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Current and ex-clerks speak about working in a game store
It's a fact of life. For most of us, when we need to get a game, we have to walk into the game store. Some times it's just easier to go down the street for a game then to wait the time it takes to arrive on our door step from ordering online, and don't get us started on shipping fees! That's why Games Radar's latest story about a couple brave individuals who spoke out about their experience working in games retail captivated us so.The story is broken up into three different parts, each detailing a certain aspect of the job and the pros and cons of such. The entirety of the story spans 17 pages and has eight different anonymous individuals commenting on their current or past experiences working in the games retail space. And if you've ever found yourself on the buyer's side of the desk, smashing your fists against your temples in anger as you scream for the 18th time that you do not want a strategy guide, nor do you wish to reserve anything, it's definitely worth a read.
PSP Core pack unsurprisingly falling to $169.99
Although the PSP Core pack isn't dropping to the lows in which we had hoped it would, the stripped-down package is getting a slashing nonetheless as it attempts to attract buyers who still aren't down with a $200 Value pack. Apparently, GameStop / EB Games locations have already received displays and instructions (posted after the jump) to lower the Core's price down a few notches starting on April 3rd, which means that you should put your PSP shopping trip on hiatus until tomorrow rolls around. Of course, this leveling out of pricing doesn't come to anyone's surprise, but if you've managed to both hold off on a PSP until now and still have an urge to pick one up outside of the used market, Wednesday's your day.
Gotta pre-catch 'em all: Pokemon preorder bonuses
If you've been on the fence about this whole Pokémon thing, just waiting to be convinced about the monster-collecting genre (thus giving away your rock-underside-located residential status) then Nintendo knows just how to tempt you: free junk. Preorder the new DS Poké-games, Diamond and Pearl, from the Gamestop -EB mega-retail conglomerate and you'll be rewarded with a stylus! Also included is a ... stylus ... holder! It's a holder for your stylus! (Back in our day, we had stylus holders too. We called them DSes.)Naturally, both of these items are decorated with Pokemans, so friends who come anywhere near your DS-wielding hand or your designated DS Accessories Storage Area will be tipped off about your pathological need -- your addiction -- to catch 'em. Also, it wouldn't be Pokémon if there were no incentive to buy both games -- in the case of these bonuses, the styli each have a different little Poké-mascot on top: Dialga for the Diamond version and Palkia for the Pearl version. We assure you that those are real Pokémon names and not rare diseases. Or maybe both? We don't have medical degrees.[Via GayGamer]
Police investigate EB Games slaying
San Antonio Police are investigating the tragic murder of an EB Games employee. The unidentified woman was found dead inside an EB Games store along San Pedro Ave around 2 p.m. today. Two store managers made the gruesome discovery upon arriving at the store, following failed attempts to contact the victim by phone.Police believe the slaying occurred during a robbery, despite no obvious signs of a break-in. Sgt. Edward Wise confirmed that the front door was locked and that the store never opened this morning. Wise declined to detail the woman's injuries or give insight into why police believe a robbery took place. It's unclear how long the body had been inside the store.[Thanks, Super-Jesse-Mario]
Gamecube for Wii credit, and tomorrow's chaos
Perhaps some of you are reading this article via your smartphone, waiting in bitter cold weather because you're sick and tired of not having a precious Nintendo Wii. We understand. Tomorrow's deluge of Wii's, which should be occurring at many nation-wide outlets (Best Buy, Target, and Circuit City all seem to be proper candidates), may make many people quite happy. It may make many people really, really pissed off.While you might be willing to spend whatever it takes, we have a bit of thrifty advice. First off, EB Games is taking your soon-to-be-completely-worthless Gamecube as fifty dollars of trade-in credit for a Wii. Normally, they only give twenty-five. While EBG and Gamestop have not been officially confirmed as having units available for tomorrow, it's worth a phone call (why would they advertise such a deal if it were impossible to use?). Also, it seems Tower Records is having a massive sale, with 25% off of pretty much everything, including games. Pick 'em up cheap! And good luck, troopers.[Thanks, Dave and Vincent!]
