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GameStop reorganizes stores, goes "casual"
cloudeagle
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Registered User regular
So GameStop is apparently going to significantly rejigger their stores soon. From IGN:
http://pc.ign.com/articles/819/819699p1.html
On the one hand, trying to appeal to casual folk isn't a bad thing... hell, there's money in it. On the other, how are they going to set up the kiosks with games from multiple systems without confusing the shit out customers, many of whom think Mario games are on the 360?
Also, are there any other changes going on? Does this mean, say, less of an obsession over pre-orders? Can any employees let us know what you've heard?
"There is a real breadth of properties now appealing to a much broader audience than we've seen before," Daniel A. DeMatteo, vice chairman and COO of GameStop, recently told The New York Times. "Honestly, we are having to retool the way we think of things in our stores in terms of merchandising, layout and also customer service because it is no longer only the hardcore gamer walking in who knows exactly what he wants."
GameStop is making room in retail locations for two new kiosks. One will highlight music games, with Rock Band and Guitar Hero III taking center stage. SingStar and High School Musical will also receive prominent placement.
The other new section will be dedicated to children's and family games. "This is for the gift-giver who is not coming into our stores on a regular basis," said Bob McKenzie, GameStop's senior VP for merchandising. "This section is anything from Mario Kart to Zoo Tycoon to Nintendogs. The Cars game has been a big seller, Lego Star Wars, Hannah Montana and so on."
DeMatteo sees the Wii as leading the charge for casual gamers. "The audience is extremely broad these days and don't be surprised if your grandmother wants a Wii for herself."
Of course, the PlayStation 2, the lowest priced console on the market, continues to perform well.
"There's only one real value video game machine out there now and it's the PS2, especially since Microsoft gave up on the original Xbox and Nintendo gave up on the GameCube," DeMatteo said. "And if and when Sony lowers the price to $99, I expect we will still be selling PlayStation 2's in 2010."
http://pc.ign.com/articles/819/819699p1.html
On the one hand, trying to appeal to casual folk isn't a bad thing... hell, there's money in it. On the other, how are they going to set up the kiosks with games from multiple systems without confusing the shit out customers, many of whom think Mario games are on the 360?
Also, are there any other changes going on? Does this mean, say, less of an obsession over pre-orders? Can any employees let us know what you've heard?
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cloudeagle on
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My zombie gramma? I'd be pretty damn surprised, DeMatteo, you heartless jerk. :P
I'd be more upset that he called your gramma a broad.
/Groucho Marx
I doubt the Super-casuals will be very receptive to such a thing.
No more new games.
Ew. Such a bad idea. I am of the personal opinion that videogames are one of the shittiest gifts you can give. Unless its the "I specifically want XXXX" type of gift.
They sorta did away with the whole "games not released yet but here's some fake boxes, please preorder" area.
The pre-order sections have been moved back to the areas above the new games... where they were before.
The Kidz Entertainment section is the same as it was before... this isn't new, just rehashed from last Christmas, and it's a fucking pain in the ass for the employees working there. The music section is interesting, and it's really a no-brainer. When I was still a manager, my DM would get pissed at me because I had an entire section set up at the end of my PS2 wall for Guitar Hero, dance pads, and the like (Taiko Drum Master). She thought it was a waste of space, I proved it wasn't (selling 20+ Guitar Hero 2 bundles each week during the slow times of the year, for instance). She still hated it.
That, and the changes to the glass cases (putting a poster on one side, and cases on the other) are like stealing ideas from me. No, I don't really think that, but it was stuff we were doing before it was policy, and we were constantly getting bitched at for it.
/rant
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When I was a kid a videogame was an awesome gift.
You think Gamestop won't try?
I'm sure they will.
Doubt it will end well though.
No way in hell.
I think he may have been referring to parents and the like. I know that, dearly as I love my dad, and hard as he tried, I really wish he'd never try to buy me a game, ever.
"Hey, son, I heard you like that new Massive Effect game, so I went out and bought you a copy of E.T. for the Ataricubestationboxcast. I've bought one of those for you before, haven't I?"
But they haven't yet realized that this whole untapped segment of customers won't even set foot in their stores because they do all their shopping at big box stores.
Yeah, I am calling bullshit on this one, as nice as it'd be. But hell, I'd just be happy if we could get away with black sneakers instead of dress shoes. Standing around in dress shoes for hours sucks for my feet.
"Everyone who is capable of logical thought should be able to see why you shouldn't sell lifetime subscriptions to an MMO. Cell phone companies and drug dealers don't offer lifetime subscriptions either, guess why?" - Mugaaz
Bingo. They're one in a million shots. So many things can go wrong.
-The person gets you a shitty game that you never want to play. The most common since somebody who doesn't know anything about videogames is going to base their purchase on 2 factors: price, and boxart. A dangerous combination.
-The person doesn't know what systems you have, and ends up getting a game that you can't play.
-Conversely, they get you a game for a system you don't play anymore.
-They get you a game you already own.
They're just lousy gifts. They seem great, but they're not. They only work if the person buying intimately knows your gaming habits and purchases, or you yourself get to choose what game. I've received many a game as a present. Never was any of them one I would actually want.
