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Tag: GameStop

  • Are Game Prices Going To Go Up This Year?

    In 2005, Microsoft ushered us into an age where video games cost $60. Initially, we complained as games were only $50 on the PS2, Xbox and Gamecube. Eight years later and we’re now complacent with the new price of games. Will that complacency give in to publishers asking for even more money with next-generation games?

    Kotaku reports that Microsoft has confirmed that Xbox One titles continue to cost $60. Sony hasn’t committed to a price yet, but the company has indicated in the past that the price will likely remain the same. What about third party publishers though? Would they push game prices up to $70? None of them are saying.

    When games prices went up to $60 in 2006, publishers said the increased cost of making games warranted the price hikes. Will increased development be used again as an excuse to push the price of games up to $70? That may not necessarily be the case.

    Sony told Kotaku that they are trying to reign in game budgets on the PS4, but games are still going to cost $20 to $50 million to make. To make back that money, publishers are going to have to sell either a million copies at $60 or $70, or sell two million at $40 to $50. The former is a more realistic scenario as physical game sales continue to decline in the face of digital sales.

    So, where does that leave digital distribution? Sony and Microsoft (and Nintendo to a lesser extent) have all made a big to do about selling games digitally. Sony is already experimenting with pricing on digital platforms by cutting a few dollars off of a Vita game’s digital price compared to its physical price. There’s been no such change to the PS3’s digital content prices though.

    Some argue that Sony and Microsoft would be wise to offer digital copies of games for a lower price than the physical copy. It makes even more sense for Microsoft as physical copies on the Xbox One are largely meaningless as they only exist to activate a license and install data to a hard drive. Ditching the physical copy in favor of just buying it online should net the consumer at least a small discount to encourage a method of buying games that brings in more money than the traditional retail model.

    In the end, I find it hard to believe that Sony or Microsoft will raise the price of their own games. For years, Sony offered PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games for $10 less than third party titles on the platform. Worst case scenario, we might be seeing something similar to that again with Sony and Microsoft selling first party titles for $60 while third parties jack up the price to $70.

    If that happens, will gamers lie down and take it yet again? It’s hard to say, but the reaction to the PS4’s lower price compared to the Xbox One should be sending signs to publishers that gamers react positively to lower prices. If they want to continue offering games at $60, publishers should start to reign in their own development costs instead of running amok with budgets while passing on those costs to consumers.

    [Image: Dwight Burdette/WikiMedia Commons]

  • Wii U Basic Being Discontinued? Nintendo Says No

    It seems that in the run-up to this year’s E3 Conference, there is some uncertainty about the future of the 8GB Basic version of Nintendo’s Wii U console. It seems that GameStop has issued orders recalling unopened consoles.

    According to a report yesterday on Kotaku, GameStop has been sending word to certain stores that all new and unopened Wii U Basic consoles will have to be returned to corporate if they are not sold by June 18th. Initial attempts to get some explanation from either Nintendo or GameStop were unsuccessful, but Kotaku speculated that the console was being discontinued. The $300 Basic model has only 8GB of onboard storage, while the Deluxe console has 32GB, comes with Nintendo Land bundled, and is only $50 more expensive. It seems that the Deluxe model has consistently sold better than the Basic version.

    Today, however, Nintendo denied rumors that the Wii U Basic was being discontinued. The company said in a statement that only some Basic consoles will be recalled. The goal, Nintendo spokesman Charlie Scibetta said, is to “rebalance” stocks of the poorer-selling console.

    Scibetta said that customers who prefer the Basic console will still be able to find it, even after the June 18th recall.

  • Used Xbox One Games Will Be Sold At Retail, Publishers Get A Cut This Time Around [Report]

    Used Xbox One Games Will Be Sold At Retail, Publishers Get A Cut This Time Around [Report]

    After Tuesday’s Xbox One reveal, reports came forward that Microsoft would block used games, or at least charge those playing used games a fee. Microsoft finally came out with an official statement that didn’t clear much up, but a report out today offers more details.

    MCV reports that Microsoft will be taking command of the pre-owned market with a system that gives publishers and itself a cut of every used game sale. In fact, the new system detailed today would give retailers about the same cut as it gets from selling used games.

    As you already know, each Xbox One game will tie itself to a single Xbox Live account when installed on the system. In essence, you are buying a license to use that software.

