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Gamestop's digital plan: Sell DLC in stores

by Justin McElroy { Nov 12th 2009 at 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.

This is Modern Warfare 2's official launch party

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 10th 2009 at 12:00AM }

It seems a bit silly to have a launch party for a game that pretty much "launched" already. NYC became host to the official Modern Warfare 2 launch, where enthusiasts were able to wait on line for their chance to play the game. After the festivities, they could walk one block away to GameStop to buy a copy of the game at midnight -- and no sooner.

Funnily, a good percentage of people waiting on line already had a copy of the game. Why bother going to the launch event, then? Perhaps the swag proved too enticing: XL Modern Warfare 2 t-shirts and the chance to oogle at IGN's Jessica Chobot were more than enough reason to wait on line for upwards of an hour.

Considering this is arguably the biggest game release of the year, the event ended up being a bit underwhelming. Other than the dozens of Xbox 360 demo kiosks (with nary a PS3 in sight), Activision didn't offer much else to see or do. For the sake of this blogger, a more "ridiculous" marketing budget would have offered a far more spectacular launch party, one filled with fireworks, ninjas and dedicated servers.

Select GameStops in NY, OH and PA selling Modern Warfare 2 already [update: Activision responds]

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 8th 2009 at 11:30AM }

Update: Activision shot us an email to point out that "Activision has not given any retailer permission to sell Modern Warfare 2 prior to the Nov. 10 street date. The company fully supports the Nov.10 street date." It seems that a whole mess of folks are breaking street date and selling the game early. If you snagged a copy already, enjoy!

Poor, poor GameStop. As the gaming public's anticipation for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 approached critical mass, they faltered in their loyalty, and took their business to small "mom and pop" game retailers who had broken the game's street date. Fortunately for the retail juggernaut, Activision showed compassion for its plight, and agreed to let certain GameStops in a few Northeast states start selling the game before Tuesday in order to help combat these vicious local businesses.

We've been receiving tips all morning from folks living in New York and Pennsylvania (and Kotaku reports Ohio as well) stating that they were able to find the game on sale at their local GameStop. If you live in one of those Northeastern states, you might want to go ahead and call your local 'Stop to see if it's one of the stores which was granted special permission. If it is, then you can go straight to hell, you lucky jerk.

GameStop creates additional digital media executive position

by JC Fletcher { Nov 5th 2009 at 4:27AM }

GameStop is serious about digital distribution -- and it's proved that by hiring another person to be in charge of it. Shawn D. Freeman will be the company's new senior vice president and general manager of digital business, taking a position that the company has just created.

Freeman has previously worked as president of Ticketsnow.com and senior vice president of resale for Ticketmaster, in addition to positions with Hotels.com and Handango. He'll be "responsible for overseeing and cultivating the company's digital business strategy," according to GameStop's statement. He'll presumably be working closely with the general manager of digital media, who is "developing and executing" the company's "digital acquisition strategy."

[Via GamesIndustry.biz]

GameStop: PS3 sales remain 'very strong' post price cut

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 3rd 2009 at 6:30PM }

For a moment, let's ignore the billions Sony has lost on the PS3 so far and focus on optimism for the future. GameStop executive vice president Tony Bartel notes that momentum for the console has maintained a solid sales pace following Sony's most recent price drop and hardware remodeling.

Bartel tells IndustryGamers that there was a natural surge after the initial announcement of the price drop months ago and that the retailer has seen "very strong" PS3 sales through October. He didn't reveal specific data, though, and we'll have to wait and see if his claims are reflected in the overall October hardware sales figures released by the NPD later this month.

Pre-order LittleBigPlanet PSP for a tank costume

by JC Fletcher { Nov 3rd 2009 at 12:20PM }

Ready to start collecting Sackboy costumes all over again? Pre-ordering LittleBigPlanet for PSP at GameStop seems to be a good way to get a headstart on building a respectable LittleBigCloset. The retailer is offering a series of six outfits based on popular PlayStation franchises, including two each from Uncharted 2, MotorStorm and Killzone 2. The costumes will be e-mailed with online orders or handed out on cards with in-store purchases.

