Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[GameStop offering Halo 4 and AC3 for $40, +50% credit on in-store trade-ins]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/gamestop-offering-halo-4-and-ac3-for-40-50-credit-on-in-stor/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/gamestop-offering-halo-4-and-ac3-for-40-50-credit-on-in-stor/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/gamestop-offering-halo-4-and-ac3-for-40-50-credit-on-in-stor/#comments Gamestop offering Halo 4 and AC3 for $40, 50% credit on instore tradeinsThe stockings have come down and the gifts have been unwrapped, but GameStop hasn't stopped kicking off deals for the season. The retailer's latest deals, which run now through Saturday, have Halo 4 and Assassin's Creed 3 for $39.99 each, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on sale for $49.99.

Far Cry 3 is also on sale for $49.99, and you can pick up Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Future Soldier for $29.99, in addition to all of the other deals on recent and popular games. Finally, the company's offering a buy two, get one free sale on all used Wii and Nintendo DS games, and there's an ongoing promotion that will give you an extra 50 percent credit back whenever you trade any used games in. Just in case you didn't spend all your money on this year's previous sales, GameStop will be happy to help take the rest of it.

JoystiqGameStop offering Halo 4 and AC3 for $40, +50% credit on in-store trade-ins originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creditdealsdsgamestopholidaymicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3retailersalesseasonstoretrade-intradeswiixboxWed, 26 Dec 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another used games retailer in Florida is selling their business on eBay]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/another-used-games-retailer-in-florida-is-selling-their-business/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/another-used-games-retailer-in-florida-is-selling-their-business/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/01/another-used-games-retailer-in-florida-is-selling-their-business/#comments Another used games retailer in Florida is selling their business on eBayRemember a couple weeks ago, when Shane Butcher tried to sell his entire material life on eBay, including the chain of games resale shops he owns? Well, it turns out no one took him up on his $3.5 million "American dream," but that hasn't stopped the owner of a competing chain of Florida resale shops from deciding to do the same thing.

Rather than selling an entire life's worth of cars and property along with the stores, "Buddy and Dave" will only be selling the three existing Gamers HQ locations in Belleview, Inverness and Gainesville, Florida for a cool $2.6 million. All three locations are profitable and have been since day one, according to the eBay listing.

Both Buddy and Dave will stay on as consultants for three months after purchase, with an option to help open a fourth location that is already in the planning stages. Additionally, 10 percent of the listing's final sale price will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "This business succeeds thanks to children and giving back to them will be our first step if sold," reads the listing.

The chain of stores reportedly makes over $400,000 a year and prospective new owners can expect to earn a monthly take-home income of around $4,000, but if you can afford to spend $2.6 million on something, you're probably earning more than 50 grand a year anyway.

JoystiqAnother used games retailer in Florida is selling their business on eBay originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionebayfloridaGamers-HQretailersalesSat, 01 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Investment company buys Game, halting closures, firings, bankruptcy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/investment-company-buys-game-halting-closures-firings-bankrup/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/investment-company-buys-game-halting-closures-firings-bankrup/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/investment-company-buys-game-halting-closures-firings-bankrup/#comments This has been a quick time coming -- Game, the UK games retailer, slipped into a downward spiral early this year, and since the first public announcement of its money troubles in February, Game has closed almost 300 stores, stopped stocking major titles, cut 40 percent of its workforce and entered "administration," the equivalent of filing for bankruptcy.

The best outcome of these events would be for someone to step in and buy Game outright -- which is exactly what happened. Private investment company OpCapita's Baker Acquisitions Unlimited has purchased Game, bringing it out of administration and saving 3,200 jobs across a remaining 333 stores and administrative positions, Eurogamer reports.

Baker will provide Game with "the capital it needs to trade on a normalised basis" and will re-hire a small number of people fired from the Game head office last week. There are no plans to close more stores in the future, Baker said.

Game may have been bought for £1, after paying off an £85 million debt to Game's lenders, Eurogamer said.

JoystiqInvestment company buys Game, halting closures, firings, bankruptcy originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsadministrationBaker-Acquisitions-Unlimitedbankruptcyboughtdsgamemicrosoftnintendoplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspretailersonystorevitawiixboxSun, 01 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Game not stocking Ninja Gaiden 3, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/game-not-stocking-ninja-gaiden-3-resident-evil-operation-racco/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/game-not-stocking-ninja-gaiden-3-resident-evil-operation-racco/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/game-not-stocking-ninja-gaiden-3-resident-evil-operation-racco/#comments Game won't stock Tecmo Koei titles Ninja Gaiden 3 and Warriors Orochi 3, Tecmo announced today, asking players who have pre-ordered through Game to to try again at another, more stable retailer, such as Blockbuster (ouch). Capcom announced that Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City will also not hit Game shelves, following in Asura's Wrath and Street Fighter X Tekken's foot-stomps.

