HERE (http://www.mcvuk.com/news/26298/GameStop-plans-550-new-stores)

Not specifically PS3 related but interesting nonetheless. Amazing how far the gaming industry has come, far outstripping the movie industry in the entertainment business. Obviously Sony took a huge gamble by putting all their marbles into adding Blu-Ray and holding back the game part of the PS3 which could have been the biggest element of their new console even without Blu-Ray movies.

But I digress. While video rental chains dimish, video game stores flourish. By me there is a EB, EBX and Gamestop all within 1 1/2 mile of each other. Amazing.

They just closed a gamestop by me...No other gaming stores that close by...I wonder why? It seemed to to good business.. but I guess not enough.

HERE (http://www.mcvuk.com/news/26298/GameStop-plans-550-new-stores)

Not specifically PS3 related but interesting nonetheless. Amazing how far the gaming industry has come, far outstripping the movie industry in the entertainment business. Obviously Sony took a huge gamble by putting all their marbles into adding Blu-Ray and holding back the game part of the PS3 which could have been the biggest element of their new console even without Blu-Ray movies.

But I digress. While video rental chains dimish, video game stores flourish. By me there is a EB, EBX and Gamestop all within 1 1/2 mile of each other. Amazing.
Just for the sake of discussion, how do DVD sales compare to videogame sales?

Just for the sake of discussion, how do DVD sales compare to videogame sales?Very hard to compare considering the average cost of a new videogame, $30-$60 these days.

I have 4 GS/EB stores within 2 miles of my house and only 1 will even consider going to. No more please!!!!! :)

Instead of more stores - at least in my area - they should make the current stores BIGGER! they are always so small - and crowded that it's impossible to move around in there.

o - and they should hire more staff. the stores by my place have 2 people working - about 20 people in the store - 10 people in line and they still have to answer the phone every 30 seconds and look up stuff on the computer....

I am surprised the big box stores haven't run them out of business over the years - like how future shop/best buy have kinda sone against smaller computer store chains and music stores...

There are 2 things that really discourage me from shopping at Gamestop or EB.

1. I hate having to pre-order. I will only preorder if I trade in games (yes I'm lazy). Otherwise I'll buy from Best Buy or CC they always have tons of copies. GS/EB is a store... carry some stock! Half the time the only copy of a game they have is the open display copy which always feels sleazy to me, I don't know why.

2. 90% of their employees are clueless. I just ignore them but it drives me crazy to hear them giving terribly wrong advice or information to customers. Also, I do not need thier approval or disapproval of my game choices. Just sell me the game. A little idle chit chat is fine but I don't need a gold star for buying God of War II

Jebus, there's already likle 4 within 2 miles of each other near me. Plus a Gamecrazy right next to one of them. And yet none of them are really all that good at actully selling games.

Edited jesus=jebus my bad