Gaming Signal: Game stores

Game stores - good or evil?

I just read a great write-up on video game stores over at 1up.com and I feel compelled to add my commentary. Go ahead on over there and read it first, then come back. I'll wait.

Now - I rarely, if every, shop at video game stores. Why? Because of all the annoying behavior listed above - and more. Here are few they left out.

Teenage Idiot Staffers - the kids that staff these video game stores are, by and large, complete idiots. I've listened to the most inane chatter between these boobs that made me honestly embarrassed to be a gamer. I stood in one store with my 7 year old son listening to the guy behind the counter going on about the physical endowments of a particular anime character using the most graphic language you can imagine (no really - imagine the worst - 'Mr Brown's Madonna joke in Reservoir Dogs' kind of language.) Not only was my son and other children near, but we're talking about an anime character! That's just sad. But they also don't know much about technology or the games - I suppose you might get the expert who plays all the latest titles just out of Japan, but 90% of the time you get a kid whose idea of hardcore gaming is the latest Madden drivel.

Prices - the prices at these stores are set at retail. Only suckers pay retail. I don't mean for game systems - where the prices are fixed in some bizarre legal way I can't figure out. But for accessories and games. I'll drop by the big box retailers like BestBuy or Fry's where they generally offer some discounting (especially on the day or week of launch.)

About the only good part about these game stores is the ability to buy and sell used games. If it wasn't for this, I'd never set foot in one. But what has your experience been? Do you have a favorite store that always treats you well? Or your own horror stories?

My situation has been hit or miss, but there is one store (EB Games) that I frequent simply since I get the best service there. They are staffed by generally nice folks and I have found some deals on occasion, but I don't buy retail either. I buy when games drop in price or at the Buy 2 Used get 1 Used free sales that occur from time to time.

I have also had my share of terrible experiences also, and most have been with folks who know very little about the games they are pitching to customer.

But they fill a niche that gamers want which is access to titles on release day. There are very few other outlets for that type of availability and they also enable the whole immediate gratification element. I still believe there is opportunity out there to create a good game store that offers more than just access to used games, and who knows someday I may be there...

Posted by Tim on Tuesday November 14, 2006 at 4:21 PM

I couldn't agree more.

In fact, I think the whole game store idea is flawed in the first place. My vision for a game store would be basically the marriage of an Internet/Gaming center with a game store. The middle of the store is a console/PC "lan party" like thing with the outer perimeter wall having all the titles for sale.

Yes I realize you would have regulars/vagrants hogging the hardware, but I think a few ground rules posted many place in plain site could mitigate that. Or even better, just like the Kinkos stores, you have to rent the usage of the hardware. The store would then have the cash for the upkeep of the hardware and the whole store kind of becomes a "hang out". I see this opening up the viral aspect of gaming as well.

Pie in the sky though, I get that this is an unlikely sales model.

Posted by Trent on Wednesday November 15, 2006 at 11:43 AM