Difference between revisions of "Blockbuster"

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| founded=1985-10-19{{ref|https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2003/07/01/347314/index.htm}}
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| defunct=2014-01-12
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| headquarters=1201 Elm Street, 22nd Floor, Dallas, Texas 75270, [[wikipedia:United States|United States]]{{fileref|E32004 Directory.pdf|page=84}}
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}}{{sub-stub}}'''Blockbuster, LLC.''', also known as '''Blockbuster Video''' and simply '''Blockbuster''', was a popular American chain of movie and game rental stores. Operating in both the United States and Canada, the chain collaborated with [[Sega of America]] on a number of promotions, exclusive rentals, and even the ambitious [[Game Factory]] rewritable cartridge service.
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==Company==
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[[File:EGM2 US 05.pdf|page=21|thumb|right|220px|Game rentals were a relatively new service which quickly took off with American consumers.]]
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One of the largest names on the home rental industry, Blockbuster capitalized on America's [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] boom by branching out into video game rentals. Strongly opposed by [[Nintendo]] (from a combination of their concern over lost profits, and coming from a country which outlawed game rentals), [[Sega]] took a different approach and instead worked closely with Blockbuster, collaborating on a number of video game promotions and relevant advertising throughout most of the 1990s.
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Blockbuster also offered specific games to rent before they hit store shelves, such as ''[[Fighters Megamix]]'' being available 11 days before officially going on sale{{intref|Press release: 1997-04-30: Sega's ''Fighters Megamix'' hits Blockbuster stores early}}, and additionally held a series of game tournaments across the United States, the ''Blockbuster World Video Game Championships''. The chain also featured a single [[Sega Mega Drive]] game exclusive to its rental stores - ''[[John Madden Football: Championship Edition]]'', an enhanced update to the earlier ''[[John Madden Football '93]]''.
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==''Blockbuster World Video Game Championships''==
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{{MainArticle|Blockbuster World Video Game Championship II}}
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==Game Factory==
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{{MainArticle|Game Factory}}
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==Promotional material==
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===Television advertisements===
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{{gallery
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|{{gitem|Blockbuster MD US TVAdvert.mp4|US TV advert}}
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|{{gitem|Blockbuster MD US TVAdvert (Short Version).mp4|US TV advert}}
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|{{gitem|Blockbuster MD US TVAdvert (Long Version).mp4|US TV advert}}
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|{{gitem|Blockbuster MD US TVAdvert (Short Version1).mp4|US TV advert}}
 
}}
 
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{{sub-stub}}'''Blockbuster LLC''', also known as '''Blockbuster Video''' or just '''Blockbuster''' was an American-based home movie and video game rental provider.
 
  
Blockbuster capitalised on the release and subsequent boom of home video formats such as VHS and Betamax in the 1980s, before moving into video game rentals. While the latter was strongly opposed by [[Nintendo]] in the early years, [[Sega]] took a different approach and worked closely with Blockbuster during the 1990s (such as collaborating with the [[Game Factory]] service, and offering titles such as ''[[Fighters Megamix]]'' to rent 11 days before going on sale{{intref|Press release: 1997-04-30: Sega's ''Fighters Megamix'' hits Blockbuster stores early}}).
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==External links==
 
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*''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrUWIHasHPQ Game Factory: Blockbuster & Sega's On-Demand Game Rentals]'' video essay by Gaming Historian at [https://www.youtube.com YouTube]
In addition to renting video games, Blockbuster held a series of events across the United States as the "Blockbuster World Video Game Championships".
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*''[https://hackaday.com/2018/10/01/remember-when-blockbuster-video-tried-burning-game-cartridges-on-demand/ Remember When Blockbuster Video Tried Burning Game Cartridges On Demand?]'' article by Drew Littrell at ''[https://hackaday.com/ Hackaday]''
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references />
 
<references />
 
[[Category:Companies]]
 

Latest revision as of 11:59, 22 July 2023

https://retrocdn.net/images/4/46/Blockbuster_logo.svg

Blockbuster logo.svg
Blockbuster
Founded: 1985-10-19[1]
Defunct: 2014-01-12
Headquarters:
1201 Elm Street, 22nd Floor, Dallas, Texas 75270, United States[2]

This teeny-tiny article needs some work. You can help us by expanding it.


Blockbuster, LLC., also known as Blockbuster Video and simply Blockbuster, was a popular American chain of movie and game rental stores. Operating in both the United States and Canada, the chain collaborated with Sega of America on a number of promotions, exclusive rentals, and even the ambitious Game Factory rewritable cartridge service.

Company

File:EGM2 US 05.pdf One of the largest names on the home rental industry, Blockbuster capitalized on America's Nintendo Entertainment System boom by branching out into video game rentals. Strongly opposed by Nintendo (from a combination of their concern over lost profits, and coming from a country which outlawed game rentals), Sega took a different approach and instead worked closely with Blockbuster, collaborating on a number of video game promotions and relevant advertising throughout most of the 1990s.

Blockbuster also offered specific games to rent before they hit store shelves, such as Fighters Megamix being available 11 days before officially going on sale[3], and additionally held a series of game tournaments across the United States, the Blockbuster World Video Game Championships. The chain also featured a single Sega Mega Drive game exclusive to its rental stores - John Madden Football: Championship Edition, an enhanced update to the earlier John Madden Football '93.

Blockbuster World Video Game Championships

Main article: Blockbuster World Video Game Championship II.

Game Factory

Main article: Game Factory.

Promotional material

Television advertisements

External links

References