Kotaku: Retail

Xbox 360 Price Drop Already In Effect At Target Stores?

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:40:32 MDT

According to Target.com it is. It's listing the Xbox 360 Pro at $299.99 as of right now, but only for "in store" sales. We're bothering our local brick and mortar Targets to confirm that the price drop has already taken effect, but if it hasn't we're sure that this-gen lollygaggers won't mind waiting a whole 48 hours for everyone else to get on board with the price slashing party.

Xbox 360 Pro Hardware [Target - thanks, jump4816!]

UK Retailer GAME To... Publish Games?

Leigh Alexander — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:30:00 MDT

UK retailer GAME told MCV that while it might not be planning a huge pipeline of holiday titles, it plans to selectively use its distribution channels to publish undiscovered titles under its own brand name.

GAME was quick to reiterate it planned no threat to game publishers at all, and would instead seek out smaller-scale opportunities that were good fits:

“If it works commercially for GAME and helps a smaller publisher get off the ground by GAME sharing some of the risk, then we would look at it – we have a distribution channel and we can offer a service.

It's a bit of a touchy subject, because according to MCV, publishers are already none too pleased that they get absolutely zero percent of the revenues from game trade-ins at retail. The tricky circumstances are probably the reason why GAME elucidated their entire policy up-front:

'This isn’t about us doing something that threatens publishers. It is about listening to developers who may come to us with titles that may not otherwise be able to get to market.

GAME explains self-publishing strategy [MCV UK]

Game Sales Help Boost HMV In "Next-Generation" Store Rollout

Leigh Alexander — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:20:00 MDT

Strong video game sales, on both console and PC, helped drive retailer HMV to a 25 percent growth in their fiscal year results. The boost, the company says, will help it speed up the rollout of some fancy new stores.

Reported the UK Independent:

HMV said its pre-tax profits rose by 25.2 per cent to £56.6m and total sales grew by 11.3 per cent. Simon Fox, the chief executive, said: "A year ago, we said this would be a year for stabilising the business, but actually it turned into a year of growth. We are only one year into the three-year turnaround strategy, but we are definitely ahead of schedule."

Fox also laid out exactly how much improving game sales had helped:

Mr Fox said HMV increased its share in the booming market for video games and technology products. These accounted for 21 per cent of total UK and Ireland sales over the year, up from just 14 per cent a year ago. Mr Fox added: "[The] games [market] is cyclical, but people expect it to be longer and stronger than previous cycles. The Wii [Fit] is a fantastic product and is still in short supply."

The revenue boost will help HMV renovate 10 to 15 more of its stores to a "next-generation" format, which will include multiplayer games and kiosks, over the coming year. The retailer says its trial stores have shown promising results thus far.

HMV pushes ahead with roll-out of new-style stores after profits soar 25% [The Independent]

Games Sales Overtake DVD Sales In The US

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:40:00 MDT

Oh goodie, another bound-to-be-misconstrued "games are bigger/better than X" story! This time, it's the results of the Entertainment Merchants Association's annual report, which reveals that not only did games rake in more cash than movie theatres last year, but for the first time DVD sales as well. While DVD sales amounted to $16 billion in 2007, and box office taking $9.6 billion, games took in $18.85 billion. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? It's a fun factoid for dininer parties and slow-moving bus stop conversations, but in the end, it means what it's always meant: games are expensive, while movies are less so.

Report: US game sales surpass DVDs [GameSpot]

Update: Turns out that those game sales numbers include hardware and accessories too.

Aussie Retailer Adds To 360 Price-Cut Chorus

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:20:00 MDT

It's not just American retailers convincing us that a 360 price-cut is imminent. Australian retailers are now in on the act as well. The local branch of K-Mart is advertising a 360 Pro bundle for AUD$449 (USD$430), a steal when you consider the rrp for the console is AUD$579 (USD$555). Sure, you can account for a few dollars saved here and there when you consider we've got our end of financial year sales on, but even then, consoles here are rarely cut by $30, let alone $130. Have K-Mart posted their price-cut prices a little early?

Console yourself [Screen Play]

Rumor: New 60GB Xbox 360 To Replace 20GB Model

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:40:20 MDT

Microsoft may be dropping the price of the mid-range model of the Xbox 360, if a scan from an upcoming Kmart circular can be trusted. The price slashing to $299 may not just be an effort to kick start lagging Xbox 360, according to a "usually trustworthy source" of Ars Technica's. Communication passed on via their mole points to a new, 60GB hard drive-equipped model replacing the current 20GB model, a change that's alleged to be announced at E3.

