As an avid gamer, i know (as do most) the future is digital downloads. There is no reason for a company like this to be the "middle man". As much as I like owning a physical copy of the games, I'm a minority. Most people are lazy and want gaming on demand. Its like vinyl records.
Gamestop is quite reminiscent of another distributer (cough...blockbuster...cough) that got hurt by the transition to the digital distribution model - I can't see why Gamestop is any different.
And with companies like Steam, and EA (with origin) and other more independents leading the digital distribution model, this company is game over.
Not to mention, the CEO talking about making the company some sort of Apple / cell phone distributor or some s*#@ is nothing but bad news bears.
I don't think that this has to be the end of physical games. Look at music or movies - there are still plenty of stores out there that sell physical copies, even if the masses buy digital.
But... It does mean the end of GameStop. The difference is that stores like Walmart and Target can adjust shelf space based on demand and focus more on spillover sales (you bought a video game AND a soda AND something else). GameStop doesn't have that backing
Nathanael
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I agree
Nathanael
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By the way, during that pump near the beginning of april (after the crappy late march earnings) the CEO was making the rounds defending the company and crackhead analysts were giving $60 targets. FYI
minbari
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Oh come on I wouldn't put a saint like Rob Ford in the same category as those guys..
usaoscoin
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There was talk of Gamestop converting some of it's traditional game outlets to mobile phone and tablet stores, did that ever materialise?
Nathanael
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yea the CEO has been talking about that - I think the process has already started, but it sounds like desperation to me.... Thats not what the world needs - another mobile phone store. Its just the cheapest way for them do something since they already have all these stores over north america (in my opinion)
Nathanael
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i also wish i could use swear words to properly articulate my response ;)
But... It does mean the end of GameStop. The difference is that stores like Walmart and Target can adjust shelf space based on demand and focus more on spillover sales (you bought a video game AND a soda AND something else). GameStop doesn't have that backing