GameStop accepts inevitable, creates digital media executive position
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Aug 5th 2009 at 1:30PM }
Petrovic's most recent position was as VP of Digital Media at Playboy Enterprises, which, looking at the company's performance over the last five years, isn't exactly a plus. Oh well, maybe he'll have better luck in digitizing this (admittedly monstrous) dinosaur of brick and print.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jrinswand @ Aug 5th 2009 1:36PM
Commence the countdown to GameStop's imminent demise...
Mr Khan @ Aug 5th 2009 1:45PM
T-minus 10 years (or more) and counting...
Cody @ Aug 5th 2009 2:18PM
LOL exactly Khan.
Despite everyones distain for Gamestoppage, to think digital distribution is going to take over the likes of GS and other brick and mortar used games spots anytime in any near future is laughable. Just take a look at 360's laughable "Games On Demand".
MystileArmor [Wiizer Sweatshop Bathwater and Sam Raimi Specialist] @ Aug 5th 2009 2:28PM
Why do you guys fail to realize it's not going to take over physical distribution but merely add another option?
Cody @ Aug 5th 2009 2:40PM
No Mystile, I agree. That's ALL it's ever going to be. If that.
Eh @ Aug 5th 2009 5:13PM
Commence the countdown to economic demise.
Gamestop or whatever store that eventually replaces it isnt going anywhere. If digital distribution were ever to replace brick and mortar stores for entertainment needs then millions upon millions of people would be out of jobs causing a huge economic downturn. Its not going to happen, car companies disappearing and creating record unemployment levels is nothing compared to all the game/movie/music stores disappearing.
MystileArmor [Wiizer Sweatshop Bathwater and Sam Raimi Specialist] @ Aug 5th 2009 1:37PM
I'd put VP of Digital Media of Playboy Enterprises on my resume, even if I completely fucked that one up.
It's like saying you've had sex with 5 women at the same time, but you burned down your house in the process.
charlie b. @ Aug 5th 2009 1:42PM
$5 says GameStop merges with Wal-Mart in the next 10 years.
216 @ Aug 5th 2009 1:45PM
It wont be a merge, it'll be a hostile takeover (by Wal-mart that is)
atrimus @ Aug 5th 2009 2:00PM
the Super-Mega Center, with a GameStop tucked in the corner between clothes and electronics.
charlie b. @ Aug 5th 2009 2:01PM
maybe world war 3 will start when Wal-Mart and GameStop can't decide who will buy out who.
firelord @ Aug 5th 2009 5:05PM
uh...
Gamestop market cap: 3.98B
Walmart market cap: 191.71B
McBrick @ Aug 5th 2009 1:44PM
Digital distribution creates an opportunity for a place to serve the substantial number of console owners that do not have broadband internet access. I'm sure Gamestop will put in kiosks that will download pretty much any content to a thumb drive for a small fee and make money selling the drives to boot.
Rumors of Gamestop's inevitable death are, for time being, somewhat exaggerated.
Jrinswand @ Aug 5th 2009 1:46PM
Wishful thinking, my good man. It is no more than wishful thinking.
McBrick @ Aug 5th 2009 2:06PM
Not wishful thinking at all - I don't have a dog in this hunt. Someone is going to find a way to service the part of the market that is not part of the distribution network if content delivery goes 100% digital and I suspect Gamestop is smart enough to capitalize on this.
If they don't, publishers will be forced to continue producing physical media and Gamestop still stays in business. I'm not suggesting GS will be around forever - I just don't see them closing their doors anytime soon.
Blockbuster is still around and I don't know ANYONE who doesn't have NetFlix.
Jrinswand @ Aug 5th 2009 2:09PM
Yeah, I know what you mean. Every time I talk to somebody that still goes to Blockbuster, I want to slap them. Okay, well not really, but I do try to talk them into getting a Netflix account. If you watch at least two movies a month (and who doesn't?), the damn thing pays for itself.
Eh @ Aug 5th 2009 5:01PM
Substantial number of console gamers without broadband? The same gamers who live in the middle of nowhere and would have to drive 50 miles to the nearest Gamestop?
aristokrat @ Aug 5th 2009 6:12PM
Blockbuster Online (at least if you have a legacy account like me) is a better option, in my opinion, because then I get a free movie rental if I take it back to the store, and I get a free game rental every month, for the same price I'd pay with Netflix. Not a bad deal, in my opinion.
Captain Planet @ Aug 5th 2009 1:45PM
Oh man, I can't wait to see what scheme GameStop comes up with to sell "used data".
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 5th 2009 1:45PM
Ummm yea..are they going to sell JUST Vouchers for Games on Steam/PSN/XBL?? I dont see how they can get much money off of that. DAMN sure wont be making BILLIONS because they cant resale those, Gamestops days are numbered as are "Pre-order bonuses" at various locations.
