In a recent issue of The Escapist,
Allen Varney tackles the subject of Wal-Mart's influence on the gaming industry and -- believe it or not -- it's huge.
As the number one retailer of pretty much any perishable and non-perishable good, Wal-Mart's decision to sell (or pull)
a product will have a dramatic effect on the success (or failure) of the good -- and the company can use that to make
its own rules.The smaller game boxes we have all come to know and love? Wal-Mart wanted more shelf space to display more games. The lack of nudity in Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K. 2 and Giants: Citizen Kabuto? Wal-Mart refuses to carry "any software with vulgarity or nudity," according to spokesman Tom Williams in October 2002. Our favorite anecdote is the story of Deer Hunter, a game designed with the average Wal-Mart shopper in mind. While you may never have played the game, you have probably seen the little CD case on display the last time you visited the store and, like it or not, that game sells well.
With the advent of Steam and other solutions for online distribution, brick-and-mortar stores have the potential to become less influential in the decisions of game development; however, they are not going away any time soon, and a large majority of games are still (and quite possibly will be for generations to come) purchased at a store. And that store is probably called Wal-Mart. Still, thanks to online vendors and downloadable content, those who want more risque titles now have more outlets at which to shop.
[Thanks, David]
