So Amazon.com posted BFBC2 as their Deal of the Day ($46.49 for consoles, $36.49 for PC).  I've been meaning to jump on this game, and now seems to be a better time than ever.  Still, I do have a Gamefly account and am wondering whether I should buy it or rent it.  I know buying it gets you a VIP pass for exclusive stuff, but I'm not really knowledgeable on the specifics.
 
So if I do buy it, what am I getting versus just renting it?  If you want, you can throw in your own opinions on whether the stuff exclusive to new buyers is worth it.

A very nice long term online game. Free online maps..and a nice community. 
 
If you want me two cents. You click that buy button now!  
 
Even on the same maps. It will play different each time because of the factors of blowing though a wall and all that. 

I rented it off Gamefly and wound up buying it because a lot of my friends have it and it is a lot of fun. If you use the "keep it" off gamefly it comes to just a few more $ (48 I think), so I would just rent it to see if you like it first.

i rent old games i missed  when im bored to give them a go and buy new games that look alright

I have been thinking of just going ahead buying it instead of renting it through GameFly, too.  It's only $50 at Best Buy.

This game is a buy. Don't rent it, because you won't get the same enjoyment from it. $46 translates to roughly £25 here, so that is a very reasonable deal. Buy it for whatever system you want, and you'll get a very good long term online game and a decent story thrown in as well. Oh, and here's what VIP works out as: 
 

• Free in a new copy of the game - $15 otherwise 
  
• Free maps and content 
  

Renting has the same effects as piracy. If you complain about piracy then turn around and rent games you are a terrible person.

" Renting has the same effects as piracy. If you complain about piracy then turn around and rent games you are a terrible person. "

" It's only $50 at Best Buy. "

" Renting has the same effects as piracy. If you complain about piracy then turn around and rent games you are a terrible person. "

" Renting has the same effects as piracy. If you complain about piracy then turn around and rent games you are a terrible person. "

" Renting has the same effects as piracy. If you complain about piracy then turn around and rent games you are a terrible person. "

"Renting has the same effects as piracy. If you complain about piracy then turn around and rent games you are a terrible person. "

Rent it only if you have no interest in the multiplayer. Actually you might as well just skip it entirely in that case. But if the multiplayer does interest you, you're gonna wanna buy it. New (or used only if more than $15 is taken off the new price -- cause you'll need to buy a VIP code unless bought new).
 
Purchasing a rental us the same thing as purchasing a used game. And a horrible idea for games like BFBC2 that have a premium content code... unless you're the first and only person to rent the copy.
 
@xMP44x: He's talking about how developers don't get paid per rental/pirated/used copy sold. Which is a shitty thing to do to the people responsible for making the game you enjoyed and to the industry you love. If you rent a game, then follow up by going out and buying a new copy, you're doing it right. Otherwise the developers get nothing for your enjoyment of THEIR product beyond the one single initial sale that you were not a part of.
 

@Andorski:

Did you play the beta? Because that's all the demo you need unless you're one of those weird people that are only interested in the single player. Passed that, renting would be a pretty dumb idea.

What's with all the hate against renting? It's a cost effective and legitimate way to try out a game in a full capacity instead of just a demo.
 
I don't understand the whole "developers don't get paid if you don't buy it used". Last I checked, DICE had a revenue of over $147 million. They're really going to suffer if they don't get my $69.99... (I'm in Canada, games are more expensive here).
 
I'll "support the developer" when it comes to indie releases, XBLA and PSN releases, small studio stuff or things like Professor Layton, encourage the publisher to localize and sell the other games in the series, etc.
 
When buying a game from the second biggest publisher in the world, I'm not going to lose any sleep over them not getting my "new game" dollars. I bought the game used NOT from Gamestop - that's a rip off - but from a guy online for $50 flat. Even with a the $15 VIP code, I'm still saving money.
 
What troubles me about publishers trying to kill used game sales is it's a massive multi-billion dollar company trying to squash a perfectly legitimate market that lots of poor or cost-saving gamers have been relying on for years. I know people that only ever buy NEW games, and this effects them too because they trade in a lot of games to get their NEW games for a discount. If they find a way to completely eliminate the used game market (and/or rentals), what's to stop them from charging more for games? You think it's a rip off to pay $30-40 for a games on demand game? But why? Because you can buy it used for cheaper. What happens when you can't? They'll charge $100 for a download code. Or games will come with codes in the box that without them, the game is completely locked and useless.