One of the Killzone costumes is the tank revealed recently by LittleBigWorkshop. Hopefully, it'll be accessible for non-GameStop buyers, because we'd be heartbroken if every LBP player didn't get to run around in a lil' tank.

[Thanks, Kevin!]

Modern Warfare 2 is GameStop's most pre-ordered game ever

by Justin McElroy { Nov 3rd 2009 at 11:20AM }

Some may have been up in arms about arguably disturbing material and unarguably juvenile advertising in and for Modern Warfare 2, but it doesn't seem to be showing any signs of stifling anticipation for the game. In fact, GameStop told Game Hunters that Infinity Ward's baby is the most pre-ordered title in the company's history. Like ... ever. GameStop VP Tony Bartel told the site, "As of today, the number of pre-order reservations we've taken for the game is the highest for any title we've ever sold in our 6,200 store network."

So feel free to grouse all you want, but unless Activision replaces the FPS gameplay with first-person putting puppies into a wood chipper and renames it Osama bin Laden Pushes Jesus Christ Down a Flight of Stairs Made of Baby Skulls, we're not sure there's any amount of controversy that's going to slow Modern Warfare 2 down.

Choose your Rabbids Go Home bonus: Assassin's Creed Rabbid ... or Geek Squad Rabbid

by JC Fletcher { Nov 2nd 2009 at 12:15PM }

Rabbids Go Home is now out, having officially been released yesterday. However, the bonuses typically associated with pre-orders are still up for grabs, in the form of two sets of retailer-exclusive Rabbids. If you order the game from GameStop (who, confusingly, is still accepting pre-orders), you'll receive exclusive Rabbid costumes based on Splinter Cell and Assassin's Creed.

If you buy it from Best Buy (in-store), you'll receive exclusive Rabbid costumes based on ... Best Buy. The exclusive Best Buy Employee and Geek Squad Rabbids will be yours! It's a tough choice, we know: the guy from Assassin's Creed or the guy who sold you Assassin's Creed. However, we doubt the codes are one-time use, so you should be able to find all the costume codes online soon enough.

Pre-order Modern Warfare 2, trade it in by Dec. 13, get $40 from GameStop

by David Hinkle { Oct 29th 2009 at 6:00PM }

GameStop would like to rent you a copy of Modern Warfare 2, it seems, as the company has revealed a trade-in plan for the standard and Hardened editions of the game. If you pre-order the game through GameStop's site, you''ll be eligible to get $40 back should you trade it in before December 13. GameStop will email pre-orderers a coupon on November 15 to that effect, which will only work for trade-ins on the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.

Considering this "deal" also applies to the Hardened edition, we have to wonder how the company will handle the included Call of Duty Classic. We've contacted GameStop for some additional info on that and will relay what we hear back.

[Thanks, Marques!]

GameStop hiring 15,000 temporary employees this holiday

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 27th 2009 at 9:00PM }

Like other retailers, North America's largest video game brick-and-mortar chain will be gearing up for the holiday sales rush with a flood of new, temporary employees. GameStop is bolstering its "game advisors" numbers by 78% (see: grunts) and the company's total employee population by 46% (see: covenant) -- that's 15,000 people altogether, RTT News reports.

While the employees will be considered "seasonal," they will reportedly receive the same benefits to working at the company as any other employee, including game borrowing and an employee discount. No word on whether they'll also get the complimentary demoralization and up-selling technique training.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers: The Pre-order Bonuses

by JC Fletcher { Oct 27th 2009 at 5:45PM }

Click to My Life as a King-sizeFinal Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers will be released in North America on the day after Christmas. If you're daring enough to pledge your money in advance to Square Enix's bold experiment in Final Fantasy action games, you face a choice: which store -- and which pre-order bonus -- will you choose? Square Enix sent out a list of retailers offering bonuses.