Number-2 @ Aug 5th 2009 1:48PM
Vp of digital media for playboy enterprise sounds like a boring job, probably just stare at screen all the day.
pmagod @ Aug 5th 2009 1:54PM
Hey Playboy wheres my check for staring at boobies all day long?
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 5th 2009 1:47PM
oh and we all know that PlayBoy having shit stock means too much of nothing....I mean not TOO many people pay for the mag anymore, PPV-on demand of that has got to be down as well...and I can imagine so are their web hits and memberships....I mean why the HELL pay for what you can get for free?? I'd be willing to be pirates hurt porn(to an extent) more than it does games or regular movies....
Jrinswand @ Aug 5th 2009 1:48PM
Not really. Porn is one of the biggest entertainment industries in the entire world. One way or another, people in the porn business are always going to find ways to make money.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 5th 2009 2:30PM
they would make a KILLING if Porn Theaters came back....lol
Sly [Wiizer Sweatshop Raccoon] @ Aug 5th 2009 4:08PM
not really, since most people do a certain thing while watching porn that they can't or choose not to do in public...
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 5th 2009 4:14PM
aye Pee Wee didnt care....beat off right there in the theater....
Christian @ Aug 5th 2009 1:47PM
they can ride out used back catalog sales from this and even next gen. not to emntion selling hardware and accessories. as well as points and game cards for those who want to avoid using a credit card online
Mr Khan @ Aug 5th 2009 1:49PM
They've got a long, long time before they need to start getting worried. The fact that they're doing something about it now means that they'll be ready enough well before they need to be.
Even if part of the stimulus plan is to invest more public capital in greater Broadband availability, it'll be at least 10 years before this sort of thing becomes widespread enough that you wouldn't be hurting yourself severely by going DD-only. Plus the fact that full retail experiences are only going to get bigger as time goes by, so the standard of broadband necessary to keep up with downloading full retail games is only going to creep up.
Jrinswand @ Aug 5th 2009 1:52PM
What do you mean by "full retail experiences [getting] bigger?"
Mr Khan @ Aug 5th 2009 2:00PM
Generations advance and whatnot. Start from the 9 Gig games of today, but think about downloading full dual-layer PS3 games, then think about if that 50 Gig size becomes something of a standard for your basic A-grade game down the road, when the other companies have adapted Blu-Ray (or the inevitable Blu-Ray knockoff Nintendo will doubtlessly use), and then think about having to download that.
Xizer @ Aug 6th 2009 2:33AM
Why think about that when I can do it? I already download Blu-rays... 50 GB is nothing.
Poisoned Al @ Aug 5th 2009 1:51PM
Gamestop: Looking to the future to find new ways to rip you off!
OnToGloryReturns @ Aug 5th 2009 2:47PM
How, exactly, does GameStop "rip you off"?
Poisoned Al @ Aug 5th 2009 3:06PM
You for real? They sell second hand / stolen goods for inflated prices, and buy up all the competition so have little choice but use their funky smelling pawn shops. A practice that damages the games industry and leave you with a copy of a game that looks like it lost a fight with a belt sander.
Anthology @ Aug 5th 2009 3:06PM
How DON'T they?
OnToGloryReturns @ Aug 5th 2009 5:45PM
"They sell second hand/ stolen goods for inflated prices" - so they're FORCING you to buy them? It something called being an informed consumer, which is your responsibility, not theirs. So how is that "ripping you off"? You make a decision to either do business there, or not to. If they came to your house, punched you in the face, took your games and forced you to take half the games' value in store credit then THAT is "ripping you off". As for the stolen thing, I'm sure it happens but there are in fact ordinances that they have to abide by.
Clearly it damages the games industry as well since you can see how horribly the industry has performed and grown over the last decade. Wasn't it determined and accepted by game developers and publishers that most trade ins actually go towards purchasing new product? How awful, making it easier for people to aquire new games.
Oh look, I want to buy a used copy of 'Prototype"; can I see the disc? Oh, it looks like it lost a fight with a belt sander. Do you have a good copy because I won't buy it if you don't?
See what I did there? I used my brain and my power of choice and didn't get "ripped off"
ill trooper @ Aug 5th 2009 1:54PM
Funny cartoon, but I'm more worried about what the guy off-screen is saying... What's being described is more constricting and limiting than GameStop. Of course Penny Arcade is taking the stance they have in that cartoon; they're a developer now, and developers don't like used sales that leave them out of the loop.
Digital distribution is cool but I still prefer to have things like games and movies available as a disk that I can store on the shelf, rather than on harddrives, and as something I can lend to someone or take over to their place to watch/play.
The problem isn't GameStop per se, it's the ridiculous prices they charge for used games, and how there are no royalties for developers off of used games. If their pricing was more reasonable, you'd be stoked to go get a used game from them. Catch up on a used classic for $20, with a percentage going to the original developer? Sure. But $52.99, after they credited some kid $6 (not even cash, mind you, but a credit towards another purchase), with none of that going to the game's creators? No.
