| Revision as of 18:46, 29 July 2007 edit209.85.29.6 (talk) Undid revision 147787693 by Ugen64 (talk)← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:49, 29 July 2007 edit undo209.85.29.6 (talk) ←Blanked the pageNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{TOC float left}} | |||
| ] | |||
| '''GameTZ.com''' is an ] (somewhat like a ] or ]) which allows people to trade video and other games, books, music, movies, etc., through ] with other traders from countries worldwide.<ref name="lansing">{{cite web|url=http://www.lsj.com/news/business/030708_barter_6c.html|title=Barter for the better|publisher=]|date=2003-07-08|accessdate=2007-05-29|author=A.S. Berman|first=A.S.|last=Berman}}</ref><ref name="dc">{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-45759847.html|title=GAME REVIEW: Old PlayStation games offer cheap enjoyment|publisher=The Daily Cougar|date=2001-07-18|accessdate=2007-05-29}}</ref> Once a trade is completed, a record is created on the site for future reference. The Game Trading Zone (GameTZ) has many long-time traders<ref name="9years">{{cite web|url=http://gametz.com/?x&A=Users&Plaque=9|title=Users who have been here for 9 years|accessdate=2007-02-07}}</ref><ref name="8years">{{cite web|url=http://gametz.com/?x&A=Users&Plaque=8|title=Users who have been here for 8 years|accessdate=2007-02-07}}</ref>. | |||
| GameTZ's has a ] and trading/matching system, and contains a large number of tools necessary for online trading transaction.<ref name="age">{{cite web|url=http://adultgamingenthusiasts.com/blogs/age/archive/2007/01/18/review-of-online-game-trading-sites-goozex-sayswap-gametz.aspx|title=Online game trading sites: Goozex, SaySwap, GameTZ|author=AzShrapnel|first=Jason|last=Agostoni|date=2007-01-18|accessdate=2007-02-22|publisher=Adult Gaming Enthusiasts}}</ref> GameTZ's offer system provides users with the ability to send and receive offers, check out trade details, shipping methods, and so on.<ref name="age"/> The GameTZ also operates a simple chatroom which allows users to create trades and discuss various topics while online. | |||
| Multi-platform gaming magazine ] has cited trading sites, specifically GameTZ.com,<ref name="GamePro">{{cite|author=GamePro Staff|title=Used Game Trading Zone, page 28|publisher=GamePro|date=April 2000}} | |||
| </ref><ref name="GamePro2">{{cite|author=GamePro Staff|title=Trade Secrets, page 8|publisher=GamePro|date=April 2004}} | |||
| </ref> to be excellent alternatives to selling games back to retail outlets at significantly reduced value. GameTZ.com has also been featured in other magazine articles and online reviews,<ref name="age"/> as well as in a short TV news segment ] to stations across the United States.<ref name="tvspot1">{{Cite visual|title=Swapping Online|url= http://images.kenyonhill.com/tz/barter.wmv|medium=Syndicated television story|accessdate=2007-02-07|date=July-August 2003}}</ref><ref name="tvspot2">{{cite web|url=http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1388035&nav=0RaPHH3C|title=Barter web sites allow users to trade goods and services online|author=Hannah Nelson|first=Hannah|last=Nelson|date=2003-08-03|publisher=WIS10 on WIStv.com|accessdate=2007-02-07}}</ref> | |||
| ==History== | |||
| The Used Game Trading Zone (UGTZ) was founded by Stephen Osborne. Exactly when UGTZ came into existence is uncertain, but it has been traced back as far as ], ] (via a ] posting by Osborne).<ref name="usenet">{{cite web|url=http://groups.google.com/group/comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.marketplace/browse_frm/thread/97b5f7f1a93a6c2d/48d33815587eb10a?lnk=st&q=%22used+game+trading+zone%22+osborne&rnum=19#48d33815587eb10a|title=Join the Trading Zone!|author=Stephen Osborne|first=Stephen|last=Osborne|publisher=comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.marketplace archived on ]|date=1996-12-23|accessdate=2007-02-07}}</ref> Osborne manually maintained a growing list of items that traders had available for trade. Traders would then scan through the very large lists to find items they wanted, then make offers via email to the owner(s) of the items. | |||
| As UGTZ continued to grow, this list became perpetually more difficult for Osborne to maintain by hand. In October of ], Bill Marrs created a system which automated much of the work Osborne had been doing by hand. For a short time thereafter, parts of UGTZ were maintained on both Osborne's and Marrs' sites. Eventually, the decision was made to move the whole operation to Marrs' site. | |||
| The ] '''ugtz.com''' was registered in the summer of ], followed by the implementation of an independent ] in the spring of 1999 . This database allowed traders to view a list of potential trades, saving them a great deal of time in finding trades. In an effort to generate some income, 1999 also introduced advertisements, ]s, and an ] program to the site. | |||
| In March ], the site was renamed '''Game Trading Zone''' and the domain name '''gametz.com''' was registered. Marrs cloned the GameTZ trading engine and established three other sites: ''MusicTZ.com'', ''MovieTZ.com'', and ''BookTZ.com''. However, at the beginning of ], the music, movie, and book domains were dropped and all four "Trading Zones" were folded back into the main GameTZ site. | |||
| In February ], the site changed to a subscriber-only format where passive use of the site by non-subscribers was still possible, but a subscription was necessary to initiate trades and be actively involved in the community. In August ], the site reverted back to voluntary subscriptions and non-subscribers were again allowed full access to GameTZ's trading and community features. | |||
| GameTZ has more than 150,000 trades completed as of May 2007.<ref name="origins">{{cite web|url=http://gametz.com/FAQ.html#origins|title=What's the history of GameTZ?|accessdate=2007-02-07}}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| ==References== | |||
| <div class="references-small"> | |||
| <references/> | |||
| </div> | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||