Ars Technica's source writes that the new hardware SKU will be launched "throughout July" and that the 20GB model will be officially discontinued. Consider this rumor, Microsoft-style, for now, but don't be surprised when whomever's piloting its E3 keynote mentions some extra storage breathing room.

Mole: Microsoft to drop price on 20GB 360, make room for 60GB [Ars Technica]

Samba De Amigo Wii Maraca Controllers Appear

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:40:22 MDT

In our previous encounters with Sega, reps have told us that they were "thinking" about maraca controllers for the Wii version of Samba de Amigo. They're "looking into it," they say. Well, if this box art from UK retailer HMV is right, they're pretty much a lock. Dug up by GoNintendo, the included maracas appear to be sleeve-style attachments, not dedicated controllers similar to the ones Sega shipped alongside the Dreamcast version of Samba.

HMV is currently listing the game and maraca combo for £34.99 (about $70 USD). We've contacted Sega to find out more and have expressed our genuine excitement, hoping that they'll get back to us sooner rather than later.

Samba De Amigo: Including Maracas [HMV via GoNintendo]

How To Get Siren: Blood Curse On Blu-Ray

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:20:00 MDT

The third game in the Siren series - Blood Curse - will be coming in two flavours. In Japan, you'll be able to get it on Blu-Ray. But in the US? It's being released as episodic, downloadable content, presumably in order to test the waters, see if there's really a market for the game in the US. Fine for Sony, but what if you're less a single-issue buyer, more a trade paperback kinda guy? Here's what you do: import the Asian edition of the game, which also comes on a Blu-Ray disc. Like most Asian edition's, it contains an English-language option, so you'll have it all on one disc and be able to understand the thing. Win win!

A way to experience Siren: Blood Curse on Blu-ray [Siliconera]

PSN Cards FINALLY Hitting Stores

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:30:00 MDT

No announcement accompanying this, so I guess Sony are looking at soft-launching the things, but reader Terry sent us these pics of some PlayStation Network pre-paid cards available right now at his local Meijer store. Both $20 and $50 denominations are available, and Terry lets us know that (like the card says), unlike those for, say, the Wii, the PSN cards are only activated once they've been run through the register. Another shot of the cards (in the wild) after the jump.

Game Retailer to Donate 10% of Sales to China Disaster Relief

Maggie Greene — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:30:00 MDT

Hong Kong games retailer Renchi is making a nice gesture, and has pledged 10% of all sales through June 20 to disaster relief for victims of the Sichuan earthquake. Renchi will be donating to Hong Kong World Vision Sichuan Earthquake Relief (via, I presume, World Vision), which has promised to use 100% of donated funds for relief work, and World Vision has had teams on the ground since shortly after the quake. Full release is after the jump.

Hong Kong (PRWEB) June 4, 2008 — Renchi.com, a leading import video games, consoles and game gear retailer, is driving a campaign to help China's earthquake victims.

On May 12, 2008, an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck the province of Sichuan, China. As of today, over 68,000 dead, 20,000 still missing, over 350,000 injured and widespread destruction is reported. More than 5,000,000 people have become homeless.

This Father's Day, you can help these children rebuild their schools and help families rebuild their homes by simply placing an order from our site. From now until June 20th, 2008, 10% of your order amount will be donated (*excluding shipping) to the Hong Kong World Vision Sichuan Earthquake Relief (Hong Kong World Vision). The World Vision is chosen because they have pledged to allocate 100% of donations for the relief work.

Please use coupon code KSCSVNBB when you check out, and 10% of your purchase amount will be donate to the Hong Kong World Vision.

Act now. Get something for your loved ones and help these children and families at the same time. See how your purchase can help these families now.

Every order helps. Your order counts! Place your order at Renchi.com now!

GameStop Teams With CBS To Further Annoy You

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:30:00 MDT

GameStop's in-store promotional bombardment is about to get a little more...intensive. The company is to launch an improved in-store "TV station" in conjunction with CBS and Reflect Systems, which will see not only select CBS programming (ie TV shows, sports, etc) broadcast directly into stores, but also a range of faux-journalistic services like "previews" and "interviews" with developers. It's to be installed in around 4000 stores across the US, and should begin rolling out next year.

GameStop launches TV network [MCV]

Another Exclusive Okami Cover

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:30:00 MDT

This time for the Brits. If you pre-order the game at HMV, you'll get an "exclusive" cover, which is either a savvy piece of awareness on the part of the marketing team or the result of someone at HMV realising the IGN watermark was all up in their copies of the game. Either way, it's quite lovely.

