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Will New Games Stay at $60?

It may be hard to believe, but games are cheaper now than they've ever been; in fact, if you adjust for inflation, the cost of admission for gaming has gone down pretty drastically over time. 30 years ago, you could buy an Atari 2600 for $199, and in the mid-90s, a non-first-party cartridge game could set you back anywhere between 70 and 90 bucks--and keep in mind I didn't adjust these prices to account for the current value of the American dollar. From the 32-bit era and onwards, though, gamers got a bit of relief; it seemed like 50 dollars was going to be the standard price for a new game--which is why it was somewhat of a shock to hear that this standard would be moving up to $60 when the current-gen started just a handful of years ago. Now, the cost of a new game at retail may be a bargain when compared to what we used to pay for gaming, but with so many options available--and a lack of disposable income in the world today--you have to wonder how long it'll be before new games appear on the shelves at $50 (or lower) again.

Posted Mar 03 2009, 12:00 PM by Bob Mackey with | with 5 comment(s)

Filed under: retail, bob mackey, gamestop, recession, economy, game prices

WTFriday: GameStop's Guide to Women

Note to readers: WTFriday is a weekly feature where I find something stupid about video games and get you to laugh until it goes away. Please try to forget this is what I normally do every day of the week.

I don't shop at GameStop, mainly because of their policy of treating customer like pieces of human excrement who deserve to be murdered on the spot if they don't happen to want a magazine subscription. The last time I wandered into a GameStop was out of necessity; I wanted to pick up a Game Boy Player for my GameCube, and was promptly treated like the biggest asshole on the planet for assuming one existed in the store--even though one did. My constant mistreatment at the hands of people stuck in terrible retail jobs (I speak from past experience) has made me a devoted Amazon.com customer, but more importantly, it's also made me wonder how retail monoliths like GameStop treat their casual customers when they show such contempt for devoted nerds like you or I. Thankfully, a GameStop training video recently leaked to the Internet may just provide an answer to this query.

Behold, GameStop's "Understanding and Selling to Our Expanded Audience," or, "What to Do When There's a G-G-G-G-Girl in the Store." Like all employee training videos, it's extremely patronizing, both to the intended audience and the subject itself. Most of the advice is just common sense, though it all comes packaged in a glorious corporate creepiness that involves tapping into the deepest fears and insecurities of your customers. Let's watch.

Video after the cut.

Posted Feb 27 2009, 02:00 PM by Bob Mackey with | with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: retail, youtube, video, bob mackey, wtfriday, gamestop

Keeping Your Xbox Alive in Its Last Days

I hope you managed to trade in all those old Xbox games you wanted to, because today is the day that a certain major games retailer stops accepting them as currency. This is phase three of the modern console death cycle, which in my mind goes a little something like this:

1. A successor system is released, or it is announced that the system will be discontinued.
2. The last official game for the system is released (for the Xbox, this was Madden NFL 09).
3. GameStop stops taking the games as trade-ins.
4. GameStop clears out remaining used inventory, driving the software library to the internet or dusty mom ‘n pops’.
5. Official hardware repairs are discontinued, and replacement parts cease manufacture.

Posted Feb 09 2009, 11:00 AM by Joe Keiser with | with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: xbox, gamestop, emulation, joe keiser, hacking, modding, xbox media center

The Original XBox: The New Sega Saturn?

Destructoid's report that GameStop will stop accepting XBox trade-ins starting February 9 poses some interesting problems for Microsoft's last-gen console. When the 360 launched back in 2005, I was a rabid hater, mainly because of Microsoft's "we'll get to it when we get to it" policy on backwards compatibility (I've since buried the hatchet). I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to repeat the mistake of disowning an entire generation of games, but just look at the situation with the PS3; I couldn't tell you which models offer PS2 compatibility without some serious Wikipedia research.

So, basically, we've got a three-part problem on our hands:

1. GameStop is going to stop accepting XBox games, which means they'll soon stop carrying them altogether.

2. Microsoft has absolutely no motivation when it comes to making old games compatible with the 360.

3. Microsoft has absolutely no motivation when it comes to making old games available through their downloadable XBox Originals line.

What bothers me about all this is that, as someone who thinks games should be archived and available to play regardless of current hardware, we may lose an entire generation of software just as we lost an entire generation of Saturn titles.

Posted Jan 05 2009, 06:45 PM by Bob Mackey with | with 7 comment(s)

Filed under: xbox, bob mackey, gamestop, hardware, xbox originals, jet set radio future

A Semi-Reasoned Analysis of the Used Game Conundrum

Over at Gamasutra, Frontier Developments' David Braben talks about the resale market. I think he has a realistic perspective, a welcome change from the whiny, ranty position that some developers often take.

