A new, small, local game store just opened up down the street from my shop. I stopped in today to check it out. The manager/owner opened it after being laid off from Applebees. It was a nice shop, clean, open, had a couple flat screens set up with PS3's and 360s to demo, but I just didn't get the feeling it was really any different from a Gamestop.

I'm just not sure how any indie game stores can survive in this DLC, Pre-order bonus, trade-based, gaming market. Without some serious hook to keep people coming there instead of Gamestop, or worse, Amazon.

Don't get me wrong, I love local owned and try to shop locally anytime I can, so I will be patronizing this place for as long as it's open, but I fear I'm in the minority.

Do any of you shop at an indie game store? What keeps you going there instead of the big boys and online?

A few months ago on Google Earth I decided to Street View some of my old haunts from nearly 20 years ago when  I  was living away and I was shocked to find the game shop I used to spend so much time in was still there. I could read the website from the Street View and imediately created an account and bought a game I couldn't find in the local big box stores.

Just like old times, he alway had what I needed and treated his customers well.

Is it cool to post the website?

Regards

StiC

Disc Replay and The eXchange both are local used game and movie stores and offer prices vastly superior to Gamestop on most things, so yes, all the time. First choice is still half.ebay.com though.

I shop at indie shops for old school games (NES, SNES, SEGA etc)...when I buy new games I usually go whereever the prices are lowest

there doesn't seem to be any indie shops that sell new games though

Until a few months ago when they closed down, I used to go to this fantastic used game store in my town called Gamer's Paradise.  They only had a small selection of new titles, but they had absolute classic old games and systems for ridiculour prices.

Example: Mint-Condition NES, in the box, never opened.  Fifty bucks.

and that's the sad part. Most of the cool ones I've seen always end up dying.

The only big indie game store around here also does movies, music, posters, ironic t shirts, and card games. I think they stay afloar with the big mix of stuff. The hardcore, gaming only shops seem to have trouble.

I do love the ones that have the vintage stuff. Every once in a while I find some Sega Saturn game for 5 bucks that I always wanted.

There is a place called gametraders in Australia that is technically a chain but which has a very low level of prominence.  They have been shutting left right and center, but are amazing.

They have a wealth of used old games (that they put warranties on) and systems.  They also custom make brilliant artifacts from popular games (I have a replica metal KeyBlade hanging on my bedroom wall)  and I am currently eyeing off an expertly made Hyrule Shield/Master Sword combo.

I don't... they're normally more expensive than ebay... and much more difficult to find things. I don't get giddy for treasure hunting.

I used Game before the internetz was big on shopping... then in 2000 i was in the US and started using amazon for convenience.... then back in EU, they had the best prices too... so... I barely even step in a game store now.

Early wii days I bought a few on ebay... that got replaced by UK purchases (same prices but new instead of used), Amazon/Zavvi mostly.

Yes, Game On...before it closed down. They were located across from an EB Games. Recession hit them really hard. Had everything from Atari on. Had tournaments every month...SSBB, Halo, etc and would track down any game you requested. Got Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance from them. A bit sad they closed down...going to EB is never the same.