Okami: Hmv Exclusive: Special Packaging [HMV, thanks Doug!]

Say, Is Your GameStop Having A Midnight Launch For MGS4?

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:20:00 MDT

Why don't you check! GameStop have been sending out emails over the past few days, tipping customers off to the fact they'll be open at midnight for the launch of Metal Gear Solid 4. Only catch: not every GameStop will be open. Just some! And by some, I mean hundreds. Their list runs for 29 pages, so if your local store (or at least, a store near you) isn't on there, you may wish to consider your geographic isolation, and ask a friend via telegram or carrier pigeon to pick a copy up for you.

Metal Gear Solid 4 Midnight Launch Locations [GameStop]

Fallout 3 Preoder Disc Brings The Old-Fashioned (Radioactive) Charm

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 27 May 2008 03:30:00 MDT

Preoders usually aren't necessary. Even if a game does sell out on opening day (which is rare), you're usually looking at no longer than 3-5 days til the resupplies start hitting. So save your money. You can wait. Oh, unless it's Fallout 3. Because if you preorder it at GameStop, then you'll get this fancy little soundtrack sampler. It may be a good listen, it may not be, who cares! It looks great.

Fallout 3 soundtrack/poster for GameStop pre-orders [Bethesda]

PSN Cards Must Hit Soon

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 26 May 2008 01:00:00 MDT

Reader Josh was doing a spot of shopping in his local Meijer the other day and came across a couple of price stickers - for the long-awaited PlayStation Network pre-paid card - sitting in the aisle of the gaming section. No cards, just the stickers. The one pictured is for a $20 card, while Josh says there was also a sticker up for a $50 card as well. Sony are still quiet on a precise release date for these, but with this information heading out to retailers they hopefully won't be too far away.

GameStop Reveals New Stores, Top 5 Q1 Sellers

Leigh Alexander — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:20:00 MDT

GameStop opened a record 210 stores during the first fiscal quarter of 2008, the company announced today. GameStop now operates a total of 5,400 stores worldwide, and said it plans to open between 550 and 600 new stores in 2008, half of them slated for outside the U.S.

The first fiscal quarter brought strong results for GameStop, with earnings up 151.4 percent to $62.1 million, and sales up 41.8 percent to $1,813.6 million. The planned new store openings would grow GameStop's international store base by 25 percent, as part of the company's stated goal of developing its market share globally.

Sales of new game software increased an "amazing" 72 percent, according to GameStop - hit the jump for GameStop's top five sellers during its record first quarter.

1. Grand Theft Auto IV (Take-Two)
2. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo)
3. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)
4. Rainbow Six: Vegas 2(Ubisoft)
5. Army Of Two (Electronic Arts)

Notably, GTA IV topped the list even though only five days of its sales fit into the fiscal first quarter.

GameStop chairman and CEO R. Richard Fontaine credited a 34 percent increase in game console install bases and an expanding demographic that is now 38 percent female for the company's growth.

"We continue to attract and serve a broader consumer base as videogaming continues to attract the core gamers and is moving towards becoming mainstream family entertainment," Fontaine said.

Wii Fit Launch Is A Little Out Of Shape

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:40:00 MDT

If you were at the Nintendo World Store in NYC today, you probably got a chance to see Wii Fit. And if you were quick, you would even have got a chance to pick up a copy! But if you live somewhere that's not around the corner from the Nintendo World Store, and fancy getting hold of it, remember this: you'll be waiting another day. Or two. Seems that while the game's "official" launch date is today, May 19, retailers across the US won't be getting their shipments of the game until Wednesday, giving you much-needed extra time to clear some push-up space on your living room floor.

Confusion, shortages hobble US Wii Fit kickoff [GameSpot]

Blizzard Gets Its Digital Download On

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 06 May 2008 05:00:00 MDT

Last week, Blizzard launched a spiffy new website. The improvements run a little deeper than just a cosmetic touch-up, however: they've for the first time begun offering digital downloads of their games from their own online store. Warcraft III ($20), Frozen Throne ($20) and the Starcraft Anthology ($15) are all available, with more (including Diablo) promised to appear later down the line.
[Blizzard Store]

Blockbuster Not The Best Game Store So Far

Mike Fahey — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:00:00 MDT

So I ran out today to pick up Iron Man the video game, exciteable little fanboy that I am, and decided to purchase it at my local Blockbuster Video, to see how they were doing with the new retail push. They had one copy for the PlayStation 3 and one copy for the Xbox 360 available, and on a whim I chose the PS3 version, seeing as my poor system hadn't been getting much attention since Hot Shots Golf last month. Upon getting the game home I hastily unwrapped it, only to discover that my PS3, which I have long considered the best of the three current consoles when it comes to reliability, would no longer accept any Blu-ray media. PS2 games work fine, and DVD's, but PS3 games and blu-ray movies were a no go. I was completely crushed, and jonesin' for some Iron Man, so I took the game back to Blockbuster, hoping they would show pity on me for buying a game I couldn't play. They swapped out versions for free and I lived happily ever after!

