Gamestop's digital plan: Sell DLC in stores

by Justin McElroy on Nov 12th 2009 2:30PM

We've known for a while that Gamestop is anxious to fend off irrelevance by getting into the digital game. The company has laid out a plan (with points and everything) and hired someone to head up the effort, but we're not sure this latest step is entirely positive. As reported by The Cut Scene, GameStop COO Paul Raines told attendees of the BMO Capital Markets conference how the company planned to put DLC kiosks in its stores next year, allowing people to buy additional content as they buy the full game.

We understand why the company is scrambling to be involved with digital delivery. Honestly, we do. But the first time some well-meaning Gamestop employee asks us if, in addition to buying the game, we'd also like to purchase the rest of the game, we're going to up-sell his name tag into his nostril.

Source

Tags: digital-delivery, dlc, gamestop, Microsoft, Nintendo, retail, Wii, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (89)

Um, hasn't Joystiq been vocally supportive of the rise of DLC? "Where's our BF 1943 DLC" etc.? Why the position change?

It's not about DLC, it's about Gamestop. Gamestop hating is cool, and I'm not being sarcastic in the least. I'll lead the march to their headquarters if I have to.

I think the "change" is in being charged for a full game and then being asked to buy the rest of it separately at the same time.

This doesn't make any sense. Why would someone go to a Kiosk in the store when they can just download it directly from PSN or Live. Either way they have to log on to download it. Doesn't sound like a very good plan to me...

Simple:

Smart parents who don't allow their kids unfettered access to their credit card or people who have slow internet connections. And my guess is that if Sony and Microsoft were smart, they would preload these kiosks with content such that it would be as simple as copying it onto a flash drive and be done with it instead of making people wait to actually download the content live from a server.

But that's just me.

True matt, but you can buy PS3 and 360 cards, so you dont have to deal with buying those points online or entering in a credit card, so adding in cards for DLC is really just a way for them to tax that as well as the cards now, so honestly, I'd rather buy the cards and use it how I like, and dislike these kiosks because I know a couple of pushy d-bag types that work at a gamestop near me, and last thing I need is them swiping another "flashback map-pack" from my Gears 2 purchase, then tells me to buy it off the kiosk.

I doubt they will require you to log in to XBox Live, or PSN. The kiosk will probably output a 25-digit code that you redeem online to download the DLC to your account.

But yes, this is a ridiculously complicated and inconvenient way to sell DLC. Grandma might be able to make her way into the store and ask the clerk to sell her that Call of Doody game for the Playstation 360, but there is no way she is going to be in there requesting specific map packs for Johnny.

The ONLY logical target audience for this is kids who scraped together $8 for some DLC, but can't convince their parents to buy it with their credit cards. And these kids would still be better off just buying points cards.

If this is Gamestop's master strategy for surviving in the digital age, then they are officially out of good ideas.

@copa
when did Gamestop ever have a good idea?

I think Copa nailed it!

Totally one of the people that Matt is describing. My folks don't really trust to have their credit card be on the Wii or PSN, so I've had to buy points cards-- which, when it comes to the PSN, are actually extremely had to get. I'm gonna be buying more DLC for Disgaea 2 when that comes out, so having other options than getting one of those elusive cards, or trying to convince them to use a credit card, is appealing to me.

Three words: Store Exclusive DLC

This is GameStop. It will happen.

Just imagine all the Madden players lining up to buy the "Your player can fly and has laser eyes and is now a total bad ass" DLC...

Some people have been banned from Xbox Live. Of course, these are the same kind of people who would pirate DLC if given the opportunity.

So how much will GameSuck inflate the costs of DLC by going to their store? Seriously, I'd love to see the price difference between purchasing that $5.99 Killzone 2 map pack directly from the PSN and through GameStop.

@Copa

Even if you get a redemption card you still have to log into PSN or XBL, input the code and download it to your account. You just bought the content at the store but all that does is add an extra step into the equation by going to the store for the DLC.

I can see this as beneficial for selling used game though ... special game sale on Uncharted 5 or Halo 7 ... when you buy the game used at out Summer Sale event we give you the two DLC packs for free.

I was originally against this thinking it was one of the stupidest ideas ever, but all this talk about points has me thinking about how much I hate having to buy points just to buy the damn DLC. Points are a scam. There would be no way for Gamestop to force people to buy Live/PSN points before they could buy the DLC, they would have to sell the DLC plain at its normal price without the bullshit. I would actually be for it if it means I dont have to pay more money for a useless amount of extra points.

I would just have to decide what I hate more, points or Gamestop.

@devilsei: but isn't making plastic cards cheaper then paying people to give you the game?

