MAY 18, 2009 • Wal-Mart has launched a 77-store test of Ohio-based E-play’s automated video game buyback kiosks.  E-play retains ownership of the machines. Consumers scan the game’s jewel case, after which a buyback price is set. If the consumer approves of the price, the game disc is inserted into a special slot, and the case into a separate bin. If the disc is authenticated, credit will be applied to the consumer’s credit card in two to three days. Pricing is updated regularly, and range between 50 cents and $25.

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Impact: If any retailer can do as it pleases without much pushback from suppliers, it would be Wal-Mart. That’s why it’s interesting the retailer has chosen to test vendor-owned used game kiosks. True, GameStop is the source of distracting game industry ire, but Wal-Mart hardly needs the extra degree of separation by partnering with E-play. We’ll be curious to see how Wal-Mart executes on used games after the completion of the E-play test.