250°

GameStop’s Shift To A Publisher Is A Good Thing

GameStop stepping in to publish Song of the Deep could be the start of something good for the industry.

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heypoorplayer.com
derkasan3430d ago

It's good that it's being published by them, but Gamestop is going to promote the heck out of this game in its stores.

dead_pixels3430d ago

Honestly, working in that capacity you can't really blame them.

Versability3430d ago

I don't know that GameStop promoting it will help sales any. I've never discovered a new game at GameStop.

dead_pixels3430d ago

That's fair, too. Unless I'm looking for used games (a real rarity), I simply wander straight to the clerk and pick up my pre-orders anyway. Everything else is just background noise.

itBourne3430d ago

It will still help in sales. There are a lot of unknowing parents and children they will push the game onto.

Not really sure why people still go to the place..

rainslacker3429d ago

Being the publisher though, they don't have to sell as many to gain more off of each sale....so it could be a wash, or they could make more off of it. I'd imagine it will get more exposure through their website and GI, in store ads, and clerks pestering people to pre-order that...which could be a nice change from being asked if we want to pre-order COD while I'm buying my Vita niche JRPG's.

Summons753430d ago

Until they screw over preorders, hide copies, then magically get in hundreds of "used" copies that are double the price of the game.

2pacalypsenow3430d ago

Every time I go to Gamestop it seems like its an Xbox store, this would be a nice change.

rainslacker3429d ago

One closest to my house used to be like that. Now it's more PS stuff, and Nintendo has a nice section about 1/3 smaller than MS...although it covers 3 consoles.

C-H-E-F3429d ago

Gamestop will get 3 payoffs for 1 game.
-Publishing profit
-trade in profit
-game bought as trade in profit

man... i'm almost jealous.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3429d ago
ScorpiusX3430d ago

Another pitch to reject at the counter

BuffaloDill3430d ago

I always have to remind myself that most people aren't like us when I walk into a GameStop. There are a ton of people who aren't connected to internet gaming culture. For them, GameStop is a great place to connect with like minded individuals and talk about info they otherwise would keep to themselves. I personally like that there is a video game store I can go to, and for the most part get what I need. And of course a publisher is going to promote their product. Nobody gets upset with Bethesda for pushing Wolfenstein,

Khaotic3430d ago

Well spoken comment, i now have to re-think my position of gamestop being the plague of gaming stores

rainslacker3429d ago

Could be only the beginning too. Could be a nice boost to GS if they can make money at it, and it will help fund more games. They're starting small, but so did many publishers.

stuna13430d ago (Edited 3430d ago )

I don't know if gamestops in other areas of the country have the same practices as in my area!? But here gamestop is well known for its money grubbing tactics, if there's anyway to make a buck they'll find it! Where in most cases it's off the backs of its customers. Their mantra is...."Sell high! Buy as low as possible"!

Them being in the position as a publisher will put them at a higher tier in power, that for one I don't see being beneficial for the gamer and even less for the industry.

Also the very same gamestop that was down with Microsoft doing away with used game sales, because they were the beneficiaries of those chosen to able to sell game keys through Microsoft! That is of course before the ceiling caved in on Microsofts plan.

rainslacker3429d ago (Edited 3429d ago )

GS was against the proposed restrictions MS offered.

The CEO stated he didn't believe MS would do it, because there was no proven model of restriction, however, this was before they would benefit from it.

http://kotaku.com/5895658/g...

However, GS stock went down after it became confirmed, then jumped 5% after MS announced they were removing the restriction.

http://www.trefis.com/stock...

While not a corporate thing, some stores were handing out flyers informing customers of the restriction. Whether they did this to prevent future problems with customers, or to curb the idea is up for speculation, but if GS were down with MS, they wouldn't have allowed such a thing, as I'd imagine regional managers would have to approve such flyers.

http://gimmegimmegames.com/...

After the reversal, gamestop publicly applauded the reversal.

http://www.gamespot.com/art...

Then of course, GS sent out surveys to gauge peoples reactions They said

“We know the desire to purchase a next-generation console would be significantly diminished if new consoles were to prohibit playing pre-owned games, limit portability, or not play new physical games,” Hodges said."

http://arstechnica.com/gami...

Of course, this doesn't say that they were against it, but the survey does sound rather targeted, and I can't imagine they would do that if they were "down with MS"

It's cool to criticize where it's warranted, but you are misinformed. During that time, GS was one of the strongest entities outside the console makers and publishers themselves actually fighting for the gamers. Sure they benefited from MS ideas, but they, like many of us, knew that it would only be the start of complete removal of used games from the market. They were protecting their interests, but it was the same interests as many gamers, and for the most part, companies should fight on behalf of their customers. The loss to GS far outweighed the gains IMO..and they likely realized it too.

As far as tiers of power, they are pretty much at the top. Probably only Amazon has more influence, and even then, I'd say that GS may be more influential since they have more direct interaction with the consumers.

wonderfulmonkeyman3430d ago

The only reason I have any high hopes for this, is because they were a big help in getting the original Xenoblade to release over here in the states.

If they could do the same for other obscure titles that I'd love to see release over here, then I'd be supportive of that, even if I hate some of Gamestop's mistakes over the years...

SUCKxITxEZ3430d ago

Didn't they also hold onto a bunch of unused copies so they could sell them as preowned later on for $99.99 instead of the $60 they costed new? The reason being rarity that they created by buying all the copies and holding them for inflation?

dead_pixels3430d ago (Edited 3430d ago )

I remember them selling for that price used a few years later, but I don't recall any proof that Gamestop was sitting on new stock. The game got such a small release to begin with that it's not likely the company really would have gained much from such a practice to make it worthwhile.

rainslacker3429d ago (Edited 3429d ago )

They had another publishing run. The cheaper versions were not from the original pressing. They bumped them up and probably had to open them all because they likely have contracts to not sell sealed copies at more than full MSRP, and they knew they could make more off of opened copies. The 2nd pressing had a different serial code on the disc itself, typical for extra pressings, and the cases they came in were newer case designs from when the game originally released.