OnToGloryReturns @ Aug 5th 2009 3:00PM
Here's the amazing thing though - you don't have to buy it if you don't like the price and you don't have to trade it in if you don't like what you're getting for it.
Money to the developers? Ok, so if you buy Halo 3 then sell it to your neighbor for $35 then should you be required to send Bungie a percentage of that?
It's called free enterprise
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_enterprise
ill trooper @ Aug 5th 2009 6:33PM
So what about my comment made you think I don't exercise that exact plan? I think that's exactly what I said. Welcome to 2005, when I stopped selling anything to GameStop, using that new "amazing" concept you're talking about.
And yes, I think you, but specifically only you, should send Bungie some money when you sell your friend Halo 3. Person-to-person transactions aren't regulated in a way that would work with a royalty model, but if a company like GameStop is reaping massive profits from used games on the books (meaning they can trace which games sell and how much they earn from them), there is a growing interest in the gaming industry to put some of that "used market" money back toward the people who developed the games that are re-selling, over and over.
It's called youmissedthepointofthewholething.com, take a look. It might take the URL a while to load, but you should keep trying.
OnToGloryReturns @ Aug 5th 2009 8:18PM
Nope, didn't miss the point at all. By that logic then, used automobiles would work the same way, so would used books, clothing, DVDs, CDs, MP3 players etc.
The developer/publisher made their money when the retailer bought the product. If I then decide after buying the game that I want to sell it back to someone like a large specialty retailer I have the right to do that since it is my property. It then becomes their property and they can do with it what they want. They have no further obligation to the publisher whatsoever for having a business model that people clearly like utilizing and is profitable.
Why should the scale of the enterprise matter? It could be person to person, one small store, a chain of stores or a worldwide franchise. The principle remains the same and I'm sure, though I'm not taking the time at the moment to reference it, that there is a legal precedent or principle about 'first ownership' or a similiar moniker that addresses that very thing - that after the initial sale a product has no further supplemental royalty rights.
Check that Free Enterprise link again
kthxbye
ill trooper @ Aug 6th 2009 3:55AM
You keep stepping up, but you don't really read.
Yes, you missed that point. Even if I was arguing for developers getting royalties, (which I was NOT) the logic does NOT extend to automobiles and the other examples you typed. C'mon guy, you're smarter than that.
Different product markets have different means of profit and sales, some more straightforward than others, others with royalties, etc., therefore you can't blurt out that old 'by that logic, then (insert stretched-thin actually unrelated analogy here)' internet nugget like you did, and you're clearly smart enough to recognize that candy sells with a different profit model than a screenplay or musical recording, or even a piece of software. And the scale does matter, because outside of 'widget' examples in a classroom, the number of people employed, the resources used, impact on other economies, how much money is being made, etc. is all considered.
As for your link that you keep pushing, I don't think you quite understand that if the industry opts to figure out and use a royalties model, THAT would ALSO be "free enterprise" in effect. I know that's a bit inconvenient to hear, as I'm sure you only want to acknowledge what 'free enterprise' encompasses when it bolsters your own point. Or in other words, "You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means."
OnToGloryReturns @ Aug 6th 2009 5:52AM
The thing is though, the scale doesn't matter because the principle remains the same. That's why the analogy is relevant whether it's automobiles, dvds, games or candy. Apparently the law agrees with that and does not consider the number of people employed, the resources used, the impact on different economies, how much money is being made:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine
There's no royalty model in regards to used games that the industry can implement because the Supreme Court disagrees that they have the right to it - it would seem that their definition of free enterprise matches mine. Go figure.
neveauxor @ Aug 5th 2009 1:54PM
*generic negative gamestop comment*
look i'm just like everyone else!
Poisoned Al @ Aug 5th 2009 1:55PM
*predictable rebuttal*
Shadow31 @ Aug 5th 2009 2:04PM
*opinionated statement full of grammar errors bound to get downvoted*
Storm Eagle [Wiizer Sweatshop R&D] @ Aug 5th 2009 2:17PM
*obligatory reply-fail*
Storm Eagle [Wiizer Sweatshop R&D] @ Aug 5th 2009 2:18PM
NO! Wait! I clicked to post a new comment and it still replied! What HATH GOD WROUGHT!?
Metoo @ Aug 5th 2009 1:55PM
Gamestop online digital distribution: You buy and download a game for $65, then sell it back used and upload it to their server and receive $15.
Van Faulk @ Aug 5th 2009 1:58PM
I kindof wish they didn't. No more gamestop is a fun idea. And their attitude towards digital downloads is reprehensible neough already. You want to know why there was no disc based version of PAA:OTRPOD? Because Gamestop refused to stock it unless they got a cut of the digital sales.