By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
Cheddarchet on 14 January 2014
Edit Thread
greenmedic88 said:
Cheddarchet said:
d21lewis said:
I remember when I couldn't comprehend life without a video rental store or physical copies. It took a loooong time but the impossible happened. I think it will be years or longer for the gaming industry but I can see Gamestop eventually losing its role as digital distribution grows bigger each year.

They've had a hell of a run, though. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever.

Kind of crazy to imagine a world without Gamestop at this point. As irritating as some of their sales practices can be, I've always enjoyed having access to a nearby specialty store when I didn't want to wait and order one of games online. Still, perhaps they'll find a way to turn things around in the next few years? Hard to say now, but I would be a bit sad to see one of the biggest names in game sales go under.

Why? Because that's one of the few places you hit every time you go to the mall? 

I walk by two of them on a fairly regular basis (financial district) and I have to say I never have the urge to make a trip into either. Unless I'm looking for a specific item or special order item not available online, it's just not going to happen. 

I would rather check out the game section at a big ticket retailer that I'm already shopping at, not that they have anything that I'm interested in; usually I'm just checking because I'm already there. 

GS' business model has been based upon used game trade and peripherals for years now and that's the niche they've built for themselves and if that no longer remains a profitable business, it was their business model in the first place. No one else to blame. 

Still, I'm curious to see how/if they adapt and evolve to the current changing game entertainment market that no longer favors traditional brick and mortar business models. 

Not at all. Growing up, GameStop was one of the only stores I ever actually had access to. When you grow up in a town with a population of a whopping 900 people, you tend to be a bit limited on selection. That's certainly not the case now that I'm in a larger place and can drive, but I still appreciate the fact that they were there. I won't deny that their model is growing outdated, but I do appreciate what they did for me as a fledgling gamer in the past. If they can find a way to change their image in the coming years, more power to them. For better or worse, they're one of the largest retailers dedicated to gaming left, and for someone like me, seeing them go would be almost like the end of an era.



Hmm