GameStop Gets in on Digital Distribution

[viranimus]

It's more like a big FU to gamers who still value a disc, manual, case, etc... I thought if anyone would be on the side of the gamer who prefers hard copies, it would be Gamestop.

Going 100% Digital Distribution isn't good for gamers but it is great for publishers. Gamestop is going to help this movement along instead of fighting against it.

Good points. I edited my post to clarify and explain my line of thinking.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

...though I'm not sure how successful this venture will be, seeing as how GameStop is arriving pretty late to the party.

Since they are 7 years behind Steam, game developers are happy with Gamestop's used game market cutting into their profits, and gamers/developer respect for Valve service (and since more and more games are using Valve's VAC system as anti-pirate device), Gamestop is going to have a LOT of trouble getting their foot in.

I think for a start they should do a more steam based thing on that note where you can install on as many PCs as you like as 1-3 installs from how I read the article is a bit piss poor.

 

[viranimus]

well consider the logistics... if they are considering it, it ISNT setting up their destruction. even if they do offer DD, they would have to require permission from the publisher of any game they would offer. You know full well with as many publishers already tied to steam,those wont likely side with gamestop So retail stores will still have tha t purpose, to fill stock of what they cant get rights to DD

 

[Notthatbright]

If you want a good value for your games, don't go near a Gamestop. Alas, people treat games like they would their latte, and Gamestop wins out merely by being the only game in town for most people.

 

[mjc0961]

GameStop is taking a note from services like Amazon, Steam, and Direct2Drive by adding digital distribution to its website. For the moment, gamers can buy titles and install them on one to three PCs

Wrote it off right there. They will have to change that if they want people to use their service instead of Steam, which lets you install it to as many computers as you want.

As for their retail stores not doing as well as they could be... I think we all know the obvious things they could be doing to get people to shop there.