GameStop Still Has A Little Love For The PC
Is PC gaming in trouble? Not if you ask GameStop's Senior VP of Merchandising, Bob McKenize who in an interview with Gamasutra says:
"A year ago we had 350 stores that didn't carry PC merchandise and today, that number hasn't grown any... [bit] the PC market is definitely still very alive, and a portion of our business that we're hanging onto."
Now that is how you give a stock response. It seems a heartbeat away from actually inspiring confidence on PC gamers.McKenzie also said about the sales of PC games:
"down from a year ago. We had planned for it to be down. Again, the number of new titles we have on PC is down probably more than what I had anticipated it would be down -- but I don't see that as a threat or a signaling, we're not backing away from it at all."
I remember a few years ago when an entire half of the GameStop in my town's mall was filled with PC games. That sort of prominence has disappeared over the year. Now the PC games are given about as much respect as the old Xbox games, a nice little free standing shelf tucked near the back of the store. This is true at both GameStops in town (we used to have three, then someone realized that wasn't exactly a recipe for success). Are PC games being given the brush off in your GameStops? Better yet, do you know if your local store even sells PC games?
GameStop: PC Game Retail Sales, Diversity Decreasing Notably [Gamasutra]
TheDoctor
Posted to Video Games on 19 September 2008
· Comments (6)
Other stuff like this: business, gamestop, pc gaming
I don't think the PC gaming world is in trouble... with almost everyone having a fast connection (i don't know of a single person who uses dial up anymore) more and more people are buying their pc games off the internet like direct2drive... its cheaper *no tax* and you get the game right away (well you have to wait for it to download but you know what i mean)
I worked at a GameStop for 3 and a half years, and PC games were a running joke at our store. We didn't originally carry any PC games, but my manager fought hard for a year with upper management to try and get some shipments of PC games sent to our store. Finally he won out and we started carrying PC games, but nobody bought them. People don't go to GameStop to buy PC games, they go to buy cheap, older, used games.
Besides, PC games don't fit with the GameStop business model. You can't trade them in or buy them used, which is how GameStop makes a vast majority of its profit. Offering PC games for download from the GameStop website is an acceptable alternative, buy carrying PC games in the stores is just a waste of shelf space.
I've noticed the same thing. Back in the good ol days when consoles were still considered a kids toy PC games were everywhere. I've decided to support stores which carry PC games by buying my console games there too.
I found myself shopping at our local Game Crazy, which is on the way home from work for me. The main reason is that it sold PC games and Console games but the added bonus is that they are still open when I am getting off of work.
I can't think of a better place to get late night video game releases, since it is right next to a Hollywood Video. I won't feel like I am breaking in to the mall...
Oh and I'm not always there for all the midnight releases, just Madden 09 (a present for the brother) and I assume there will be one for WoW:WotLK (us WoW addicts are just CRAZY).
This would be the primary reason I don't even shop there any more. That and they're money grubbing monsters.
My local grocery store has a better PC selection (where I got Force Unleashed). I picked up Spore at Best Buy, and Fry's Electronics has a TREMENDOUS selection of PC titles. 4 - 6 aisles worth, including many, many 'old' games you missed the first time around...usually have great deals on stuff too.
Otherwise I just buy online from NewEgg or Amazon. Not a big fan of downloading 'till doing that is cheaper than purchasing coporial items.
Um I think were all forgetting we go to Gamestop to flirt with the adorable employee's!!!!