Game is on the brink of collapse, recently taking new titles from EA, Ubisoft, Capcom, Namco Bandai and Tecmo Koei off its shelves, and is looking to sell itself and everything it has -- which, at this point, isn't much.

JoystiqGame not stocking Ninja Gaiden 3, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CapcomEAgamemicrosoftNamco-Bandaininja-gaiden-3pcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3retailerTecmo-KoeiUbisoftukvitaxboxTue, 13 Mar 2012 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft defends Kinect pricing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/28/microsoft-defends-kinect-pricing/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/28/microsoft-defends-kinect-pricing/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/28/microsoft-defends-kinect-pricing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Analysts were generally unimpressed with the $150 price tag put on the Kinect hardware -- the consensus has been that Microsoft set the price too high and sales will suffer as a result. But Microsoft group marketing manager Brett Siddons disagrees. Speaking at an Amazon event in the UK, he said that once you "do the maths," Kinect is "very competitively priced."

Siddons is talking about UK prices, but his argument works the same for the American retail listings. The Kinect pack comes with support for two players (six non-active) and the Kinect Adventures game, with no other accessories needed. That's compared to PlayStation Move, which gives you the main controller, a camera, and Sports Champions for $100. But Siddons says the "Navigation controller" will cost $30 more, and expanding to full controls for two players actually makes things more expensive than Kinect. Even two Wii remotes and Nunchucks will run you $140, and that's without Motion Plus add-ons. When you look at it that way, you can see why Microsoft believes Kinect is priced competitively.

Of course, Siddons is obviously speaking from Microsoft's perspective -- you don't necessarily need the Navigation controller (you can replace it with a Dual Shock, which most people already have), or two full players' worth of controls anyway. Still, even if that $150 buys an experience similar to what's on other consoles, there's still a question of whether you'll want to write that big check in the first place.

JoystiqMicrosoft defends Kinect pricing originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbrett-siddonskinectmicrosoftplaystationplaystation-movepricepricingps3retailerukxboxWed, 28 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Store website lists Kinect for $149.99]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/microsoft-store-website-lists-kinect-for-149-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/microsoft-store-website-lists-kinect-for-149-99/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/microsoft-store-website-lists-kinect-for-149-99/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Yet another retailer has listed the Kinect add-on for the Xbox 360 at a price of $149.99, but this time, it's a little different: the price is on Microsoft's own site. Over on the Microsoft Store, the "Kinect Sensor for Xbox 360" is clearly listed (and available for preorder on November 4) at $149.99. We've screencapped the image above, just in case it gets removed in the future.

Of course, this still doesn't confirm the price for certain -- the retail side may have no more inside information from the company than any other retailer does, and may be simply listing what it expects the price to be. Or, the price may have gone live early accidentally, pending an official announcement. Either way, throw another piece of evidence on the pile for a $149.99 price on Microsoft's controller-free gaming system.

[Thanks, Michael!]

JoystiqMicrosoft Store website lists Kinect for $149.99 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-storepricingproject-natalretailerxboxTue, 22 Jun 2010 01:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon offering release date delivery for big-name games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/amazon-offering-release-date-delivery-for-big-name-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/amazon-offering-release-date-delivery-for-big-name-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/amazon-offering-release-date-delivery-for-big-name-games/#commentsFiled under: ,


For gamers, there's usually a push-and-pull battle involved in deciding to order a new game from an online retailer. On the plus side, ordering online means not having to deal with clueless game store employees, not fighting off the harsh rays of the sun and, most importantly, not leaving the comfort of the couch! On the downside, though, those online delivery people will sometimes arrive days after a game is available in stores, losing you precious time you could be spending pwning n00bs.

Amazon is looking to get rid of that major online ordering negative with their Release Date Delivery program for some of the season's biggest games. Shoppers that pay an extra $5.98 can get Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Fable 2 and Gears of War 2 delivered to their doors the same day they're available in stores (you may remember Amazon tested the program last month with Soul Calibur IV). Amazon Prime members can get this service for free, but it's only currently available in the continental U.S., so residents of foreign lands (not to mention the freak states) should be prepared to hoof it to their nearest brick and mortar game retailers.

Source - Press Release
Source - More Details

JoystiqAmazon offering release date delivery for big-name games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazononlineretailretailershippingshoppingTue, 26 Aug 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Daily: Hitting the streets]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/ds-daily-hitting-the-streets/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/ds-daily-hitting-the-streets/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/ds-daily-hitting-the-streets/#commentsFiled under:


My aversion to communicating face-to-face with other people means that I've rarely seen the inside of a bricks 'n mortar videogame store since ... well, since I worked in one last year! I also have a keenness to keep as much of my money as possible -- we all know that shopping online can guarantee excellent bargains.