Wii kiosks using composite cables
... or, at least, on the Wii kiosk pictured above. Reader wigglesxjr, who is responsible for taking the above picture with his camera phone, assures us this is totally real and comes from his local EB Games in West Covina, CA. Using Samsung LCD TVs for their kiosks, you'd think that Nintendo would go the extra mile and use component cables for all of their displays, right? I mean, you could even have the EB/GameStop folks pushing the cables saying customers won't get as clear and good a picture as on the kiosk at home without them.
EB / GameStop GoW preview video [update 1]
12 minutes of fresh Gears of War footage from the EB/GameStop preview! Update: Video is now embedded after the break. [Thanks Krazy Koala]
Wii pre-orders at Gamestop Friday?
Wii news site The Wiire is reporting that an unnamed contact at Gamestop/EBGames says the retailer will start taking pre-orders for the Wii in North America on Friday, Oct. 13 (spooky!) for a $25 to $50 down payment.A representative at Gamestop's corporate office refused to comment on pre-order plans, but a local Gamestop employee told Joystiq he was "being told to tell you to call back every morning" and that pre-orders would be available "some time this week." This echoes previous rumblings from around the internet that Gamestop would begin taking pre-orders this week.The official word on Gamestop's PS3 pre-orders came less than 24 hours before the doors opened on Tuesday morning, so be sure to keep checking Joystiq for confirmation as soon as we get it.
EB-Gamestop launches download service, "largely garbage" declares 1UP
EB Games and Gamestop have launched a download service, staking claim in the growing industry trend to distribute content digitally. If you're familiar with the conglomerate retailer's websites, the setup is straightforward, giving browsers near-instant access to over 1,000 PC titles; though it's a collection that has been criticized by 1UP as being "largely garbage." We're also concerned about prices. The games range from $9.99 to $49.99, but, for example, Texas Hold 'Em and Zuma, which are featured on the Gamestop (pictured) and EB pages, both retail for $19.99, whereas XBLA versions of the same games retail for just $10. Still, as 1UP points out, there are a few gems to be unearthed from the trash heap (e.g., 1942, Civilization III, Deus Ex, & Heroes of Might and Magic). Unfortunately, the sites lack a satisfying interface for sorting out these favorites from the rubbish. Looks like an act of desperation to us. This service needs a makeover and more reasons for us to check it out. Anyone cashed in on a game yet? How are the download speeds? [Via 1UP] Shop - Gamestop Shop - EB Games
Rumor Mill -- Wii pre-orders open Wednesday at GameStop/EB
These days Wii rumors are about as common as PS3 delays. Anything and everything people scrounge up flies all over the interwebs but this one here is quite a doozy. It's time to (hopefully) break out the fireworks and confetti 'cause an unconfirmed source told us that Wii system and accessory pre-orders are open TOMORROW. Re-read that a few times gents. It was hard for us to believe too. Now the reason we say "rumor" is because we made a dozen calls to all our local GameStops/EBs and while a good chunk of them said yes to tomorrow, others said the boring non-helpful "sometime this week." Still, even if it is "sometime this week" that is something to celebrate. Break the piggy bank and get your 50 bucks ready. Oh, and ignore those still trying to tell you that you have to trade in 50 dollars worth of games/systems/accessories. They are liars and thieves. Celebrations commence!
Wii kiosks are for reals!
As is shown in this video, the leaked pictures of Wii kiosks are actually real. "For really real?" you ask. "Why yes son, as real as anything real in this world. As real as leprechauns, unicorns, and the ever-elusive Yeti, or his North American cousin, the Sasquatch," we replied. We then noticed there wasn't anyone else in the room.We'd also been narrating to ourselves.[Via Wii UK]
Buy 2 used games, get 1 free at Gamestop/EB
The July issue of Game Informer has a "Buy two used games, get one free" coupon for use at Gamestop/EB, pictured above in post rip-out condition. They discount the cheapest game so you need to buy three $55 games to get the full value out of it. There's also a $20 extra trade-in credit coupon for when you trade in that crusty old system.
