3 ms·

I used to always buy games from GameStop, but that was long before they became, what is IMO, a horrible business. Nowadays I only buy from GS as a last resort,

I used to always buy games from GameStop, but that was long before they became, what is IMO, a horrible business. Nowadays I only buy from GS as a last resort, when shopping for a gift and I can’t find it anywhere else, or if there’s a big deal and it saves me $10-20 over any other store. But both of these are very rare. And even then I usually regret it, as I get the game unsealed with a giant, very sticky price sticker directly on the case. (I’ve probably bought 2 games from them over the past ~10 years.) I still think back fondly on the early days of GameStop, and some memories of taking my kids there. And I still buy physical mostly (particularly for triple A and first party titles), for a number of reasons, so I hope that physical still remains for a while, despite the broader move to digital. But I won’t be sad when GS goes belly up. I’ve already mourned the “good ol’ days” — the GameStop I knew and loved is long gone.

AlexB138 3y ago
I'm not much of a gamer but I tried to buy a game at GameStop maybe ten years ago and came across the unsealed game phenomenon. I don't think I've been back in one since, even though I've purchased some games since then. I don't understand how any business thinks opening retail packaging and selling the product as new is acceptable. There has to be some logic to it but it is baffling, and an absolute deal breaker, to me. I'm not at all surprised to hear it's a business in decline.
- mkinsella 3y ago
  It makes buying used games (which they make much more profit on) more enticing to the consumer.
- PaulHoule 3y ago
  The one Gamestop in Ithaca used to have a clerk who was highly knowledgeable about games, fun to talk to, and always gave good recommendations. The folks who work there now aren’t up to that standard. I like it how it is a place to go and run into people like the teenage girl who is dressed like somebody from https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/fruits_shoichi-aoki/299691/#edition=3391704 https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/fruits_shoichi-aoki/299691/#ed... and is arguing with her dad (my age) about the value of an anime plushie and I will definitely take her side. On the other hand there is very little inventory there, and frequently a game I buy for $5 doesn’t work and the replacements don’t work either. In a world where most of the gaming spend is on mobile, where downloading is the dominant distribution channel for consoles and PC and a game you buy on disc might need a 50GB update on day one, I can’t see how they are relevant. It struck me as really strange that two issues of Game Informer featured Genshin Impact which is a hit mobile game that entirely cuts Gamestop out. In Binghamton NY roughly 50 minutes away there are two vintage game and entertainment stores that beat the pants off Gamestop. Both of them have sections of used XBOX and PS games that are about twice as big as our Gamestop. One of them has a lot of used music, DVDs and also a selection of comics. The other one has an arcade with at least 60 coin op video games and pinball machines. Both feature real retro games and cartridges such as Atari 2600, Colecovision and such, I even saw a C128 for sale. My son bought an N64 there and we were able to get a CRT television to go with it by special request at our local reuse center.
bee_rider 3y ago
That’s kind of funny. In my area, they were in the process of finishing off Electronics Boutique while I was growing up, so they were always the villain. Hopefully some little indie game stores will have a little more room to breathe.
nyjah 3y ago
And I still buy physical mostly (particularly for triple A and first party titles), for a number of reasons, so I hope that physical still remains for a while, despite the broader move to digital. I used to fight this battle. I prefer physical, sure. But when I put the physical disc in, and theres a 25+gig download for the games patch or whatever it needs to update, I realized I'm fighting vs an opponent that doesn't exist. And I'm good not updating the game. But then I end up with an unfinished, sometimes buggy experience. I wish there was a physical vs digital fight, but really the companies that control it are not engaging in the battle.
- apocalyptic0n3 3y ago
  The last physical game I purchased (~2 years ago now; can't even remember the game) didn't even have a disk in the case. The case just had a card with a code for the Xbox Store on it. Decided I was done buying "physical" games at that point.
  - busterarm 3y ago
    I remember Doom Eternal doing that to me and being pretty unhappy about it.
  - nyjah 3y ago
    I've seen that. They are packing massive collectors editions that cost over a hundred dollars with empty cases with download codes. It's shameful.
- snuxoll 3y ago
  Opposite here, for over a decade I have been digital-only being a PC gamer first and foremost (so Steam got me comfortable with digital purchases much earlier than my console-only peers). Then I started seeing digital storefronts shutter, and I've personally lost access to titles I've purchased due to it. Now I find myself repurchasing games I've only owned in digital form as physical copies, at least where the game does not have a mandatory download or always-online functionality that would make them useless in the event of service shutdowns. So it's more or less been Switch + older generation consoles.
htag 3y ago
GameStop was originally known as being a clean, well lit retailer that sold new and used games together as well as consoles, accessories, and general merch. Their staff was young, friendly, and knew about their products. This recipe lead to them expanding quickly, often nudging out other regional/local game stores. Unfortunately, during this time period they also began some pretty annoying practices. They started pushing magazine subscriptions and club memberships with every sale. Same with extended warranties. The checkout process was awful. At the same time, complaints about how management was treating the staff started coming in. What really hit the nail on the GameStop coffin was digital downloads. Since PS4/Xbox One generation the consoles have had large enough hard drives and fast enough network connections to buy and download games from the internet. This began to cut into physical game sales. With the latest generation you have to pay extra money to have a disk drive, and the consoles have low cost subscriptions that include a access to a healthy library of games. These all hurt sales, and GameStop isn't in a position to replace those sales with anything else.

