Stardock selling dominions

[Edratman]

This thread brings up a trend that I find disturbing. It is getting harder and harder to buy PC games in stores. For example, Best Buy used to have 4 aisles of PC games, now it's down to one. Electronic Boutique used to be almost 100% PC games, now it's maybe 5 %. Around me, the best selection of PC games is now available at Target, go figure. If nothing else, this introduces concern for the future of the PC game. This is accented by the fact that Civ 4 is still featured (in some minor fashion) in the stores around me despite the fact that it is a year old.

I'm old fashioned (and old) and like to touch and hold something before I buy it. Besides, if it weren't for the reviews (small but favorable) in the computer game magazines I get, there is probably no way I would have found Dom 3.

Just a minor rant.

[jutetrea]

Fully agree with you, EB Games and Gamespot used to have huge walls of PC games, including older and bargain bin items.

Now they just have that tiny 5x5 of PC games.

My personal fave for bargain bin games is gogamer.com. 24 hour madness sales. I lost my fallout CD and they had the complete set for like 6.99. Lately the sales have been of much lesser quality though

[Lyzra]

This is just my view but in the past there were more game releases. Thus nowdays the volume of games being published seems to be rather thin in comparison to past values. At least those that ever make to a box in a store.

Also some places that sell games dont do like they did in past, having more games on shelfs. They seem to hold considerably smaller quantities of any single given game. Thenagain this might be just my flawed perception of the matter.

A good question would be something as how well or in volume do games sell for businesses selling them nowdays? Afterall there seem to be more shops selling games, much larger quantity of netsales and so forth. If its not good volume/business any longer for any given physical shops to sell games and it still costs the same amount to rent the business property via actual physical size. I could imagine the gaming section would get severely cut.

[Edratman]

Lyzra said:
This is just my view but in the past there were more game releases. Thus nowdays the volume of games being published seems to be rather thin in comparison to past values. At least those that ever make to a box in a store.

Also some places that sell games dont do like they did in past, having more games on shelfs. They seem to hold considerably smaller quantities of any single given game. Thenagain this might be just my flawed perception of the matter.

A good question would be something as how well or in volume do games sell for businesses selling them nowdays? Afterall there seem to be more shops selling games, much larger quantity of netsales and so forth. If its not good volume/business any longer for any given physical shops to sell games and it still costs the same amount to rent the business property via actual physical size. I could imagine the gaming section would get severely cut.

I am sure that the stores have a sound financial reason for reducing the floor space allocated to PC games.

That is what concerns me.

[NTJedi]

Edratman said:
I am sure that the stores have a sound financial reason for reducing the floor space allocated to PC games.

That is what concerns me.

I believe it's because 98% of PC gamers have and use internet access thus finding it easier to make purchases online.
Not all of the console gamers have internet access and most console gamers are from the younger generations which lack knowledge/ability to purchase online.

It's my theory PCGamers are buying online in bulk of 4+ games at once and/or combination with other items to save money via combo discounts. Unfortunately that's not the entire reason... it seems more and more of the younger crowd is leaning toward console games. It's easier for companies to hook them on console games because there's almost no software or hardware to install and manage.

I actually recommend parents to not buy console systems because a PC system serves multiple purposes. And a youngster who is able to build, configure, secure and manage his own PC systems will have a stronger technical education than a youngster who is able to setup and manage his console system.

[S.R. Krol]

The downgrading of stores selling PC games happened years ago when the console market overtook it. What's surprising is that in 2007 you can still find *any* PC gaming on the shelf. EB Games/Gamestop had talked about for years that the only PC games they would carry in store would be ones that were also selling on consoles, but that hasn't come to pass. At the same time the in store inventory of PC games is so pathetic that it doesn't matter.

And yes, online resellers did play somewhat of a part since they could discount titles. This is why big box stores like console games, they can sell them for $59.99 and no one expects to pay less than that for them.

I can't help but think that during the transition period it was a perfect opportunity for the return of the mom 'n pop computer retailer. Back in the '80s there were plenty of folks who would have a store aimed directly at selling software, and while they would do most of their business mail order they still had a retail front. The nice thing was that the people who worked there cared about the games, and knew them. You could get an opinion on a title and expect it to be correct. Ever try talking to a Gamestop counter twit? 50% only care about the latest Xbox game, and the other 50% don't know squat about anything, they're just working there because their probation officer said they had to have a job.

I know if I had someplace local to buy games from that treated me with respect, I'd be more apt to shop there than a big box store, or the terrible experience that is Gamestop.

[jutetrea]

Before moving down to Florida I had a local EB Games that was actually pretty good, extra pc floor space and every employee I met very into PC games. Haven't had the same experience yet. I fully agree on the customer service angle, luckily you can still get good board gaming CS as most of the game shops I find are mom n' pop.