    Now, this is where things get interesting. Those who sell their game to a retailer will have that game’s license removed from their system. This will all be done through Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform – the same platform that will power Xbox Live on the new console.

    Once the game is in the hands of the retailer, they can sell it for whatever price they like. Unfortunately, that price may be higher than usual thanks to Microsoft and publishers now getting a cut of every pre-owned sale. In fact, unconfirmed reports are saying that retailers will only get to pocket 10 percent of pre-owned sales. The current pre-owned market allows retailers to pocket all of the money from sales.

    While this may be good for publishers and Microsoft, I find it hard to believe that retailers would accept these terms. Retailers like GameStop can only survive thanks to the used game market. Taking that revenue away from them makes many, including myself, think that GameStop and others will refuse to sell pre-owned Xbox One titles.

    It should be noted that these are unconfirmed reports for now. It wouldn’t surprise me, however, to see Microsoft working with publishers to take back the profits from the pre-owned market. It may be good for them in the short run, but I can only see it blowing up in their faces further down the road.

  • Gears of War: Judgment Multiplayer Early Access Coming March 15

    Gears of War: Judgment Multiplayer Early Access Coming March 15

    Epic Games this week announced that some players who pre-order Gears of War: Judgment will get three days of early access to the game’s new “OverRun” multiplayer mode. Unfortunately, the deal only applies to gamers who order Judgment from GameStop, either online or in-store.

    Those who do pre-order with GameStop will be able to start playing “OverRun” at 3 am EST Saturday, March 16. The early access will run until the launch of the game on March 19. During that time, players can earn XP that will carry over to the full game. The pre-order also comes with a “Young Marcus” character skin and a Lambent weapon skin.

    For those who don’t want to order from GameStop, or aren’t sure if they want to buy another Gears title, a demo for the “OverRun” mode will be available through Xbox LIVE on March 19 when Judgment launches. “OverRun” is a new class-based multiplayer mode that pits COG players (soldiers, medics, engineers, and scouts) against Locust players who can take on the role of wretches, tickers, grenadiers, ragers, kantus, giant serapedes, and maulers.

  • Kindle Fire Is Now Available At GameStop

    When you think of GameStop, you generally think of console titles lining the walls and 8,000 copies of Madden NFL 08 going for $1.99 each. The gaming retail giant has changed its image over the past year, however, to a store that peddles all gaming devices, including Android and iOS tablets. Now the store has earned a powerful partner in Amazon.

    GameStop announced today that it’s now an official retailer for Amazon’s insanely popular Kindle Fire tablets. The games retailer will sell the updated Kindle Fire, the Kindle Fire HD and the Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch. As an added incentive, those who purchase a Kindle Fire from GameStop will get a $25 Amazon gift card.

    “Android tablets are topping many holiday lists, so it’s the perfect time to add Kindle Fire to GameStop’s mobile electronics selection,” said Joe Gorman, vice president of mobile at GameStop. “And with customers able to trade old video games, devices and more toward the purchase of new products, including Kindle Fire, we’re making it easier than ever for customers to get the holiday gifts they want.”

    In a year where tablets are topping wish lists for kids and adults, GameStop has to capitalize on the holiday rush for said devices. The Kindle Fire is one of the more accessible and cheaper tablets that folks can buy, and the quality of games on the Kindle Fire rivals that of other platforms.

    The Kindle Fire joins GameStop’s large portfolio of Android tablets the retailer offers. The most notable being the Nexus 7 from Google. GameStop offers five free games with purchase so the decision may come down to getting five quality games or a $25 gift card that can be used on more than just games as Amazon’s digital storefront offers quite a bit in the way of music and movies.

    On a final note, GameStop is also kicking off its trade in program for Kindle Fire devices today. The retailer is offering $100 in-store credit for any original Kindle Fire traded in. It’s a limited time special offer only for the original Kindle Fire as the retailer is only offering $85 for a Kindle Fire HD.

  • Retail Video Game Sales Continue to Plummet

    Retail Video Game Sales Continue to Plummet

    In another sign of both the dying retail video game merchants and the slow death of the current console cycle, new numbers show that retail sales of video games, video game hardware, and video game accessories in October were down 25% from that month last year.

    According to a Bloomberg report citing research firm NPD, retail sales of video games were down to $755.5 million. NPD blamed much of the decline on low console sales, which are down 37% year-over-year, while video game sales were down 25%.

