Gamestop to sell digital game downloads

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


* GameStop to sell digital downloads from retail stores
* Sees strong 2010 for video-game market
* Large market for full game downloads "not imminent"

NEW YORK, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Customers who visit GameStop Corp (GME.N) stores will soon be able to purchase digital upgrades to their favorite video games, as the retailer eyes a shift toward digital distribution of games.

The new program, which GameStop will start testing early next year, will work in conjunction with online services offered by leading console makers, such as Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) Xbox Live and Sony Corp's (6758.T) PlayStation Network.

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.

"A large market for full game downloads is not imminent, (but) the add-on downloadable market will grow," GameStop Chief Operating Officer Paul Raines said at the BMO Capital Management Digital Entertainment conference.

These additional payments may be a key driver of revenue for publishers and retailers in the video-game industry, which has seen slow overall growth amid the tough economy. The idea is that consumers are more likely to pay to enhance beloved games than they are to experiment with unknown new games.

So far, GameStop has been able to preserve growth despite the economic downturn, as healthy demand for video game consoles by Nintendo Co Ltd (7974.OS), Sony and Microsoft has driven consumers into GameStop stores to buy software for the systems.

Raines' comments come a few days after GameStop affirmed its outlook for the quarter ending in October, saying it expects its earnings per share to be between 27 cents and 33 cents, excluding debt retirement costs. It also sees sales at stores open more than one year to be down 6 percent to 11 percent.

At the event, GameStop Chief Executive Dan DeMatteo said looking ahead to next year, business is "expected to be strong, given known titles." (Reporting by Franklin Paul, editing by Maureen Bavdek) ([email protected]; +1 646 223 6195; Reuters Messaging: [email protected]))






Makes me wonder if they will be getting into it the way they are over at amazon and even moreso with the ps3 looking to sell ps2 and possibly Dreamcast games in the future could they try to sell those as well?would sony even allow that ?
 
"When the shopper arrives home, the add-on will be available to download and play."

Uh. What? How? I'm not giving gamestop my psnid, or my xbl tag. If I want the download I'll get it from...psn or xbla to begin with.

This may be a bad thing if they get into the whole timed exclusive thing in conjunction with gamestop... "Go to your gamestop store to purchase this exclusive downloadable content now!"

Ugh.
 
Doesn't this just mean they're going to try selling more things to you? I imagine they're going to be required to ask what games you own while you checkout, and if you buy a game with DLC, they'll try selling the "really cool map packs" to you.
 
:whistle2:# yeah... this sounds like a disaster - unless they will have huge discounts and additional exclusive content.
 
Don't care, I don't shop at Gamestop anymore. Kind of stupid to go into a B&M store to buy a download (unless you only have cash, and they're probably going for the kids here), and I'd rather buy from Amazon, which already sells them.

But you can be damn sure after they start it that if you go in to buy a game they'll be trying to sell you the DLC for any titles that have DLC.
 
This just doesn't make a ton of sense here, unless they are lining up to get exclusive download content that you can only get from them (or at least get it from them first).

Otherwise, you already have to be hooked up online to get the downloads. So, the people most interested in this (parents who have no knowledge of how to get their system online to make purchases) won't be thrilled. Not even sure kids are a big market, since they still need mom or dad to drive them to the store, and said parent may be just as likely to purchase an add on for the game inside the house to save the trip.

I smell this as part of something bigger.
 
May sound shitty to some of you, but not to anyone who has Gamestop credit from trading games in. I don't always $20 left over to buy a 1600 MS point card, but if I had $10 and wanted to get a map pack, I'd probably do it.

Okay, I guess it's time now for the shitstorm of "why are you trading in at Gamestop anyway?" posts.

This is good for the industry.
 
You guys are also forgetting the people that don't have credit cards will probably gladly pay GS to download some maps or levels.
 
you know if they could find a way for you to dl the stuff in store and take it home that could be cool highly unlikely but cool. like many of you have mentioned the main pro to this is for those who dont have credit cards to use for this stuff ( or who just dont want to use them online). itd be crazy if they were somehow able to create a used games market with dlc lol or if they could figure out a way for people to safely trade it.
 
So this won't be just cards with a code to enter when you get home, similar to buying xbox live cards for arcade games?

I'm not exactly sure how this would be a long term solution. Once people realize they can just download straight from their home, why not just cut out the middle man (either way you are downloading the content)? They might have the clout now to get exclusive content, but if demand shifts to digital downloads, they won't have the market share to get that exclusive content anymore.
 
[quote name='keithp']You guys are also forgetting the people that don't have credit cards will probably gladly pay GS to download some maps or levels.[/QUOTE]

Not only that, but it's far easier to just buy what you want versus having to buy the "pre approved amount" of XBL or PSN credit. I'm not opposed to the idea, but it definitely appeals to me. I like the idea of having under $10 of credit at GameStop left over from a transaction that I could use to purchase DLC for the game I just bought. And with (some) games having DLC on release day, why not :cool:
 
Isn't it going to be more expensive since you have to pay tax? Unless you can get DLC cheaper this doesn't appeal to me.
 
I guess sales tax didn't cross my mind(New Hampshire...) But I can see that definitely being a deal breaker. Though maybe it would count as having "tax included"?
 
[quote name='Rodimus']Isn't it going to be more expensive since you have to pay tax? Unless you can get DLC cheaper this doesn't appeal to me.[/QUOTE]


Not sure it would be more expensive. You pay tax on a 1600 point card when you buy it. I believe you have to pay tax when you buy points online from MS.
 
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