On the other hand, I occasionally miss the days of rooting around in GAME's bargain bin and finding F-Zero X incorrectly priced at £0.99. I used to find some enjoyment in collecting loyalty points, of scooping neat pre-order bonuses that were exclusive to high street stores, and of having new stuff in my hands instantly.

Do any of you fine folk still prefer shopping at your local games emporium? If so, what are the perks for you? Are there perhaps specific products you will only buy at said stores? And a broader question: what do you think high street retailers could do to combat the growing threat from their online rivals?

JoystiqDS Daily: Hitting the streets originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsdretailershoppingstoreThu, 10 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Circuit City guarantees Super Paper Mario, puts money where mouth is]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/09/circuit-city-guarantees-super-paper-mario-puts-money-where-mout/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/09/circuit-city-guarantees-super-paper-mario-puts-money-where-mout/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/09/circuit-city-guarantees-super-paper-mario-puts-money-where-mout/#commentsFiled under:

Of the many scandalous practices that game shops often subject us to without fear of reprisal, pre-order harassment is one of the worst. Not only will you be sneered at and interrogated for not reserving a new release, you'll be castigated in front of your friends and family, your manhood and the chasteness of your mother called into question. We are told that someone will also sneak under you and tie your shoelaces together so that you'll trip when you try to walk away. This is the reality of video game retailers around the country.

Buying from electronics superstores like Best Buy or Fry's cuts down on the unchecked tomfoolery that governs mall-based game shops, but Circuit City is taking an extra step to satisfy its customers. As marked in last Sunday's advertisements, if you're not able to find a copy of Super Paper Mario at Circuit City tomorrow after 2 PM, the store will compensate you with a $20 gift card.

A guarantee and good will gesture like that puts Circuit City at the top of our list of places to buy Super Paper Mario and other games from. We'll just have to make sure that we wear our velcro strap shoes when we go to cancel our pre-orders.

[Via Opposable Thumbs]

JoystiqCircuit City guarantees Super Paper Mario, puts money where mouth is originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuitycityebelectronicsboutiquegamestopgiftcardmarionintendonintendowiipreorderpreordersreserveretailershopstoresuperpapermariowiiMon, 09 Apr 2007 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: GameStop Corp to absorb Rhino]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/04/rumor-gamestop-corp-to-absorb-rhino/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/04/rumor-gamestop-corp-to-absorb-rhino/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/04/rumor-gamestop-corp-to-absorb-rhino/#commentsFiled under:

in their sightsOver on the Cheap Ass Gamer forums panic has begun to take hold. Poster 'FSUEagles' claims that in no less than ten days Rhino Video Games will be officially converted to a GameStop property. While it's hard to imagine the transition would occur that quickly (especially when store managers are allegedly being told today), the acquisition would not be unprecedented.

Aside from the GameStop brand, the corporate umbrella encompasses EB Games, FuncoLand, and Software Etc., and governs 4,592 retail stores throughout the U.S. Adding Rhino, which has fewer than 100 locations, is small potatoes -- the move would be similar to GameStop's 2002 Gamesworld buyout in Ireland -- but still an important step in controlling the used game market. Rhino currently promotes a popular 2-for-1 deal, whereby patrons can trade two qualifying used titles for any one game priced under $50 (a difference must be paid on games that exceed the price restriction). If GameStop does acquire Rhino from Blockbuster then expect trade-in values to diminish overnight.

JoystiqRumor: GameStop Corp to absorb Rhino originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EB GamesEbGamesFuncoLandGameStopRetailRetailerRhinoRhino Video GamesRhinoVideoGamesSoftware Etc.SoftwareEtc.Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Are you Wii-less? We can help [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/23/are-you-wii-less-we-can-help/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/23/are-you-wii-less-we-can-help/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/23/are-you-wii-less-we-can-help/#commentsFiled under: ,

Looks like my mom.[Update 1: Our apologies; we had simply assumed the service was free. Thanks to our trusty commenters, we found a better one! For free! WiiSearcher.com!]

All right, well, maybe not us. We're too busy having way too much fun slamming our parents into the ground in Wii Tennis (except for Nikki, of course). The internet is a vast place, however, and the local denizens are sure to help you find your way if you ask nicely enough.

Welcome to NintendoFinder.com WiiSearcher.com, a wonderful place that uses voodoo and sorcery to immediately discern availability of the Wii at pretty much every retailer ever. As soon as a store restocks, torrents of E-mail are sent to any and all subscribers to the system, letting them know to get their click on. It's a great tool for those of you worried about getting a system before Christmas, and we recommend you tell your parents (nudge nudge) to check it out. You know. So they can let Santa know, too.

(Santa is a universally understood figure used for the purposes of a substandard joke. Please, no religious quarreling.)