    As for the languishing console wars, Microsoft managed to still lead console sales in October, selling 270,000 consoles, a number that is down 31% from last year. With Nintendo’s new Wii U console being released on November 18, expect next month’s numbers to show a large Nintendo lead in console sales over Microsoft and Sony.

    This news, though not unexpected, comes just as game companies are kicking off the holiday buying season – the biggest sales months for the gaming industry. Sequels such as Halo 4, Assassin’s Creed III, and Call of Duty: Black Ops II will net hundreds of millions of dollars for their publishers and demonstrate the apex of what graphics are accomplishable with current console hardware. They also demonstrate, however, that the industry is in a transition period, and that new consoles and new IPs will soon be needed to keep gamers from becoming burnt-out on sequels.

  • Gamers Get Their Own Tablet In October

    Gamers Get Their Own Tablet In October

    Amazon was on a roll yesterday with the announcement of multiple new Kindle devices. The Kindle Fire HD and Paperwhite are sure to be a hit among consumers this holiday season. Unfortunately, Amazon didn’t have a tablet that addresses the needs of the gamer. One company is hoping to fix that in October.

    Wikipad Inc, the makers of the aptly named Wikipad, have announced a partnership with GameStop that will see the new gamer-centric tablet being offered at GameStop locations across the nation. For those unaware, the Wikipad is the first tablet to come equipped with an attachable gamepad controller that emulates what you would find on the Xbox 360 or PS3 controllers.

    The Wikipad will launch on October 31 for $499. It’s a little on the expensive side, but people who buy it from GameStop will get a lot of extra goodies:

    “GameStop is the retail destination when it comes to video games. Nobody but GameStop provides gamers with the best gaming content on the market. And for those that purchase or pre-order a Wikipad at GameStop, their tablet will have access to valuable extras including exclusive free, full-length game titles. The Wikipad is powered by an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and will support PlayStation Mobile platform,” said Fraser Townley, President of Sales for Wikipad, Inc.

    The Wikipad is a 10-inch tablet that runs on Android 4.1. It will have support for the PlayStation Mobile platform, but it also supports Google Play and Gaikai. In essence, the Wikipad will be the best tablet for the discerning gamer as it promises to be host to more than just simple rope cutting simulators.

    The inclusion of the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor also ensures access to the Tegra Zone. It’s is a special store that includes all the games built specifically for Nvidia’s Tegra 3 processor. Games built specifically for the Tegra 3 tend to look and perform better than their counterparts.

    It should be noted that Google’s Nexus 7 is equipped with the same Tegra 3 processor and it’s half the price of the Wikipad. Gamers interested in tablet gaming would be wise to balance their needs when it comes to these tablets. The Wikipad has a bigger screen and an attachable gamepad, but is it worth the extra $250? You may be better off just saving up for Razer’s tablet. It comes with an Intel i7 and Windows 8 Pro for true PC gaming on a tablet.

  • Wii U Titles Going For A Pretty Penny At GameStop

    Did Nintendo’s E3 press conference excite you to no end? Can you not wait to get your hands on NIntendo Land? Worry not, brave Nintendo fan, as GameStop has 20 Wii U titles available for pre-order including certifiable hits like New Super Mario Bros. U and Pikmin 3. There’s only one little problem…

    Wii U Titles Going for $100 At GameStop

    As you can obviously see, GameStop seems to think that Wii U games are going to cost $99.99. Unless every single on of these titles is a special edition, I highly doubt that is the case. It’s obviously an error on GameStop’s part, but it’s still pretty funny nonetheless.

    Amazon on the other hand has removed their pricing from the Wii U games they have listed. Previously, Wii U games were going for $49.99, but that price point is obviously still up in the air. I would wager that Nintendo is taking a broad approach to pricing on the Wii U letting publishers set their price. I wouldn’t be surprised if first party titles went for $49.99 while third party titles like Assassin’s Creed III went for the usual $59.99.

    Going into paranoia mode, maybe GameStop knows something that we don’t. Maybe Wii U games really wil cost $99.99 each. There will probably be people insane enough to buy such a thing, but such a scenario is not going to happen. The last time I paid for upwards of $99.99 for just a game was when I spent $70 for a copy of Jet Force Gemini on the Nintendo 64. Discs are not as expensive to produce as cartridges so gamers have no need to worry about exploding prices come time for the Wii U launch.

