GameForAGame.com has beta launched and is offering an interesting service. Gamers can visit the site, register for a free account, list the games they own and wish to trade, and search for other games they might want.
The sign-ups are free for the time being and there is an indication that there will be some sort of membership fee and/or game sharing facilitation service in the future. It is unclear if the fee will be mandatory or optional, granting access to paid features (such as shipping guarantees). For now everything is open to experimentation.
The system relies on the goodwill of its members. Gamers will organise among themselves how to trade games – either by a meeting in person or via mail. Members can rate one another and once a member has received two negative ratings, they will be banned. A month long probation period limited to one trade per week and this should help prevent multiple sign-ups and subsequent abuse.
In the future, paid members will have their games guaranteed by Game For A Game, and if a game isn’t shipped, they will undertake the responsibility and ship a copy themselves.
Right now it appears that the service is US centric, although there is nothing stopping users from around the globe from signing up. Hopefully the beta version is improved upon over time. Currently the only way to search for other members by location is through zip code. This sort of matching feature will have to be expanded upon if the service is to viably cater to South African gamers.
Of course the only way for the Game For A Game boys to figure out how to improve their service is for users to get involved and give feedback. This could well prove to be an effective way to save a few bucks on games by trading, should the service take off.
Discuss Game For A Game on the MyGaming forum.
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