If you purchase the game from Amazon (current price: $44.99), you'll get a 2010 calendar. If you opt for Best Buy, you'll get a soundtrack sampler, which probably has tracks from the game, rather than Bon Jovi singles. GameStop's offer is $5 off of reservations, but that's not terribly appealing, given that the reduced price is the same as what Amazon is offering, with no extra stuff.

Gallery: FFCC: Crystal Bearers Pre-order Bonuses

Left 4 Dead 2 commercial hits a home run ... for GameStop

by Randy Nelson { Oct 27th 2009 at 12:00AM }

Okay, we won't deny it -- the first TV spot for Left 4 Dead 2 is pretty cool. After all, it's got the four survivor characters in a baseball stadium filled with the infected undead, one of which gets knocked into the bleachers (or at least a few feet through the air) by a baseball bat. But as much as it's an advertisement for the game, it's also one for GameStop, driving home the fact that the American baseball bat is available only through pre-order at the retailer. Good for them!

It's a bit of a downer, though, for those who've reserved the game elsewhere. Or what about the people who just walk into a store on release day to snap up a copy? We've got it! The next ad should feature the survivors being ripped apart by zombies, with the tagline "Pre-order or Die!" We mean, a company's eventually going to go there someday, right?

GameStop details three-point plan for digital distro future

by David Hinkle { Oct 22nd 2009 at 10:00PM }

GameStop doesn't really have to worry about digital distribution devices like the PSP Go right now -- in the Go's case, it's because there's pretty much nothing on it -- but, in the future, the company may need to consider adapting to a less physical media-dependent market. Though some say that day won't come until 2017 (others say digital distribution will endanger the company), Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian recently attended an analyst-only GameStop meeting at the NYSE (via IndustryGamers) where the company actually detailed its plans to prepare for the rise of ~~the machines~~ digital distribution.

GameStop's three main goals to adapt included increasing in-store sales of point cards for online purchases, expanding its digital distribution of PC and casual titles via its website and making a strategic investment in the space or acquiring an online entity specializing in digital distribution. The first two are pretty cut and dry, but that last item really gives one food for thought.

There are certainly a plethora of online distributors that GameStop could own; Steam, Greenhouse, Impulse, GoG and Direct2Drive are all established and popular digital distribution services, though we think GameStop may have some trouble should it pursue Steam or Direct2Drive -- which are owned by Valve and IGN (News Corp.), respectively. And, hey, if GameStop decides to purchase any one of these and doesn't like it, there's always the option to trade it back in for ... ah, forget it.

Borderlands launching at midnight at 1,300 GameStops

by JC Fletcher { Oct 19th 2009 at 11:00PM }

Want to get Borderlands a little early and stay up a little late? In addition to the North Texas midnight launches that Gearbox staffers will be attending, the company has announced midnight launches at around 1,300 different GameStop locations. We guess 2K does have more pull than we thought! You can browse the list right here and see if your closest store is on the list. If it isn't ... think of it as a chance to get acquainted with some new GameStop employees.

Basically, you now have only one excuse for not getting Borderlands tonight if you're into the game and you're in the US, and that is not wanting to go to GameStop and stand in line at midnight. Which is actually pretty reasonable.

GameStop-exclusive 360 controller goes radioactive

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 16th 2009 at 7:30PM }

click to irradiate

Major Nelson has revealed a new Xbox 360 wireless controller bundle, which includes the in your face controller seen above. To be carried exclusively at GameStop, the controller features a "carbon fiber" color scheme overlaid by a red trefoil, and also includes a Play & Charge kit so you can keep playing into the wee hours of the morning. If, for whatever reason, you like the design and decide you'd like to put your money down, they run $69.99 and can be pre-ordered now. According to GameStop's website, they go on sale next week.

For those who can do without a Play & Charge kit (normal old batteries work great!), don't forget that the Wireless Controller Game Pack goes on sale next month for $10 less and includes four XBLA games.