"...we don't see anything from the used-game sales, which is one reason why the price of new games throughout the industry remains artificially high," he says. "I mean, the industry has to make all its money from the first sale since we don't get a penny from the subsequent dozen or so sales of that same game."

First of all, in a free market there is no such thing as "artificially high" prices. The games are sold at whatever the consumer is willing to pay. This is the invisible hand at work, people.

Gaming analyst at-large Michael Pachter knows what's up:

"The only real meaningful threat," says Pachter, "is for publishers to stop supplying GameStop with packaged products. And, so far, nobody has made that threat. But, frankly, if it's not [Electronic Arts CEO] John Riccitiello or [Activision CEO] Bobby Kotick, it doesn't really matter. The other guys don't matter. I mean no disrespect to anyone else, but who cares what anyone else thinks?"

Posted Dec 15 2008, 03:00 PM by Cole Stryker with | with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: gamasutra, michael pachter, cole stryker, gamestop

Does Games Writing Need To Be More Accessible?

Writer Leigh Alexander put together a great piece for Kotaku reminding us that many of the shelf-scanning customers at GameStop are not like you or I. The average gamer doesn't pay attention to reviews. They don't know a Miyamoto from an Igarashi. And they drink blood, but they're capable of walking in the daylight.

It's easy to assume that everyone within the walls of your local game retailer is a kindred spirit who will fire back with "It's-a-me!" as soon as you say, "Mario." Alexander's column reminded me that for every fruitful conversation about games I've had with an EB Games clerk, there have been ten instances of broken eye contact and embarrassed mumblings. "The World Ends With You? N-nah. Not into anime. I like Call of Duty."

Alexander talks about game reviewers' tendency to keep the different tiers of gamers distanced from one another. There's not an intentional push to scare newcomers away from game publications and websites, but Alexander likens the typical video game review to a music review in Pitchfork Magazine. Someone who says, "I dig music and I want to read about music" is going to be scared away by Pitchfork's jargon-heavy breakdown of the album of the moment. Similarly, game reviews tend to reference past titles, past developers and use words and terms that a newcomer (and there are more and more of these lately) isn't going to understand.

Posted Nov 25 2008, 05:10 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 7 comment(s)

Filed under: kotaku, feature, writing, retail, nadia oxford, gamestop, leigh alexander games journalism, casual gamers, hardcore gamers

The Big Question: Are Games Depression Proof?

Okay, so we might not quite be in a depression yet, but whether or not it’s on the way is a question that’s been keeping a lot of people up at night. For people like us, that begs another question: can video games survive it?

The reason I’m bringing this up today is because GameStop just announced how well they did over the last three months, and that company’s performance is a pretty good barometer for how well things are going over all. Looking at that announcement alone, the answer to “will games live?” is “probably, but just in case…”

It turns out that people actually spent more money at GameStop this year, despite having less money and Halo 3 coming out last year. So things may be looking good, but many companies, including GameStop, are lowering their predictions of future money making, just in case it all drops off a cliff.

Here are a few more of the points that have been made by a variety of smart, educated people who make a lot of money on this sort of stuff:

Posted Nov 20 2008, 02:00 PM by Joe Keiser with | with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: gamestop, joe keiser, recession, depression

Go Commando With Your Lunch This Winter

Hey, is anyone out there in the market for a new best friend? 'Cause I'm totally serious about pledging allegiance to anyone who pre-orders Bionic Commando from GameCrazy and gives me the bonus metal lunchbox.

From the Capcom Unity blog:

"Bionic Commando is all about the old school style. Neon red hair, awesome sunglasses, and now lunch boxes and patches! The lunch box is a part of a very limited run, and you can only get ‘em if you preorder at GameCrazy. The sides have Nathan swinging through the old school levels of the original BC, with the original box art on the top of one side, and the old com on the other."

Like so:

Posted Nov 19 2008, 07:36 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 4 comment(s)

Filed under: bionic commando, retail, nadia oxford, gamestop, bonuses, lunchbox, gamecrazy, rad spencer, pre-order

Gamers: Let's Slow Things Down

There's been a certain problem with gaming that's only gotten worse over time: it's what I like to call Late to the Party Syndrome. It happens whenever people on the Internet venture to talk about a game more than two weeks after its release date; daring to excuse their transgression, they proclaim themselves "late to the party" and sheepishly try to revive a lost conversation.

Of course, the problem isn't these "latecomers." We, as gamers, are becoming--or may have already become--a culture that absorbs new products as fast as possible in order to move onto the newest and next biggest thing. There's something to be said about the only acceptable window of conversation for a game being the two week period around its release, and when said game becomes retro rougly a decade later.

