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{{Infobox website
==About==
| name = Game Trading Zone
]
| logo = GameTZ Logo.png
After the demise of popular game trading website Switchouse.com many traders began searching for a trading site they could call their own. Game Trading Zone's (GameTZ) intuitive forum design and trading/matching system fostered a largely enthusiastic trading community, now strong as ever.
| screenshot = GameTZ screenshot.png
| screenshot_size = 250px
| caption = GameTZ.com logo and screenshot.
| url = {{URL|http://gametz.com/}}
| commercial = Yes
| type = ]
| language = English
| registration = Required, Free
| owner = Bill Marrs
| author = Stephen Osborne, Bill Marrs
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1996}} (as Used Game Trading Zone)
| current_status = Active
}}
'''GameTZ.com''' is an ] established in late 1996 which allows people to trade ]s, books, music, movies, and other items 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|access-date=2007-05-29|first=A.S.|last=Berman |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070601154431/http://www.lsj.com/news/business/030708_barter_6c.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-06-01}}</ref><ref name="dc">{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-45759847.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602000749/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-45759847.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-06-02|title=GAME REVIEW: Old PlayStation games offer cheap enjoyment|publisher=The Daily Cougar|date=2001-07-18|access-date=2007-05-29}}</ref><ref name="egm2007">{{cite journal|first=Kyle|last=Orland|title=Learning a Trade|pages=40|journal=]|date=November 2007}}</ref> Once a trade is completed, a record is created on the site for future reference.


GameTZ.com has ] and a trading/matching system that contains many tools necessary for tracking and recording online trading transactions. GameTZ.com'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">{{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|date=2007-01-18|access-date=2007-02-22|publisher=Adult Gaming Enthusiasts}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/technology/2009/01/06/ditch-old-videogames-tech-personal-cx_mji_0106ditchgames.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112222908/http://www.forbes.com/technology/2009/01/06/ditch-old-videogames-tech-personal-cx_mji_0106ditchgames.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 12, 2009|title=Where To Ditch Old Videogames |author=Mary Jane Irwin|work=]|date=2009-01-06|access-date=2009-01-15}}</ref>
Multi-platform gaming magazine ''GamePro'' has cited trading sites, specifically GameTZ.com to be great alternatives to selling your games back to retail outlets at reduced value.

Multi-platform gaming magazine ] and ] magazine have cited trading sites, specifically GameTZ.com,<ref name="GamePro">{{cite journal|author=GamePro Staff|title=Used Game Trading Zone|pages=28|journal=GamePro|date=April 2000}}
</ref><ref name="GamePro2">{{cite journal|author=GamePro Staff|title=Trade Secrets|pages=8|journal=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="egm2007"/><ref name="age"/> as well as in a short TV news segment ] to stations across the United States.<ref name="tvspot1">{{Cite video|title=Swapping Online|url= http://images.kenyonhill.com/tz/barter.wmv|medium=Syndicated television story|access-date=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|first=Hannah|last=Nelson|date=2003-08-03|publisher=WIS10 on WIStv.com|access-date=2007-02-07}}</ref>


==History== ==History==
The Used Game Trading Zone (UGTZ) was founded by Stephen Osborne in the mid-1990s.<ref name="egm2007"/> Exactly when UGTZ came into existence is uncertain, but it has been traced back as far as December 23, 1996 (via a ] posting by Osborne).<ref name="usenet">{{cite web|url=https://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!|first=Stephen|last=Osborne|publisher=comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.marketplace archived on ]|date=1996-12-23|access-date=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.
The Used Game Trading Zone was originally created by Stephen Osborne. We're not sure exactly when Stephen Osborne started UGTZ, but we did find a post on a USENET newsgroup from him about it dating back to December 23, 1996. As Stephen Osborne's site grew it became difficult for him to maintain it (he was doing it by hand at the time). Bill Marrs stepped in and automated it with an interactive web system in October of 1997. After that, the site was half on Stephen's site and half on Bill's. Everyone hates GameTZ. Stay far away from it. A few months later it was decided to move the entire site to Bill's home page. In the Summer of 1998, the domain name "ugtz.com" was purchased, in the Spring of 1999 UGTZ started using a real database, and in summer 1999 UGTZ started running advertisements.