AlexB138 3y ago

I'm not much of a gamer but I tried to buy a game at GameStop maybe ten years ago and came across the unsealed game phenomenon. I don't think I've been back in one since, even though I've purchased some games since then. I don't understand how any business thinks opening retail packaging and selling the product as new is acceptable. There has to be some logic to it but it is baffling, and an absolute deal breaker, to me. I'm not at all surprised to hear it's a business in decline.

mkinsella 3y ago
It makes buying used games (which they make much more profit on) more enticing to the consumer.
PaulHoule 3y ago
The one Gamestop in Ithaca used to have a clerk who was highly knowledgeable about games, fun to talk to, and always gave good recommendations. The folks who work there now aren’t up to that standard. I like it how it is a place to go and run into people like the teenage girl who is dressed like somebody from https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/fruits_shoichi-aoki/299691/#edition=3391704 https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/fruits_shoichi-aoki/299691/#ed... and is arguing with her dad (my age) about the value of an anime plushie and I will definitely take her side. On the other hand there is very little inventory there, and frequently a game I buy for $5 doesn’t work and the replacements don’t work either. In a world where most of the gaming spend is on mobile, where downloading is the dominant distribution channel for consoles and PC and a game you buy on disc might need a 50GB update on day one, I can’t see how they are relevant. It struck me as really strange that two issues of Game Informer featured Genshin Impact which is a hit mobile game that entirely cuts Gamestop out. In Binghamton NY roughly 50 minutes away there are two vintage game and entertainment stores that beat the pants off Gamestop. Both of them have sections of used XBOX and PS games that are about twice as big as our Gamestop. One of them has a lot of used music, DVDs and also a selection of comics. The other one has an arcade with at least 60 coin op video games and pinball machines. Both feature real retro games and cartridges such as Atari 2600, Colecovision and such, I even saw a C128 for sale. My son bought an N64 there and we were able to get a CRT television to go with it by special request at our local reuse center.

bee_rider 3y ago

That’s kind of funny. In my area, they were in the process of finishing off Electronics Boutique while I was growing up, so they were always the villain. Hopefully some little indie game stores will have a little more room to breathe.

nyjah 3y ago

And I still buy physical mostly (particularly for triple A and first party titles), for a number of reasons, so I hope that physical still remains for a while, despite the broader move to digital. I used to fight this battle. I prefer physical, sure. But when I put the physical disc in, and theres a 25+gig download for the games patch or whatever it needs to update, I realized I'm fighting vs an opponent that doesn't exist. And I'm good not updating the game. But then I end up with an unfinished, sometimes buggy experience. I wish there was a physical vs digital fight, but really the companies that control it are not engaging in the battle.

apocalyptic0n3 3y ago
The last physical game I purchased (~2 years ago now; can't even remember the game) didn't even have a disk in the case. The case just had a card with a code for the Xbox Store on it. Decided I was done buying "physical" games at that point.
- busterarm 3y ago
  I remember Doom Eternal doing that to me and being pretty unhappy about it.
- nyjah 3y ago
  I've seen that. They are packing massive collectors editions that cost over a hundred dollars with empty cases with download codes. It's shameful.
snuxoll 3y ago
Opposite here, for over a decade I have been digital-only being a PC gamer first and foremost (so Steam got me comfortable with digital purchases much earlier than my console-only peers). Then I started seeing digital storefronts shutter, and I've personally lost access to titles I've purchased due to it. Now I find myself repurchasing games I've only owned in digital form as physical copies, at least where the game does not have a mandatory download or always-online functionality that would make them useless in the event of service shutdowns. So it's more or less been Switch + older generation consoles.

htag 3y ago

GameStop was originally known as being a clean, well lit retailer that sold new and used games together as well as consoles, accessories, and general merch. Their staff was young, friendly, and knew about their products. This recipe lead to them expanding quickly, often nudging out other regional/local game stores. Unfortunately, during this time period they also began some pretty annoying practices. They started pushing magazine subscriptions and club memberships with every sale. Same with extended warranties. The checkout process was awful. At the same time, complaints about how management was treating the staff started coming in. What really hit the nail on the GameStop coffin was digital downloads. Since PS4/Xbox One generation the consoles have had large enough hard drives and fast enough network connections to buy and download games from the internet. This began to cut into physical game sales. With the latest generation you have to pay extra money to have a disk drive, and the consoles have low cost subscriptions that include a access to a healthy library of games. These all hurt sales, and GameStop isn't in a position to replace those sales with anything else.