Unfortunately I'm lying.

No, the manager at the Blockbuster Video...someone I had known for years...wouldn't let me return the game. All I could do was trade-in the game for store credit - $35 - which I then put towards the Xbox 360 version of Iron Man. All in all, I wound up spending about $90 for a copy of Sega's Iron Man, but with the game I received a bit of knowledge that I will carry with me from here on out. Don't buy games from Blockbuster.

I understand that it isn't their fault my PS3 decided to crap out on me, and I understand they have store policies to adhere to, but unfortunately for many Blockbuster employees that is the limit of their understanding. Without a basic knowledge of how the game systems work, they simply don't understand this sort of situation. Hell, when I first brought the game back the elderly day shift manager looked absolutely terrified, running to the back room to get the store manager to handle the return.

I know for certain that had I done this at my local GameStop store, the employees there would have swapped out the version without blinking an eye, especially considering I was back within the hour. Of course I have built a rapport with them over the years, but as I said, I have known the Blockbuster Manager for years (she knows my mother) and she still couldn't do anything to help.

Incidentally, Iron Man? Not worth $90.

GTA IV Breaks British Sales Record, 360 Outsells PS3

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:30:00 MDT

No surprises here. Grand Theft Auto IV has set a new record for first-day sales in the UK, shifting 609,000 units in a single day. This beats the previous record of 501,000, set by San Andreas in 2004. In terms of which version did the best business, ChartTrack report that the 360 one slightly outsold the PS3 version, 335,000 to 274,000. To put this in further perspective, the 360 version alone outsold Halo 3, which could "only" move 266,000 last year, so yes, this game is some steamy, hot hot hot hotcakes.
GTA IV smashes day one sales record [MCV] [Pic]

These Nintendo Pins Could KILL YOU

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:20:00 MDT

Between 2004 and 2007, Nintendo were selling some small, character-adorned pins at both their Redmond HQ and Nintendo World Store. Little metal Nintendo characters, little sharp pin, you stick them on your jacket/bag/hat. Standard stuff. Oh, except for the fact they contain unsafe levels of lead. Before you plan a trip to your doctor's/lawyer's office, however, note that they're only dangerous if you swallow them, not wear them, so unless you've been snacking on lapel pins between Smash Bros rounds, you'll probably live to see the morning. If you are snacking on them, though, and would like pins less likely to cause serious health issues, Nintendo are recalling them and offering free replacements. Details below.
Character Lapel Pin Recall [Nintendo, via GameSpot]

GAME's Online Store Force-Bundling GTA IV [Update]

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:30:00 MDT

We haven't (yet) heard of any bricks-n-mortar retailers force bundling GTA IV. Which is a good thing! Online retailers, however, are a different story. Anyone hoping to pick up a copy of the game's standard edition from the website of European mega-retailer GAME will find they can't. Not unless they also want a Sixaxis. Or a wireless 360 pad. Or a copy of...Devil May Cry 4. Because GAME's online store will only sell you the standard edition if you buy it in one of their "fantastic GTA deals!!!", the cheapest of which is £54.98 (USD$108, for GTA IV & Kane & Lynch) and most expensive being £329.99 (USD$650, for an Elite 360, GTA IV, PGR4 and Rainbow Six Vegas 2). You stay classy, GAME!
Fantastic GTA Deals! [GAME, thanks David!]

UPDATE - Individual listings for the title have since been added to GAME's site, however all are currently listed as "sold out".

Buy GTA IV, Get Xbox Live Free For A Month

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:00:00 MDT

In my haste to get started on GTA IV this morning, I didn't even look at the manual, let alone take it out and see what was hiding underneath. If I had, I'd have been able to tell you this a lot sooner: the 360 version of GTA IV comes with a free one month subscription to Xbox Live. Most likely useless to the majority of you, but if for whatever reason you abhor the concept of a paid online service and have been gaming unconnected, know you can buy this game and at least squeeze four weeks of free online gaming from the man. Whoever you deem "the man" to be.