Now, assuming this "casual rack" actually works, I have my doubts the company would put actual quality games on it. Most likely they would put the bargain bin shit they can't get rid off in hopes of pawning them off on unsuspecting customers who don't know better.
"Everyone who is capable of logical thought should be able to see why you shouldn't sell lifetime subscriptions to an MMO. Cell phone companies and drug dealers don't offer lifetime subscriptions either, guess why?" - Mugaaz
I still remember opening my dad's desk drawer in the home office one day and finding a copy of Ninja Gaiden 2 for NES with the receipt covering it. It was one of my christmas presents for that year. I was so giddy I could barely keep my mouth shut about finding it.
Podcast 0207: Sinking to new depths
Preview: Is Uncharted: Golden Abyss the Vita’s killer launch title?
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3: Macro-wreckonomics
They'll just cut their PC game section down to the bare minimum and only carry a few copies of WOW and $20 shovelware from Popcap. And stop selling pre-owned PC game.
Oh, wait.
IOS Game Center ID: Isotope-X
a manager of a store i know told me that the rules on uniform are being slackened and employees are encouraged to play the games in store while not on register, with the customers.
a good play i say.
Maybe, but I know the Gamestop at one of our local malls gets lots of foot traffic. Every time I'm in there, I see more than a few parents dragged in there to look at/buy a game for their kids. The Wii, PS2, and DS/GBA sections get the most traffic from them, and the parents definitely know enough to ask about games for one of those systems. Grouping them together and putting out kiosks to demo games for them isn't really that bad an idea, except that the stores are too fucking small for it. It's crowded enough in that Gamestop as it is.
It definitely increases the allure of the job since during slow times there will probably be more gaming than not.
Podcast 0207: Sinking to new depths
Preview: Is Uncharted: Golden Abyss the Vita’s killer launch title?
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3: Macro-wreckonomics
Well, yeah. That's why clothes are bad gifts, too. It's just such a crapshoot. I have shirts and jeans and such I love, and had I gotten those for Christmas or whatever, I'd get the impression that clothes were great gifts. Never underestimate a good pair of socks, eh? However, more often than not the clothes you get you never wear. That makes clothes, generally, bad gifts.
There are gifts that are good more often than not . Like dollars.
Just matters how much you know about the person your buying gifts for. Everything can be a great gift, it's just usually grandma-ma that buys the tackiest clearance dress or some chess PC game from the early 90s she managed to find somehow.
"Everyone who is capable of logical thought should be able to see why you shouldn't sell lifetime subscriptions to an MMO. Cell phone companies and drug dealers don't offer lifetime subscriptions either, guess why?" - Mugaaz
Well, yeah, I know it depends. I"m not disagreeing with you, exactly. I'm just saying that on average it's inadvisable unless you know the person well, to buy him video games. It's very likely he may already have it, and if he doesn't he probably doesn't want it, or who knows. On almost all relational levels besides "Intimate/Familial" video games are probably a bad idea. Or maybe you're psychic, or something.
Btw, great avatar. Love how you've reduced a highly emotional scene in a classic video game to something akin to "Down Syndrome on Parade."
"Everyone who is capable of logical thought should be able to see why you shouldn't sell lifetime subscriptions to an MMO. Cell phone companies and drug dealers don't offer lifetime subscriptions either, guess why?" - Mugaaz
You mean they aren't already?
Ex: I walked into Gamestop to pick up Viva Pinata and pay off my wife's Halo 3 preorder. While just double checking their used Xbox section, a Grandma was asking one of the associates which Star Wars games has Jedi's in it. Because her Grandson will be coming to live with her and she wants him to have something to play. (Very Nice Grandmother)
The Gamestop employee had only the Star Wars Battlefront to suggest, while standing behind the counter. And that was it. No more interaction and no more advice. Not a, let me check on that or how about I get off my fat ass and look at the damn box art with you.
Knowing the 5th commandment, I offered to help the elderly woman myself. She was the sweetest old woman and I come to find out that Grandson just lost her father to an IED in Iraq and his mother had committed suicide just the week before. She wanted to get some things for him to take some pressure of this 11 year old kid.
I will admit that the employees did come out of their shells after they heard that story and even one of them offered a tissue after she wept for a couple moments. Even I needed one after hearing her whole story about losing her son. I went as far as offering my Edge card for her purchase. It was the least I could do.
LIZ: Different.
VOICE-OVER: It's September 24th, I'm Liz Parker and five days ago I died. But then the really amazing thing happened. I came to life.
That's pretty cool and stand up of you, dude. It kinda sucks that she had to almost give her life story for the register jockeys to give some customer service, though. I realize that Gamestops can be pretty crowded and such, but it's the little things that turn one time customers into repeat customers. Rearranging the store is nice, but just plain old good customer service would go a long way to keeping "casuals" happy. Hell, you could just put up signs for games that they'd probably like, or encouraging them to ask about family friendly/kid friendly/casual games similar to ones they are buying. Shit, that's pretty much what they do now for the hardcore set.
It was just her and TWO employees when I walked in plus it's a new store so I don't know where the excuss could be but I didn't care either way. I just went home, gave a kiss to the wife and my baby girl, and said a prayer for that kid.
LIZ: Different.
VOICE-OVER: It's September 24th, I'm Liz Parker and five days ago I died. But then the really amazing thing happened. I came to life.