What Are the Benefits of Being a ‘VIP Gamer’ At Blockbuster?

There are many rewards schemes aimed specifically at providing gamers with points for their purchases. Gamestation's Elite Reward Scheme and the GAME Reward Card, for example, are both extremely popular.

Both of these schemes simply provide those who have signed up for them with points every time they buy a new or pre-owned copy of a game - or when they trade in their old games. These points can be saved up and put towards new purchases.

The VIP Gamer scheme offered by Blockbuster, whilst similar to those aforementioned schemes, offers a number of unique features to its members.

Free to join, the VIP Gamer scheme also allows gamers to collect points for the things they do on the Blockbuster website.

Whilst the schemes provided by GAME and Gamestation simply reward customers for their purchases and trade-ins, the Blockbuster VIP Gamer scheme gives its members points for watching trailers for the latest games, entering competitions and filling in surveys on the website - as well as for buying and renting games.

Another great feature of the scheme is that points aren't just rewarded for game-related activity - meaning that any movie rentals and purchases will get a member more points too.

Blockbuster also provides members of the scheme with extra points for purchasing certain titles. So at the time of writing, for example, those who buy the critically acclaimed Max Payne 3 on the PS3 will receive 500 points, whilst those who pre-order the widely anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on the Xbox 360 will also receive 500 points.

But what can you actually spend these points on?

Well, there are a host of rewards that VIP Gamer points can be traded in for, ranging from free game rentals to money-off vouchers - but it should be noted that the more points a member saves, the better the rewards they will have access to.

Recognising that many gamers choose to rent games before shelling out the full amount to buy them, the VIP Gamer scheme also provides members with access to a useful 'try before you buy' feature.

A feature that doesn't cost members any points to take advantage of, it provides them with money off the full purchase of a game they previously rented - which is great for those games you're wary of spending ?35 on having read a few mixed reviews.

As Blockbuster VIP Gamer members collect points they will also level up, providing them access to even more rewards - members needn't worry about losing their points as they reach higher levels either.

Unless they don't interact with their account - either via activity conducted in store or on the website - members will find that the amount of points they have won't go down. This provides the perfect opportunity to horde the points required for those extra-special rewards.

Unlike the rewards schemes offered by GAME and Gamestation, members of the VIP Gamer scheme won't receive or need a special card - keeping the amount of plastic in their wallet down to a minimum.

All members will need to access the scheme is a standard Blockbuster membership and card.

Although certain shops, such as Gamestation, offer ardent gamers the chance to save points with a reward scheme, the Blockbuster VIP Gamer scheme stands out from the pack. This article examines the special incentives that the rental giant offers to members of the scheme.