Blockbuster Video Gunning For GameStop?

Mike Fahey — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:20:00 MDT

As hinted at by a store manager back in the beginning of this month, Blockbuster Video is ramping up the video game side of their business big time, and they might just be gearing up to give GameStop a run for their money. Along with granting video games like Grand Theft Auto IV sacred space on the New Release wall, corporate-owned stores across the country should now be carrying retail games, consoles, and accessories for purchase, as well as kicking up their rental offerings with more titles and platforms, including DS games, which up til now my local store hadn't carried at all.

"We are committed to offering a full assortment of everything gamers want in our stores — hardware, accessories and retail and rental games across all platforms — including Nintendo Wii, Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS," said Rod Murray, vice-president, games merchandising, Blockbuster Inc.

The company will also be offering a variety of exclusives, such as their exclusive Sony PS3 movie and game bundle, that features a 40GB PS3, Spiderman 3 on Blu-ray, Transformers the Movie the game, and a 12-week PS3/Blu-ray rental card entitling users to a free rental each week of for twelve weeks, all for $499.99.

Honestly I feel this can only be good for the game buying public. For one, the nearest Blockbuster Store to me is much closer than the nearest GameStop, and anyone who has traded in a game at a Blockbuster knows their trade-in values are tons better than the competition.

If any company has the established infrastructure to compete with GameStop in the retail video game space it's Blockbuster Video. Blockbuster currently has around 5,192 stores in the U.S., with GameStop maintaining apporximately 5,264. Depending on how serious BB is about this initiative, it would put them a stone's throw away from being the biggest video game retailer in the country. Sure they rent and sell movies as well, but GameStop has been known to peddle the odd previously viewed DVD themselves.

Say what you will about evil corporations, but face it, there isn't a mom & pop store out there with the resources to take on the big guys. The lesser of two evils perhaps, but any deal that puts a game store five minutes from my house can't be all that bad. Interesting times for video game retail await!

Stores Also to Carry More Rental Game Platforms, Titles and Copies
DALLAS, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Blockbuster Inc. , a leading global provider of in-home movies and game entertainment, today announced it has rolled out retail video games and game hardware to all U.S. corporate-owned BLOCKBUSTER(R) stores as part of a broader plan to significantly expand its game business.

Now, for the first time, customers can go into any U.S. corporate-owned BLOCKBUSTER store and purchase video game titles, hardware and accessories for the Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS game systems. In addition to expanding its retail games offering, Blockbuster is adding more game titles for rental with more copies than before across all platforms.

Blockbuster is featuring its expanded game offerings — including hardware and accessories, along with rental and retail titles such as "Mario Kart" and the soon-to-be-released "Grand Theft Auto IV" — on the new release wall in a specially designated game section.

"We are committed to offering a full assortment of everything gamers want in our stores — hardware, accessories and retail and rental games across all platforms — including Nintendo Wii, Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS," said Rod Murray, vice-president, games merchandising, Blockbuster Inc.

To further support expansion of its game business, Blockbuster will also be implementing a variety of special consumer game offers, such as an exclusive Sony PS3 movie and game bundle. The bundle, available at corporate-owned stores while supplies last for $499.99, excluding tax, includes: a 40GB Sony PS3 game console that also plays Blu-ray DVDs, PS3/Blu-ray DVD remote, HDMI cable, "Spiderman 3" Blu-ray disc, "Transformers" PS3 game and a BLOCKBUSTER 12-week PS3/Blu-ray rental card that entitles users to one free PS3 or Blu-ray rental per week for 12 consecutive weeks.

Sega Superstars Tennis Double Faults At Retail, Now Just $19.99

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:20:13 MDT

Sega Superstars Tennis 2? Hahahahaha! That's a good one! With the game just five weeks old in North America, GameStop is already slashing prices on Sega and Sumo Digital's Sonic-filled answer to Mario Tennis, with Sega Superstars Tennis bottoming out at $19.99 USD for the Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2. The Nintendo DS version? Just $14.99 USD.

If you're in need of a GTA IV hype deflection shield or you're now willing to bite at this price—even I am, despite my bitterness about a lack of Space Harrier or Cosmic Smash Guy—you can pick it up in-store or online as of right now.