    While $99.99 would be a little expensive for a game, I would gladly pay that much for that fake Majora’s Mask trailer that showed up before the press conference yesterday. If anything, I would pay to wipe away the painful memories of being forced to watch Nintendo shovel my dreams into the trash bins of Nintendo Land.

    [h/t: Game Podunk]

  • Subsidized Xbox 360 Coming to Best Buy and GameStop

    Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb, announced this morning that the subsidized $99 Xbox 360 will be coming to Best Buy and GameStop stores later this month. Hyrb, a member of the Xbox team at Microsoft and former host of the recently cancelled Major’s Minute Inside Xbox show, announced the expansion of the $99 Xbox program over on his blog. From the blog post:

    Today, I’m happy to announce that we’re expanding the pilot to all U.S. Best Buy stores and select GameStop locations later this month. This next phase of the pilot program will be limited in terms of both timing and the number of units available—we’re excited to forge new ground and explore a new retail model for Xbox 360, but also want to emphasize that this is a pilot period for the program.

    Microsoft announced the subsidized $99 Xbox 360 and Kinect bundle one month ago, and began selling the consoles in Microsoft Stores around the country. To purchase the bundle for $99, customers must commit to a subscription to Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE service for 2 years at a price of $15 per month. A normal subscription for Xbox LIVE is $60 for one year, making the normal price for the service $5 per month. Still, this deal might end up being cost effective for consumers who find it hard to save up hundreds of dollars at a time for a videogame console. Though Hyrb emphasizes that the bundle is only a pilot program, this could end up being the future of how video game consoles are bought.

  • GameStop Now Selling Android Tablets

    GameStop Now Selling Android Tablets

    GameStop, regardless of how you feel about them, was one of the last bastions of pure core gaming bliss. They served the core and we rewarded them with our hard earned money. Alas, the core does not have all the money when it comes to gaming anymore. People who would rather spend 30 minutes a day playing Angry Birds instead of eight hours playing Dragon’s Dogma now have a majority of the money. GameStop recognizes that and has begun to market to those gamers as well.

    It was announced on Friday that 1,600 GameStop locations around the country are to begin carrying Android powered tablets. The company previously only sold refurbished iOS devices. The move to selling new Android tablets is significant as some of them are seen as better dedicated gaming devices. It fits in much better with the idea of GameStop as a games retailer.

    The company is selling a variety of Android tablets from the ASUS Transformer Prime to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. To encourage the purchase of tablets from GameStop, they are including free games with the purchase of select tablets. Some of those games include Riptide and Sonic CD. Gamestop purchased tablets also come preloaded with Kongregate Arcade and a free issue of Game Informer digital.

    It’s not made clear if GameStop will also take trade ins of Android tablets. The online store features used tablets, so it’s a safe assumption. You will still want to call in before making a trip just to make sure they are taking in pre-owned tablets.

    To see a full list of the Android tablets being sold by GameStop, check out their storefront. There’s plenty of variety that serves all kind of budgets from those who only want a small tablet that can play the simplest of games to the super expensive Transformer Prime for those who want the very best.

    It’s pretty clear that GameStop has one of the best deals in the market for a new Android tablet. They know how to sell to gamers, even those who prefer their games on a tablet. The addition of free games and other bonuses are probably going to attract a lot of business for the company. It also could blow up in their faces and be seen as a poor investment. I think GameStop has a good chance of breaking into the market when you consider just how popular tablets are.

  • GameStop Announces Opens EXPO to PowerUp Rewards Members

    Until now, GameStop’s annual EXPO conference has been exclusively for GameStop employees. Today, GameStop has announced it is opening up the conference to a wider audience. Members of GameStop’s PowerUp Rewards program are invited to attend the conference, which will be be held in San Antonio, Texas on August 29. EXPO will feature pre-release video game demos and previews, contests, and sessions with video game publishers and “special guests.”

    In addition to the general admission tickets sold for $35, GameStop is offering VIP admission for $100. Both are available for purchase with a credit card or with PowerUp Rewards points. VIP attendees will gain access to VIP lines for autographs and signings, access to a VIP gaming lounge, and admission to up to four General Sessions. The General Sessions will grant in-depth looks at upcomming games. Confirmed General Session presenters include Warner Bros., Namco Bandai, Ubisoft, and Square Enix.

    Two quick notes for those of you already packing your bags for San Antonio. The conference will only be one day long for PowerUp Rewards members, and only five hours long. That’s certainly not enough time to experience everything at the conference, and might not be worth a cross-country trip. Also, the conference won’t be a big cosplay event. No weapons or items that can be “construed as a weapon” will be allowed in.

