[News] Gamestop to sell DLC

Source

Originally Posted by Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Customers who visit GameStop Corp stores will soon be able to purchase digital upgrades to their favorite video games, as the retailer eyes a shift toward digital distribution of games.

The new program, which GameStop will start testing early next year, will work in conjunction with online services offered by leading console makers, such as Microsoft Corp's Xbox Live and Sony Corp's PlayStation Network.

Under the program, a GameStop shopper who learns about a new level available for, say, a war or sports game could immediately purchase that upgrade. When the shopper arrives home, the add-on will be available to download and play.

"A large market for full game downloads is not imminent, (but) the add-on downloadable market will grow," GameStop Chief Operating Officer Paul Raines said at the BMO Capital Management Digital Entertainment conference.

These additional payments may be a key driver of revenue for publishers and retailers in the video-game industry, which has seen slow overall growth amid the tough economy. The idea is that consumers are more likely to pay to enhance beloved games than they are to experiment with unknown new games.

So far, GameStop has been able to preserve growth despite the economic downturn, as healthy demand for video game consoles by Nintendo Co Ltd, Sony and Microsoft has driven consumers into GameStop stores to buy software for the systems.

Raines' comments come a few days after GameStop affirmed its outlook for the quarter ending in October, saying it expects its earnings per share to be between 27 cents and 33 cents, excluding debt retirement costs. It also sees sales at stores open more than one year to be down 6 percent to 11 percent.

At the event, GameStop Chief Executive Dan DeMatteo said looking ahead to next year, business is "expected to be strong, given known titles."

On the one hand, it's the next logical step for Gamestop, and they're bound to get some takers. On the other hand, it's another thing they'll pester you about when you check out. Will you buy DLC from Gamestop, or just download it like you always have?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

It wouldn't be worth it unless they offered some type of discount over buying it the regular way, like what Amazon occasionally does.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Oh hey, let me get off my lazy ass to go get something from Gamestop that I never had to leave my couch to get. That is how things work right gaiz?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

The only way I see it working is in conjunction with the actual game purchase. "Would you like to buy this additional map pack for only $10 more? You won't be able to really complete the game without it." Parents and preteens will fall for it.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

It's not completely surprising considering publishers have been less subtle about add-ons lately. More games have extra DLC available at or very close to launch that clearly should've been in the game to begin with, like Resident Evil 5's versus mode thing or Dragon Age's quest stuff. That's not to say I'm angry about it or anything, but unless it's available at launch or some kind of sale/discount there's no reason people would bother going to a store to pay for DLC.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Wouldn't tax kind of kill this though? Amazon's already selling DLC without tax in most states.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

There are more people than the typical gamer realizes who either don't take their console online at all or don't like the idea of sticking their credit card information into their console. Combine that with how unintuitive the buying process can be for your typical parent (Buy these points! Then use the points to buy the thing! And you have to find it on the marketplace!) and I see a decent amount of people coming in and buying these things.

I mean, sure, a lot of gamers aren't ever going to use this, but a lot of gamers already swear off GameStop to begin with. Microsoft has also been making cards with codes that buy specific Arcade games for a while now, if that's what the ones I see at Target are (instead of being branded points cards).

Oh, and it's a great thing to stick at the counter as an impulse buy.

Ryuu, tax hasn't yet killed buying the points (I don't believe the tax is excluded when buying them on the console), so I doubt it'd affect this.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Mo0

There are more people than the typical gamer realizes who either don't take their console online at all or don't like the idea of sticking their credit card information into their console. Combine that with how unintuitive the buying process can be for your typical parent (Buy these points! Then use the points to buy the thing! And you have to find it on the marketplace!) and I see a decent amount of people coming in and buying these things.

I mean, sure, a lot of gamers aren't ever going to use this, but a lot of gamers already swear off GameStop to begin with. Microsoft has also been making cards with codes that buy specific Arcade games for a while now, if that's what the ones I see at Target are (instead of being branded points cards).

Oh, and it's a great thing to stick at the counter as an impulse buy.

This isn't going to help the people who never take their console online, since they'll still have to, you know, download the downloadable content, assuming it works like the cards Target sells. I agree, the target audience for this is parents and maybe gift givers, unless they offer some sort of deal (pre-order Madden, get extra DLC).

Quote:

Ryuu, tax hasn't yet killed buying the points (I don't believe the tax is excluded when buying them on the console), so I doubt it'd affect this.

It depends on your state, I think. I've never been charged tax when I buy points on my systems, but I've heard of people who have. Some states (NY and NC, among others, I think) are trying to pass laws to tax microtransactions. I try to buy my points through the console unless there's a special, just to avoid tax.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Mo0

I mean, sure, a lot of gamers aren't ever going to use this, but a lot of gamers already swear off GameStop to begin with. Microsoft has also been making cards with codes that buy specific Arcade games for a while now, if that's what the ones I see at Target are (instead of being branded points cards).

You're right, I remember buying a card for Uno back when I first got my 360. That's an entire game rather than just DLC though, so a better example are the Fallout 3 expansions. I'd be curious to see how many people actually buy those in stores when they aren't on sale, since the only market is people either without credit cards or no internet.

Quote:

Ryuu, tax hasn't yet killed buying the points (I don't believe the tax is excluded when buying them on the console), so I doubt it'd affect this.

From what I can tell when I've bought points on Live there is no tax. It probably varies depending on what state/country you live in, though. The downside is that buying them straight from your console means you have to buy the chunks of 500, so you're stuck with an odd number.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

This could be good if you're trading in some games and have left over credit, but not enough to buy another game. Back when I used to trade games regularly, I'd almost always have a few dollars left over to rot on an Edge card. If they start selling DLC for around 5 to 10 dollars, it might actually give me a reason to trade some of the games I have that I want to get rid of, but aren't worth enough to get anything worthwhile.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Tritoch

From what I can tell when I've bought points on Live there is no tax. It probably varies depending on what state/country you live in, though.

I have to pay taxes when I buy points through Live (including when my subscription renews) or Wii Shop. I think even WoW hit me with taxes. Texas sucks.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

This is going to sell like hotcakes. GameStop is totally exploiting the impulse buyer market.

Awesome.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I guess this will benefit some people. Discount or not I think this may prove useful to future sales much like nuttyturnip said eariler. Some people would probably use that opportunity to set themselves up with the DLC for future games when they come out or maybe for the XBOX 360 On Demand games which you can download the full games to your console.


Myself however I'll just stick with sitting on the couch for my DLC. Or PayPal over the internet. But I'm sure this will take off well enough.

How ya doing, buddy?