If executed properly, this should work out well.

Digital distribution will kill them in the end. Publishers will use it as a weapon to beat them down. Publishers like EA and Activision have already made it clear that they don't like Gamestop's business model. Pushing DD next generation will be the first strike.

Not as fast as Best Buy will die, but it will happen.

portnoyd: Digital distribution will kill them in the end. Publishers will use it as a weapon to beat them down. Publishers like EA and Activision have already made it clear that they don't like Gamestop's business model. Pushing DD next generation will be the first strike.
.

Gamestop is even trying to get out of the selling of physical PC games. The few around me only sell download only copies of PC games. So why would go to a physical store to by a game I need to download?

As for as console games, I know they need to make a profit from used games, but when a USED game is only like 3 bucks cheaper than new, I'm not sure why I would buy used. Add to the fact they only seem to give back like 5 or 10% of the retail price for a buyback, to me there is little incentive to sell back games. May as well just keep all the games you have for an ancient library to have at a later time.

And do they really need to many locations? That can't be cheap.

wingnut396: portnoyd: Digital distribution will kill them in the end. Publishers will use it as a weapon to beat them down. Publishers like EA and Activision have already made it clear that they don't like Gamestop's business model. Pushing DD next generation will be the first strike.
.

Gamestop is even trying to get out of the selling of physical PC games. The few around me only sell download only copies of PC games. So why would go to a physical store to by a game I need to download?

As for as console games, I know they need to make a profit from used games, but when a USED game is only like 3 bucks cheaper than new, I'm not sure why I would buy used. Add to the fact they only seem to give back like 5 or 10% of the retail price for a buyback, to me there is little incentive to sell back games. May as well just keep all the games you have for an ancient library to have at a later time.

And do they really need to many locations? That can't be cheap.

They're not even going to have used games to make a profit soon enough. Word is, the next X-Box (and I think the PS4) will have features that make used games nearly impossible.

wingnut396: Gamestop is even trying to get out of the selling of physical PC games. The few around me only sell download only copies of PC games. So why would go to a physical store to by a game I need to download?

Umm, duhhh. They are trying to corner the onion on the belt wearer market.

Focusing on the used hardware business is a good idea for them; used software is going to go away. TFA says they'll be selling prepaid used iphones -- that market is wide open, and has a lot of potential customers.

/just bought a used Wii to replace the one the kids wore out
//exchanged it with no difficulty when it wouldn't run a brand new game
///don't sell your only-for-legal-use-only-honest! modded console to gamestop, it pisses off the guy that buys it, and makes his children cry

Is there much of a market for refurbished iWhatevers?

LouDobbsAwaaaay: Is there much of a market for refurbished iWhatevers?

iWhatevers are expensive. It sounds like they're going to sell you an iWhatever with preloaded Battletoads, the GameStop app, and a reasonable warranty. So there's some value added there: less than the cost of a new one, much safer than eBay.

Plus, it's a legal way to get an iPhone that isn't tied to a multiyear contract. So there's that.

The company has been experimenting with selling AT&T prepaid phone plans in about 60 stores, Raines says.

They will inevitably be RadioShacked.

They are trying to think ahead 5 years. They are smarter than Best Buy and Circuit City was in that regard.

The day Sony or Microsoft quit selling physical games is the day no retailer sells their system or perephials.

LouDobbsAwaaaay: Is there much of a market for refurbished iWhatevers?

Well, enough for Apple to do it themselves.
Not sure about for another competitor in the market.

loser0: LouDobbsAwaaaay: Is there much of a market for refurbished iWhatevers?

iWhatevers are expensive. It sounds like they're going to sell you an iWhatever with preloaded Battletoads, the GameStop app, and a reasonable warranty. So there's some value added there: less than the cost of a new one, much safer than eBay.

Plus, it's a legal way to get an iPhone that isn't tied to a multiyear contract. So there's that.

It's a good idea, but how long until Apple steps in and sues them to stop.

When I got an iPhone, I was excited about trying out GTA3, or Duke Nukem 3D on it. It turns out that playing games with your hands covering half of the screen really sucks.