    (photo courtesy GameStop)

  • Hitman: Absolution Gets a November 20th Release Date and Pre-Release Content

    Square Enix today announced the release date for next installment in the Hitman series Hitman: Absolution. The game will launch on November 20, 2012 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PC.

    Square Enix also announced a special pre-order bonus for players who pre-order the game from GameStop stores in North America. Those players will get exclusive access to Hitman: Sniper Challenge starting on May 15. The content is separate from Hitman: Absolution and has players take on the role of Agent 47 to assassinate an arms dealer and his bodyguards from a rooftop.

    “Hitman: Sniper Challenge sets a new industry standard for pre-order incentives,” said Mona Hamilton, vice president of marketing at Square Enix. “For all those HITMAN fans that just can’t wait to play Hitman: Absolution, they can immediately take part in an exclusive competition featuring the original assassin when they pre-order at GameStop.”

    Players will be able to unlock equipment upgrades and use score multipliers to top an online leaderbord for the game. Monthly prizes will be rewarded to top snipers, and the player topping the leaderboard at the launch of Hitman: Absolution will win a trip to Copenhagen where he or she will have their likeness captured for use in the next Hitman game.

    Players who pre-order from other retailers will receive an exclusive costume and weapon. Amazon pre-orderers will get a “high-tech” suit and a Bartoli custom pistol; Wal-Mart pre-orders come with a “high-roller” suit and a Krugermeier 2-2 pistol; and Best Buy pre-orders come with a “public enemy” suit and Bronson M 1928 SMG.

    A pre-order mini-game with prizes leading up to a major game launch is a great idea. Unfortunately, limiting the content to only those users who pre-order from a specific vendor is unfair to users who can’t or don’t want to use Gamestop to purchase their games. Also (because I know you are thinking it), Gamestop is clear that pre-orders cannot be cancelled after a special promotion code or item has been redeemed.

    Sadly, it looks as though retailer-exclusive pre-orders are here to stay. Both Electronic Arts and Activision have implemented the marketing scheme for games this year. What do you think? Are exclusive pre-orders unfair or a perfectly valid way for retailers to advertise? Leave a comment below and let me know.

  • Call Of Duty: Black Ops II Pre-Order Bonuses Announced

    Well, that didn’t take long. The first trailer for Black Ops II hit the airwaves yesterday and we already have the retailer specific pre-order bonuses lined up for gamers who can’t wait to get their hands on the latest Call of Duty title. This year’s pre-order bonuses are a little odd though.

    First up is GameStop’s offer which has pre-order bonuses unlocking in tiers. For gamers who pre-order now, you’ll be able to get a double-sided poster featuring artwork from the game. Through the monts leading up to the game’s release, three more bonuses will unlock presumably with more pre-order bonuses. As an added bonus, you will also get a Modern Warfare 3 prestige token if you’re a PowerUp Rewards member.

    GameStop obviously has the best offer, but other retailers are offering some pretty sweet deals as well. UK retailer GAME, recently saved from destruction, will also be offering a prestige token for anybody who pre-orders the title. The token will be delivered to all who pre-order within a week.

    Best Buy will be offering the same reward they offered with the first Black Ops – dog tags. Only this time, the dog tags will have the game’s logo printed on them. It’s important to note that the dog tags will be delivered at the time of the game’s launch for online pre-orders whereas in store pre-orders will receive the dog tags at the time of transaction.

    Call of Duty Black Ops 2 Pre-Order Bonuses

    Unfortunately, Amazon seems to have gotten the worst deal out of the bunch. Their only offer right now is a downloadable wallpaper for your PC. It’s odd since Amazon usually gets great pre-order offers so there might be something better down the road. If all else fails, they might offer Amazon credit that can be applied to other game purchases.

    If you feel that you must pre-order the game, it seems that GameStop has the best deal. Of course, we don’t know what those last three bonuses are going to be. There will also probably be a provision that says you can’t get the previous rewards if you pre-order late just to make sure that you aren’t getting cheated.

    [h/t: DigitalWarfare24/7]

  • Gamestop Exec Doesn’t Believe That Next Gen Consoles Will Block Used Games

    One of the rumors to come out of the next gen console discussion that has the chance to completely change the way that consumers interact with their consoles is not an integration of motion controls or larger disk drives. It is the rumor that both the Xbox 360 and the PS3 will restrict the ability to play used games in the way that the PC does.