As UGTZ continued to grow, this list became perpetually more difficult for Osborne to maintain by hand. In October 1997, 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.
At the beginning of 2000, Bill quit his regular job to focus on running and growing ugtz.com. In March 2000, Bill modified and cloned the trading engine used by UGTZ to handle trading music, movies, and books, the name of the site was shortened to Game Trading Zone, and the domain gametz.com (along with musictz.com, movietz.com, and booktz.com) began being used. At the beginning of 2002, all four zones were recombined into GameTZ and the other three domains were dropped. In February 2003, the site went to a subscriber-only format. Passive use of the site by non-subscribers was still possible, but a subscription was necessary to use all the features. In August 2005, the site went back to a voluntary subscriptions only (non-subscriber again have full access to GameTZ's trading features).

The ] '''ugtz.com''' was registered in the summer of 1998, 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 2000, the site was renamed '''Game Trading Zone''' and the domain name '''gametz.com''' was registered. Marrs cloned the GameTZ.com trading engine and established three other sites: ''MusicTZ.com'', ''MovieTZ.com'', and ''BookTZ.com''. However, at the beginning of 2002, the music, movie, and book domains were dropped and all four "Trading Zones" were folded back into the main GameTZ.com site.

In February 2003, 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 2005, the site reverted to voluntary subscriptions and non-subscribers were again allowed full access to GameTZ.com's trading and community features.

GameTZ.com has more than 346,000 trades completed as of February 2021.<ref name="stats">{{cite web|url=http://gametz.com/|title=GameTZ front page, Site Statistics box|access-date=2021-02-09}}</ref>

==See also==
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]

==References==
{{reflist|33em}}


==External links== ==External links==
* *

]
]
]

Latest revision as of 18:30, 11 November 2023

Game Trading Zone
GameTZ.com logo and screenshot.
Type of siteOnline trading community
Available inEnglish
OwnerBill Marrs
Created byStephen Osborne, Bill Marrs
URLgametz.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationRequired, Free
Launched1996; 29 years ago (1996) (as Used Game Trading Zone)
Current statusActive

GameTZ.com is an online trading community established in late 1996 which allows people to trade video games, books, music, movies, and other items through negotiating with other traders from countries worldwide. Once a trade is completed, a record is created on the site for future reference.

GameTZ.com has forums and a trading/matching system that contains many tools necessary for tracking and recording online trading transactions. GameTZ.com's offer system provides users with the ability to send and receive offers, check out trade details, shipping methods, and so on.

Multi-platform gaming magazine GamePro and Forbes magazine have cited trading sites, specifically GameTZ.com, 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, as well as in a short TV news segment syndicated to stations across the United States.

History

The Used Game Trading Zone (UGTZ) was founded by Stephen Osborne in the mid-1990s. Exactly when UGTZ came into existence is uncertain, but it has been traced back as far as December 23, 1996 (via a USENET posting by Osborne). 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 1997, 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 domain name ugtz.com was registered in the summer of 1998, followed by the implementation of an independent database 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, subscriptions, and an affiliate marketing program to the site.

In March 2000, the site was renamed Game Trading Zone and the domain name gametz.com was registered. Marrs cloned the GameTZ.com trading engine and established three other sites: MusicTZ.com, MovieTZ.com, and BookTZ.com. However, at the beginning of 2002, the music, movie, and book domains were dropped and all four "Trading Zones" were folded back into the main GameTZ.com site.

In February 2003, 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 2005, the site reverted to voluntary subscriptions and non-subscribers were again allowed full access to GameTZ.com's trading and community features.

GameTZ.com has more than 346,000 trades completed as of February 2021.

See also

References

  1. Berman, A.S. (2003-07-08). "Barter for the better". Lansing State Journal. Archived from the original on 2007-06-01. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  2. "GAME REVIEW: Old PlayStation games offer cheap enjoyment". The Daily Cougar. 2001-07-18. Archived from the original on 2007-06-02. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  3. ^ Orland, Kyle (November 2007). "Learning a Trade". Electronic Gaming Monthly: 40.
  4. ^ AzShrapnel (2007-01-18). "Online game trading sites: Goozex, SaySwap, GameTZ". Adult Gaming Enthusiasts. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  5. Mary Jane Irwin (2009-01-06). "Where To Ditch Old Videogames". Forbes. Archived from the original on January 12, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  6. GamePro Staff (April 2000). "Used Game Trading Zone". GamePro: 28.
  7. GamePro Staff (April 2004). "Trade Secrets". GamePro: 8.
  8. Swapping Online (Syndicated television story). July–August 2003. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  9. Nelson, Hannah (2003-08-03). "Barter web sites allow users to trade goods and services online". WIS10 on WIStv.com. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  10. Osborne, Stephen (1996-12-23). "Join the Trading Zone!". comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.marketplace archived on Google Google Groups. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  11. "GameTZ front page, Site Statistics box". Retrieved 2021-02-09.

External links

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