'Game Factory' which writes game software data to a cartridge at a shop ended before Nintendo Power

Nintendo had provided " Nintendo Power ", a service that rewrites software of Super Nintendo and Game Boy. However, before this Nintendo Power began, there was a service to rent a game in the cartridge and rent it.

BLOCKBUSTER PLANS TO CRANK OUT GAME RENTALS - Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-09-30-9409300276-story.html

New Leaf Entertainment Sega Genesis Cartridge | Rare Video Games Auctions, Sales & Pricing
https://gamesniped.com/2011/10/12/new-leaf-entertainment-sega-genesis-cartridge/

This game's electronic distribution service "Game Factory" was provided by Blockbuster, a rental video chain store that had deployed up to 9000 stores worldwide, and IBM's joint venture "New Leaf Entertainment."

"Game Factory" was first tested at 10 stores. At that time, popular game software was purchased side by side at the shop, sometimes it was out of stock and it was necessary to go back without buying, but New Leaf Entertainment cooperated with Sega, and Genesis ( MegaDrive overseas edition) rewritable cartridges are prepared. Since it can be written on the spot, even if it is a popular software, there was no such thing as "I can not get it because there is no stock". The usage fee was 4 dollars (about 400 yen) for 3 nights, whereas the game rental of neighboring stores was 2.5 dollars a night (about 250 yen) or 3 dollars (about 300 yen) in 2 days. Considering that "You can borrow securely even with popular titles", it may be rather worth it.

The cartridges used by New Leaf Entertainment are exclusively for rental and are not as valuable as general sale, so it is very valuable and many users are interested in photographs of those who obtained the real on overseas forums You can check.

Found! New Leaf Entertainment Blockbuster Sega Genesis Cartridge
http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?30676 - Found! - New - Leaf - Endtainment - Blockbuster - Sega - Genesis - Cartridge

Cartes reported by Schiggidyd on Sega related forum "SEGA - 16" are kore. It seems that he found out what was in the box of the cartridge for Atari 2600 · Atari 5200 at the flea market.

Valuable internal photos are also released.

Site dealing with information on online shopping · Jason Goldberg who runs RetailGeek.com said that he was enrolled in Blockbuster at the time of deployment of "Game Factory", and has released memories of the time on the site.

Future of Retail (as seen in 1992) - retailgeek.com
https://retailgeek.com/future-of-retail-as-seen-in-1992/

According to Goldberg, Blockbuster was aiming for on-demand sales of music. Besides, at that time, when buying tapes and CDs at shop front was not an "album unit" which was commonplace, it seems that he was thinking to sell it as "music unit" like the current music distribution site. However, there was no record company that wanted such a thing, the plan was torn down.

Mr. Goldberg publishes promotional images of the day on YouTube. Although it is written as "1992" in the title, it is thought that it was made after January 1993 from the release time of the album appearing in the image. It is touched on this video, as it is already after realizing that music distribution is difficult, video distribution and game distribution that leads to "Game Factory" later on.

New Leaf Entertainment: Blockbusters view of the future in 1992 - YouTube


In addition, "Game Factory" eventually ended in the year following the start of test operation · 1995. Just as Blockbuster became a media company viacom in 1994, Mr. Goldberg says that Viacom is not interested in New Leaf Entertainment's business, but the truth is that unknown.

Two years later, in 1997 Nintendo will start game software rewrite service "Nintendo Power".

Special feature "Very powerful! NINTENDO POWER "
https://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/9810/p03/page03.html

In addition, the music distribution originally targeted by Blockbuster was expanded globally by "iTune Store" which Apple started with "iPod" which became an explosive hit product against the background.

By the way, New Leaf Entertainment seems to have patented on demand sales, this patent went to the hands of a company called digital on demand via blockbusters and now the service of selling kiosk terminals under the name "RedDotNet" It seems to be continuing. The official website seems to be making the following terminal although the page disappears and can not be seen.

RedDotNet Makes DS Kiosks for Retail Applications - YouTube