Is the end of Blockbuster Video finally here?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the closure of Blockbuster Video and the implications of this event on video rental culture and personal experiences with the company. Participants reflect on their memories of renting videos and games, the transition to online streaming services, and the nostalgia associated with physical rental stores.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express a lack of interest in movies and note that they rarely rented from Blockbuster, suggesting a shift towards online services like Netflix.
  • Others recount negative experiences with rented DVDs from Blockbuster, citing playback issues due to scratches, which influenced their decision to switch to online distribution.
  • Several participants share nostalgic memories of renting video games from Blockbuster, highlighting the emotional connection to the experience.
  • There are differing opinions on internet speed requirements for streaming, with some asserting that lower speeds can still support services like Netflix, while others describe their struggles with very slow connections.
  • One participant humorously speculates about the fate of defunct rental stores and related services, reflecting on the broader theme of nostalgia and loss.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share a sense of nostalgia for Blockbuster and video rental culture, but there are multiple competing views regarding the necessity of high-speed internet for streaming and the overall value of physical rental stores versus online services. The discussion remains unresolved on these points.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention personal experiences that may not be representative of broader trends, and there are varying definitions of what constitutes a "useful" service in the context of video rental.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in the evolution of video rental services, nostalgia for physical media, and the impact of technology on entertainment consumption may find this discussion relevant.

jtbell
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Your late fees are waived: Blockbuster closes (cnn.com)

I don't think my wife and I ever rented a video. :rolleyes: We've never been really "into" movies, and seldom have enough time at home in the evening to sit down and watch one through. If we get bitten by the bug after we're both retired, I guess we'll just have to use Netflix et al. on our Apple TV box. We'd have to upgrade our Internet connection to get enough bandwidth to make it usable for serious video streaming, though.
 
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It is pretty natural for businesses to close which no longer provide a useful product or service.

Almost every DVD I rented from Blockbuster had playback issues during some parts due to scratches. I had to skip whole chapters quite often. Part of why I made the decision to go to online distribution only, about two years ago.

You don't need a ridiculously fast connection to watch movies. I'm on 3 Mbps DSL and I can watch Netflix just fine.
 
Where do places like this go when they die? Are photo mats floating around somewhere in another dimension. I had some pictures that I forgot to pick up. Sorry that is just silly. It must be the wine I drank after my last post in the American Dream thread.
 
I only ever went to Blockbuster when I needed game cards for this MMO called Cabal that I used to play back in junior high/high school xP
 
Back when I was a kid I rented tons of SNES and N64 games from them. Those were fun times.
 
Ben Niehoff said:
You don't need a ridiculously fast connection to watch movies. I'm on 3 Mbps DSL and I can watch Netflix just fine.

We have what most people would consider a ridiculously slow connection: 0.75 Mbps "DSL Lite". :-p It's not even fast enough to watch most YouTube videos. When I find something I want to watch for more than a minute or two, I download it with a Firefox plugin and play it offline.

That connection started out at $15 per month, then AT&T raised it to $25 about a year ago. When we feel really cramped by it, we'll upgrade to a faster service. Right now it's not a high priority.
 
I think I've used BlockBuster once in my life.
 
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  • #10
I used to rent video games for the PlayStation 1 from Blockbuster all the time as a little kid. Great memories; felt like a kid in a candy store.
 
  • #11
South Park called this years ago.