//IMHO

My local Gamestop actually has a copy of Battletoads in stock for $500, just to be able to tell the callers they have it (not that they can actually sell it, but whatever). I told them they should raise the price to $599US, but so far they seem reluctant to do that.

Unopened Skyrim? I'll give you $3.25 in store credit for it.

ModernLuddite: When I got an iPhone, I was excited about trying out GTA3, or Duke Nukem 3D on it. It turns out that playing games with your hands covering half of the screen really sucks.

//IMHO

A lot of Farkers have very small hands.

wingnut396: As for as console games, I know they need to make a profit from used games, but when a USED game is only like 3 bucks cheaper than new, I'm not sure why I would buy used. Add to the fact they only seem to give back like 5 or 10% of the retail price for a buyback, to me there is little incentive to sell back games. May as well just keep all the games you have for an ancient library to have at a later time.



I refuse to sell my games back to these scumbags. Oh, I paid you $60 for it a month ago and you will give me back a whole $7 for it now? I'd rather throw it in the trash or let it sit on my shelf forever than give those bottom feeders the satisfaction of ripping me off like that.

I have a friend who will regularly trade in every game in his library for $20-30 off a new game and he'll have a big grin on his face. I explain to him how hard he just got ripped off, and he just keeps smiling. I just dont get it.

Link

Did anyone else see this guy and immediately think: get back to writing "Song of Ice and Fire" George"

Goodfella: wingnut396: As for as console games, I know they need to make a profit from used games, but when a USED game is only like 3 bucks cheaper than new, I'm not sure why I would buy used. Add to the fact they only seem to give back like 5 or 10% of the retail price for a buyback, to me there is little incentive to sell back games. May as well just keep all the games you have for an ancient library to have at a later time.

Ditto, but I have no qualms about buying non AAA titles used.

I refuse to sell my games back to these scumbags. Oh, I paid you $60 for it a month ago and you will give me back a whole $7 for it now? I'd rather throw it in the trash or let it sit on my shelf forever than give those bottom feeders the satisfaction of ripping me off like that.

It's business, they have to make a profit, and they have to account for used games that they'll buy that will sit on their shelves gathering dust. Those huge bins full of used games that are on clearance had to come from somewhere.

As for your friend, if he's selling a game back, he's done with it. So to him, the game has no value. So he's happy that they give him anything for it at all.

He could sell it on craigslist or something and get a better price, but that takes legwork, and your friend is lazy :P

Goodfella: wingnut396: As for as console games, I know they need to make a profit from used games, but when a USED game is only like 3 bucks cheaper than new, I'm not sure why I would buy used. Add to the fact they only seem to give back like 5 or 10% of the retail price for a buyback, to me there is little incentive to sell back games. May as well just keep all the games you have for an ancient library to have at a later time.



I refuse to sell my games back to these scumbags. Oh, I paid you $60 for it a month ago and you will give me back a whole $7 for it now? I'd rather throw it in the trash or let it sit on my shelf forever than give those bottom feeders the satisfaction of ripping me off like that.

I have a friend who will regularly trade in every game in his library for $20-30 off a new game and he'll have a big grin on his face. I explain to him how hard he just got ripped off, and he just keeps smiling. I just dont get it.

I worked with a guy a while back that bought all of the AAA titles on launch day, played them and sold them back about a month or two later. When I got wind that he was doing it I started buying the games from him instead.

I'd usually pay about $20 for a game that was $50-$60 at the time new, $40 used and he got $20 instead of $7-$15.

It was win win.

I work with another guy who sells his games on Amazon. $60 new? He'll sell it for $45 used, usually takes less than a day to move.

So wingnut396 knows where I can still pick up brand new Gamecube games?

Why is GabeN shopping at GameStop? Can't he just get all the video games he wants without going to a store?

first world problems

Every time I'm at Gamestop, the employees act like they don't want to be there and are kind of annoyed that I'm there. Most of the games are behind the counter, so you can't just go browse.

