Dueling Analogs » GameStop

Damned if You Do and Damned if You Don’t

Steve Napierski — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Not sure if that sale is still going on or not. I went into one the countless GameStops in my area and picked up a few used games. In fact, I felt I actually got a pretty good deal. Devil May Cry (PS2), La Pucelle: Tactics (PS2), Dark Cloud (PS2), Star Ocean: Till End of Time (PS2), F-Zero: Maximum Velocity (GBA) and Drill Dozer (GBA) all for $26.21 including tax. But of those games and the five other titles I got for Christmas I have had the chance to only play one (1): Dark Cloud. And that I’ve only played for about three hours.

Time has honestly not been my friend for a good few years, but for some reason I keep buying new games with the intention of one day playing them. On my desk, right next to me, lie three unopened PS2 games I’ve had for years now (Rogue Galaxy, Suikoden Tactics and Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis). I do fully intend on playing them one day, but the reality of the situation is that said day may never come. But for some reason I keep buying them. Maybe it’s me grasping for this delusional hope or maybe it’s just a byproduct of consumerism that I am unable to break. Regardless I have now have hundreds of games that I have never played sitting in my house. But you know what? The gamer in me says, “That’s okay.”

Assplowing to the Payers

Steve Napierski — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 05:31:00 +0000

I’m not arguing that the GameStop’s business model doesn’t make sense, because it does. In a time where downloading one’s games becomes more and more prevalent, they needed to do something to keep consumers coming in. And apparently harassing them to pre-order something every time they walk through the door wasn’t it.

Personally, not quite sure how I feel about a lot of the content you unlock from pre-ordering. For example, if you preordered Mass Effect 2 you unlocked the terminus armor. Which is considered the most powerful armor in the game. Great way to shorten the life on your $59.99 gaming experience. Now granted, it is up to the individual to how they use what they unlock by pre-ordering it. But come on… Giving a gamer access to some of the most powerful items in the game is like dangling a needle of heroin in front of a junkie’s face: you know they’re going to use it.

Sorry this isn’t the King Kamehameha comic that I previously mentioned. Still working on it. Hopefully it will be done soon…

Making a List, Checking It Twice

Steve Napierski — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:08:00 +0000

Having worked more than my fair share of Black Fridays and Christmas Eves in retail over the years, I know that this would definitely not be an enjoyable situation to be on the receiving end of. But at the same time, I know I would definitely get a sense of Schadenfreude after learning that someone had actually done this to a GameStop employee.

The donation drive for a brand new Dueling Analogs everyday in January definitely ramped up a little bit this week. But there’s only one week left until January. Remember, if at least half the goal is reached by January I will still do more than the average amount of Dueling Analogs comics during the month, it just won’t be everyday unless the grand total is met. Thanks to everyone who has donated so far or bought something from BigBoomBomb.com during the month of December.

Thanks everyone. Have a Merry Christmas and I will see you back here on Monday.

PSPgoes to Oz

Steve Napierski — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:00:00 +0000

The first paragraph of this article definitely caught my attention. It said, “One Dutch retailer refusing to stock the PSPgo is an isolated incident. But when the Aussie branch of EB Games says “no, thanks” as well, you’ve got a trend on your hands.”

Wow! Really?

First off, I definitely want to hear from the Australian readers. They mention that GAME and JB Hi-Fi will still be carrying the system, but does EB Games not carrying it affect your decision to buy it in anyway? And/or were you ever even intending to buy it in the first place?

Second, my two cents. Now as of right now I have no plans on buying a PSPgo, but things can definitely change down the road. That said, from a consumer’s point of view I think it sucks that Australia’s branch of EB Games, EB Games being one of the biggest video game retailer’s in the world, will not be carrying the latest incarnation of Sony’s handheld. But since I’m not a regular patron of EB Games, they’ll neither gain nor lose my business when and if I ever decide to buy own. But from a business point of view, I kind of understand why they did it…

Let’s compare the PSPgo to the iPhone, of which AT&T is the exclusive retailer it here in the U.S. Both the PSPgo and the iPhone have no physical “cartridges” that hold their games or applications on, they are all received digitally. Also, both the iPhone and the PSPgo have very little profit to be gained by the retailer from sales the actual device. With that said, when AT&T sells the iPhone they still make money from the consumer for monthly service fees for at least the next two years. Now when EB Games were to sell a PSPgo, that’s where their profit gains cease.

There’s no misconception that EB Games makes the majority of it’s money of the sale of the video games of consoles. And that their highest profits come from sales of used video games. So here’s the question: If you were a company where the majority of your money came from the sale of used video games, would you support a system that if it does well will hurt you financially in the long run? Or would you not support it in the hopes that your company’s shunning is it’s undoing? Definitely a mixed bag of tricks on that one.

One last thing, I will be at SPX this weekend. And I will be keeping up with the happenings via my Twitter account. So if you want to know what’s going on at SPX or just follow me for fun, here’s a good time to do so.

Grin and Bear It

Steve Napierski — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0000

If GameStop actually had a Reserve Something Or Get Mauled By A Bear campaign I might actually take them seriously… well, I’d definitely take the bear seriously at least.

On a slightly related note, I actually ignored my moral convictions and reserved something from GameStop. Want to guess what it was? That’s right! American Girl: Kit Mystery Challenge! for the Nintendo DS. It’s going to be like Phoenix Wright for girls… I mean American girls.

Seriously though, I reserved my copy of GTA IV just to make sure I could get one. But that was only because they weren’t taking reservations for American Girl: Kit Mystery Challenge!. I hope they don’t sell out!