This is why I'm thankful for podcasts like 1UPFM, which has a "Backlog" section that features editors' thoughts on playing games from as far back as the mythical age of 2005. And, to be completely fair, the consume-and-forget lifestyle doesn't exist in the world of video games alone. I remember back when the last Harry Potter book came out, everyone on the Internet practically had a race to see who could finish it first. Whatever happened to savoring something you enjoy, and taking time out to reflect instead of binge?

Posted Nov 13 2008, 01:00 PM by Bob Mackey with | with 6 comment(s)

Filed under: fable 2, gaming culture, bob mackey, gamestop, gaming habits

Gamestop: We Ain't A-Skeered

Yeah well, you should be.

Our position with our vendors has been pretty straight forward. We've been honest with them--we're not afraid to compete with them," said Bob McKenzie, SVP of merchandising at Grapevine, Tex.-based GameStop.

He argued that the broadband speeds of most gamers will limit downloadable distribution to the extent that Gamestop will continue to claim a majority of retail market share. But for how long? I haven't purchased a video game at retail since 2001, before eBay made used, marked down video games so readily accessible. When I want to buy a new game, I usually go with Amazon. Downloadable content isn't the only way to bypass brick and mortar retail, though it is the future. On top of all that, Gamestop also has to compete with Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and a few dozen other big box retailers that stock video games, sometimes for lower prices.

Posted Sep 10 2008, 12:00 PM by Cole Stryker with | with 2 comment(s)

Filed under: cole stryker, gamestop, ebay

Yahtzee Wannabe Warns You About the GameStop Devil

Maybe the word "ripoff" is a little harsh. "Zero Originality" acknowledges its roots through its name alone, but it really does try to be its own thing--and, surprisingly, it succeeds.

The Internet has assured me of human beings' ability to parrot whatever's popular. Can we scream about the tragedy of bad retro games without adopting James Rolfe's endearing facial expressions? Check. Can we attempt to put down the fruits of developers' loins with adorable pictures and a smooth British accent that pleases the Queen like a new corgi puppy? Check-a-rooney, though the key word here is "attempt."

Zero Originality embraces Yahtzee's fast-talking manner and his special breed of stick-people, but at the heart of the videos is not a game critic but rather a game retail critic who's done his share of monkeywork behind the counter of GameStop. This disgruntled gentleman serves our game-loving species by not only warning us away from the brick-and-mortar behemoth that feeds him (or fed him), but by giving us good reasons why we should stay the eff away.

Posted Sep 08 2008, 06:31 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 2 comment(s)

Filed under: yahtzee, retail, youtube, fan stuff, nadia oxford, eb games, zero originality, used games, gamestop

about the blogger

John Constantine, our superhero, was raised by birds and then attended Penn State University. He is currently working on a novel about a fictional city that exists only in his mind. John has an astonishingly extensive knowledge of Scientology. Ultimately he would like to learn how to effectively use his brain. He continues to keep Wu-Tang's secret to himself.

Derrick Sanskrit is a self-professed geek in a variety of fields including typography, graphic design, comic books, music and cartoons. As a professional hipster graphic designer, his recent clients have included Nerve, Pitchfork and MoCCA, among others.

Amber Ahlborn - artist, writer, gamer and DigiPen survivor, she maintains a day job as a graphic artist. By night Amber moonlights as a professional Metroid Fanatic and keeps a metal suit in the closet just in case. Has lived in the state of Washington and insists that it really doesn't rain as much as everyone says it does.

Nadia Oxford is a housekeeping robot who was refurbished into a warrior when the world's need for justice was great. Now that the galaxy is at peace (give or take a conflict here or there), she works as a freelance writer for various sites and magazines. Based in Toronto, Nadia prizes the certificate from the Ministry of Health declaring her tick and rabies-free.

Bob Mackey is a grad student, writer, and cyborg, who uses the powerful girl-repelling nanomachines mad science grafted onto his body to allocate time towards interests of the nerd persuasion. He believes that complaining about things on the Internet is akin to the fine art of wine tasting, but with more spitting into buckets.

Joe Keiser has a programming degree from Johns Hopkins University, a tiny apartment in Brooklyn, and a fake toy guitar built in the hollowed-out shell of a real guitar. He writes about games and technology for a variety of outlets. One day he will stop doing this. The day after that, police will find his body under a collapsed pile of (formerly neatly alphabetized) collector's edition tchotchkes.

Cole Stryker is an American freelance writer living in York, England, where he resides with his archeologist wife. He writes for a travel company by day and argues about pop culture on the internet by night. Find him writing regularly here and here.

Peter Smith is like the lead character of Irwin Shaw's The 80-Yard Run, except less athletic. He considers himself very lucky to have this job. But it's a little premature to take "jack-off of all trades" off his resume. Besides writing, travelling, and painting houses, Pete plays guitar in a rock trio called The Aye-Ayes. He calls them a 'power pop' band, but they generally sound more like Motorhead on a drinking binge.