Worst of all, they don't have those bargain bins anymore with old-ass games for dirt cheap.

It's crap. Makes me miss EB and Funcoland.

Pentaxian: Did anyone else see this guy and immediately think: get back to writing "Song of Ice and Fire" George"

[ww4.hdnux.com image 628x441]

Now I can't unsee it.

I was almost outraged about digital only downloads at first, but my butt has recently ceased hurting. I imagine the rest of the gaming population will as well. This thread is chock full of "pffft fuhk Gamestop" sentiment, that I happen to share, illustrating why we will be able to live just fine without them. $55 used Skyrims a half year later, they'll give you $8.75 for your copy though.

/Craigslist FTW

Just makes me even happier we have a local chain that sells used games from every console, all the way back to the Atari 2600.

MrEricSir: Worst of all, they don't have those bargain bins anymore with old-ass games for dirt cheap.

They have these all over the place up in Canuckistan, and the employees are usually eager to help, if not always hugely knowledgeable about things. I only ever find myself in there when I'm waiting for the wife to use the bathroom, but it's never been a particularly horrendous experience for me.

Penny Arcade called this 5 years ago.

ModernLuddite: When I got an iPhone, I was excited about trying out GTA3, or Duke Nukem 3D on it. It turns out that playing games with your hands covering half of the screen really sucks.

//IMHO


I have been using a Wii controller to play Nintendo games on my Android tablet but I think any Bluetooth gamepad should work. The Wii controller lacks shoulder buttons unless you plug in a classic controller making it less portable. I know PS3 controllers are bluetooth too. I'm not sure what you would need to do to get this stuff to work with Apple though. There are a couple pocket sized gamepads I want but they are currently not available.

Link
Link

Anyone else have any suggestions?

loser0: LouDobbsAwaaaay: Is there much of a market for refurbished iWhatevers?

iWhatevers are expensive. It sounds like they're going to sell you an iWhatever with preloaded Battletoads, the GameStop app, and a reasonable warranty. So there's some value added there: less than the cost of a new one, much safer than eBay.

Plus, it's a legal way to get an iPhone that isn't tied to a multiyear contract. So there's that.

I was thinking there would likely be a decent market for jailbroken phones and tablets. Buy up the ones that are a year or so old (or less), jailbreak them, resell them on prepaid and the owner gets root.

Robert Farker: ModernLuddite: When I got an iPhone, I was excited about trying out GTA3, or Duke Nukem 3D on it. It turns out that playing games with your hands covering half of the screen really sucks.

//IMHO


I have been using a Wii controller to play Nintendo games on my Android tablet but I think any Bluetooth gamepad should work. The Wii controller lacks shoulder buttons unless you plug in a classic controller making it less portable. I know PS3 controllers are bluetooth too. I'm not sure what you would need to do to get this stuff to work with Apple though. There are a couple pocket sized gamepads I want but they are currently not available.

Link
Link

Anyone else have any suggestions?

First, the iPhone 4S needs to have usable bluetooth.......

ModernLuddite: Robert Farker: ModernLuddite: When I got an iPhone, I was excited about trying out GTA3, or Duke Nukem 3D on it. It turns out that playing games with your hands covering half of the screen really sucks.

//IMHO


I have been using a Wii controller to play Nintendo games on my Android tablet but I think any Bluetooth gamepad should work. The Wii controller lacks shoulder buttons unless you plug in a classic controller making it less portable. I know PS3 controllers are bluetooth too. I'm not sure what you would need to do to get this stuff to work with Apple though. There are a couple pocket sized gamepads I want but they are currently not available.

Link
Link

Anyone else have any suggestions?

First, the iPhone 4S needs to have usable bluetooth.......

Sry to hear about your Apple bro. Maybe if you jailbreak your phone it will let you do what you want.

ongbok: It's a good idea, but how long until Apple steps in and sues them to stop.

I know first sale/exhaustion of rights applies to copyrighted works; presumably there's something comparable that applies to iDevices and other patented kickable things, yes? Apple might not be that stupid.