GameStop Weekly Ad

GTA IV Preorders: PS3 Outselling 360 (In Australia)

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:30:00 MDT

Let's put two and two together. Australia, despite its geographic isolation, is normally considered a European territory when it comes to games (thanks, PAL video standard). Europe is the PlayStation brand's #1 fan. So it shouldn't surprise you as much as it probably will that EB Games, by far Australia's biggest games retailer, have said this re GTA IV preorders:

We are happy to tell you it's neck and neck, but at the moment, PlayStation 3 is currently in the lead.

Second-string retailer GameTraders are also reporting more PS3 sales, saying that they're pre-selling two copies on PS3 for every one on 360. What's this mean for overall, global sales? Probably nothing! What's it mean for Australia? Something.
PS3 GTA IV presales outpace 360 version down under [GameSpot AU]

GameStop President Steve Morgan Resigns

Mike Fahey — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:20:00 MDT

GameStop managers today received an email from CEO Dick Fontaine, informing them that President Steve Morgan would be resigning from the company. Morgan was previously Electronic Boutique's President of Stores-North America and President-Electronics Boutique Canada, appointed to the position of GameStop president during the merger in 2005. The following is paraphrased from said official email, the gist being confirmed by several GameStop managers via telephone conversation.

After 7 productive years with GameStop, Steve Morgan has made the decision to reapply his energy and drive outside out GameStop Steve will officially be leaving the company on May 2nd 2008. Steve has stated from the very first day we discussed his position with our merged company that his goal was to head up a company as a CEO. After two and half very successful years as our President he now feels that the time is right to pursue his objective.

Awww Steve. Follow those dreams. No word on who will be replacing Steve, though I'm sure we'll hear more once GameStop officially announces the resignation.

EBGames Try For Teh GTAIV Funnies

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:40:00 MDT

Yes, yes, GameStop/EB Games are a cold, soulless, ruthless international corporation. But sometimes, just sometimes, someone gets into their system with a little spark. A sense of what it is to be truly human. That person's started writing up the site's legal disclaimers regarding pre-orders, with their GTAIV notice warning customers they can't be held accountable for their "delivery driver's truck getting stolen". Or, if you've ordered MGS4, any possible "inclement weather or Octocamo malfunctions". Not necessarily funny, just...unexpectedly cute.
[thanks Jason!]

Variety: GTAIV Launch Bigger Than Halo 3 (And Then Some)

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:30:00 MDT

Variety are reporting that, according to "sources close to publisher Take-Two" (ie most likely the guys in charge of selling the game to retailers), Grand Theft Auto IV is poised to take in around $400 million during its first week on sale. Yowzers. To put that in perspective, Halo 3's launch took in a paltry $300 million. To put it in further perspective, Spiderman 3 and the third Pirates movie hold the record for the two biggest worldwide opening weekends in cinema history, at $380 and $340 million respectively. So, yes, we're talking batshit crazy numbers here. They're also reporting that, based on discussions with retailers, the 360 version is easily outselling the PS3 one, though with both a higher install base and the promise of DLC, that's not the biggest shock in world news today.
'Grand' profits [Variety]
Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox 360 selling better than Playstation 3 [Variety]

Reviews v Sales

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:30:00 MDT

Yeah, it's a tired old argument, but also one we don't mind revisiting from time to time, so indulge me. IGN have taken the ten top-selling games from 2007, put 'em in a list, then compared that list to the ten top-reviewed games from 2007. Any differences? Course there were differences. As in, seven of the games on the top-selling list weren't on the best-reviewed list, including FIFA 2008, Need For Speed: Pro Street and Brain Age 2. Doesn't really prove anything you don't already know/suspect (or at least, it shouldn't), but interesting nonetheless.
Do Reviews Sell Games? [IGN]

The Top 100-Selling Developers In Britain Are...

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:20:00 MDT

Oooohhh, "top xx" charts! British industry mag types Develop have just released their "Develop 100", which lists the world's top 100 developers according to the amount of cash money they took in over the past 12 months (in the UK). In first place? Nintendo, who took in £129 million, almost twice that of EA Canada (£68 million) in second spot. The charts are dominated by Japanese, Canadian, British and American studios, with only seven European entries and one Australian dev breaking their dominance. To trawl through the full list for your favourite developer, pop on over to Develop. Link's below.
Develop 100 [Develop]

British Retailer Confirms GTAIV Bundle

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:30:00 MDT

Just in case you don't trust those shifty, foreign types from the continent, British store Shopto have confirmed to Gamesindustry that they'll be selling a Grand Theft Auto IV hardware bundle, consisting of a 40GB PS3, Sixaxis and a copy of GTAIV. It'll be available on April 29, and will set you back £299 (USD$590).
Retail confirms PlayStation 3 GTA IV bundle [GI.biz]

