When companies like Best Buy change product lineups it is usually in response to the success of someone else at their own expense. There is a reason software developers are giving up preorder bonuses through Gamestop. These little shops are moving a lot of games for their footprint. Basically used game retailers are driving down sales at the major retailer. The model is a viscious circle ensuring that consumers come back rather then shopping around. They are even becoming the base of the gaming economy.
Most gamers are incappable of supporting a full retail load. That has always been the case given the retail price of games. Either gamers have needed to loan, trade, or buy used in order to maintain a steady stream of entertainment. These shops have keyed into this aspect of gaming, and have taken the place of peer to peer while increasing the selection. They are simply catering to how the market has always worked. These shops are to gaming like McDonalds is to eating out. While BestBuy has been more like fine dining. The difference in this case is your getting the exact same thing to eat. Hell you not only get a better price through the Gamestop, but you also get a greater selection.
I think this is a good move for BestBuy even if it alienates manufacturers and developers. Hell it isn't as if they are getting a real bonus for the loyalty. They aren't getting better versions of the games after all. They are usually getting the worse version. The ones without bonus preorder features. This should increase their sales, because as anyone who has gone into a Gamestop knows. You are probably going to walk away with a game. I walked away with a game today in fact. I didn't need it, but at fifteen bucks I will throw the dice to see if Rise of the Argonauts might be worth a few days of play time.
