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Rentrak lists top game rentals of 2009
Fallout 3 on Xbox 360 tops Rentrak's list as the most rented game in 2009. The company's data reveals that the Xbox 360 "dominated" the US rental charts, holding 17 of the top 20 spots. Rentrak states that its tracking system follows "65,000 DVD, Blu-ray Disc and Video Game properties in the brick-and-mortar, online, and kiosk channels across North America." The original Rentrak release from this morning states that the rankings were based on "spending via US brick-and-mortar rental channel." We followed up with the group, which clarified that this was a typo and the list also includes online rental outlets. That's a good thing, otherwise the list would have been: "The Top 20 game rentals by people who still go to stores to rent their games." Not having online information in there would have made the data a bit ... off. Not to mention, Blockbuster's in-store selection varies greatly. Check out the list after the break.
Rentrak, Screen Media add Blu-ray to revenue sharing program
Expect to see more Blu-ray discs on the shelf of your local rental spot (for the three of you that haven't gone Netflix yet), now that Rentrak has added Blu-ray discs from Screen Media to its revenue sharing program. Simply put, it allows retailers to obtain the titles for little or no up front cost, while the studios share a percentage of the rental revenue after that. Other recently added suppliers include Anchor Bay Entertainment, E1 Entertainment, First Look Studios, Magnolia Home Entertainment and Summit Entertainment, while the first flick planned to be available under the new deal is Lymelife, available September 22.
Xbox 360 dominates 2008 rental charts, GTAIV leads
Rentrak's list of the Top 10 most rented video games of 2008 reveals the Xbox 360 is a primary source of free-time destruction. According to Rentrack's data, which covers both online and offline rental destinations, Grand Theft Auto IV (X360) was the most popular rental of 2008 followed by Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (X360) and Halo 3.In the end, seven Xbox 360 titles made the list; Coincidentally all of which were rated 'M for Mature' by the ESRB. As a final nod to the Xbox 360's power on the list, Rentrak notes that Xbox 360's share of the rental market increased from 26.1 percent to 36.8 percent during 2008. The Nintendo Wii jumped from 7.3 percent to 17.1 percent and PS3 data was, strangely, absent from the list.Jump in for the entire Top 10 List.
Champagne room: Most rented games of 2008
Rentrak's list of the Top 10 most rented video games of 2008 reveals the titles we spent money on merely for brief companionship. Topping the "why buy the cow when you can get the milk for a nominal fee" list was Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox 360. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Halo 3, both for Xbox 360, round out the top three. Rentrak's data covers both online and offline rental shops.Interestingly, the list is populated by only Xbox 360 and Wii titles. Rentrak notes that Xbox 360's share of the rental market increased from 26.1 percent to 36.8 percent during 2008. Wii jumped from 7.3 percent to 17.1 percent. Data for PlayStation 3 was not provided in an email from the company. The full rental list is posted after the break.
Sony offers revenue-sharing deals to promote Blu-ray
As if there wasn't enough shameless Blu-ray promoting going on of late, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is now adding fuel to the fire by offering "revenue sharing on Blu-ray Disc releases through Rentrak Corporation." Starting this September, Sony will reportedly make "all of its new releases and select catalog titles on Blu-ray available under the agreement, which expands the studio's DVD revenue-sharing deal with Rentrak." Interestingly, neither firm has been willing to disclose the terms just yet, but SPHE president David Bishop did note that he felt it was important to "make sure that the rental component of the Blu-ray launch was covered." Now, the big question seems to hover around whether or not this move is anti-competitive or not, and as we all know, that's certainly not foreign territory for BD.[Via AfterDawn]