It would make sense for me, but only for two reasons. At home, my Xbox says my connection doesn't meet the MTU requirement so it won't go live. In my dorm, I can't connect to Live or the Playstation Network because they're blocked by the school. So, it would be convenient while I'm at school or at home in the case of the Xbox.

yeah that's what i was thinking. maybe impulse buyers might grab it - there have been retail packaging in boxes with DLC codes for stuff like Fallout3 content.

but why go to all that trouble (unless it comes with a poster, or shirt, or whatever) if you can just do it in your skivvies sitting on your ass?

No flash drives:

"Under the program, a GameStop shopper who learns about a new level available for, say, a war or sports game could immediately purchase that upgrade. When the shopper arrives home, the add-on will be available to download and play."

http://www.reuters.com/article/PBLSHG/idUSN1245868320091112

well they better to learn to actually sell DLC below MSRP like every other option we have (that's called a sale, GameStop), otherwise there is 0 incentive not to just download it through whatever box you will be downloading it from.

Mark my words. GameStop will somehow figure out a way to sell "used" data.

You have been warned.

lol. Hilarious.

power to the ignorant

Do I get a discount if I bring my own DVD to make a copy of *insert game here*?

I can definitely see them selling game saves at some point.

IMO, this is actually a fantastic idea. I hate DLC just for the fact that when I'm done with it, it's worth absolutely nothing. When I'm done with a physical copy of a game, I can resell it and let someone else enjoy it.

This is probably something Microsoft should look into, actually. They'd be the ones that would have to be convinced that you've now sold your "license" to play a particular game to someone else. Hell, they could even find a way to skim off the top during the transaction and actually MAKE money doing it.

Used data would be cheaper too.

Why on earth would I go to GameStop to buy DLC? You really think i want a employee to ask me if I want to pre-order a game and buy a Edge Card repeatedly?

my gamestop kept trying to get me to buy a $45 used 360 controller with stains on it, i told him 3-4 times i would rather just buy it new for $50... for fucks sake two double AA batteries is gonna cost a few dollars anyways!

Gamestop employee: "Would you like to reserve any DLC?"

Knowing them, somehow their "shipment" of DLC will get delayed.

Or lost, and somehow magically end up on that employee's 360 downloaded and ready to play.

"But the first time some well-meaning Gamestop employee asks us if, in addition to buying the game, we'd also like to purchase the rest of the game, we're going to up-sell his name tag into his nostril."

....and then proceed to purchase said additional game content as well.

Don't kid yourselves.

Is this even possible? Becoming a middle-middle-man for digital distribution? I mean, my ISP is kind of getting a cut with my monthly fee, but now theyre going to cut out my ISP? So I can buy a game from the internet from their store instead?

I can see this being useful for those without an internet connection, but what about DRM? Are they going to just download it from XBL/PSN, then wait half an hour on the phone to have the DRM exchanged for another account? What the hell?

When you're hungry for money anything is possible.

More like when you're in a market that isn't going to be there in another 5-10 years, anything is possible. They need to start figuring this shit out now, because when digital distribution gets more and more commonplace, they're in for a major awakening if they don't have some sort of backup plans in place.

Ok Matt. But then that's why they have PSN Card and Microsoft Points. Either way Your Grandmother Etc. would have to log on to download it to her console/ handheld device.

Makes me wonder what the mark-up will be. I mean, they can't just sell it for the exact price it'll be up for elsewhere; they wouldn't make any money. 10%? 15%?

Maybe they'll start charging for Xbox Live Dashboard updates like some Best Buy stores do.

Whoever thought of this should be tied to a chair and forced to play Barbie Horse Adventures for days. Then fired.

*Then fired out of a cannon.

fixed.

This plan is so perfect, it's retarded.

I got an idea Gamestop...

Sell me my soul back, and don't mark it up 150%.

Too late I picked it up for $5 bucks cheaper cuz it was used.

My name is satan

http://24.wikia.com/wiki/Paul_Raines

what?

No, the worst part of this will be the "Exclusive DLC only available in select stores!".

You know they'll do it.

The sad truth...

That's unlikely. What I do see happening is an exclusive in game item only available at these kiosks like gold guns or a skin

Theyre already doing it. Look at Dragon Age.

Good ol' reliable GameStop, finding new ways to justify us disliking them.

Oh good, cause I was finding it way too convenient to download this stuff directly through my console. I have been praying that someone could add steps and added expense to it.

Personally I would have loved the Scrooge McDuck image more than that lame Game Stop image...

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Gamestop's digital plan: Sell DLC in stores

Reader Comments (89)

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