GameStop Joins With Valve For Retail Digital

[Callate]

Huh. I is a-confuse.

Not that log ago there was all that rigamarole about Gamestop buying Impulse from Stardock to be their spearhead into the digital distribution market. (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/109120-Former-Impulse-Boss-Predicts-GameStop-Will-Beat-Steam)

Now they're selling Steam wallet vouchers? So, is this essentially tantamount to Gamestop admitting that Impulse (or whatever they ended up finally calling it) failed to take off?

 

[6SteW6]

God I always wanted these to come out. Not because I don't have a credit card, but because I lack will power. There are too many awesome sales on games I will never play that I buy because they are 80% off.

I have like 20 'Rainy Day' Games that I swear I will get into but I know I never will. Getting a twenty dollar card every month or so would force me to think about what I buy and not end up crying in a scolding hot shower trying to wash off my 'Steam Shame'

P.S: locatdions made me laugh for some reason :S

 

[CardinalPiggles]

All shall bow before the awesome power of Steam!

or trade credits through our convenient neighborhood locations.

You know what's more convenient? A home computer...

 

[illas]

A smart move, well done GameStop.

To me, this kind of move suggests that GameStop are trying to move with the times which can only be good news. Particularly given how many news stories there have been recently about major chains going out of business (and people loosing their jobs as a result).

 

[SachielOne]

I want these for Canada. Unfortunately, we're probably not going to get them unless Steam implements a static price in Canadian dollars for everything on their service, instead of us having to constantly dick around with exchange rates.

And even if they made a Canadian version with the system as it is now, I wouldn't envy the guy that has to field the endless river of customer service calls asking why their $50 card is only getting $46 worth of credit.

 

[Podunk]

WELP, now I can make one list for my birthdays and Christmasses from here to forever.

 

[Radoh]

So this is going to keep GameStop from posting losses and eventually going under then.
*sigh*
This news, while cool, is depressing.

Captcha: That's Enough. Boy is it ever captcha, boy is it ever.

 

[octafish]

Once again, what is with credit cards? People still use these? Doesn't everyone just have a debit card now? Weird.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

I really like this, mainly because I'm only 16 and have no way of purchasing digital content on steam without bugging my parents to buy the things for me.

I also hate bothering them for the information so I can buy something so this is the best of both worlds.

Anyway, I'll be off to buy a twenty dollar card now.

Killing Floor, here I come!

 

[Epona]

Funny thing is it is so incredibly easy to add funds to your Steam wallet when you are logged into steam as it is. The only reasons I can see this being a benefit is if someone doesnt have a bank account, cc and/or paypal to add from. Or they want to buy this as a gift. That is pretty much it.

It is a smart move on GameStop's part to link up with Steam since gaming is quickly moving to an all digital format.

You can now trade in console games and use the money to buy PC games on Steam.

 

[Geekeric]

I can't believe this article! I have seen so many bits here on the Escapist telling how Gamestop has screwed over customers and game developers alike with their cheesey, greedy schemes and this article describes Steam as the devil? Maybe the author of this piece is a little console-biased, maybe?
I personally hate that Steam is in bed with these @#&%$ sleeze-bags, especially since Steam has pretty much been single-handedly keeping PC gaming alive, while gamestop's pc game section gets smaller and smaller. What, do people really like standing outside their stores at midnight waiting to buy a game no one has ever reviewed on its release date, just to pay the premium price? Would you like "the collector's edition" with that? Give me digital distribution, and Gamestop can just go $#@&*$%#@!

 

[Epona]

I can't believe this article! I have seen so many bits here on the Escapist telling how Gamestop has screwed over customers and game developers alike with their cheesey, greedy schemes and this article describes Steam as the devil? Maybe the author of this piece is a little console-biased, maybe?
I personally hate that Steam is in bed with these @#&%$ sleeze-bags, especially since Steam has pretty much been single-handedly keeping PC gaming alive, while gamestop's pc game section gets smaller and smaller. What, do people really like standing outside their stores at midnight waiting to buy a game no one has ever reviewed on its release date, just to pay the premium price? Would you like "the collector's edition" with that? Give me digital distribution, and Gamestop can just go $#@&*$%#@!

Oh, you make it so easy..

Yes because midnight launches are the only way Gamestop does business. It's not like you can go in there during normal business hours and buy a game, new or used. No, you HAVE to be at midnight launches.

So let's say you hear about this great PS2 title that you missed. Can you run to Steam to get it? Can you run to a big box store like Wal Mart to get it? No, you need to go to a used game store because PS2 games are out of print. Good thing there are used game stores, right? Maybe you would prefer to wait until the game is released on PSN as a PS2 Classic?

 

[Beryl77]

This would have been pretty useful to me a couple years ago. I wanted to but I had no way of buying games on Steam.

 

[Vault101]

Funny thing is it is so incredibly easy to add funds to your Steam wallet when you are logged into steam as it is. The only reasons I can see this being a benefit is if someone doesnt have a bank account, cc and/or paypal to add from. Or they want to buy this as a gift. That is pretty much it.

It is a smart move on GameStop's part to link up with Steam since gaming is quickly moving to an all digital format.

transfering money from my bank account to paypal takes a good few days..this would be quicker/convineint

but yeah...damn shame they couldnt do this sooner

 

[zachusaman]

and now gamestop actually has PC games besides starcraft broodwar and simcity 1!!

 

[Evil Smurf]

if only EB Games did that...

 

[chris11246]

suprised no on noticed this but at the end of the first paragraph it says "locatdions"

OT: It makes sense. They might as well make some profit off steam cuz they're not gonna kill it.

 

[Beautiful End]

Actually, they're already for sale.

I was at GameStop today and I saw them over by the PC section. I was surprised, though, because it was only a rumor at first. But there ya go...