[Thanks, Matt, for shamelessly plugging your own site! ^^]

JoystiqAre you Wii-less? We can help [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Nov 2006 12:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlertE-mailFinderFrustrationMomOnlineRetailerSantaScanSubscribeSystemWiiThu, 23 Nov 2006 12:51:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 launch shipments restricted to top 5 retailers?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/15/ps3-launch-shipments-restricted-to-top-5-retailers/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/15/ps3-launch-shipments-restricted-to-top-5-retailers/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/15/ps3-launch-shipments-restricted-to-top-5-retailers/#commentsFiled under: ,

According to a memo obtained by GameDaily BIZ from smaller video game chain Rhino Video Games, Sony has "decided to limit the supply of hardware (systems and accessories) to its top five volume retailers (Wal-Mart, Target, etc.)" on the November 17 launch day.

However, we know of at least seven major retailers receiving PlayStation 3 units on launch day. In addition to Target and Wal-Mart, we know GameStop / EB Games, Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears and Toys 'R' Us are having PS3s on launch day. We know supplies will be very limited and GameStop won't be fulfilling all of its PS3 pre-orders (already conservative figures).

That smaller retail chains will not have PS3s on launch day is not that surprising, but only the "top five retailers" is wrong and makes the memo a bit suspect. Rhino Video Games will not be getting PS3s on launch day -- a fact reaffirmed on its website -- the rest is not true. Rest assured, there will be PS3s for sale at all retailers by the end of 2007. We hope.

JoystiqPS3 launch shipments restricted to top 5 retailers? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Nov 2006 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best buyBestBuycircuit cityCircuitCityeb gamesEbGamesgame stopGameStopPS3retailerrhinosearstargettoys r usToysRUswal martWalMartWed, 15 Nov 2006 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Lik-sang responds: Sony "marched all over us"]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/26/lik-sang-responds-sony-marched-all-over-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/26/lik-sang-responds-sony-marched-all-over-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/26/lik-sang-responds-sony-marched-all-over-us/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

On Tuesday, popular game importer Lik-sang announced that they were being forced to shut down due to expenses incurred fighting multiple lawsuits from Sony. Sony quickly went into damage control mode, telling GamesIndustry.biz that the legal battle had nothing to do with the site's closure and accusing the online retailer of "sour grapes." Today, Lik-Sang Marketing Manager Pascal Clarysse answered back, telling Joystiq that Sony has "marched all over us."

Among the claims made in Clarysse's letter:
  • Although Lik-sang did not end up contesting the London suit, the retailer spent significant time and money arguing over the London High Court's jurisdiction before the case came to court.
  • Now that the London case has been decided, Lik-sang has been ordered to pay Sony's legal fees of 100,000 GBP ($187,140) by Nov. 1.
  • The ongoing cost of the Hong Kong case is forcing Lik-Sang to pay for hundreds of hours of legal work at roughly 380 GBP ($711) per hour, not including clerks and assistants.
Clarysse was also incredulous of court statements that Sony Europe 'became aware' of Lik-sang's importing business in March 2005, given that three of the firm's directors had ordered and received PSPs from the site more than six months beforehand.

This may well be the last we hear from the company on the matter for a while, as Clarysse said his contract and those of his colleagues had been terminated. We can only hope that everyone who has been impacted by this state of affairs lands on their feet.

JoystiqLik-sang responds: Sony "marched all over us" originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>importlik-sangliksangPS2PS3PSPretailretailerThu, 26 Oct 2006 20:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Save $50 on a 360 at CompUSA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/12/save-50-on-a-360-at-compusa/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/12/save-50-on-a-360-at-compusa/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/12/save-50-on-a-360-at-compusa/#commentsCompUSA is selling 360 Platinum Packages for $349.99 after $50 mail-in rebate, plus free shipping, until September 16. This offer is online only. They're also having a fire sale on the older games.

Can anybody who know tell me the percentage of people who actually mail in the rebates from these big box stores because I don't think I've ever remembered to send one in?

[Thanks Muppet]

JoystiqSave $50 on a 360 at CompUSA originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Sep 2006 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheapdealsmoneyrebateretailersaveTue, 12 Sep 2006 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mock the "Pros" at Best Buy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/21/mock-the-pros-at-best-buy/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/21/mock-the-pros-at-best-buy/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/21/mock-the-pros-at-best-buy/#commentsFiled under:


Big box retailers have never been famous for the voluminous product expertise of their uniformed staff. But that won't stop them from communicating otherwise in the most politically correct way possible. CheapyD of CheapAssGamer.com was so insulted by the lameness of this Best Buy advertorial, he came up with an amusing, Hustler-style parody. Thankfully, our readers are way too cool to ask blue-shirted wage slaves stupid questions. That is, when they're not re-stocking the shelves themselves.

[Thanks ElementsUnknown]

JoystiqMock the "Pros" at Best Buy originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best buyBestBuyhumorretailerWed, 21 Jun 2006 00:30:00 EST