MGS4's "Steel" PS3 Coming To The US

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:30:00 MDT

Sony have announced that the gun-metal PS3, previously thought only to be a Japanese exclusive, will be making its way to the US for Metal Gear Solid 4's launch. It'll form part of a hardware bundle that Konami are saying is "VERY, VERY Limited Edition", and I'm not inclined to disagree with them on that one. No further details than that, so we don't know how much its going to cost or whether there'll be any hoops to jump through to get one, but it probably won't be cheap, and hey, they'll probably be hard to come by to boot.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Product Details Revealed! [PlayStation.Blog]

Is GameStop Recession-Proof?

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:20:18 MDT

Let's face it, the U.S. economy is in the crapper and it looks like it's only going to get worse for everyone that isn't working in Hollywood—or GameStop. It's one of the few retailers that's not seeing slowing sales, partially from all that second hand game selling they love to do, but mostly from the fact that the video game industry is making serious bank. While CEO Richard Fontaine won't go on record as saying the retailer laughs in the face of recession, he's got a few analysts that are mostly sure that GameStop will weather the storm.

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter says the strip mall swap meet is "as recession-resistant as anyone in retail can be", with NPD analyst Anita Frazier theorizing that folks will "hunker down" at home with a good, slightly scratched game to save money. Fret not, GameStop employees, you'll probably be employed by the end of the year.

GameStop's growth puts it in recession-resistant spot [Dallas News]

UK Retailers Running Low On GTA IV

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:20:00 MDT

If you live in the United Kingdom, getting your hands on a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV at the end of this month may be a bit of a challenge, if retailers are to be believed. UK shops GAME, GameStation and Play.com have told trade pub MCV that they're already at or are nearing pre-order capacity. It's the kind of good sell-out news that's either drafted by the marketing department at Rockstar Games or designed by some clever ad men to ramp up pre-orders. Or it's true and you're screwed, UK!

It's good news for Rockstar and Take-Two's respective bankrolls, but it might be even better for Sony, as retailers tell MCV that GTA IV is "a real hardware driver already" for the PlayStation 3. Glad to see someone's making some money. Champagne and call girls for everyone!

UK retail running out of GTA IV [MCV]

Majority Of GameStop Sales From Just Four Companies

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:40:00 MDT

GameStop announced their annual financials last week, which we won't bore you with now. What we will ~~bore you~~ entertain you with, though, are some numbers to come out of the release, which show that 65% of GameStop's sales of new products (as in, not pre-owned) come from only four companies. Indeed, Nintendo accounted for 21% of all "new product" sales across the company just on their own, with Microsoft (17%) and Sony (16%) not too far behind. The fourth company from the headline's EA, with 11%, perhaps the most impressive number seeing as they're not in the habit of selling expensive consoles. One more bonus fun fact: pre-owned games were the company's biggest earner, with 43% of the company's entire gross profits coming from the re-sale of your unwanted titles. Proof that if you really hate GameStop as much as you always say you do, you'll just hang onto your old games. That'll hit 'em where it hurts.
GameStop sales driven by a handful of publishers [GameStop] [Pic]

PC Sales Charts March 16-22

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:30:00 MDT

NPD have seen fit to release some more weekly sales data for the PC market. We must have all been nice, rather than naughty, over the past seven days, because for some reason these don't exactly turn up like clockwork. And yes, I know, it's nigh-on useless without online sales data, but nigh-on useless isn't the same as useless, so bear that in mind. And keep on bearing when you see Sins of a Solar Empire at #3!

1. The Sims: FreeTime
2. The Sims 2 Deluxe
3. Sins Of A Solar Empire
4. Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
5. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War Soulstorm
6. World Of Warcraft
7. World Of Warcraft: Battle Chest
8. Cake Mania
9. World Of Warcraft: Burning Crusade
10. Diner Dash 2

Top 10 Best Selling PC Games For Week Of March 22 [Firingsquad]

Games Can Sell Forever, Says EA

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:40:00 MDT

Capcom reckon a game's shelf lifetime can sometimes be measured in days. A view EA don't, predictably, share. See, while Capcom are pushing games to the hardcore, whose interests are fickle and rarely likely to last more than a week, let alone a month, EA can release a game like, oh, The Sims, and sell it non-stop for years. Indeed, they're now aiming past years, and shooting straight for decades, with EA's Jeff Karp saying they're planning on "developing new content" for Spore for the next 10 years. We'll presume he means extra content, and not the game itself, because, you know. It's had long enough. This is getting to be a super-interesting feature on MTV, definitely worth checking out.
EA, Capcom Disagree On Longevity Of Individual Games — 'Spore'-Maker Cites 10 Year Plan [MTV]