" What's with all the hate against renting? It's a cost effective and legitimate way to try out a game in a full capacity instead of just a demo.  I don't understand the whole "developers don't get paid if you don't buy it used". Last I checked, DICE had a revenue of over $147 million. They're really going to suffer if they don't get my $69.99... (I'm in Canada, games are more expensive here).  I'll "support the developer" when it comes to indie releases, XBLA and PSN releases, small studio stuff or things like Professor Layton, encourage the publisher to localize and sell the other games in the series, etc.  When buying a game from the second biggest publisher in the world, I'm not going to lose any sleep over them not getting my "new game" dollars. I bought the game used NOT from Gamestop - that's a rip off - but from a guy online for $50 flat. Even with a the $15 VIP code, I'm still saving money.  What troubles me about publishers trying to kill used game sales is it's a massive multi-billion dollar company trying to squash a perfectly legitimate market that lots of poor or cost-saving gamers have been relying on for years. I know people that only ever buy NEW games, and this effects them too because they trade in a lot of games to get their NEW games for a discount. If they find a way to completely eliminate the used game market (and/or rentals), what's to stop them from charging more for games? You think it's a rip off to pay $30-40 for a games on demand game? Buy why? Because you can buy it used for cheaper. What happens when you can't? They'll charge $100 for a download code. Or games will come with codes in the box that without them, the game is completely locked and useless. "

" @Three0neFive said:

" Renting has the same effects as piracy. If you complain about piracy then turn around and rent games you are a terrible person. "

And with that comment the universe implodes from idiocy "

Buy it, because you will be playing it for a while, and the 4 maps that are out already are very good.

" @Three0neFive said:

" Renting has the same effects as piracy. If you complain about piracy then turn around and rent games you are a terrible person. "

Uhh, what?  Gamefly buys the games for it's customers to rent.  With your argument, you can say that lending a friend a copy of a game is equal to piracy.  I think it's more apt to say that renting is the same as the used game market, which I have no qualms about.  I'm an advocate of owning the content -- not owning the rights to the content.

" @Three0neFive said:

" Renting has the same effects as piracy. If you complain about piracy then turn around and rent games you are a terrible person. "

What? Ya, stealing a game is the definitely the same as paying to try out a game.... "

" @Three0neFive said:

" Renting has the same effects as piracy. If you complain about piracy then turn around and rent games you are a terrible person. "

And with that comment the universe implodes from idiocy "

" @Three0neFive said:

"Renting has the same effects as piracy. If you complain about piracy then turn around and rent games you are a terrible person. "

Renting is about making a informed decision.   Cause let's face it at 60 dollars a pop  gaming is a expensive hobby.  I rent most everything before I buy including BFBC2 which once I played it and realized how fun it was I purchased it from Gamefly.  Another example is FFXIII I read some import impressions and from the sounds of those canceled a preorder I had for it.   I decided to wait for gamefly to ship it to me.   Glad I did because the game was the worst in the series and not worth my gaming dollars what so ever.   That is why I rent everything because hype and anticipation can lead to a big let down.   Gamefly is just a smart move if you ask me.   "

Le sigh. Okay. So. How do I explain this in a way you people will understand.
 
Pirating: Some dude buys a copy of the game, puts it online and people download it. Many people will play this copy without compensating the developers, though some will chose to buy it if they end up liking the game enough. Pirate, however, does not profit from this chain of events.
Renting: Some store buys a copy of the game, puts it on a shelf and charges people to play it. Many people will play this copy without compensating the developers, though some will chose to buy it if they end up liking the game enough. Store does profit from this chain of events.  If you believe renting games is a good way to save money on games without hurting the industry, you must also believe the same is true for piracy, as in the end they have the same effect. "

" @Three0neFive: You realize that place like Gamefly and Blockbuster pay about four times what the game is worth.  "

" @Andorski:  Do you still not understand that the devs only get paid once? "

" @Three0neFive: You realize that place like Gamefly and Blockbuster pay about four times what the game is worth.  "

To be fair this "piracy" comvo is stupid. We all know renting is not piracy. Renting is what caused piracy lol. Think about it. People were fine paying to rent something at blockbuster or going to the movies. Then they raised prices, then raised them again and again.  Now people go, I am not paying that ridiculous price so I am going to download it. seriously 16.99 for a music cd? after the record companies promised to lower prices because they too said they were over-priced. I will pirate it. Going to the movies with your wife and spending close to $25...Download instead. 

Depends on how long games hold your attention. Since this a BF game it will have some legs, but if you're the type of person that gets bored with a game after a few weeks (or less), may as well rent it.

I already got 200+ hours of playtime. It will be a lot more before I move on to another online multiplayer shooter. It's the kind of game I can get into at any time. There are few games I go back to once I've moved on to other games. Battlefield is just something I can play over and over again. Just like Street Fighter IV or GTA IV. Every so often I'm gonna pop it in and play it. Most other games I'd rent, but there ain't such a thing as Gamefly around my parts.... *sadface* 
 
If you like online multiplayer shooters, you can't go wrong with BF:BC 2.