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1240°

Gamer Tries to Sell PS4 Pro to GameStop, Ends Up Being Asked to Pay the Store

A gamer tried to sell his PS4 Pro to GameStop USA and found out that he would actually have to pay the store.

Lionsguard106d ago

Gamestop: And I'm taking a huge risk here.

1Victor106d ago (Edited 106d ago )

Well there’s no stop like GameStop I’m surprised they didn’t go deeper into the hole with their USED cables and controllers prices.
Edit:
For those that don’t know if you go to trade a console you need it to be ready to go with all the controllers and cables if you don’t have them they ask you to buy them and deduct the price from the monetary appraised for the console

Gamingsince1981106d ago

That makes perfect sense really, why would you be selling your console without all the things it came with and needs to actually be used.

jznrpg106d ago (Edited 106d ago )

eBay.. not having anything for it makes it seems stolen though

Profchaos106d ago

Not always I've seen plenty of refurbished units go cheap because people have picked them up broken then repaired and onsold with no controller or cable. When they are this old many people just want to replace the main unit

jznrpg105d ago

I doubt those people are selling at GameStop

BeHunted106d ago (Edited 106d ago )

In the UK, eBay has removed selling fees, letting you list and sell any item for free.

andy85105d ago

Correct. This is why day one games cost me practically nothing now

Eonjay105d ago

They are gonna take that same console and sell it for $300.

Inverno106d ago

GameStop era ended in the teens. Let it die bruh.

S2Killinit105d ago

I love gamestop. I still shop there. I prefer buying a game from a game store than a department store.

Inverno105d ago

I preferred goin to Circuit City but that died out. Years back I'd go to Best Buy cause of Gamer Club, now Best Buy barely sells games and doesn't sell Blu-rays and looks dead most of the time. Same with GameStop, these stores look like a barren wasteland of Funko Pops and anime figures. These retail stores don't seem to care about pulling in customers. Those figurines are neat, I collect them too but they ain't pulling me into a GS. Rather than attracting gamers they've pay walled everything behind a subscription. As if they weren't already cheapskates back then with their trade ins.

FinalFantasyFanatic105d ago

I still go in there and browse, but never buy anything, the video game section is getting smaller and smaller, even the PS5/Series X/Switch game selection is getting tiny.

tiron8105d ago

I miss Best Buy's Gamer Club, I used to get pre-orders for like 20% off often with other discounts then get points I could trade into discount rebates. It was so good, getting day 1 games for like $30.

When they shut that down I stopped buying games day 1 almost completely.

raWfodog106d ago (Edited 106d ago )

I stopped going to GameStop when they no longer let me use my monthly $5 rewards points towards PS network cards.

Knightofelemia106d ago

Weird I live in Canada and the Gamestop near me says you need the console, controller, controller cord, and an HDMI cord before they will take a console on trade. And if the console shows signs of being opened they still won't take the machine. And if you upgrade the PS4 HDD from 500 gig to a 1TB they will count that machine as modified and label it as a 500 gig model. Better to just sell it on Facebook Marketplace.

clevernickname105d ago

I also live in Canada. I had a similar experience trading in an Xbox One S. Gamestop would give me a pittance for it, so I sold it on Marketplace for almost as much as the original selling price.

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250°

GameStop plans widespread store shutdowns after closing 300 locations last year

GameStop has announced plans to shut down stores across the country after closing 300 locations just last year.

The popular gaming retailer says net sales have fallen 20 percent, now sitting at $860 million - a drastic change from its $1.08 billion in 2023.

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dailymail.co.uk
PRIMORDUS193d ago

Also giving you about $5.00 off for buying a used game is just bullshit. For example: https://www.gamestop.com/vi... New is $59.99, if your going to sell it for a used price it needs to be at least $10-$20 less. I hope GameStop just goes away.

OtterX193d ago

Same nonsense they were doing 20 years ago. 🙄

Time to take old yeller out behind the shed...

Grilla192d ago (Edited 192d ago )

One of the reasons I went digital. I used to trade games in back in the day when money was tighter. Trading a game in for 10-15$ isn’t worth the trouble. Especially when they turn around and sell it for almost full price.

RhinoGamer88193d ago

Not surprising, but sad. WooT is killing it with their game discounts...on new games.

raWfodog193d ago

This is just market forces adjusting for GameStop’s long-time practices of nickel and diming the consumer. I feel bad for the workers though. It’s not good that they have to lose their jobs over this.

P_Bomb193d ago

Unfortunate for the staff, but not unexpected.

46player193d ago

Not too surprising. Lots of people buying digital.

And GameStops trade in and resale pricing strategy is awful for customers. I will miss them when they are gone though.

Most I will miss being able to trade in a console, get a couple hundred towards the new model like PS5 to PS5 Pro.

SonyStyled193d ago

I’ll miss the midnight launch parties. Standing in line with strangers sharing our excitement about a video game. Digital took that from us. I wish younger audiences could experience how joyful it was

Kombatologist193d ago

I often think about times like that and how good we had it, before social media and smart phones gave way to a generation that expects instant gratification.

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50°

GameStop Retro: Too Little, Too Late? | 1-up Geeks

GameStop is one of the last remaining relics from a bygone era where stores like Blockbuster, Game Crazy, Hollywood Video, and many others were found on every corner. If you…

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1upgeeks.com