Blockbuster Aiming At Game Preorder Exclusives

Mike Fahey — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:00:00 MDT

I got into a long conversation with the manager of a Blockbuster Video store I've frequented since before the DVD era began today, regarding the company's increased focus on gaming. You see, Blockbuster Video isn't doing so well in this age of Netflix and video downloads, so they are trying to modify the business to stay competitive...it's just the competitor's have changed. Said manager claimed that Blockbuster Video would soon begin getting preorder exclusives...games that cannot be preordered anywhere but Blockbuster. You'll still be able to buy them at other stores on release day, mind you...you just won't be able to reserve a copy anywhere but BB. The news was delivered via an alleged ex-GameStop executive at a managers' meeting, where it was explained to them that GS was actually having to cancel some preorders as they could no longer guarantee copies on release. The horror!

Now keep in mind that this could all be corporate rhetoric meant to make the managers feel better about working for a company that is for all intents and purposes circling the toilet. I've called some of my GameStop contacts who hadn't heard anything about preorders being canceled, though for all I know the alleged exclusives could be for games that no one is really preordering anyway. Remember one of BB's more famous exclusive games, Acclaim's Freestyle Street Soccer, one of the only titles that a used game store will actually pay you money to take off their shelves.

What I cannot dispute is Blockbuster's increased focus on gaming. My local store, which isn't one of the ones with the game store built into it, is now stocking stacks of Rock Band and Guitar Hero, selling PlayStation 3 systems, and aggressively pursuing preorders for titles like Grand Theft Auto 4 and Mario Kart Wii.

Not to mention the fact that exclusive deals have long been the company's bread and butter, from exclusive sales contracts allowing them to buy massive amounts of movies for prices the mom and pop stores could only dream about, to the more recent securing exclusive rental rights to hit films. Securing presale rights to video game titles isn't so far-fetched.

Well just have to see how things develop - if they develop - and what effect, if any, it has on video game retail. I don't see this doing much more than putting a few more pennies in Blockbuster's coffers and, depending on the titles, signaling the occasional return of launch day lines outside of GameStop stores.

GameStop Buys Norway's Free Record Shop

Mike Fahey — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:40:00 MDT

Folks in Norway who preferred buying video games at the local Free Record Shop instead of GameStop will soon have no real choice in the matter, as GameStop announces an agreement to purchase 100% of the Norwegian branch of the popular retailer. All 49 FRS locations throughout Norway will undergo rebranding once the transaction closes early next month. Says GameStop CEO, Dick Fontaine:

"We look forward to expanding our productive business model in the Norwegian market and partnering with the knowledgeable and energetic store personnel at Free Record Shop. This transaction is another step in our strategy of bringing more video game stores to growth markets around the world."

Not sure how rebranding existing video game stores are GameStop counts as "bringing more", but then I suppose I am not the CEO of a large company. Free Record Store also has locations in The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Finland, though it wouldn't surprise me if this agreement were only the first step in a move to acquire those as well.

GameStop to Acquire 49 Free Record Locations in Norway
Global Video Game Retailer Strengthens its Nordic Market Position

GRAPEVINE, Texas—(BUSINESS WIRE)—GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer, today announced that it has agreed to purchase 100% of the outstanding share capital of Free Record Shop Norway.

Free Record shops in Norway will be transitioned to the GameStop brand, significantly bolstering the company's presence within the Nordic region. GameStop operates over 5,000 locations worldwide. Following the acquisition of the 49 locations, the company will operate a total of 160 locations throughout Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

R. Richard Fontaine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GameStop, commented, "We are pleased to have worked with Hans Breukhoven and his entire management team at Free Record Shop to complete this acquisition. We look forward to expanding our productive business model in the Norwegian market and partnering with the knowledgeable and energetic store personnel at Free Record Shop. This transaction is another step in our strategy of bringing more video game stores to growth markets around the world."

Hans Breukhoven, Chief Executive Officer of Free Record Shop Holding, commented, "Free Record Shop is very satisfied with this agreement and the excellent opportunity that this sale presents us to make further investments to expand and establish our retail position in the Benelux. Besides that we are very pleased that our esteemed sales staff found employment in the GameStop organization and can help them with their planned growth."

The transaction is expected to close in early April.