    Over on Forbes.com they interviewed Jon Haes who is GameStop’s Vice President of Used Merchandising on this exact rumor.

    When asked about what impact the rumored inclusion of technology that prevents used games from being playing on the next gen consoles will have on the used games business, this is what he had to say:

    “GameStop is excited to see what impending consoles, like the Wii U, will bring to the gaming community. While we can’t speculate, we do think it is highly unlikely that the next generation of video game consoles will implement technology that blocks used content because it would be considered a very unfriendly consumer initiative. As of now, the company has not received any information from the console manufacturers that any new consoles will not play pre-owned games.”

    So as you can see, he gave the ole’ political side step and answered the question with an optimistic no. He says it is “highly unlikely” and that they “have not received any information.” Does he really think that they would tell the company they are trying to put out of business? I can guarantee you that they will be sweating at E3 this year, and if Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo do decide to go the route of blocking used games, there will be a huge collusion lawsuit filed by Gamestop.

  • Resident Evil 6 Pre-Order Bonuses Detailed

    It was inevitable. After Capcom announced that they were pushing up the release date for Resident Evil 6 to October, the pre-order bonuses were quick to follow. Thankfully, it seems that the pre-order bonuses this time are not game changing additions that lessen the experience for other players.

    The pre-order bonuses are coming in the form of maps for Mercenaries mode according to the Capcom Unity blog. Each retailer – GameStop, Amazon and Best Buy – will be getting one map each for your pre-order. It’s nice since it doesn’t give any one retailer the better bonus, so it’s up to the player to decide which one they want.

    For those who aren’t acquainted with the super fun Mercenaries mode, here’s the description from Capcom:

    The super-intense Mercenaries Mode lets you play as your favorite characters from Resident Evil 6 as you fight your way through hordes of enemies within a given time limit. Chaining together multiple kills and finding other surprises will help you reach the highest score and prove that you’re the world’s greatest mercenary!

    Now onto the bonuses with GameStop’s map – The Catacombs – coming up first. While dark tunnels would already be bad enough in Mercenaries, the map has the added bonus of booby traps. One of the screens features a spike trap on the floor with a level that may control it. Maybe players will be able to use the traps to their advantage.

    Resident Evil 6 Pre-Order Bonuses Detailed

    Next up is the High Seas Fortress from Amazon. This map seems huge with it taking place on top of an aircraft carrier as well as inside the ship. Interestingly enough, the post says that players will “hone [their] martial arts skills inside the narrow confies of the hangers.” Did Capcom just hint at there being more of an emphasis on melee combat in Resident Evil 6?

    Resident Evil 6 Pre-Order Bonuses Detailed

    The final map coming from Best Buy is the Rail Yard. As you can probably guess, the map is set on a railroad yard. The description says that it’s a multilayer stage which should make things more interesting. The screens make it look more like a subway system, but the post says that players will be fighting on the “roof of the yard” so we’ll see where it takes us.

    Resident Evil 6 Pre-Order Bonuses Detailed

    As always, you can expect this DLC to not remain retailer exclusive after the launch of the game. The maps you miss out on will be available at a later date for a price. I will be pre-ordering from Amazon personally because I really like that aircraft carrier stage.

    Resident Evil 6 will launch on October 2 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Capcom announced a PC version as well with this post saying that the company will be revealing more on that later. Knowing Capcom’s track record, we won’t be seeing a PC version until a month later.

    Are you going to pre-order Resident Evil 6? If so, which Mercs map do you want? Let us know in the comments.

  • California GameStops Must Issue DLC Warnings On Used Games

    The gaming industry and consumer have been at odds for a while now. The gaming industry is locked out of used game revenue that gamers rely upon to save money while GameStop rakes in the dough. To combat this, publishers have recently been putting an online pass in their games that give games free DLC or online multiplayer if the game is bought new. If bought used, gamers have to pony up $15 to access that content.

    It seems this particular side of the business has attracted the ire of customers who went to law firm Baron and Budd to bring a class action lawsuit against GameStop. Why GameStop instead of the publishers? The used game display case tells customers that there is free DLC included on the disc, but leave out the part that says the game must be bought new to access this content without paying the $15 online pass.

