga just explains it more...
i just can believe people would think best buy and wal mart would make it that easy to bring fake games to trade in... lol.
the modding comment makes a lot of sense, because you cant play fake games in an unmodded system, therefore you could not trade in a fake game in a place that accepts real games only.
have fun making a 'real' fake that costs more money than the credit received for the game. do u know how much money it costs to find and produce your own authoring type ps2/ps3 disc??? ctc?
see somebody can always copy anything in life, but is it really worth it is the main question.
Jose @ Jun 26th 2009 3:52PM
Nice, just how Japanese did you guys feel using the thing?
Girugamuk (Moptimus Slimed) @ Jun 26th 2009 4:08PM
they were trading in games, not buying used underwear
whylekat @ Jun 26th 2009 10:49PM
I would've went with Travel Clothing Kit. That's sook weird.
Jay Voorhees @ Jun 26th 2009 3:55PM
The addition of the rental feature is kinda cool if they can keep the price way down since their stake in the game is extremely minimal, they'd definitely on to something.
Preston @ Jun 26th 2009 4:01PM
I'm still itching to know if their trade-in prices are better than Gamestop for more recent titles.
mikeisthegreatest @ Jun 26th 2009 4:03PM
Wow this seems to be interesting. I might actually try it out if I find any games I want to sell.
Einhanderkiller @ Jun 26th 2009 4:04PM
Erectin' a dispenser!
arrness @ Jun 26th 2009 4:07PM
:|
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 26th 2009 4:08PM
Spy sappin' my trade in prices!
Latin_Trident @ Jun 26th 2009 4:47PM
As long as I don't find these game dispensers in bathrooms where machines adjacent to it are dispensing the "french tickler", I'm fine with it.
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 26th 2009 4:07PM
I really would like to know if the scan can recognize or reject discs with unknown substances.I'm not a fan of rented or used games I always had the feeling the previous owner did unspeakable things to the disc.
Jay Voorhees @ Jun 26th 2009 4:10PM
I have that same feeling too. I hate to think how someone else jams their disks into tight dark slots on a daily basis. Unspeakable things i tell you! Unspeakable!
WiredKnight @ Jun 26th 2009 4:09PM
Did you guys happen to see how much is was to rent? We all want to know how it compares to Blockbuster/Redbox/Gamefly/etc...
Storm Eagle @ Jun 26th 2009 4:09PM
So how does it know if you're putting in a blank disc or not? Or a copy even? Can the scanner decipher that?
Preston @ Jun 26th 2009 4:11PM
Considering the kiosk was able to recognize an obscure PS2 title I'd say it's safe to say it can recognize blank discs.
Hey Apples @ Jun 26th 2009 4:14PM
Yeah, without knowing all the details the trade in system sounds like it's wide open to abuse or fraud.
WiredKnight @ Jun 26th 2009 4:18PM
Come on guys, it's 2009. We have the technology to recognize the contents of a disc.
Storm Eagle @ Jun 26th 2009 4:19PM
I thought identified the game by scanning the UPC on the box though.
I'm confused.... :(
Storm Eagle @ Jun 26th 2009 4:20PM
I don't debate that we have the technology to recognize the contents of a disc.
I debate that Best Buy has that technology.
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 26th 2009 4:20PM
I understand game discs are easier to recognize for several reasons,the PS2 could recognize a legal copy from an ilegal one(Wiki FTW ).
But what about DVD movies? How can the system recognize a legal copy from an ilegal copy.As far as I know DVD movies don't have this system.
Dirty @ Jun 26th 2009 4:29PM
They probably have your credit card info.
Just guessing
Girugamuk (Moptimus Slimed) @ Jun 26th 2009 4:30PM
I thought the whole point of trading in games was getting rid of a game you don't want/play anymore
Storm Eagle @ Jun 26th 2009 4:43PM
Trading in games is a waste of money, if anything.
random game $60.
highest trade in for said game, $35.
you're still out $25
take $35 from the trade towards new game. $60-$35=$25 out of pocket.
So now you're left without the original game and the $35 you traded it for, plus another $25 out of pocket for another new game.
Pointless. You've effectively spent $95 for your new game.
xtremeholymuffin @ Jun 26th 2009 4:48PM
Except that you played two games?
Price of two games =$120
Amount spent = $95
$120-$95= $25.
So actually, you saved $25.
xtremeholymuffin @ Jun 26th 2009 4:50PM
Scratch that, you did the math wrong. You spend $85 on two games, thereby saving $35.
f35acepilot @ Jun 26th 2009 4:52PM
@Storm Eagle
No, you're actually getting 2 games for $95, which saves you $25 from the normal cost of $120. If you're sure that you'll never want to play the game you're trading in again, then it is worth it.
Storm Eagle @ Jun 26th 2009 4:55PM
Technically that's correct. But the point is, as far as Gamestop is concerned, you have to trade the game in almost immediately. So have you really gotten your money's worth, maybe, but likely not. And personally, I feel that when you buy a good game, there's always a reason to go back to it at some point. And if you don't trade it in immediately, what are you going to do? Spend $60 and then go to trade it in 3 months later and get $10 for it? That's unacceptable to me. That's really all I'm trying to say.
sk8monroe81 (PSN--XBL) @ Jun 27th 2009 2:30AM
storm has great points.
the only time you get an ok return on a game return is when the game is new, meaning you only played it for a short time to get $ 25+ as a return value.
at that point it would be much wiser to just rent games, because when you trade in a game you owned as new, you really only rented it and gave the rights over to gamestop or where ever.
once you trade in the game you lose it forever.
you " played " 10 games however you traded in 9 of them and only really ' own ' 1 game for example. but you paid a great deal of money to only ' own ' 1 game.
whereas you were better off just paying $ 10 - $ 20 a month to rent games and play them whenever.
--------------
6 months - 10 games buy and trade in way:
game 1- $ 60
game's 2- 10 = $ 60 - $ 25 = $ 35 (x 9) = $ 315
= $ 375 total to buy and trade in approx.
2 of 10 games played for $ 375 after 10 game cycle
---------------------------
6 months x $ 20 monthly game rental service blockbuster/gamefly/etc:
6 x $ 20 = $ 120
even buy 2 of the games for $ 120.
2 of 10 games played for $ 240 after 6 month cycle ( probably played more than 10 games)
= $ 240
buy 2 of the games
----------------
people that trade most games are better off renting IMO.
i keep all of the games i buy for some reason.
never know when you're going to have the urge to play the game again or have someone else do the same.
Skaz @ Jun 27th 2009 6:27AM
Only game I ever kept was Jeopardy on ps2. Traded in and bought used for all my gaming and I'm out less than if I rented. No regrets.