    Instead of fighting what would be a long, arduous lawsuit, GameStop chose to settle out of court with Baron and Budd. The settlement forces GameStop to put signs in their California stores and online that says used games may require an additional purchase. Another part of the settlement has GameStop refunding affected customers the $15 they spent to access this content. If they are a member of GameStop’s Power Rewards program, they will receive a $10 check and a $5 coupon. If they are not a member, they will receive a $5 check and $10 coupon.

    “We are pleased that as a result of this lawsuit, we were able to obtain complete restitution for consumers, with actual money paid out to people who were harmed by GameStop’s conduct,” said Mark Pifko, Baron and Budd attorney and counsel in the lawsuit. “The in-store and online warnings are an important benefit under the settlement as well, because if GameStop discloses the truth to consumers, it is unlikely that they will be able to continue selling used copies of certain games for only $5 less than the price of a new copy. In fact, we already know that not long after the lawsuit was filed, GameStop lowered prices for used copies of many of the game titles identified in the lawsuit.”

    The complaint seems to have arisen not exclusively from the fact that people had to pay an online pass, but GameStop’s trade-in practices. Yes, it’s true that GameStop gives you maybe $25 tops for a brand new game and then sells it for $55. This makes them a ridiculous amount of profit and cuts out developers from a piece of the pie. This forced the publishers to implement the online pass which leads us to where we are now.

    I don’t really see how this is any more GameStop’s fault than the publisher’s fault, but I do agree that GameStop should warn consumers that buying used games now has ramifications. This is why you buy new, folks. It’s only $5 more and you don’t have to worry about online pass fees.

    If you want to get refunded that precious $15, check out the GameStop settlement Facebook page. It will have information on how to recover “lost funds” from GameStop.

    [h/t: Kotaku]

  • Gamestop Will No Longer Be Accepting Nintendo GameCubes

    Well, from what we learned today ,and as you can see in the banner above,

    Gamestop will no longer accept Nintendo GameCubes

    The ability to trade in your Nintendo GameCube system, accessories, or games ends on April Second.

    My question is, if Gmestop doesn’t take any more Gamecube trade-ins, then who is going to buy all those copies of Mario Party 4, 5, 6, &7?

    The Nintendo GameCube was released in North America on November 18, 2001 and sold 21.74 million units worldwide, and was discontinued on February 22, 2007. Compared to other Nintendo consoles this was an abject failure. The GameCube did have a few shining moments like it’s far superior version of Resident Evil:4.

  • Gamestop Now Offering Android Tablets With Game Bonuses

    The video game retailer, Gamestop, has officially jumped on the app gaming scene. In an interesting announcement, the retailer has decided to start selling Android tablets both online and at their stores. Unlike other places, purchasing a tablet at Gamestop will come loaded with game related content.

    As of now, there are three tablets available for purchase:

    Acer Iconia 7 inch Tablet 8GB – $329

    ASUS Eee Pad Transformer 16 GB – $399

    Samsung Galaxy Tab 16GB – $499

    The games which will come pre-loaded are: Dead Space ($9.99), Re-Load , Sonic CD (exclusive release), Monster Madness ($0.99), Riptide GP ($4.99), and Cordy. Altogether, that’s $16 worth of free games. It should also be noted that Sonic CD is an exclusive Gamestop Android Tablet release; the game will come out for other devices sometime in December.

    Along with these titles, Gamestop is offering an app linked to their website, Kongregate. Over 600 free games are available to play on the site, which was purchased by Gamestop last year. For those who are really into gaming on their tablets, Gamestop is selling a Bluetooth wireless gaming controller for $39.

    Gamestop Wireless Tablet Controller

    This new initiative is another step in the company’s shift towards mobile, and tablet based gaming. Earlier this year, they announced a new trade-in service for iOS devices. They’ve begun to sell these refurbished units already, so it makes you wonder if they’ll start offering deals like this for iOS devices.

  • Gamestop To Accept Trade-Ins For iPhones, iPads, and iPods

    In what many are considering a puzzling decision, Gamestop will now accept trade-ins for used iOS devices. If you’re unfamiliar with Gamestop, they’re one of the most popular video game stores in the country. Their business model is built around the tried-and-true pawn shop ideal. People can trade in their old games for cash, or store credit. They take these trade-ins and then generally sell them at double what they paid for them. Simple and sweet.

    Gamestop issued a press release, announcing their plan to give cash/store credit for iOS devices. They’ve provided generic information and have left out some important details. For instance, will they plan on selling these devices?

    Here’s a quote from Gamestop president, Tony Bartel, “By trading in iOS devices, GameStop customers have yet another source of funds to put toward the purchase of new and pre-owned games, DLC, digital PC games and more”

    One important statement comes from their official iOS trade-in page: “You also release GameStop from any claim for loss or unauthorized access, use or disclosure of any personal or private data or information stored on the iPod, iPhone or iPad.”

    So be sure to completely empty out your device’s memory before taking them in, if you plan on trading anything in.

    GameStop iOS Trade-In Policy

    Looking around on their site, there’s no information as of yet if they have plans to sell their purchased devices. Digging a bit further, I gave my local Gamestop a call for further information. Was able to find trade-in values for these devices:

    iPod Touch 3rd Generation 32 GB: $100 Store Credit/$80 Cash

    iPhone 4 16 GB: $135 Store Credit/ $120 Cash

    iPad 2 32 GB Wi-Fi: $300 Store Credit/ $240 Cash

    I asked the gentleman if they planned on selling the devices and how much they would be, here’s his response (paraphrasing), “Umm, let me ask my manager…He said there are no plans right now, but probably in November”

    So take that for what you will. Not that I suspected the store managers to have the information, but you never know what internal memos Gamestop sends to their employees.

    To put the figures I listed above in perspective, here’s the cheapest (realistic) prices I could find for the devices above in used condition:

    iPod Touch 3rd Generation 32 GB: $125 – From a random classified ad in Tennessee

    iPhone 4 16 GB: $300 – Another random classified ad, device has cracked screen

    iPad 2 32 GB Wi-Fi: $407 – From a site called Electronics Emporium

    If Gamestop were to sell at these extremely low prices, they’d still be making a lot of money from every trade-in. Will be interesting to track the price point they actually sell them at, if they get around to it.

    Their decision to buy these devices is perplexing, because they’ve simply been about buying and selling video games and systems. It wasn’t too long ago that they offered the same trade-in system for DVDs and Blu-Rays, but they ended up doing away with it, focusing solely on video games. If they don’t plan on selling the devices from the outset, then where is the profit coming from? Perhaps they just want to build their stock first, before they actually sell them. Only time will tell.

    GameStop iOS Device Trade-In List

    Gamestop has taken a lot of heat from gamers, who complain that their trade-in values are too low and are simply taking advantage of desperate people. Not only are the game values low, but their system hurts video game developers and publishers. The used market does nothing for the people who actually create these games; the profit is enjoyed by Gamestop only.

    It will be interesting to see how the iOS community responds to this news. Would you sell to Gamestop for the trade-in values I posted above? Will there be a response from Apple, who like the developers/publishers will see no returns on their items sold as used?

  • GameStop Introduces Facebook Store

    Multichannel video game retailer GameStop said today it is launching a storefront on its Facebook fan page.

    GameStop has tapped Adgregate Markets to provide social shopping on its Facebook page via Adgregate’s proprietary ShopFans solution. GameStop, which is ranked #115 on Internet Retailer’s Top 500 List and 3rd in the sub-category of Toys/Hobbies, is the first multichannel gaming company to launch a storefront on Facebook and provide social commerce to its more than 1.8 million Facebook fans.

    GameStop-Facebook

    Gamestop’s Facebook store features product videos, reviews and ratings, store finders, product carousels, as well as likes and shares.

    “Social commerce on Facebook is a natural complement to our trusted store and online networks,” said Kelly Mulroney, vice president of ecommerce at GameStop.

    “We have millions of customers already engaging with us on Facebook, and ShopFans gives those loyal fans more reasons than ever to shop GameStop across multiple channels.”

    GameStop says it is introducing two industry “firsts” including allowing fans to pre-order popular games for guaranteed in-store delivery pick up and it will allow fans to earn and redeem points when making purchases on Facebook via its PowerUp Rewards loyalty program, which currently has more than eight million members.

    “We are on the cusp of the Second Internet (the Social Internet) where retailers that leverage interconnectivity and engage with their customers in the dialogue in creative and authentic ways will be the clear winners,” said Lou Kerner, Social Media Analyst for Wedbush Securities.

    “GameStop’s new Facebook store provides a blueprint for the new social store, where design, usability, and the cool factor are now seamlessly integrated with the Facebook social graph. This store is a game changer for the burgeoning f-commerce industry.”